It Takes Two
From Baroque to the 20th Century
LEVON AMBARTSUMIAN, director/violin
SHAKHIDA AZIMKHODJAEVA, violin/viola
JAY CHRISTY, violin
THOMAS LaMON, cello
GABRIELA McCLELLAN, cello
REID MESSICH, oboe
EVGENY RIVKIN, piano
ANATOLY SHELUDYAKOV, piano
NICHOLAS ENRICO WILLIAMS, director
ARCO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WIND ENSEMBLE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
HODGSON CONCERT HALL
IT TAKES TWO: MUSIC FROM BAROQUE TO THE 20TH CENTURY
Friday, October 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
UGA Performing Arts Center
ARCO Chamber Orchesrta & UGA Wind Ensemble
Levon Ambartsumian, Director
Nicholas Williams, Director
PROGRAM
Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor, RV 531
I. Allegro
II. Largo
III. Allegro
Gabriela McClellan, Cello, Thomas LaMon, Cello
Concerto for Oboe and Violin C Minor, BWV 1060R
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
Reid Messich, Oboe, Jay Christy, Violin
Romanian Rhapsody for Two Violins
Antonio Vivaldi (1678 –1841)
J.S. Bach (1685 –1750)
George Enescu (1881 –1955)
Arr. Nicholas Enrico Williams/Dennis W. Fisher
Levon Ambartsumian, Violin, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, Violin
American Premiere
INTERMISSION
Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra
I. Andante con moto
II. Allegro moderato
III. Allegro molto
Levon Ambartsumian, Violin, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva, Viola
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra (1932)
I. Allegro ma non troppo
II. Larghetto
III. Finale. Allegro molto
Evgeny Rivkin, Piano, Anatoly Sheludyakov, Piano
Max Bruch (1838 –1920)
Francis Poulenc (1899 –1963)
Levon Ambartsumian, director
Nicholas Enrico Williams, director
Violin
Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva
Andre Araujo Souza
Carlos Brena
Jhonni Campos
Alexis Boylan
Lyu Lian
Jieying Wang
Sarah Nienhiser
Clarissa Tamara
Zeyu Yuan
Sarah Ling
Lucas Nyman
Chelsea Afful
Andreea Barca
Viola
Rogelio Bonilla Piedra
Wing Chin Liu
Bryan Johnson
Ava Cosman
Cello
Thomas LaMon
Gabriella McClellan
Zach Helms
Ian Koontz
Bass
Leonardo Lorenco Lopes
Wueliton Zanelatto Dal Pont
Harpsichord
Elena Minko
Flute
Emily Elmore
David Ma
Caroline Wright Pfisterer
Oboe
Marissa Ankeny
Carina Cardoso De Araujo
Xander Herman
Gracee Myers
Michelle Moeller
Brenna Sexton
Clarinet
Lily Kate Akins
Riley Hartman
Elise Larson
Yash Mahadkar
Jaden Skelton
Bassoon
J.T. Holdbrooks
Natasha Pizarro-Guerrero
Saxophone
Owen Cotton
Carter Naughton
Yun Qu Tan
Christopher Victor
Trumpet
Will Tomaszewski
Gilbert P. Villagrana
Horn
Baylee Cook
Peter Dixon
Marianna Schwark
Anleah Walker
Trombone
Joshua Hadaway
Zachary Nelson
Bass Trombone
Victor Guevara
Euphonium
Andrew Haynes
Tuba
Jack Neja
Percussion
Hsiao Huang
Thomas Huff
Grayson Pruitt
Dane Warren
Levon Ambartsumian, Franklin and Regent’s Professor of Violin at the University of Georgia, and formerly professor at the Moscow Conservatory (1978-1993) and Indiana University (1993-1995), is an internationally acclaimed violinist, winner of the 1977 International Violin Competition in Zagreb, the 1979 Montreal International Competition, and of the Soviet Violin Competition in 1981. Ambartsumian is a Merited Artist of Armenia and of the Russian Federation. He is the founder, conductor, and artistic director of the ARCO Chamber Orchestra, now based at the University of Georgia in Athens, USA. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he continues to perform and present master classes around the world. More than fifty compact discs have been released under different recording labels in the USA and Russia.
Nicholas Enrico Williams is a Professor of Music and serves as the Director of Bands at the University of Georgia, where he coordinates one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive university band programs, conducts the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, and oversees the graduate wind band conducting area. Prior to his time in Athens, he was the Director of Wind Bands at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Melbourne, Australia). Before venturing to Australia, Dr. Williams flourished for sixteen years as the Assistant Director of Wind Studies, the Conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, and Concert Band, as well as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of North Texas.
Professor Williams has been a guest conductor with the Opole (Poland) Philharmonic Orchestra; the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”; United States Navy Band; United States Army Field Band; United States Air Force Band; Royal Australian Defence Force Bands; World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Arts Camp; Dallas Winds; Lone Star Wind Orchestra; at the annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois; the College Band Directors National Association national and regional conferences; the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention; and the Texas Music Educators Association Annual Clinic/Convention.
Gabriella McClellan is a fourth-year undergraduate at UGA, pursuing a degree in cello performance under the instruction of James Kim. As a winner of the UGA Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, she performed the first movement of Dvorák’s Cello Concerto in B minor with the orchestra in January 2023. She performed it again with the MasterWorks Festival Orchestra in July 2023 as a winner of the Masterworks Festival Concerto Competition. Gabriella was a finalist in the PRISMA Concerto Competition in 2024 and a prize winner in the Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition in 2023. She has served as principal cellist in the UGA Symphony Orchestra, the PRISMA Festival Orchestra, the Masterworks Festival Orchestra, and the ARCO Chamber Orchestra, with whom she also performed Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin and Cello in B-flat Major in 2022. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has coached with artists such as David Finckel, Raman Ramakrishnan, and Paul Watkins.
Thomas LaMon is a Doctoral Student in Cello Performance at the University of Georgia under the tutelage of James Kim. Being born in Ohio, Thomas attended the Ohio State University for his undergraduate degree and then the University of Georgia for his Masters. He was a finalist of the 2019 Coltman Chamber music competition in Austin, Texas and received the Brahms Award for his chamber music excellence while at Ohio State. Thomas is in the Hodgson graduate string quartet at UGA and has performed on masterclasses for premier groups such as the Emerson Quartet, Trio Con Brio, and the Borromeo Quartet. During his time in Georgia, Thomas has served as principal cellist of the UGA Symphony Orchestra and ARCO Chamber Orchestra.
Jay Christy is the Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and has been a member of the Orchestra since 1992. He also served as Acting Associate Principal Second Violin from 2014-2017, and 2019-present. Other orchestra experiences include performing with the Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. An active violin teacher and coach in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Mr. Christy is an Artist Affiliate at Emory University, and has taught at Georgia Tech, Reinhardt and Covenant colleges.
Mr. Christy has served on the faculties of the Masterworks Festival from 2022 to present, the Brevard Music Center, and the Stringendo School for Strings. He has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras including the National Repertory Orchestra, the Florida Symphony and the Congress of Strings Orchestra in a double concerto with Joseph Silverstein.
His musical training was at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with David Cerone, David Updegraff and Victor Danchenko, and at Indiana University where he was a pupil of the late Franco Gulli. He studied orchestral excerpts with Stephen Majeske of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Dr. Reid Messich serves as Professor of Oboe at the University of Georgia. He maintains an active orchestral career serving as Co-Principal oboist with the IRIS Collective, and Principal oboe of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro John Morris Russell. Each year during the Summer, Messich serves as instructor of oboe and woodwind literature at the MasterWorks Music Festival. In demand, Messich maintains an active international and national performance career. He has served as a guest oboist with many orchestras across the United States, including the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, as well as Principal oboe with the Cleveland Orchestra. Messich received his Bachelor of Music degree at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music where he studied under the direction of Richard Woodhams. He received his Master of Music degree and Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University studying under Dr. Eric Ohlsson. In his spare time Messich’s hobbies include physical strength training and staying active. He loves spending time with his wife, Kaitlin and daughter Lowry.
Native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva graduated from Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. From 1985 to 1990 she performed with Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory Symphony Orchestra under direction of such conductors as Zubin Metha, Pierre Boulez, Valery Gergiev, and many others. As a soloist and chamber musician, she performed in all the major cities of the former Soviet Union in the most prestigious halls such as Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and St. Petersburg Philharmonic concert halls. Ms. Azimkhodjaeva was one of the founders of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra “ARCO.” Since 1989, she has been concertmaster, and soloist with the orchestra and has performed extensively in Europe, South Korea, USA, Canada, and Brazil. Ms.Azimkhodjaeva joined the violin faculty of the University of Georgia School of Music in 1995.
Evgeny Rivkin was born in Russia and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he studied with Professor Evgeny Malinin. He has been the recipient of many major awards, including top prizes in the USSR National Piano Competition in 1977, the Sixth International Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow, the Bayerishe Rundfunk Competition in Munich, 1985, as well as the L. MacMahon International Competition in Lawton, Oklahoma. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Italy, France, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Yugoslavia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other countries in live performances as well as radio and TV broadcasts.
Mr. Rivkin has been a Professor of Piano at the University of Georgia since 1995.
Anatoly Sheludyakov was born in Moscow, where he graduated from the Gnessin Musical Academy. He also graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in the composition class of T. Khrennikov. In 1977, Sheludyakov was the winner of the Russian National Piano Competition. He has performed as a concerto soloist with orchestras, solo recitals, and chamber music performances in Russia, the United States, Germany, Italy, China, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Australia. He has recorded twenty-four discs of piano solo and chamber music. In 1999, he was named a Merited Artist of the Russian Federation. Currently Mr. Sheludyakov is a member of faculty at the University of Georgia.
Scholarships and Graduate assistantships funded by donations to the Thursday Scholarship Fund make it possible for students to learn and pursue their passions at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Please consider a taxdeductible gift to the Thursday Scholarship Fund so we may continue to support our students and make their education possible. Scan the QR code now or reach out to Melissa Roberts at roberts@uga.edu or 706-254-2111.
SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL AREAS OF THE SCHOOL OF MUSIC
In addition to our primary Support and Scholarship Funds, many specialized areas of interest, including our orchestra and choral programs, have support and scholarship funds you can contribute to directly. You can now learn more about all the ways and areas you can support the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Scan the QR code or visit music.uga.edu/giving-and-alumni to the support the Hugh Hodgson School of Music area of your choice.
JOIN THE DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
Gifts of all amounts are greatly appreciated. However, annual giving at the $1,500 level and higher provides membership in the Director’s Circle, our Hugh Hodgson School of Music Honor Roll. Director’s Circle members are invited to exclusive events and performances throughout the academic year.
For large gifts, please contact Melissa Roberts at roberts@uga.edu or 706-254-2111.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA HUGH HODGSON SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
ImaginePossibilities the
7:30 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall MON 10/28
5:30 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall FREE CONCERT WED 10/30
6 p.m.
Edge Concert Hall FREE CONCERT WED 10/30
7:30 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall FREE CONCERT WED 10/30
5:30 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall FREE CONCERT MON 11/4
5:30 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall FREE CONCERT TUES 11/5
Hodgson Concert Hall FRI 11/8 SUN 11/10
7:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
TABLE FOR THREE AT CHEZ JANAU: AN EVENING OF DUOS AND TRIOS
Nine HHSOM faculty present an intimate evening of exquisite music sure to satisfy your appetite. Featuring: “Table for 3 at Chez Janau,” a tonal work with jazz elements by living American composer Paul Ferguson and more.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA SOUTHERN WINDS QUINTET RECITAL
The Southern Wind Quintet is a graduate chamber music ensemble established in 1999 at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.
GUEST ARTIST RECITAL: MATTHEW HIGHTOWER, TUBA
Edge is located in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, 250 River Road, Athens GA
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA WIND SYMPHONY & SYMPHONIC BAND
This concert features works by Barber, Copland, Bernstein, Maslanka, and more between the two ensembles.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA JAZZ ENSEMBLES I & II
Both Jazz Ensembles cover a wide range of jazz eras and styles, with works from Duke Ellington to Thelonius Monk.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BULLDOG BRASS SOCIETY
The Bulldog Brass Society is the premier graduate brass quintet at the University of Georgia.
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA OPERA THEATRE FALL OPERA
Journey through some of opera’s historic arias and moments sung by our graduate opera students and the impeccable UGA voice faculty.