When Cameron University’s Hyunsoon Whang takes her seat at the piano on the University Theatre stage on Friday, October 11, she won’t be alone. The CU professor will be joined by special guest ensemble the Florida Chamber Music Project, an ensemble comprised of seasoned chamber musicians and members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra for a special performance sponsored by the CU Lectures and Concerts Series. Victoria Stjerna, violin; Susan Pardue, viola; and Laurie Casseday, cello, will represent the Florida Chamber Music Project. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets purchased at the door are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, members of the military and non-CU students. Cameron University students, faculty and staff receive one free admission with their CU I.D. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Box Office at 580-581-2346. Tickets can also be purchased in advance online at https://www.cameron.edu/art-music-and-theatre/events/buy-tickets. (Taxes and processing fees apply.)
The concert will feature Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor and Schumann’s Piano Quartet in E-flat major. The Mozart quartet, composed in 1785, features three movements: Allegro in G minor, Andante in B-flat major and Rondo (Allegro) in G major. The Schumann piece was composed in 1842. It consists of four movements: Sostenuto assai – Allegro ma non troppo, Scherzo: Molto vivace – Trio I – Trio II, Andante cantabile and Finale: Vivace.
“These two piano quartets are among the most celebrated in the genre of piano quartets,” says Whang. “I've pushed for Schumann, since this piece happens to be my favorite chamber music work. In January, I’ll be performing with the Florida Chamber Music Project in Jacksonville in an all-Mozart concert in observance of his birthday, so this is a great opportunity to preview that particular piece here at Cameron.”
A native of Sweden, Stjerna has won numerous awards in international competitions in Sweden, Denmark and Hungary. She is a frequently invited guest concertmaster, leader and chamber musician. As one of the founding members of the distinguished European Chamber Orchestra O/Modernt, she frequently tours around Europe. Stjerna has performed at prestigious halls such as Musikverein Vienna, Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and with orchestras like the Stockholm Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Orchestra and the Gothenburg Symphony. She continues to explore a broad repertoire in chamber music, which is her passion. She recently released a CD with Andreas Lavotha (cello), Christin Högnabba (soprano) and Stefan Lindgren (piano), performing music by Swedish composer Laura Netzel.
Pardue is a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra who previously played with the New World Symphony in Miami. A native of North Carolina, she earned a high school diploma and Bachelor of Music degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. Her viola teachers have included Sally Peck in North Carolina, William Lincer at Juilliard and Piero Farulli, with whom she studied in Italy on a Fulbright scholarship.
Casseday hails from Atlanta, where she began studies at age 8 first in violin, then later in cello in the city’s public schools. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a Performers’ Certificate in Applied Music from Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. and a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from Georgia State University in Atlanta before joining the Jacksonville Symphony cello section in 1986. She helped to found both the St. Mark’s Bach Ensemble and Florida Chamber Music Project. Her tenure with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra includes the nurturing of young cellists in the youth orchestra program both as a sectional coach and private instructor. She also concertizes with her husband Kevin, delighting audiences with their cello/double bass duos including a generous sprinkle of humorous personal reflection.
###
PR#24-137
