ARTISTS
Stella Chen, Violin
Chad Hoopes, Violin
Timothy Ridout, Viola
Clive Greensmith, Cello
Sebastian Manz, Clarinet
PROGRAM
Brahms Quintet in Bminor for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 115 (1891)
--INTERMISSION--
Mozart Quintet in A major for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola,and Cello, K. 581 (1789)
NicholasCanellakis has becomeone of the most sought-after and innovative cellists of his generation, praisedin the New Yorker asa “superb young soloist.” Recent highlights include solo debuts with theVirginia, Albany, Bangor, and Delaware symphony orchestras; concertoappearances with the Erie Philharmonic, the New Haven Symphony, and theAmerican Symphony Orchestra; Europe and Asia tours with CMS; and recitalsthroughout the US with his longtime duo collaborator, pianist-composer MichaelStephen Brown. An alum of CMS’s Bowers Program, he is a regular guestartist at many of the world’s leading music festivals. Canellakis is theArtistic Director of Chamber Music Sedona in Arizona and is a graduate of theCurtis Institute of Music (where he was recently appointed to the cellofaculty) and New England Conservatory.
Violist Paul Neubauer, hailed bythe New York Times as a “master musician,” released twonew albums in 2025 on First Hand Records, featuring the final works of twogreat composers: an all-Bartók album including the revised version of the Viola Concerto, and a Shostakovichrecording that includes the monumental ViolaSonata. Appointed principal violist of the New York Philharmonic at the age of21, Neubauer has appeared as soloist with the New York, Los Angeles, andHelsinki Philharmonics; the Chicago, National, St. Louis, Detroit, Dallas, SanFrancisco, and Bournemouth Symphonies; and the Santa Cecilia, English Chamber,and Beethovenhalle Orchestras. He has premiered viola concertos by Bartók(revised version), Friedman, Glière, Jacob, Kernis, Lazarof, Müller-Siemens,Ott, Penderecki, Picker, Suter, and Tower. A two-time Grammy nominee, Neubaueris artistic director of the Mostly Music series in New Jersey and serves on thefaculties of the Juilliard School and Mannes College.
Violist Milena Pájaro-van de Stadt hasappeared as soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Jacksonville Symphony, andthe Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, and has performed in recitals and chamber musicconcerts throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia,including an acclaimed 2011 debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall. She was thefounding violist of the Dover Quartet, and played in the group from 2008 to2022. In 2013 the Dover Quartet was the first-prize winner and recipient ofevery special award at the Banff International String Quartet Competition, andwon the gold medal and grand prize in the 2010 Fischoff Chamber MusicCompetition. Her numerous awards also include first prize of the Lionel TertisInternational Viola Competition and top prizes at the Sphinx Competition andTokyo International Viola Competition. Pájaro-van de Stadt has degrees from theCurtis Institute of Music and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.
Winner of the prestigious 2024Avery Fisher Career Grant, Korean-American violinist Julian Rhee came tointernational prominence following his prize-winning performances at the 2024Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition and Silver Medal finish at the11th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. He hasappeared with orchestras including the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, OregonSymphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra,Antwerp Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, RichmondSymphony, and San Diego Symphony. Julian is a member of CMS’s Bowers Programand has performed at festivals including Marlboro Music, Ravinia SteansInstitute, and North Shore Chamber Music Festival. He studied at the NewEngland Conservatory with Miriam Fried, and currently works with ChristianTetzlaff at the Kronberg Academy. Julian is the recipient of the 1699 “LadyTennant” Antonio Stradivari violin and a Jean Pierre Marie Persoit bow onextended loan through the generosity of the Mary B. Galvin Foundation and theStradivari Society.
Cellist Jonathan Swensen isthe recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and joint first prize of theNaumburg International Cello Competition, and was featured as “One toWatch” in Gramophone.He made his concerto debut performing the Elgar Concerto with Portugal’sOrquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, and has performed withthe Philharmonia Orchestra, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, CopenhagenPhilharmonic, Mobile Symphony, Greenville Symphony, and the Aarhus,Odense, and Iceland symphonies. He has captured first prizes atthe Windsor International String Competition, Khachaturian International CelloCompetition, and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions. Agraduate of the Royal Danish Academy of Music, Swensen continued hisstudies with Torleif Thedéen at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo andLaurence Lesser at New England Conservatory, where he received his ArtistDiploma. He is now an Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapelworking with Gary Hoffman, and a member of CMS’s Bowers Program.
Violinist Danbi Um is aMenuhin International Violin Competition Silver Medalist, a winner of theprestigious 2018 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, and a recent top prizewinnerof the Naumburg International Violin Competition. Recent and upcomingengagements include appearances with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia,Cleveland Chamber Music Society, Chamber Music San Francisco, and the Rockport,Moab, Saratoga Performing Arts (SPAC), Santa Fe, and North Shore MusicFestivals. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Ms. Um moved to the United States tostudy at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she earned a bachelor’s degree.She also holds an Artist Diploma from Indiana University. She is an alum ofCMS’s Bowers Program and plays a 1683 “ex-Petschek” Nicolo Amati violin, onloan from a private collection.
