Steeple Concerts to kick off 2022-23 season with Lincoln Trio this coming Sunday

The season kicks off on Sunday, September 18th with the Lincoln Trio, described as “sensational,” “bewitching,” and “models of vibrancy and control” by GRAMOPHONE Magazine. The celebrated GRAMMY nominated Chicago-based Lincoln Trio—made up of Desirée Ruhstrat, violin, David Cunliffe, cello, and Marta Aznavoorian, piano—takes its name from their home, the heartland of the United States, the land of Lincoln. As part of Lincoln Trio's commitment to new music as well as under-represented composers, this program will highlight trios by women:

Soliloquy -Shalumit Ran
...a circle around the sun... -Augusta Read Thomas
Sanctuary -Stacy Garrop
from The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires -Astor Piazzolla
Silver Dagger -Stacy Garrop
Piano Trio -Rebecca Clarke

The trio, formed in 2003, has been praised for its polished presentations of well-known chamber works and its ability to forge new paths with contemporary repertoire. The group's reputation as a first-rate ensemble draws an eclectic audience of sophisticated music lovers, young admirers of contemporary programs and students discovering chamber music for the first time.

Bringing together performing experience spanning the globe, each member is an artist of international renown. Violinist Desirée Ruhstrat has performed throughout the US and Europe, appearing at the White House and performing on live radio broadcast heard around the world with the Berlin Radio Orchestra; cellist David Cunliffe has performed with the BBC and Royal Scottish orchestras as well as touring as a member of the Balanescu Quartet; pianist Marta Aznavoorian has garnered critical acclaim for her engagements with orchestras and concert halls worldwide including Chicago Symphony Center, John F, Kennedy Center and the Sydney Opera House.

The trio has performed throughout the United States, including appearances at Carnegie's Weil Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Bryant Park Festival, Ravinia Festival, Green Center, Barge Music, Poisson Rouge, the Indianapolis Symphony Beethoven Chamber Music Series, University of Chicago, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series and in Springfield, Illinois, where the trio was chosen to celebrate the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial celebration with President Barack Obama.

International engagements include performances throughout Europe, Asia and South America.

Valuing the importance of cultural diversity in music, the trio are strong supporters of the Chinese Fine Arts Society and the Korean Sejong Cultural Society which has commissioned three works based on Korean themes to be premiered at the University of Chicago and recorded by the Lincoln Trio in 2013.

The Trios extensive discography for the Cedille label includes the entire works for Strings and Piano by Joaquin Turina and their debut album "Notable Women”, which features Grammy and Pulitzer prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon, Joan Tower, Lera Auerbach, Stacy Garrop, Augusta Read Thomas and Laura Schwendinger. Their CD's have received numerous accolades including NAXOS CD of the Month, Baker and Taylor CD Hotlist, Byzantion Recording of the month, TPR Classical Spotlighted album, WQXR/Q2 Music Album of the week, UK Observer Hidden Gems and was listed on Alex Ross of the New Yorker Magazine “Nightafternight playlist for summer's end” and Fanfare magazine “Want List” Other releases on the Cedille label include "Composers In the Loft", "In Eleanors Words: Music of Stacy Garrop" and "The Billy Collins Suite". August 2016 saw the release of their latest CD “Trio’s From Our Homelands” featuring the works of Rebecca Clarke, Arno Babajanian and Frank Martin. The CD was nominated for a 2017 Grammy in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance Category.

2013 saw the critically acclaimed and GRAMMY nominated release on the NAXOS label of "Annelies" based on the Diary of Anne Frank with Westminster Williamson Voices, Clarinetist Bharat Chandra and soprano Arianna Zukerman. The Midwest premiere was given at the Ravinia Festival in February 2013 with the Chicago Children's Choir and was the featured concluding event of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's 20th Anniversary Tour of the United States in Chicago at the Harris Theatre. In 2017 the trio performed throughout the US and Canada and travelled to Germany and South America where they toured throughout Colombia and Ecuador performing Beethoven's Triple Concerto.

The season continues on Sunday, November 13th with saxophonist Jonathan Wintringham, cellist Clancy Newman, and pianist/composer Michael Djupstrom in an eclectic presentation of familiar names arranged for this unique ensemble as well as world premieres of newly-written works. Wintringham has been described as "a major force in the saxophone world... absolutely stunning...nothing short of a virtuoso" by the American Record Guide.

On Sunday January 22, 2023 the Quey Percussion Duo will bring their unique style of performance to downtown Westfield. Quey (pronounced "Kway") has dazzled audiences worldwide with their unmistakable style that blends traditions of Western and non-Western percussion, contemporary, classical, and popular music to create colorful sound worlds that often place focus on interlocking counterpoint and musical multi-tasking.

The Thalea String Quartet will bring their signature vibrancy to Steeple Concerts on Sunday March 19, 2023. Their dynamic performances reflect the past, present, and the future of the string quartet repertoire while celebrating diverse musical traditions from around the world. David Harrigton of the revered Kronos Quartet states: "Hearing the Thalea Quartet makes me feel very happy and gives me hope for the future. They are great ambassadors for music."

The season concludes on Sunday, May 21, 2023 with the annual Masterworks Concert featuring the choir of St. Paul’s Church and community with a professional orchestra. The concert is always a highlight of the season and offers an opportunity to hear major works for chorus and orchestra in a live setting.

Depending on current state recommendations, we may offer a streaming video performance in lieu of a concert with audience present. More information about our COVID safety protocol is available on the Steeple Concerts website at www.steepleconcerts.org.

Season subscriptions, as well as tickets to individual concerts, are also available on the Steeple Concerts website. Adult subscriptions to the full season are priced at $110 (a savings of $25 off the individual ticket prices), with student subscriptions at $50. Individual tickets to the first four concerts are $25 for adults and $10 for students, with tickets for the Masterworks Concert priced at $35 for adults and $15 for students.