July 28, 2026 Faculty Recital

Philadelphia International Music Festival Recital featuring Kimberly Fisher Principal Second Violin The Philadelphia Orchestra

John Koen Cello The Philadelphia Orchestra

Travis Peterson Associate Principal Trumpet The Philadelphia Orchestra

Mark Livshits Piano Curtis Institute of Music

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 7:00 PM

Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion Valley Forge Military College

Kimberly Fisher joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1992 and has served as Principal Second Violin since 2002. She has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras including The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony. As recitalist and chamber musician she has performed across the United States and Canada, and in England, Spain, France, Germany, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Argentina. Ms. Fisher has appeared in chamber music settings in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Mogador Theater in Paris, the Kimmel Center, and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and in collaborations with internationally renowned artists such as Wolfgang Sawallisch, Cristoph Eschenbach, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and many others.

In 1997 Ms. Fisher co-founded the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF), a highly successful summer music program, to encourage and inspire musicians of all levels. Originally just for string players, the Festival now includes all symphonic instruments plus piano and vocal programs and features innovative specialty programs to help students prepare for auditions, improve practice, and address performance issues. PIMF includes students of all ages and all levels who attend from around the world to study privately with musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

In 1997 Ms. Fisher co-founded the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF), a highly successful summer music program in residence at Bryn Mawr College, to encourage and inspire musicians of all levels. Originally just for string players, the Festival now includes all symphonic instruments plus piano and features innovative specialty programs to help students prepare for auditions, improve practice, and address performance issues. PIMF includes students of all ages and all levels who attend from around the world to study privately with musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, PIMF was one of the first music programs to successfully adapt to virtual access to master classes, lessons, and full summer camp for students.

Ms. Fisher is an active pedagogue whose students have performed as soloist with major orchestras, have attended distinguished music conservatories, are members of professional orchestras, and have won many awards and competitions. Her energetic, communicative teaching style has led to invitations to present master classes, lessons, and seminars around the world.

John Koen has been a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra since 1990. He was promoted to Acting Assistant Principal, and then Acting Associate Principal Cello from 2011 to 2016. He graduated from The Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with David Soyer and Peter Wiley of the Guarneri Quartet. He has collaborated in chamber music with Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Christoph Eschenbach, Stephen Hough, Lang Lang, Wolfgang Sawallisch, JeanYves Thibaudet, and many others.

Reminder: Please silence cell phones and other electronic devices for all performances.

PIMF is a program of Sandy Marcucci International Camps, Inc.

Mr. Koen became the Music Director of the Philadelphia Chamber Ensemble in 2022. He performs as a recitalist and as a soloist with orchestras across America as well as in Europe.

He has given master classes in universities from Seoul to Sofia and has been artist faculty at Temple University since 2006.

His recording of "Seven Mad Gods" by Robert Maggio was nominated for GLAAMA’s "Best Instrumental Performance.” He received the C. Hartman Kuhn award from The Philadelphia Orchestra for “a musician who has shown both musical ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the musical standards and reputation of The Philadelphia Orchestra.”

His interests include reading, languages, traveling, food and health, technology, and playing with his two cats.

Travis Peterson officially joined The Philadelphia Orchestra as Associate Principal Trumpet in 2026 after having served as Principal Trumpet with the Utah Symphony since 2013. He is a proud native of rural Minnesota, having grown up on a dairy farm, far from the concert hall. He attributes his smooth tone quality and warm timbre on the trumpet to all the butter and cheese he consumed throughout his childhood.

While in high school and during his first years in college, he was also a member of the drum and bugle corps, The Madison Scouts. After high school, he went on to study music education at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he studied with Edmund Cord.

After finishing his degree at IU, he went on to receive his Graduate Diploma in trumpet performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA. He studied with Ben Wright and Tom Rolfs, from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, both of whom he considers his mentors to this day. He is honored to be an alumnus of the illustrious New World Symphony, where he was a fellow in Miami Beach for three years under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas from 2010-2012. He credits his time there as a seminal moment in his growth into the musician he is today.

During the 2025/26 season, he served as the acting associate principal trumpet with The Philadelphia Orchestra. During the summer of 2025 and 2026, he could be seen as guest principal trumpet with the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson, Wyoming. He has also performed with the String’s Festival in Steamboat Springs, CO and the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, MN. Travis has performed several times with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including their 2015 European Tour. He has also performed as guest principal trumpet with the San Francisco Symphony and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and ROCO in Houston, TX. In past years, he has performed with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto USA Festival Orchestra, Artosphere Festival Orchestra, Opera North, the Gran Park Festival Orchestra, and the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego. Previously, he was on adjunct faculty at the University of Utah, and this year will assume that role at Temple University. Travis enjoys working with students. As an active Reminder: Please silence cell phones and other electronic devices for all performances.

PIMF is a program of Sandy Marcucci International Camps, Inc.

educator, he has led masterclasses at many fine institutions including Manhattan School of Music, Utah Valley University, University of Central Florida, and New World Symphony. He has enjoyed curating chamber performances in the past in SLC and in his hometown for his childhood community and looks forward to doing the same in Philadelphia.

Travis resides in Philadelphia with his wife and their Minnie Aussie Doodle, Millie.

GRAMMY Award winning pianist Mark Livshits is one of the most highly sought after soloists and chamber musicians in Philadelphia.

He appears frequently in concert with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as with the orchestra as a substitute in the keyboard section.

In addition to performances at the Salzburg Festival, solo recitals at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, and Bilbao Philharmonic Society, Dr. Livshits has also worked closely with musicians such as Yannick Nezet Seguin, Stephane Denève, Michael Tilson Thomas, Nikolaj Znaider, Nathalie Stutzman, Leonidas Kovakos, Gil Shaham, Lynn Harrell, Midori, Christoph Eschenbach, Alisa Weilerstein, Measha Brueggergosman, Daniel Lozakovich, Dave Brubeck, Nick Canellakis and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, YeEun Choi under the auspices of IMG Artists and the AnneSophie Mutter Foundation.

In 2015, he was called to replace Yannick NezetSeguin in a chamber music performance of Brahms Third Quartet for Piano and Strings with members from the Philadelphia Orchestra and has been invited to perform in chamber programs with members of the orchestra since then. He is often called to play orchestral piano in the orchestra as well. Dr. Livshits has received invitations to perform for dignitaries such as Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Joe Biden.

Dr. Livshits currently serves on faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music and is on faculty as the head of collaborative piano at the University of Delaware. He also serves on the faculty at the Philadelphia International Music Festival.

Mark Livshits is a Steinway Artist.

Reminder: Please silence cell phones and other electronic devices for all performances.

PIMF is a program of Sandy Marcucci International Camps, Inc.

With Malice Toward None

John Williams (b. 1932) Travis Peterson, trumpet Mark Livshits, piano

Cello Sonata, Op.19 I. Lento—Allegro moderato II. Allegro scherzando III. Andante IV. Allegro mosso

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

John Koen, cello Mark Livshits, piano Intrada

Otto Ketting (1935–2012) Travis Peterson, trumpet

— INTERMISSION — Piano Trio No.1, Op.19 I. Molto Allegro agitato II. Andante con moto tranquillo III. Scherzo. Leggiero e vivace IV. Finale. Allegro assai appassionato

Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)

Kimberly Fisher, violin John Koen, cello Mark Livshits, piano

Reminder: Please silence cell phones and other electronic devices for all performances.

PIMF is a program of Sandy Marcucci International Camps, Inc.

PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL ITALY August 4 – August 14, 2026 | Cremona, Italy

Milan

Verona

Brescia

Florence

Cremona

Genoa

FACULTY Kimberly Fisher

Principal Second Violin The Philadelphia Orchestra

John Koen

Cello The Philadelphia Orchestra

Mark Livshits

Faculty Pianist Curtis Institute of Music

Philadelphia International Music Festival – Italy (August 4–August 14, 2026) is designed for string musicians and pianists 13-19 years of age preparing for upcoming solo performances and competitions. This exciting new program will include: three private lessons, daily 30-minute workout sessions with an assigned faculty accompanist, daily hour-long solo performance classes, five hours of required daily private practice, and a week-ending Grand Finale Recital in one of the stunning performance halls in Cremona.

Students and families will both reside in Cremona, Italy, enjoying authentic Italian-style meals throughout the week-long program. While students are in training, guests attending the “Family & Friends” program will tour the surrounding towns via Luxury Motorcoach. Destinations include Milan, Verona, Brescia, Florence, Genoa, and Sirmione! Students will join the traveling adventures at the conclusion of the Grand Finale performance on August 11th, 2026.

PIMF "Music in the Mansion" Winter Solo Performance Intensive

December 28, 2026 – January 2, 2027

MIAMI, FL (DECEMBER 28, 2026–JANUARY 2, 2027) ― One of PIMF’s most popular programs EVER is the winter break intensive for strings at Miami’s beautiful Casa Tranquilla estate. Designed for advanced string players 13-19 years of age preparing for upcoming solo performances and competitions, this unique mini-camp gathers twenty-five talented young musicians to rev up their skills and start the new year on a high note.

Days are packed with a laser focus on skill building and technique refinement, while the evenings are opportunities to perform and be challenged in Master Classes. This program includes: four private lessons, daily 30-minute workout sessions with assigned faculty accompanists, daily hourlong solo performance classes, five hours of required daily private practice, and a week-ending Grand Finale Recital.

The mansion offers indoor and outdoor spaces for private lessons and studio classes with faculty that include Kimberly Fisher (Principal Second Violin, The Philadelphia Orchestra), Richard Amoroso (violin, The Philadelphia Orchestra), and John Koen (cello, The Philadelphia Orchestra), as well as daily workouts and coaching sessions with piano accompanists.

And throughout, a spectacular gourmet menu, complete with daily High Tea prepared by a gourmet chef, in a world of elegance and pampering to elevate young musicians’ entire educational experience. In an entirely new way to study their craft, Music in Mansion surrounds them with beauty and excellence so the only thing they need to focus on is performance.

String players are invited to start 2027 with fresh insights and inspiration, new connections, and glowing memories. Music in the Mansion fills to capacity each season, so early auditions are advised.

SIGN UP TODAY FOR

Philadelphia International Music Festival 2027 AND SAVE ON YOUR TUITION

REGISTER TODAY! Can't wait to come back? Save $400 for 2027 when registering before you leave―our LARGEST alumni scholarship of the year!

Use code "PIMFJUNE" at check-out to save $400!

PIMF 2027 Dates June 19 – July 2

Thank you for choosing the Philadelphia International Music Festival as your home for summer music studies.

856.875.6816 info@pimf.org PhiladelphiaMusicFestival.org