2010 FACULTY ARTISTS
David Halen, Artistic Director | violin
Concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, David Halen is frequent soloist with many orchestras and festivals around the world. At 19, he became the youngest recipient ever of a Fulbright Scholarship, for study in Germany.
Prior to coming to Saint Louis, he served as assistant concertmaster of the Houston Symphony. Halen’s leadership in the arts brought him an A&E Arts Award in 2002 and appointment to the Missouri Arts Council in 2008. In addition to teaching at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings in Macon, GA, he is concertmaster and teaches at the Aspen Music Festival. He is the founding Artistic Director of the Innsbrook Institute and also artistic director of Booneville Missouri River Festival of the Arts. He is a true son of Missouri and musical ambassador to the world.
Gilles Apap | violin
Gilles Apap is a classical violinist with a difference---in addition to his love for and brilliant performances of the classical repertoire, he has made a lifelong study of ethnic violin music, including the folk music of Ireland, India, America and the music of the Eastern European gypsies. Winning the Contemporary Music prize at the Menuhin Competition brought Gilles to the personal attention of the great Yehudi Menuhin, who wished to film him playing his now-famous folk cadenza to the Mozart Violin Concerto #3. This film and two others about Gilles Apap are shown regularly on television here and abroad, as well as in conservatories and other educational institutions. Gilles has also been featured in a cover story for Strad Magazine. He maintains a busy schedule with recitals and as a soloist with orchestras worldwide, and also loves working with young musicians in masterclasses and workshops. Visit www.gillesapap.com for more information.
The Biava Quartet
Winners of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, London International and other major international competitions, the Biava Quartet has established an enthusiastic following in the United States and abroad, impressing audiences with its sensitive artistry and communicative powers. Formed in 1998 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the quartet has completed residencies at Juilliard, Yale, and the New England Conservatory, and performed at renowned venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Kennedy Center, and Aspen Festival. Members: Violinists Austin Hartman and Hyunsu Ko, violist Mary Persin, and cellist Gwendolyn Krosnick. Find out more about the quartet at www.biavaquartet.com.
Jacob Braun | cello
A native of Lincoln, Massachusetts, Jacob Braun has been recognized for his expressive, lyrical performances in The United States and abroad. His performances have taken him on concert tours of Italy, France, Korea and China. This past season, Jacob played concerts in Merkin Hall, Roosevelt University with the Chamber Chamber Musicians and Calgary, CA for a UNICEF benefit concert with Canadian prodigy, Jan Lisiecki. Jacob joined the Penderecki String Quartet in 2009 and is Artist in residence at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada. He will begin teaching privately in the fall of 2010. With this ensemble, his schedule is saturated with the great string quartet literature, as well as collaborations with The David Earle Dance Group and multi-media electronic music. Mr. Braun was a founding member of the Biava Quartet for nine years, winning The 2003 Naumburg Chamber Music Award and becoming the youngest ensemble to win this prestigious award. With Jacob, the quartet won top prizes at The 2003 London String Quartet Competition, The 2005 Premio Paolo Borciani String Quartet Competition, The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and The Coleman Chamber Music Competition. As a member of the Formosa Quartet he performed a three week tour of the UK including Wigmore Hall and performed at the Library of Congress (Stradivari Anniversary Concert), Wigmore Hall and La Jolla’s Summerfest. Jacob has collaborated with members of the Brentano, Calder, Enso, Jupiter, Miami, Shanghai and Tokyo String Quartets.
Andres Diaz | cello
Since winning the First Prize in the 1986 Naumburg International Cello Competition, Mr. Díaz has enjoyed international acclaim as a soloist, chamber musician and artist-teacher. He has performed as soloist with many of the world’s great orchestras and conductors, and is equally known as a recitalist and recording artist. He served for five years as Associate Professor of Cello at Boston University and was Co-Director of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Quartet Program. Presently he is Associate Professor at Southern Methodist University.Mr. Díaz plays a 1698 Matteo Goffriller Cello and a bow made by his father, Manuel Díaz. Visit www.andresdiaz.com for more information.
Grace Fong | piano
American pianist Grace Fong’s performances have been hailed as “positively magical.” She has gained critical acclaim in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, making appearances at major venues around the world, including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Phillips Collection, Great Hall in Leeds, UK, Reinberger Hall at Severance Hall, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Konzerthaus Dortmund, Germany, among others. Dr. Fong is currently the Director of Keyboard Studies at Chapman University Conservatory of Music (California) where she was recently awarded the 2008 faculty excellence award at the Conservatory of Music. Find out more about Grace Fong at www.pianistgracefong.com.
Stephanie Fong | viola
Praised for her "sensitivity and care" by the Boston Globe, Stephanie Fong has captivated audiences worldwide, including performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Jordan Hall and venues throughout Europe, Bermuda, and Mexico. A top prizewinner at the Fischoff Chamber Music competition, Ms. Fong is a guest artist in residence at the University of Michigan where she coaches chamber music. She is an avid chamber musician and concertizes regularly with the Alianza String Quartet, Phoenix Ensemble, and Radius Ensemble. Past collaborations include performances with artists Robert Mann, Donald Weilerstein, Menahem Pressler, and Gilbert Kalish, among others. As an orchestral musician, Ms. Fong performs frequently as a substitute with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and as a member of the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. She has played under the conductors Sir Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, James Levine and Kurt Masur. Ms. Fong, a Presser Scholar, currently maintains private studios in both Boston and Ann Arbor and is on the faculty of Phoenixphest, an annual chamber music festival held in Ann Arbor, as well as the Peaks to Plains Suzuki Institute in Colorado. A strong believer in bringing music to under served communities, Ms. Fong conducted a two-week outreach residency in conjunction with the Western Piedmont Symphony in Hickory, North Carolina. She has also performed in schools throughout New Hampshire through of Monadnock Music's "Lend an Ear" program.
Erik Harris | bass
Erik Harris joined the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra as Principal Double Bass in September 1993. Mr. Harris attended the Juilliard School on a full scholarship, where he studied with Homer Mensch. Also among his teachers was Stuart Sankey, with whom he studied at the Aspen Music Festival and School. As a student, he won the double bass competition and performed a concerto with the Juilliard Symphony. He went on to receive both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the prestigious music school. Upon graduation, Mr. Harris served as Principal Bass with the New World Symphony during its inaugural season in 1988. The following year, at age 23, Mr. Harris was invited by Sir Georg Solti to join the Chicago Symphony, where he played until 1993. Since coming to St. Louis Mr. Harris has performed as soloist with the Saint Louis Symphony in 1995, has performed in chamber music concerts at the Sheldon Concert Hall and has taught master classes at the Manhattan School of Music, the Juilliard School and at Brigham Young University. Born in New York City, Mr. Harris was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He lives in Clayton, Missouri, with his wife, SLSO Assistant Concertmaster Heidi Harris, and their two children, Asher and Eden. In addition to playing the double bass, Erik also accompanies his wife on the guitar and the two perform as a duo in the St. Louis area as part of the Symphony’s Community Partnership Program. In whatever spare time he has, Mr. Harris enjoys cooking, gardening, and home remodeling. Erik Harris performs on a double bass made by Johannes Gagliano in 1804.
Yolanda Kondonassis | harp
Yolanda Kondonassis is celebrated as one of the world’s premiere solo harpists and is widely regarded as today’s most recorded classical harpist. Hailed as “an extraordinary virtuosa” and “sheer luminescence at the harp,” she has performed around the globe as a concerto soloist and in recital, bringing her unique brand of musicianship and warm artistry to an ever-increasing audience. For more on Yolanda Kondonassis, visit: www.YolandaHarp.com
Ricardo Morales | clarinet
Ricardo Morales is a classical clarinetist of Puerto Rican descent. Since 2004, he has been the principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Prior to that, he had been principal clarinetist at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Today, he splits time between New York City and Philadelphia, holding faculty positions at both the Juilliard School and the Boyer College of Music at
Temple University, in addition to regular visits to teach at the Curtis Institute. His numerous awards began at an early as grand prize winner of Seventeen Magazine’s National Concerto Competition. Mr. Morales' recordings may be found on the Sony, Deutsche Grammophon, and Koch labels. He was married to violinist Amy Oshiro in 2009.
Amy Oshiro | violin
Amy Oshiro joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in July 2008. She was previously Assistant Concertmaster of the Saint Louis Symphony, performing with that orchestra for 8 seasons, and also held titled chairs in the Colorado and Grant Park Symphonies. Making her debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 12, Ms. Oshiro subsequently studied with Almita and Roland
Vamos at Oberlin, and Robert Manno at Juilliard. An avid chamber musician and dedicated teacher, Ms. Oshiro has been a guest artist at summer
programs such as the Sun Valley Symphony, Cactus Pear Music Festival,
Grand Teton Music Festival and National Orchestra Institute. She was an original performing and teaching artist from Innsbrook’s inaugural season, and we welcome her return.
David Requiro | cello
David Requiro (pronounced Re-keer-oh) recently added First Prize in the 2008 Naumburg International Violoncello Competition to his growing string of awards, which includes First Prize at the Irving M. Klein and Washington International competitions and a top prize at the Gaspar Cassadó International Violoncello Competition. David has made concerto appearances with the Tokyo Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, and with several orchestras across the country, and has debuted at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. David’s artist faculty appointments include the Giverny Chamber Music Festival, the Maui Classical Music Festival, and the Strings in the Mountains Music Festival. David’s past Innsbrook participation has confirmed his giftedness as a teacher as well as performer. Find out more about Mr. Requiro at www.davidrequiro.com
Mark Sparks | flute
Mark Sparks is principal flutist of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and delighted to return to the Innsbrook Institute. Widely acclaimed for his
colorful tone, spirited phrasing and dynamic teaching, he has performed in most of the world’s major venues. As solo and orchestral artist, he
has performed with many ensembles including
the New York Philharmonic, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Bergen (Norway), and Baltimore orchestras. Mr. Sparks is an artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival. 2010 activities include his second solo CD recording and solo performances with the Singapore Symphony. Mr. Sparks is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with Robert Willoughby. He graduated from Kirkwood High School.
Isabel Trautwein | violin
Isabel Trautwein has been a member of the first violin section of The Cleveland Orchestra since 2002. Previously, she had served in the Houston
and Saint Louis Symphonies and as concertmaster of the New World Symphony in Miami. An avid chamber musician, she has been a member of both the Pacifica and the Artemis Quartets, touring internationally and extensively with both groups. In Cleveland she currently directs the Heights Arts Chamber Music Series, a regularly sold-out concert series which brings artists closer to their audiences in a casual style. She is also the founder of TACO, The Awesome
Children’s Orchestra, featuring players ages 6 to 60, which performs regularly at the Cleveland Clinic and seeks to infect audiences and participants with an incurable passion for music.
Chee-Yun | violin
Violinist Chee-Yun’s flawless technique, dazzling tone and compelling artistry have enraptured audiences on five continents. Chee-Yun performs regularly with the world’s foremost orchestras, and is a solo and chamber music recitalist in major venues internationally. In addition to her active performance and recording schedule, Chee-Yun is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator. She gives master classes around the world and has held several teaching posts at notable music schools and universities, including University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Indiana University. In August 2007, she was appointed Artist-in-Residence and Professor of Violin at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Find out more about Chee-Yun at www.chee-yun.net
2010 GUEST ARTISTS
Kathryn Eberle | violin
Violinist Kathryn Eberle was recently described as one who “approached the performance with what appeared to be utter fearlessness, offering an account in which technical command was matched with genuine interpretive imagination… a significant career appears assured for this artist.” Recent debuts include performances with the Louisville Orchestra and the Fireworks Ensemble at the Library of Congress. Other solo engagements include the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the Bahia Symphony in Brazil and the Nashville Symphony. Ms. Eberle has collaborated with such artists as Edgar Meyer, Jaime Laredo and Arnold Steinhardt and has garnered top prizes in the Klein and Stulberg International Competitions. Her festival appearances include Aspen, Banff, Yellow Barn, Encore and Laguna Beach. Ms. Eberle recently completed a Master’s Degree at The Juilliard School studying with Sylvia Rosenberg and has previously studied with Robert Lipsett and Connie Heard. She performs on a J.B. Vuillaume, Paris, 1870.
Natasha Paremski | piano
With her consistently striking and dynamic performances, 22-year-old pianist Natasha Paremski reveals astounding virtuosity and voracious interpretive abilities. She continues to generate excitement from all corners as she wins over audiences with her musical sensibility and flawless technique. In the summer of 2009, Natasha made celebrated appearances at the Colorado Music Festival and with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. In the coming season, Natasha will continue to perform with major orchestras including a return engagement with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, will appear at Lincoln Center in the fall as part of the “What Makes it Great?” series with Rob Kapilow, and will tour the UK with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The 2008-2009 season saw Natasha make her Asian debut with the National Symphony Orchestra in Taipei and in recital in Tokyo; she also toured the United Kingdom with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2007, Natasha gave her Spanish debut with recitals in Las Palmas and Oviedo. She also performed Rachmaninoff’s Second Concerto as a last-minute replacement for the opening nights of both the Caramoor Festival in Katonah, NY and the Bravo! Vail Valley Festival in Vail, CO, four days apart. Her past appearances include performances with the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Houston Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Dallas Symphony, New York Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall, San Diego Symphony, the Orpheum Foundation for the Advancement of Young Soloists (with the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich), Residentie Orchestra, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She has also given recitals at London’s Wigmore Hall, the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, the Schloss Elmau and Verbier festivals, and on the Rising Stars Series of Gilmore and Ravinia.