Trials to Triumph Concert Program

Concerts @ First and Challenge the Stats

Present

Trials to Triumph MLK Day Concert

Trials to Triumph MLK Day Concert Co-presented with Concerts @ First and Challenge the Stats Challenge the Stats in Residence at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta Andrew Brady, Bassoon Elizabeth Pridgen, Piano

Trouble Don’t Last

Mark Lomax II

Elegy for Innocence

Jeffrey Scott (b. 1967)

INTERMISSON

My Young Friend

Poem of Love

Stefan L. Smith (b. 1985)

H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932)

About the Artists Native Tennessean Andrew Brady joins The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in the 2022.23 season as Principal Bassoon. Brady comes to Minnesota from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, having served there as Principal Bassoon since January 2016. Prior to the ASO, Brady held the same position for two years with the Louisiana Philharmonic.

As a soloist, Brady has performed concertos by Hertel, Rossini, Mozart, Weber and Zwilich with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Symphony, the Los Angeles Doctor’s Symphony and The Colburn Orchestra. He appears regularly as Principal Bassoonist with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and he has performed as guest principal with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as at Carnegie Hall and on European tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Brady’s artistry is in high demand and has taken him to South Africa, Korea, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom as well as many destinations within the contiguous United States for both performances and teaching engagements. In past summers, Brady has been a proud member of the Chineke! Orchestra including a performance at the 2017 BBC Proms. The ensemble is the UK’s first Black and ethnically diverse orchestra and seeks to promote diversity and change within classical music by increasing representation and visibility of musicians of color. Andrew is also thrilled to have participated in the “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” concert with the Re-Collective Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl in June 2022. The concert was broadcast live on CNN and marked the first performance of an all-black orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. The celebration featured such legendary artists as Chaka Khan, The Roots, Michelle Williams and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Enthusiastically involved in music education, Brady has taught as an Artist-in-Residence at Kennesaw State University, and he is sought after for masterclasses and private tutelage.

He has also served on the faculties of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Brevard Music Center, Festival Napa Valley and National Youth Orchestra/NYO2 through Carnegie Hall.

Brady graduated with his Bachelor of Music degree from The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in 2013, where he studied with Richard Beene. Other major teachers and influences include Anthony Parnther, Rick Ranti and Suzanne Nelsen.

About the Artists Praised for her “big piano presence” (American Record Guide), Elizabeth Pridgen has distinguished herself as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent concerts include appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, the Tilles Center on Long Island, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, and the “Rising Stars Series” at the Ravinia Festival. Ms. Pridgen has also performed at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and the Kosciuszko Foundation, and in recitals in Washington D.C., Aruba, Curaçao, and throughout the Southeast. She has appeared as soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Rome Symphony Orchestra, and Dekalb Symphony Orchestra. For seven consecutive seasons she has been a featured performer at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival.

This summer, in addition to Amelia Island, she will be performing at the Rome Chamber Festival in Rome, Italy, the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the Madison Chamber Music Festival in Madison, Georgia. Ms. Pridgen collaborates regularly with Elmar Oliveira, Robert McDuffie, Andres Diaz, the Diaz String Trio, and the American String Quartet. She has also performed with Lynn Harrell, Hilary Hahn, Sarah Chang, Rachel Barton Pine, and Mark O’Connor. Ms. Pridgen is a member of Trio RPM with violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, Director of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and Christopher Rex, Principal Cellist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Pridgen is a Distinguished Artist and Piano Chair at the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University.

Ms. Pridgen received her Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School where she studied with Joseph Kalichstein. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Music as a student of Ann Schein. Other teachers include Claude Frank, Pamela Frank, Leon Fleisher, and Ursula Oppens. Ms. Pridgen spent two summers at the Tanglewood Music Center where she was awarded the piano prize and selected to perform with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble and the Mark Morris Dance Group at Jacob’s Pillow. She has also been a participant at the Aspen Music Festival, International Musicians’ Seminar in Prussia Cove, England, and the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Pridgen currently resides in New York City.

Concerts @ First 2022-2023 Donors Maestro

Angel

Orchestrator

Sally F George in honor of Concerts @ First

Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Jones in memory of Margaret Bates Block

Patron

Eberhard and Ann Voit

Douglas and Mary Allvine

Lisa and Stuart Bondurant in honor of Victoria Shorokhova; in memory of Ned Case

John Cooke

Elizabeth Fogartie

Margaret H. Murphy in memory of Patrick Michael Murphy

Margaret Howell

Charlotte and Tom Shields

Baker and Deborah Smith

Mori Shizuko

Martha Stringer in memory of Jack Stringer

Benefactor

Chis Theodossieu

Jim and Carol Dew in honor of Jens Korndörfer

Friend

Annika Eichenlaub Bryan Ford

Drs. Joseph Bishop and Stuart Noel in memory on June Sanford Jenkins

Guerry and Michelle Mashburn

Carol Brantley and David Web

Arthur and Mamie Mendez

Bland and Monique Byrne

Suzanne Shull

William Heymann

Mrs. Kenneth Taratus

LeAnn and Roger Neuenschwander

Gail and David Watson in memory of Cary and Brooks Lide; Bill Minnich

Lee Passarella

Underwriter

Susan B. Anthony

Charles Johnson

Bland and Monique Byrne

Anne C. Pritchett

Eddy Walter Romero I n memory of Eduardo Romero

To help support Challenge The Stats in Residency at First Presbyterian Church, please contribute to the Challenge the Stats residency fund via: firstpresatl.org/GIVE

Or scan the code below:

Music and Arts Staff Dr. Jens Korndörfer—Director of Worship and the Arts, Organist Ms. Katie Patterson— Director of the School of Fine Arts, Assistant Director of the Arts Dr. Daniel Bara, Dr. Deanna Joseph—Co-Directors of the Choir and Orchestra Ms. Maya Negishi Mikimoto— Administrative Assistant for Music Mr. Brendan Callahan-Fitzgerald— Director of the Children’s choirs Dr. Ana Baida—Director of the Carillon choir Victoria Shorokhova and Rontray Miller– Music Interns

March 15th, 2023 at Noon

First Presbyterian Church of Marietta Lunchtime in Lent: Featuring the Challenge the Stats String Quartet Featuring: Jessica Stinson, Tramaine Jones, Shadwa Mussad, and Alana Bennett - Garcia

Saturday, May 13th 2023 at 7pm

St James United Methodist Church An Evening of Art with the Challenge the Stats String Quartet Featuring: Jessica Stinson, Tramaine Jones, Shadwa Mussad, and Alana Bennett Garcia

Concerts @ First Up next January 20, February 17, April 21 12:00 P.M. Bach’s Lunch Series Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta With members of Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Chamber Players, Vega Quartet Monday, January 16, 2023 3:00 P.M. Trails to Triumph: MLK Day Andrew Brady, bassoon Co-presented with Challenge the Stats Friday, February 10, 2023 8:00 P.M. An Evening in Vienna Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra Friday, March 17, 2023 8:00 P.M. Baroque Splendor: An Evening with Bach Ling-Ju Lai, piano and Rachel Ostler, Violin Sunday, May 21, 2023 3:00 P.M. Atlanta Chamber Players

Saturday, June 17, 2023 8:00 P.M. Challenge The Stats Juneteenth Concert

Full season details and archives available at Concertsatfirst.org Sign up for our mailing list by emailing concerts@firstpresatl.org to get up to date announcements.