Ashuelot Concerts 2023-24 International Concert Series Program Booklet

2023-24 International Concert Series Program

Stonewall Farm, The Park Theatre & Alyson’s Orchard

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Introduction & Welcome from the Artistic Directors: Ashuelot Concerts promotes live, classical music as a powerful force that inspires positive change. Using concerts, school performances, talks & outreach, Ashuelot Concerts seeks to inspire learning, achievement and well-being in our local community while growing an enthusiastic audience for classical music.

Ashuelot Concerts is striving to bring the joy of experiencing live chamber music into as many lives as possible. Each season, we engage artists who are usually only heard at the world’s leading concert halls and festivals. We invite them to our beautiful region so that live chamber music at the highest level can become a regular feature of living in this wonderful community.

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our concerts. We have carefully chosen pieces that have the power to make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. We aim to make you leave here uplifted, inspired and still resonating with the glorious sounds of great chamber music.

Of all the musical genres, classical music is the most difficult to fully capture in a recording. The magic that happens during a concert is only possible when you are here together in the room. As these very special instruments start to vibrate, so too do each of our ear drums and, for a while at least, we are completely united and in sync with each other. Our heads are literally inhabited by the inner most thoughts and insights of some of the greatest minds in human history - the Great Composers. It is a very special experience which we hope you quickly become addicted to!

Live classical music has so much to offer, even for those who are experiencing it for the first time.

If you enjoy the concert today, invite your friends to come with you next time. Talk about your experience here and encourage even those who are skeptical to come and experience for themselves what makes this music so special. Of all the music bought, streamed or downloaded in the USA during the last year, classical music represented only 1% of people’s choices. This is not surprising when you consider that for most, the live, concert experience you will enjoy here today is often too far away, too expensive or just not familiar enough to be tempting. We are setting out to change that here in our community.

Alongside the concerts, we will be presenting 40 performances in local schools with the same music and artists that you will hear today. This program will reach over 5000 children. We want to share our passion with the next generation, but also explain that our joy is only possible through good habits, determination, drive and daily commitment. Our aim is to leave children inspired to go that extra mile, concentrate that little bit longer in class and reach for the very limits of their potential through the school year.

Enjoy the music!

Louisa Stonehill & Nicholas Burns

Contents Concert Programs

page 8

Artist Bios

page 18

Schools Program

page 28

Staff, Board Members & Volunteers

page 31

How to Support Ashuelot Concerts

page 33

Donors & Supporters

page 34

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Piano Quartets by Suk, Martinů & Dvořák Friday, September 1 – 7:30 pm, Stonewall Farm, Keene Sunday, September 3 – 4:00 pm, Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole Piano Quartet, Op. 1 (1891)

Suk (1874 - 1935) I. Allegro appassionato II. Adagio III. Allegro con fuoco

Piano Quartet, H. 287 (1942)

Martinů (1890 - 1959) I. Poco Allegro II. Adagio III. Allegretto poco moderato ***INTERMISSION***

Piano Quartet No.2 in E-flat, Op. 87 (1889)

Dvořák (1841 - 1904)

I. Allegro con fuoco II. Lento III. Allegro moderato, grazioso IV. Allegro ma non troppo Louisa Stonehill – Violin, Masumi Per Rostad – Viola, Guy Johnston – Cello, Nicholas Burns – Piano

Violin Sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven & Strauss Friday, October 13 – 7:30 pm, The Park Theatre, Jaffrey Sunday, October 15 – 4:00 pm, Stonewall Farm, Keene Sonata for Piano & Violin in E minor, K. 304 (1788)

Mozart (1756 - 1791)

I. Andante cantabile II. Allegro III. Andante con variazione Sonata for Piano & Violin in G, Op. 96 (1812)

Beethoven (1770-1827)

I. Allegro moderato II. Adagio espressivo III. Scherzo: Allegro IV. Poco allegretto ***INTERMISSION*** Violin Sonata No.2 in E-flat, Op.18 (1887/1888)

R. Strauss (1864 - 1949)

I. Allegro, ma non troppo II. Improvisation: Andante cantabile III. Finale: Andante - Allegro Louisa Stonehill - Violin & Nicholas Burns – Piano 9

Piano Trios by Mozart and Tchaikovsky Friday, November 10 – 7:30 pm, Stonewall Farm, Keene Sunday, November 12 – 3:00 pm, The Park Theatre, Jaffrey

Divertimento in B-flat major, K. 254 (1776)

Mozart (1756 - 1791)

I. Allegro assai II. Adagio III. Rondeau. Tempo di menuetto Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50 (1881-82)

Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

I. Pezzo elegiaco. Moderato assai - Allegro giusto II. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto - Variazioni finale e coda Louisa Stonehill – Violin, Guy Johnston – Cello & Nicholas Burns – Piano

Mendelssohn, Schubert, Beethoven & Schumann Solo Piano Works Friday, December 8 – 7:30 pm, The Park Theatre, Jaffrey Sunday, December 10 – 3:00 pm, Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole Rondo Capriccioso in E minor, Op.14 (1828-30) Four Impromptus, D.899 (1827)

Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) Schubert (1797 - 1828)

I. C minor II. E-flat major, moto perpetuo III. G-flat major IV. A-flat major

Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 (1820)

Beethoven (1770 - 1827)

I. Vivace ma non troppo - Adagio espressivo - Tempo I II. Prestissimo III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung (Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo)

***INTERMISSION*** Piano Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op.22 (1830-38)

Schumann (1810 – 1856)

I. So rasch wie möglich II. Andantino. Getragen III. Scherzo. Sehr rasch und markiert IV. Rondo. Presto possible, Prestissimo, quasi cadenza

Nicholas Burns – Piano

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Bohemian Treasures for Violin & Piano Friday, February 16 – 7:30 pm, The Park Theatre, Jaffrey Sunday, February 18 – 3:00 pm, Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole Four Romantic Pieces, Op. 75, B. 150 (1887) I. Cavatina -Moderato II. Capriccio – Poco allegro III. Romance – Allegro IV. Elegy or Ballad - Larghetto

Dvořák (1841 - 1904)

Violin Sonata (1914)

Janáček (1854-1928) I. Con moto II. Ballada III. Allegretto IV. Adagio

From the Homeland (1880)

Smetana (1824 - 1884) I. Moderato II. Andantino - Moderato ***INTERMISSION***

Ballade in D minor, Op. 15, No. 1, B.139 (1884)

Dvořák (1841 - 1904)

Four Pieces, Op. 17 (1900)

Suk (1874 - 1935) I. Quasi Ballada II. Appassionato III. Un poco triste IV. Burleska

Louisa Stonehill – Violin, Nicholas Burns – Piano

Piano Trios by Schubert, Brahms & Chopin Friday, March 22 – 7:30 pm, Stonewall Farm, Keene Sunday, March 24 – 3:00 pm, Park Theatre, Jaffrey Notturno in E-flat major, Op. 148 (1827)

Schubert (1797 - 1828)

Piano Trio No.2 in C, Op.87 (1880-1882)

Brahms (1833 - 1897)

I. Allegro moderato II. Andante con moto III. Scherzo IV. Allegro giocoso ***INTERMISSION*** Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8 (1928/1829)

Chopin (1810 - 1849)

I. Allegro con fuoco II. Scherzo: Vivace III. Adagio sostenuto IV. Finale: Allegretto Louisa Stonehill – Violin, Guy Johnston – Cello & Nicholas Burns – Piano

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Bach, Haydn, Bosman, & Korngold String Quartets Friday, April 26 – 7:30 pm, Stonewall Farm, Keene “O Mensch, bewein’dein’ Sünde gross” BWV 622 (1708-17)

Bach (1685 - 1750)

String Quartet in B-flat major, Op. 50, "Prussian", No. 1, Hob.III:44 (1787)

Haydn (1732 – 1809)

I. Allegro II. Adagio III. Menuetto. Poco allegretto IV. Finale. Vivace ***INTERMISSION*** String Quartet (1927)

Henriëtta Bosmans (1895 – 1952) I. Allegro molto moderato II. Lento III. Allegro molto

String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 34 (1945) I. Allegro moderato II. Scherzo. Allegro molto III. Sostenuto. Like a folk tune.

IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco

Korngold (1897 – 1957)

The Heath Quartet - Sara Wolstenholme & Juliette Roos – Violin, Gary Pomeroy – Viola & Christopher Murray - Cello

Piano Trios by Smetana and Mendelssohn Friday, May 17 – 7:30 pm, The Park Theatre, Jaffrey Sunday, May 19 – 4:00 pm, Alyson’s Orchard, Walpole Piano Trio No. 1 in G minor, Op. 15 (1855)

Smetana (1824 - 1884)

I. Moderato assai II. Allegro, Ma Non Agitato III. Presto ***INTERMISSION*** Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 (1839)

Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847)

I. Molto allegro ed agitato II. Andante con moto tranquillo III. Scherzo IV. Finale Louisa Stonehill – Violin, Francisco Vila – Cello & Nicholas Burns – Piano

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Piano Quartets by Mahler, Schumann & Brahms Friday, June 7 – 7:30 pm, Stonewall Farm, Keene Sunday, June 9 – 4:00 pm, The Park Theatre, Jaffrey Piano Quartet in A minor (1876)

Mahler (1860-1911)

Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 47 (1842)

Schumann (1810 - 1856)

I. Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo II. Scherzo: Molto vivace – Trio I – Trio II III. Andante cantabile IV. Finale: Vivace ***INTERMISSION*** Piano Quartet No. 3, in C minor, Op. 60, “Werther” (1875)

Brahms (1833 - 1897)

I. Allegro non troppo II. Scherzo. Allegro III. Andante IV. Finale. Allegro comodo Louisa Stonehill - Violin, Masumi Per Rostad - Viola, Thomas Mesa - Cello, Nicholas Burns – Piano

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Louisa Stonehill

Violin Program & Artistic Director, Ashuelot Concerts British-American violinist, Louisa Stonehill is a dedicated chamber musician and co-founder of Ashuelot Concerts. She has recorded four critically-acclaimed albums of violin sonatas and concerti for Nimbus and Lyrita. Louisa has performed all over the world, from London to New York and most recently, Beijing.

Louisa previously enjoyed a successful career in orchestral music with the City of London Sinfonia, Britten Sinfonia and BBC Concert Orchestra. She has also worked with the Royal Philharmonia Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Symphony Orchestra and Opera Holland Park. She regularly performed at the BBC Proms in London (the largest classical music festival in the world) and often broadcast for BBC TV and radio.

A skilled and experienced educator, Louisa has always enjoyed teaching alongside her performing career. She has taught at the Royal College of Music and Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. She has coached young ensembles at The Royal College of Music, London, and from 2009-2016 ran a thriving private music studio in London.

Louisa began playing the violin just before her fourth birthday, inspired by her musical grandmother.

At ten, she won a place at the prestigious Purcell School of Music in London. After completing her formal education at Birmingham and Trinity Laban Conservatoires, Louisa was fortunate to continue her studies at IMS Prussia Cove and took part in many of the inaugural ChamberStudio masterclasses at Kings Place. She studied with such eminent musicians as Leland Chen, Richard Ireland, Anthony Marwood, Krysia Osostowicz, Henk Guittart, Christoph Richter, William Howard and David Waterman.

Louisa plays on a wonderful English violin made in 2023 by Glen Collins which has been named after her. It is based on the Lord Wilton Guarneri del Jesu once owned by the late Yehudi Menuhin.

Since moving to New Hampshire in 2016, Louisa has been enjoying her new environment with her husband and two young boys. She is a keen hiker and skier, loves photography and rolling out her yoga mat for some down time!

Nicholas Burns

Piano Artistic & Executive Director, Ashuelot Concerts British Pianist Nicholas Burns has dedicated most of his professional life to chamber music after initially pursuing a conducting career. He now serves as full-time Artistic & Executive Director of Ashuelot Concerts, presenting concerts and school performances to thousands each year in the Monadnock Region in New Hampshire.

Nick has performed all over the world and recorded four critically acclaimed albums for Nimbus & Lyrita.

A committed educator, Nick has always found time to coach and teach alongside his performances. He has taught masterclasses at Dartmouth College & Trinity Laban Conservatoire. Before leaving London he ran a successful private teaching studio from 20052016. He was also an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music until 2017, adjudicating music exams all over the world.

Nick studied Music at Bristol University before completing a conducting graduate degree at Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. He was Music Director of the New Orpheus Ensemble from 2003-2008 and conducted I Maestri, Gravesend Youth Orchestra, Kent Schools Orchestra and New Sussex Opera before his passion for chamber music led him to devote almost all of his time to the piano. He attended the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove in 2010 and spent each January in residence at the Banff Centre in Canada from 2012-2014. From 2010-2012 he was a regular participant in the ChamberStudio masterclasses at Kings Place in London, and was fortunate to study with some of the world's leading chamber musicians.

Since making the move to New Hampshire, Nick has been enjoying exploring the beautiful Monadnock region he now calls home, especially the hiking, kayaking and skiing nearby.

When not immersed in music, Nick loves taking photos and following Formula 1!

Masumi Per Rostad Viola

Praised for his “burnished sound” (The New York Times) and described as an “electrifying, poetic, and sensitive musician,” the Grammy Award-winning, Japanese-Norwegian violist Masumi Per Rostad hails from the gritty East Village of 1980s New York. He was raised in an artist loft converted from a garage with a 1957 Chevy Belair as the remnant centerpiece in their living room. Masumi began his studies at the nearby Third Street Music School Settlement at age three and has gone on to become one of the most in demand soloists, chamber musicians, teachers. In addition to maintaining an active performance schedule, he serves on the faculty of the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Masumi regularly tours internationally and has performed at many of the most prominent festivals, including Marlboro, Spoleto USA, Music@Menlo, Caramoor, Music in the Vineyards, Bowdoin, and the Aspen Music Festival. His guest violist collaborations include programs with the St Lawrence, Ying, Pavel Haas, Miró, Verona, and Emerson String Quartets, as well as with the Horszowski Trio. He toured and recorded extensively as a former member of the International Sejong Soloists. He can be heard on the Cedille Records, Naxos, Hyperion, Musical Observations, Bridge, and Tzadik record labels.

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As a member of the Pacifica Quartet for almost two decades (2001-2017), Masumi regularly performed in the world’s greatest halls including Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Sydney’s City Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, Vienna’s Konzerthaus and Musikverein, Munich’s Herkuleshaal, Paris’ Louvre and Cité de la Musique, and Berlin’s Konzerthaus among many others. He was full professor of viola and chamber music as quartet-in-residence at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. In 2006, the ensemble was awarded the coveted Cleveland Quartet Award, Avery Fisher Career Grant, and they were also named Musical America’s 2009 Ensemble of the Year.

Masumi is an ardent advocate for the arts, and often sought after as a contributing writer to such publications as the Huffington Post, Strings and Gramophone magazines as well as The Guardian.

Passionate about breaking down barriers that prevent people from enjoying Classical music, Masumi was the founder of DoCha, a chamber music festival in Champaign, Illinois that produced innovative events with a focus on engaging new audiences through fun and inventive programming. DoCha-hosted events featured unique collaborations between members of the University and multi-genre presentations from Classical chamber music to contemporary dance, the spoken word, and much more. All programs were free of charge and took place at a beautiful former community Opera House. Other activities of DoCha, included ‘in-reach’ performances for elementary school students as well as master classes, competitions and performance opportunities for local music students.

Masumi has served on the faculties of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, The University of Chicago, Longy School of Music, and Northwestern University. He has given master classes at The Colburn School, Cleveland Institute of Music, The Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Interlochen and San Francisco Conservatory among many others.

He received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School. There, he studied with legendary violist and pedagogue Karen Tuttle from the age of 17 and was made her teaching assistant just three years later at the age of 20. At Juilliard, he was awarded the ‘Lillian Fuchs Award’ for the most outstanding graduating violist. He also won the Juilliard School Concerto Competition and performed the world premiere of Michael White's Viola Concerto in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, with conductor James DePreist. That same year he gave the New York premiere of Paul Schoenfield's Viola Concerto with the Juilliard Symphony to critical acclaim. In 2008 he was awarded the ‘Rising Star Award’ by the Third Street Music School Settlement for his musical achievements Masumi lives in Rochester, NY with his wife Sonia – a concert pianist – and their daughter, Ling. He is professor of viola and chamber music at the Eastman School of Music. He is a D’Addario Artist and has used their strings since 1999. Celebrating a 400 year birthday in 2019, his Amati viola was crafted in Cremona, Italy in 1619.

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Guy Johnston Cello

Guy Johnston is one of the most exciting British cellists of his generation. His early successes included winning the BBC Young Musician of the Year, and significant awards, notably the Shell London Symphony Orchestra Gerald MacDonald Award, Suggia Gift Award and a Young British Classical Performer Brit Award.

He has performed with many leading international orchestras including the London Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony, Britten Sinfonia, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo, Moscow Philharmonic and St Petersburg Symphony.

Recent seasons have included a BBC Prom with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, concertos with The Hallé, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of Opera North, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Aurora Orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia and Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie and Orchestra of The Swan.

Performances and recordings with eminent conductors have included collaborations with Alexander Dmitriev, Sir Andrew Davis, Daniele Gatti, Ilan Volkov, Leonard Slatkin, Mark Wigglesworth, Robin Ticciati, Sir Roger Norrington, Sakari Oramo, Vassily Sinaisky, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Yuri Simonov.

Guy is a passionate advocate for chamber music and recitals as founding Artistic Director of the Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival and performs regularly at prestigious venues and festivals across Europe including Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Louvre Museum, the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moritzburg Festival, Three Choirs Festival and MusicFest Aberystwyth, collaborating with instrumentalists such as Anthony Marwood, Brett Dean, Huw Watkins, Janine Jansen, Kathy Stott, Lawrence Power, Melvyn Tan, Mishka Rushdie Momen, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Tom Poster.

A prolific recording artist often championing contemporary British composers, Guy’s forthcoming releases include Dobrinka Tabakova’s Cello Concerto with The Hallé and Rebecca Dale’s ‘Night Seasons’ with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Other recordings include a premier of the completed Howells’ Cello Concerto, reconstructed by Jonathan Clinch, with Britten Sinfonia gaining 5 star reviews, a celebration disc of the tricentenary of his David Tecchler cello with commissions by Charlotte Bray, David Matthews, Mark Simpson and a collaboration with the acclaimed Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, where the cello was made.

He gave the premiere of Charlotte Bray’s ‘Falling in the Fire’ at the BBC Proms and 23

Joseph Phibbs ‘Cello Sonata’ at Wigmore Hall. His 2024/2025 season will see the world premiere of Joseph Phibbs’ Cello Concerto for Guy and BBC Symphony Orchestra. Other premières include Emma Ruth Richards ‘Until a Reservoir no longer remains’ and a recording of Matthew Kaner’s solo suite for cello.

In addition to a busy and versatile career as an international soloist, chamber musician and guest principal, Guy is an inspiring leader of young musicians. He is Associate Professor of Cello at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and a guest Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was awarded an Hon. ARAM in 2015. He has recently been appointed President of the European String Teachers Association and is patron of several charities which promote music education for school children and young people including Music First and Future Talent. He is also a board member of the Pierre Fournier Award for young cellists.

Guy Johnston plays the 1692 Antonio Stradivari cello known as the “Segelman, ex Hart” kindly loaned to him through the Beare’s International Violin Society by a generous patron.

Tommy Mesa Cello

Dr. Tommy Mesa, Cuban-American cellist, has established himself as one of the most charismatic, innovative, and engaging performers of his generation. He is the recipient of the 2023 Sphinx Medal of Excellence Award, First Prize in the 2016 Sphinx Competition, and Winner of the Astral Artists 2017 National Auditions. He has appeared as soloist with major orchestras such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The Cleveland Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

Highlights in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons include premiering and touring Jessie Montgomery’s Divided for solo cello and orchestra, around thirty recitals, a residency at Colburn Conservatory, curating and performing chamber music programs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, debut concerto recording with Sphinx Virtuosi on Deutsche Grammophon, and duo recording projects with Olga Kern, JP Jofre, and Michelle Cann. Next season’s venues will include Carnegie Hall, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, The Supreme Court of the United States, Colburn School of Music, Kohler Foundation and numerous others.

Tommy plays a cello on loan by Tarisio made by Guilio Gigli, c.1789. His performance clothing sponsor is Coregami.

Francisco Vila Cello

Francisco Vila began playing the cello at age 8 and had his solo debut with orchestra at 14. Concert activities have taken him throughout Europe, North and South America. Performing collaborations have included those with artists such as Nobuko Imai, Cho-Liang Lin, Gary Hoffman, Wolfram Christ, Toby Hoffman, Sunwook Kim, Martin Chalifour, and members of the Juilliard String Quartet.

Vila has appeared as a soloist with the Houston Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Aalborg Symfoniorkester, Liege Royal Philharmonic, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, Santander Festival Orchestra, Indiana University Philharmonic, and all principal orchestras of his native Ecuador.

He has been a participant at the Ravinia Steans Institute and guest artist at the Beaumaris, Santander, and Stavelot music festivals among others. As a member of the iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates he performed in such venues as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Los Angeles’ Disney Hall, Mozarteum Salzburg, and on international tours.

Mr. Vila views teaching as an important aspect in music-making. In March of 2015, he founded and directs the International Music Festival of Esmeraldas (Ecuador) in his hometown. This is a social project that awards full-tuition scholarships to numerous gifted young talents from Central and South America for two weeks of masterclasses with some of the world’s great artists. For his work with this platform, Mr. Vila has received coveted grants from the US State Department, Tarisio Trust, and the Sphinx MPower Grant.

Vila was granted a Presidential Scholarship to the Boston Conservatory for his Bachelor studies, after which he received a Performance Diploma from Indiana University where he was a student of Janos Starker, Sharon Robinson and Menahem Pressler.

In 2012, he was selected to the inaugural cello class at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, where he earned an Artist Diploma under the famed cellist Gary Hoffman.

In the same year he became the second-prize laureate of the Sphinx Competition in Detroit Michigan.

Mr. Vila serves on the faculty at the Longy School of Music of Bard College and performs on a fine cello crafted by Vincenzo Panormo in 1790 on generous life-term loan from the “Karl McNutt Family Trust” as well as the “ex-Janos Starker” Edward Tubbs bow.

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The Heath Quartet

Sara Wolstenholme & Juliette Roos – Violin, Gary Pomeroy – Viola & Christopher Murray Cello The Heath Quartet formed in 2002 at the Royal Northern College of Music. There were selected for representation by YCAT, awarded a BorlettiBuitoni Special Ensemble Scholarship and in 2012 won the Ensemble Prize at the Festspiele MecklenburgVorpommern where they are now regular visitors. In 2016 they won the Gramophone Chamber Award for their recording of the complete string quartets of Sir Michael Tippett, and in May 2013 became the first ensemble in fifteen years to win the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society’s Young Artists Award.

Their award-winning release of the Tippett was followed by two discs recorded for the Harmonia Mundi/PIAS label featuring Tchaikovsky’s first and third quartets (November 2016) and the complete Bartók quartets (June 2017), the latter of which won the 2017 Limelight Chamber Music Award and was nominated for the 2018 Gramophone Chamber Music Award – both projects were part-funded by the Quartet’s Borletti-Buitoni Trust Special Ensemble Scholarship 2011. Their most recent release on Signum Records with Carolyn Sampson features works by Berg, Webern and Schoenberg.

The 2022/23 season sees the quartet embark on a tour to the US with music of Ravel, Britten, Haydn, Fanny Mendelssohn and Schubert. They continue their longstanding relationship with Mecklenberg Vorpommern summer festival and the Wigmore Hall, opening their Coffee Concert season. Other highlights include recitals with the Manchester Chamber and Bollington concert societies, Brighton Dome Coffee Concerts, St George’s Bristol and Britten Pears Arts.

Recent highlights include the completion of two season residency at the Boulez Saal Berlin, their Barcelona debut in Palau de la Musica Catalana with soprano Carolyn Sampson, a Beethoven series at Bath Festival, debuts at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Saffron Hall and Cheltenham Festival, as well as returns to Handelsbeurs Ghent, Aldeburgh and Norfolk & Norwich festivals.

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2023-24 Schools Program Ashuelot Concerts offers every local school the chance to have some of the music you hear today performed in classrooms. Before each concert weekend, our artists visit local schools to perform for children and share stories of their personal journeys to success. This often means the children are sitting just a few feet away from famous instruments made by Stradivari or Amati over 400 years ago.

Each school program lasts for approximately 45 minutes and includes three performances of selected repertoire from the concert program. Alongside the music, each presentation follows a theme. For example: • How daily habits can change what we think we are capable of: Exploring how each of us is a product of our daily habits (both good and bad) and how small changes can lead to big gains over time.

•

Is something difficult in class, or is it just new? Exploring how the brain reacts negatively to something unfamiliar and how after a few days it can feel so much easier with the right learning techniques.

•

Talent does not exist! Exploring how there is no scientific evidence that explains extraordinary ability but there are many characteristics that high achievers of all disciplines have in common.

•

What music tells us about how to communicate: Exploring how to utilize the four basic elements of music - pitch, rhythm, dynamics and articulation - to improve our speaking and listening skills and maybe even make the world a kinder place.

•

Attention and Focus: Using the music as an example, we explore how our brains can only attend to one sense and one thing at any one time.

St. Joseph Regional School PreK - Grade 8

92 Wilson St, Keene | 603/352-2720 | www.stjosephkeene.org

Small class sizes focused on academic excellence, service, faith, and family

Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Grades 9 - 12

161 Main St, Keene | 603/352-2720 | www.mercyacademykeene.org

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Staff, Board Members & Volunteers Staff

Board Members

Artistic & Executive Director Nicholas Burns

President Steven Larmon Secretary Danielle Ruffo Treasurer Rick MacMillan

Program & Artistic Director Louisa Stonehill Administrator Patti Smith

High-School Volunteers

Maddy Carlson Donovan Carlson Emily Chalice Sydney Hauser Bailey Hundley Buddy Hundley Directors Rachel Kamphuis Christopher Freeman Cate Kamphuis Jean Hoffman Prior Ryan Mark Andrew Shurman Sean Nelligan Eliana Patriquin Hyrum Pinegar Marisol Zilske

Artist Hosts Sally & David Bulger Christopher Freeman & Vinny Ferla Ken & Monica Marshall John & Connie Schlegelmilch Marcy & Chip Southgate Jane & David Stabler

Proud to support Ashuelot Concerts’ efforts to bring more live music into our community

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Music is the Answer!

Ashuelot Concerts is on a mission to bring live chamber music from the world’s leading concert halls to rural venues and schools in our community. As we strive to secure the future of classical music and preserve its many benefits for generations to come, your support is more important than ever.

Last season was the first opportunity for our young organization to run its program in full. Across 16 concerts and 35 school performances, we witnessed countless moments that took our breath away: An autistic child concentrating calmly for longer than ever before; a group of middle school students starting a bracelet business to raise money for our program; a music teacher and visiting artist hugging and crying after being moved to tears by the effect of live string quartets on a group of a few hundred teenagers.

Classical music has the power to uplift spirits, bridge divides, and offers a unique sense of unity. We live in a time where screens, algorithms and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly influential on our attention. Live music offers the perfect antidote, reminding us that nothing synthetic or artificial can transcend the beauty, the meaningful connections and shared experiences of real-life.

Your support has been the driving force behind our progress so far, and we are immensely grateful for your generosity. Today, we are asking for your continued support to sustain our efforts through 2023-24. As you listen and feel the music resonate today, we respectfully ask that you consider donating generously to our program. We welcome gifts of any size and every dollar will be invested in building Ashuelot Concerts’ capacity to provide live-music to inspire and uplift our community, especially children in our schools.

Our program can only succeed with your help. While we are delighted with the enthusiasm we encounter for our program, we remain a young organization in need of support. You can help us build up our organization to become an enduring force for good in this community. Please consider donating monthly or making a one-time gift by scanning the code, using the enclosed gift envelope or visiting our website at ashuelotconcerts.org/donate Every donation dollar will be invested in using live classical chamber music as a force for good in this community.

THANK YOU!

Ways to Support Ashuelot Concerts this Season

Please consider supporting this year’s program, which will involve 17 concerts, 40 school performances and a program for homeschool families. We welcome gifts of any size, but below are some examples of how larger or recurring gifts can help us bring more live music to our community.

One-time gifts:

Recurring donations

Sponsor a Concert - $5,000

$100 per month

Sponsor an Artist - $4,000

$75 per month

Enable a Schools Concert- $2,500

$50 per month

Larger gifts allow our young organization to invest in future programs with confidence: Sponsor one of our world-class chamber music concerts in the Monadnock Region. Your name will appear in the concert program and on any livestream broadcast and our website.

Help support bringing an International Artist to perform in two concerts & four schools in our series.

Sponsor one of our performances in a local school. Your name will appear prominently in our concert program and on our website. Your financial support will also be acknowledged in press releases in the week of the performance.

A small, monthly donation can make a big difference to Ashuelot Concerts over the next 12 months:

Supports our main concert series and helps us secure artists for future seasons.

Help us continue to provide free tickets for school age children at our concerts. Each concert sees a growing number of high school children attending.

Helps us provide live music to one class of children. Join some of our local teachers in supporting Ashuelot Concerts at this level.

Sponsor a Piano Move - $2,000

$25 per month

Support a Concert Venue- $1,000

$10 per month

Help safely move our concert Steinway between our three beautiful venues.

Help with the production of our concerts by supporting the rental of one concert venue.

Help us maintain our beautiful concert Steinway. Each concert requires at least two tunings and several hours of technical work to keep our piano in perfect condition.

Help with Ashuelot Concerts marketing efforts. Central to our mission is reaching people who would never usually attend a classical music concert.

Ashuelot Concerts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation EIN 84-2961387 Ashuelot Concerts, PO Box 181, Keene NH 03431 - telephone 888-3366857

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Ashuelot Concerts’ 2022-23 Season was made possible thanks to the generosity of these wonderful supporters: 2022-23 Corporate Advertisers and Supporters A Casa Piano Studio Aloha Yoga C&S Wholesale Grocers Elm City Rotary Fenton Family Dealerships Fireworks Calgary Charter Chapter of the International Coach Federation Johnson & Johnson Kiwanis Club of Keene Mascoma Bank Monadnock Broadcasting Group NH Trust ReMax Savings Bank of Walpole The Insurance Centre Walmart

2022-23 Foundation, Trusts & Individual Donors Over $25,000 Fidelity Charitable New Hampshire Charitable Foundation

$10,000-$24,999 100+ Women Who Care of Cheshire County Patricia & Richard Dugger Putnam Foundation The Eppes-Jefferson Foundation, Inc.

$5,000-$9,999 Jan & Rick Cohen Frederick Smyth Institute of Music McKenzie Family Charitable Trust Mark Tassinari Anonymous Anonymous

$1,000-$4,999 Ellen & Ed Bernard Christine & Bob Bogino Dhanna Foundation Louise Dierker & David Patek Caroline Edge Christopher Freeman Sandra Furman

Linda Guinane Anne Havill Eric & Dorothy Herr Hoffman Family Foundation J. P. Morgan Charitable Giving Fund Judy & Richard Kalich Leslie & Robin Kenney Joslin Kimball Frank Jane & Steve Larmon Fred & Jean Leventhal Charlton & Diana MacVeagh Bill & Joanne McGee Deborah & Walter Mess Christopher Mills Leo Plante & Veronica Lima Jean Hoffman Prior Josephine Russell John & Constance Schlegelmilch Mark Mees & Ann Shedd Carol Spindler Jane & David Stabler Bob & Gael Strong Ann & Roger Sweet Kim & Maria Temple Ed Tomey & Maich Gardner Vanguard Charitable Waldo & Alice Ayer Trust Elizabeth Wilber

$500-$999 Nancy & David Belletete Sheila Blair & Jonathan Bloom Mimi Bull Larry Dachowski Edward Jones Charitable Gift Fund Caroline & Tom Ewing Charles & Rebecca Gibson John & Jean Hoffman Jean & John Keefe Douglas & Risa Keene Marcia Legru Lynne and Rick Cavallero Frederick MacMillan Timothy McCann Ruth & Ted Parent Augusta H. Petrone Andrew Thomas Shurman Arthur & Lynn Simington Thomas Stearns Ruth Ward Jean Whatley Dorothy Yanish

$250-$499 Theodore Aldrich Mark & Madeline Bodin

Carol Jue Monica Lehner Jean & Thomas Minnich Susan Murata Mary Ann Noyer Daniel & Barbara Peacock Jane & Gary Shapiro Craig Stockwell Susan Stonehill Kristen Tyson Laurence White

Up to $249 Mary Louise Alther Lisa Anderson Laura Andrews Mary Armstrong Diana Bander Sharon Beaty David & Judy Bell Beth & Joseph Bergman Kenneth & Lynn Bergman Cathy Bernius Joan & Ed Berriman Kathleen & Steven Bill Judith Bischoff Greg Blair Carey Bluhm Jean & Craig Brandt Kathleen Brooks Alison Brule Sally Bulger Megan Burke Kidder Nick & Louisa Burns Patricia I. Campbell Emily and Robert Carr Sara Ciborski Charles & Patricia Clark Teresa Clarkson Barb Clews Robert Cochran Ann & Chris Conway Laura Couble Mary Covington Jane Crawford Janene & Ted Crisman John Paul Crisman Annette Dey Julie Dickson Shirley Dunn Gerald Eichner Carolynn Ernst Melanie Everard Margaret Foxweldon Gil & Alice Fuld Alice Funk Abigail & Glenn Galloway

Susan & Samuel Garcia Patrick Gardner Cathy George Cecile Goff Willard Goodwin Erika & Mitchell Greenwald Grove Street Fiduciary Charlotte Guyer Nora Hanke Bridget & Peter Hansel John Hartford Burt & Beth Hollenbeck Susan Howard Barbara Hudgik Sandra Hunt Paul and Marjorie Inderbitzen Ruth Jacobs Elizabeth Stonehill Jacques Matt & Maria Jobbins Susan Johnson Andrea Johnston Michael Jourdan Christine & Heribert Juergens Isabel Jurk Karl Kaiser Jason Kelley Steve Kim Mary King & Shirley Keech Ronald LaChapelle Gail Landy Robert & Loretta Lariviere Jean Larmon Amanda LeBlanc Shirley Llorens-Chen Karen Lyle Kelly Lynch Craig and Sylvia MacBeth Sheila Magnuson Louise Malcolm Susan Marsh & Larry Spang Monica Marshall & Ken Susskind Susan Martin Susan Matthews David & Juliet Max-Muller Susan & John H. McGinnis Jan McGonagle Mary McMahon Richard & Suzanne Merkt Irene Miller Carol Minichiello Dale & Rebecca Montrone Eliza Murphy Elizabeth & Geoffrey Murray Jeff & Susan Newcomer Marcia Oster Carl & Nancy Panza Patricia Parent Lisa Patterson Peggy Pschirrer Judith Putnam

Sarah Reeves Allison Riley Judy Rogers Danielle & Anthony Ruffo Marcy Schepker Robert & Tracy Shalit Peter Shea Linda Singer Jennifer Skelton Louise Slayton John Snyder Marcy Southgate Jennifer Spear-O'Mara Homer Stavely Linda Stavely David & Pollianne Stenstrom Debra Stevens & Anthony Toepfler Sue Sweeney Jane Taylor Jeffrey Taylor Kathryn & Jon Thatcher Kristen Thies Robert & Margaret Trebilcock Anthony and Barbara Tremblay Doug Trump Peggy Ueda Jules van Schaijik Susan Weber Jamie Wheeler Rebecca Wilber Aylene Wozmak Louise Zerba Alan & Linda Zuckerman

The keys on our beautiful Concert Steinway were sponsored by the following generous donors in 2021: Multiple Octave Sponsors (above $25,000) Anonymous

Octave Sponsors ($10,000$24,499) Hoffman Family Foundation The Putnam Foundation

Half-Octave Sponsors ($5,000-$9,999) Jan & Rick Cohen

In honor of their Grandchildren: Emma, Neko, Isadora, Isaac, Juno and Benjamin

Multiple Key Sponsors ($1,251-$4,999) Mascoma Bank Savings Bank of Walpole Mark Tassinari

Key Sponsors ($1,250) Suzanne Coble

In memory of: Stella P. Coble

Patricia & Richard Dugger Tom & Caroline Ewing Karen Friedman Sandra Furman Linda Guinane Bridget & Peter Hansel Eric & Dorothy Herr Steven & Jane Larmon Fred & Jean Leventhal Jean Hoffman Prior Savastano Family Foundation Linda Singer Jane & David Stabler Linda Stavely Wondrous Roots, Inc

Half-Key Sponsors ($625$1,249) Larry Dachowski Doug & Risa Keene Carol & Henry Spindler

Contributing Sponsors (Up to $624) Patricia I. Campbell Robert Cochran Glenn Galloway Dan and Nancy Gillard Kapiloff Insurance Leslie & Robin Kenney Joslin Kimball Frank Richard MacNeil Margaret and John McMahon Karine Munk Finser Susan Murata Julia Pakradooni Daniel & Barbara Peacock Jean Rosenthal John & Constance Schlegelmilch Peter Shea Patricia & Lawrence Smith Debra Stevens Betsy Taylor & Lindsay E. Freese Hilary Thripp Robert & Margaret Trebilcock Anthony and Barbara Tremblay Katherine Van Wely Jamie Wheeler

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Hannah Grimes Marketplace is pleased to annoumce the opening of our spacious gallery featuring an exquisite juried selection of fine art from around our region.

Visit hannahgrimesgallery.com for hours and more information on current shows and events.

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42 Main Street | Keene | 603.352.6862 hannahgrimesgallery.com

Sup p or ti ngLoc alBus i nes sEv er y d ay wi t ht a r get edov er t hea i ra nddi gi t a l c a mpa i gnsdes i gnedt odr i v er es ul t s .

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Thank you for your support

ashuelotconcerts.org