5/7/2021 ECMSA Noontime Series Brahms Quartet

Emory

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY of Atlanta

Cooke Noontime Series

This livestream concert is presented by the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts schwartz.emory.edu/virtual-stage Box Office/Audience Information 404.727.5050 • boxoffice@emory.edu

Photographs and Recordings Digital capture or recording of this concert is not permitted.

Event and Program Information Available online at schwartz.emory.edu Cover Design

By Lisa Baron Acknowledgment Eternal thanks to Donna and Marvin Schwartz for their many contributions.

The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta is supported by the Cherry L. Emerson Endowment, the Rebecca Katz-Doft Chamber Music Endowment, the Ethel Orentlicher Gershon Fund, a generous gift from Dr. John and Linda Cooke, the Friends of Music at Emory, and by ongoing donations from music lovers like you.

ECMSA Cooke Noontime Series Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta William Ransom, artistic director

2020 2021

Music of Johannes Brahms

Jessica Shuang Wu, violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; Guang Wang, cello; William Ransom, piano Friday, May 7, 2021, noon Eastern Schwartz Center for Performing Arts Virtual Stage

Program Preshow music provided by the Vega String Quartet

Piano Quartet in G Minor, op. 25

Allegro

Intermezzo: Allegro ma non troppo

Andante con moto

Rondo all Zingarese: Presto

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)

Jessica Shuang Wu, violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; Guang Wang, cello; William Ransom, piano

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Jessica Shuang Wu, violin As a founding member of the Vega String Quartet, quartet in residence at Emory University, Jessica Shuang Wu has performed extensively throughout North America, Asia, and Europe and has been broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today (USA), Radio France, the National Radio of China, the National Radio of the Czech Republic, and Shanghai TV. Her concert appearances include the Vega String Quartet’s critically acclaimed Lincoln Center debut and “a triumphant L. A. debut” (Los Angeles Times), along with performances at the Weill and Zankel recital halls and Issac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Harvard Club in New York, Museum d’Orsay of Paris, Highlands Festival in North Carolina, Aspen Music festival, and La Jolla Concert Series, among many others.

Born in Shanghai, China, Wu began her violin studies at age five and made her solo debut with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra at age twelve. At age nine, she joined the Shanghai Conservatory and began playing chamber music at age thirteen.

In 1998, Wu and the other musicians of the Vega String Quartet won the first prize at the Coleman International Chamber Ensemble Competition and first prize at the Carmel International Chamber Music Competition.

The following year, the quartet was awarded four out of six total prizes from the 1999 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in France, including the International Music Critics’ prize. The quartet has released a CD under Naxos Records Inc., of 20th-century American music.

Wu appears regularly in chamber music concerts with many of today’s leading artists such as Richard Stoltzman, William Preucil, Sarah Chang, Robert McDuffle, Charles Wadsworth, Elliot Fisk, Christopher O’Reily, and the Eroica Trio.

Yinzi Kong, viola Violist Yinzi Kong, born and raised in Shanghai, China, is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Vega String Quartet. Kong began her musical training at age five and gave her first public performances at seven. After moving to the United States in 1995, Kong received a bachelor’s degree from the Harid Conservatory in Florida and a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

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Since winning several top prizes at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in France, the Carmel String Quartet Competition, and the Coleman Competition in the United States with the Vega String Quartet, Kong has enjoyed a versatile career in both solo and chamber music performance and teaching. She has performed in major concert halls all over the world, including on the stages of Carnegie Hall, and her live performances have been heard on NPR’s Performance Today (USA), the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, France Musiques, and the National Radio of the Czech Republic. Kong has also collaborated with some of the finest contemporary musicians including Elliot Fisk, William Preucil, David Shifrin, Richard Stoltzman, Charles Wadsworth, and Sarah Chang, among others.

Guang Wang, cello Cellist of the award-winning Vega String Quartet, recitalist, chamber musician, and educator, Guang Wang has performed in concerts and festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia, including at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein in Vienna, Carnegie Hall in New York, the Mostly Mozart Festival, the Aspen Summer Festival, and many others.

His performance has been heard on some of the nation’s most prominent classical radio broadcasts, including NPR’s Performance Today (United States), the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, and France Musiques.

Born in China, Wang began his cello studies at age eight. In 1994, he became the youngest assistant principal cellist at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. He worked with Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph Eschenbach, and other world leading conductors and played more than 200 concerts throughout Asia before moving to the United States. Wang has a master of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, an artist diploma from Harid Conservatory, and a bachelor of arts degree from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Wang is a founding member of the Vega String Quartet, the quartet in residence at Emory University in Atlanta since 2006. He and the other quartet members perform outreach at community primary schools and they have given master classes at universities. Wang is proud to serve his 6

community as an advocate for music education. He believes strongly in music education at all levels and he has brought in-depth coaching and musical training to adults for whom music is a passion and hobby. His students have won awards at the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2013–2020, and many Young Artists Competitions around Georgia. They have performed at Carnegie Hall and Weill Recital Hall in New York City and also at many events throughout metro-Atlanta.

William Ransom, piano Pianist, artistic director, master teacher, editor, and judge for international competitions, William Ransom appears around the world as a soloist with orchestras, a recitalist, and a chamber musician. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and on television in the United States, Argentina, Poland, and Japan. He regularly collaborates with musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, Richard Stoltzman, William Preucil, Stephen Isserlis, and Robert McDuffie; members of the Emerson, Tokyo, Cleveland, Juilliard, American, St. Petersburg, Borromeo, Parker, Ariel, and Lark string quartets; the Empire Brass Quintet; the Eroica Trio; and the percussion group Nexus; among others. As a master teacher, he also performs and gives master classes at numerous schools of music and universities around the world. He has recorded for ACA Digital and Rising Star Records. Ransom is the Mary Emerson Professor of Piano at Emory University in Atlanta where he is founder and artistic director of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta. A graduate of the Juilliard School and the University of Michigan, Ransom spends summers as artistic director of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival in North Carolina and for a decade was an artistfaculty member at the Kamisaibara Pianists Camp in Japan. In 2016 he was named artistic director of the Juneau Jazz and Classics Festival and also one of Musical America Worldwide’s “30 Musical Innovators.”

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Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta

Now celebrating its 28th season of excellence, the Southeast’s largest and most active chamber music organization brings together some of the city’s finest resident musicians with internationally known guest artists who are dedicated to performing the most delightful, exciting, and interesting music from the chamber repertoire in some of the most acoustically and visually beautiful spaces in Atlanta. Guests have included Yo-Yo Ma, Richard Stoltzman, Alan Gilbert, Dave Brubeck, William Preucil, Eliot Fisk, Robert Spano, and many others.

The mission of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (ECMSA) is to create new generations of passionate and educated music lovers who will cherish and support this great art forever. In addition to presenting an Emerson Series, a Family Series, and the Cooke Noontime Concert Series at Emory, the ECMSA tours, participates in recording projects, commissions new works, and supports numerous community outreach activities.

Education is an integral part of the ECMSA’s mission, and members teach in a wide variety of ways throughout the university and greater community, coach student chamber music ensembles, and give private lessons.

Emory’s String Quartet in Residence program, held by the internationally acclaimed Vega String Quartet, lies at the heart of the ECMSA’s mission to spread this great music throughout the Atlanta community, reaching audiences of all ages. The Vega String Quartet is the first professional string quartet to ever make Atlanta its home base, and as such, it is transforming music education and performance throughout the area.

Until further notice, all ECMSA concerts will be presented online only.

Concerts remain free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated.

William Ransom, artistic director wransom@emory.edu/404.727.6443 8

We thank you for joining us this season on the Schwartz Center Virtual Stage schwartz.emory.edu/virtual-stage

The Donna and Marvin Schwartz Center for Performing Arts is a place where teaching, learning, and performance merge to create a vital arts presence for our community.

At the Schwartz Center, students, faculty, and world-renowned guest artists combine their talents and hard work to share culture, beauty, and provocative work. The arts are among the most exalted and enduring achievements of civilization, and Emory University is proud to provide a place where cultivation of the arts can thrive.

We look forward to welcoming you back to events in person in 2021–2022.

Please check schwartz.emory.edu often for news on our upcoming season.

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Music at Emory Music at Emory brings together students, faculty, and world-class artists to create an exciting and innovative season of performances and events.

In a typical year, Music at Emory presents more than 150 events across multiple Emory venues; however, in this challenging season, we are committed to coming together virtually for a variety of musical offerings.

For spring 2021 concerts, we remain steadfast in our mission and continue to present events virtually based on guidance from Emory University and public health officials. Please visit music.emory.edu for the most up-to-date schedule and announcements.

404.727.5050 music.emory.edu