Issuu

35 Research Drive, Ste 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (734) 994-4801 - info@a2so.org

Concertmaster Chamber Series: Berofsky & Friends October 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor October 18, 2026 | 3:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti

FEATURING Alaina Bercilla, flute

Barbara Sturgis-Everett, violin

Chad Burrow, clarinet

Kathryn Votapek, viola

Brittany DeYoung, harp

Ben Maxwell, cello

Aaron Berofsky, violin

PROGRAM Fantaisie for Violin and Harp

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921)

A Night Piece for Flute and String Quartet

Arthur Foote (1853 – 1937)

Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale for Clarinet and Viola

Rebecca Clarke (1886 – 1979)

I. Prelude: Andante semplice II. Allegro: Allegro vigoroso III. Pastorale: Poco lento (or Poco meno mosso) Introduction and Allegro for Flute, Violin,Harp and String Quartet

Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)

Musicians AARON BEROFSKY Violinist Aaron Berofsky has toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad, gaining wide recognition as a soloist and chamber musician. As soloist, he has performed with orchestras in the United States, Germany, Italy, Spain, Korea and Canada. Mr. Berofsky was the first violinist of the Chester String Quartet for fifteen years and is Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan and Chair of Strings at the Chautauqua School of Music. He was a visiting Professor at the Hochschule für Musik in Detmold, Germany and has performed with the acclaimed chamber orchestra Tafelmusik on period instruments, and has recorded with them for the Sony label. Mr. Berofsky is a member of the Pressenda Chamber Players and is Concertmaster of the Ann Arbor Symphony.

BARBARA STURGIS-EVERETT Barbara has lived in Ann Arbor since 1989, serving as Principal Second Violin of the A2SO up until this season when she rejoined the section. She is a member of the A2SO’s Learning and Community String Quartet which performs in schools, communities, and hospitals throughout the area. In addition to commitment to private studio teaching, Barbara performs and records as a member of the River Raisin Ragtime Revue (R4). She has performed with orchestras. festivals and chamber ensembles throughout the East and Midwest. Barbara taught 15 summers as a faculty member at the Interlochen Arts Camp and helped organize and teach in AVEC, the Piano Ensemble Camp of the Ann Arbor Area Piano Teacher's Guild. Originally from South Carolina, Barbara received Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees in Baltimore at the Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University. After teaching at the Chapin School for Girls and studying in New York, she continued graduate study at the University of Cincinnati's CCM earning the Doctor of Musical Arts. Barbara was an Assoc. Prof. and member of The Eastern Trio at Eastern Illinois University until 1981.

Musicians KATHRYN VOTAPEK A member of the Chester String Quartet for 15 years, violinist/violist Kathryn Votapek now maintains an active career as a guest artist at chamber music festivals throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Votapek has been on the faculty of the Meadowmount School of Music, the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Italy), and the Peter de Grote Summer Academy (Holland). Votapek is currently on the faculty at the University of Michigan, is the Chair of Chamber Music at the Chautauqua Summer Music School, and is the Associate Concertmaster of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Previously she was Associate Professor of Violin and Artist-in-Residence at Indiana University South Bend.

BEN MAXWELL Ben Maxwell is the Principal Cellist of the Ann Arbor Symphony and performs regularly with the Detroit Opera, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and other regional ensembles. He holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan. A two-time fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center, he performed under the direction of conductors such as Andris Nelsons and Herbert Blomstedt. He continues to perform widely as both an orchestral and chamber musician.

Musicians ALAINA BERCILLA Alaina Bercilla joined the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra as Principal Flute in 2018. A Chicago-based freelancer, Alaina enjoys performing on stages large and small throughout the Midwest, and is grateful for the opportunity to make music in Ann Arbor, where she received her M.M. in Flute Performance from the University of Michigan. She has performed as a substitute musician with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony. Originally from California, Alaina continues to appreciate the novelty of all four seasons, and makes time for regular trips back to her home state to be with family and friends. Offstage, Alaina also works as a clinical mental health counselor, and has a particular interest in supporting artists of all kinds as they pursue fulfilling lives and careers.

CHAD BURROW Clarinetist Chad Burrow has a distinguished, multifaceted career as an educator, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. He joined the University of Michigan clarinet faculty in 2009, where he serves as Professor of Music in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. In addition to serving as principal clarinetist of the Ann Arbor Symphony, he currently serves as Acting Principal Clarinetist of Detroit Opera and Principal Clarinetist of the New American Sinfonietta at the Hamptons Festival of Music. He is also Co-Artistic Director and clarinetist of the Brightmusic Chamber Music Society in Oklahoma City and a member of the artist faculty at the AlpenKammerMusik Festival in Austria. Burrow's discography, including his trio, Trio Solari, features recordings released on the Albany, Equilibrium, and Centaur labels, as well as on CD Baby. For additional information, please visit www.chad-burrow.com.

Musicians BRITTANY DEYOUNG Harpist Brittany DeYoung is an established classical performing artist and harp educator, maintaining an active career in performance, teaching, and the advancement of the harp. Mrs. DeYoung is the harp instructor at Hillsdale College, Albion College, and the Flint School of the Performing Arts, as well as the Principal Harpist for the Ann Arbor and Lansing Symphony Orchestras. In addition, Mrs. DeYoung has performed across the United States as well as internationally, being featured in concerts in Spain, France, China, and South Korea. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and an undergraduate degree from University of Arizona where she studied with professors Joan Holland, Lynne Aspnes and Dr. Carrol McLaughlin. In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and three children.