Piano Trio
September 17, 2023, 2:30pm - Bethel Community Church
Biographies
Andrew Sords, Violinist
American violinist Andrew Sords maintains a prolific touring schedule with both his piano trio and as soloist with orchestras. Having appeared on four continents and in nearly all of the 50 states, his performances have been cited for combining visceral virtuosity and ravishing tone, while international critics have endorsed Sords as “a fully formed artist” (Kalisz-Poland News), “utterly radiant” (Canada’s Arts Forum), and “exceptionally heartfelt and soulful” (St. Maarten’s Daily Herald). In 2018, an appearance at Festival Bravissima in Guatemala was heralded by the Prensa Libre: "Sords demonstrated what it means to be an artist. He paired maximum delicacy with fire and brilliance, and had a subtle handling of sonority - clearly audible even in his softest and sweetest moments." Sords has received numerous awards and distinctions reflecting his career trajectory, including the Pittsburgh Concert Society’s Career Grant; was profiled by NPR's "Morning Edition", XM's "Derek and Romaine Show", and STRINGS Magazine (covering his residency in Trinidad and Tobago); and has recently made débuts for the Ravinia Festival, Québec's Lakeshore Chamber Festival and Hudson's Série de musique de chambre, and with orchestras in Scotland, Australia, the Caribbean, Canada, and Poland. The 2022/23 concert season features return appearances in Montréal, Beverly Hills, Toronto’s Glenn Gould Theatre, Cleveland’s Trinity Cathedral, the Norton Museum Series in West Palm Beach, and concerti by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Wieniawski, and Bologne.
Joseph Johnson, Cellist
Joseph Johnson has been heard throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. His festival appearances include performances in all classical genres at the American festivals of Santa Fe, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Bard, Cactus Pear, Grand Teton, and Music in the Vineyards as well as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, and the Virtuosi Festival in Brazil.
Highlights of Joseph Johnson's 2022/2023 season include concerto performances of the Brahms Double Concerto with Symphony Nova Scotia in the Fall, CPE Bach Concerto in a minor at U of T in January, and the Canadian Premiere of a new concerto, Devonte Hynes's: Origin - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, with the Toronto Symphony, in May. Recent recital and chamber music appearances include performances at the Faculty of Music Walter Hall series at the University of Toronto, the Chatter series in Albuquerque, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, as well as the Shostakovich Cello Concerto with the Niagara Symphony. Principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since the 2009/2010 season, Mr. Johnson previously held the same position with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Principal Cellist of the Santa Fe Opera, and during the 2008-2009 season, was acting Principal Cellist of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Johnson has also performed as guest Principal Cellist with the Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony, and this year will serve as guest Principal Cellist with the San Francisco Symphony for their Carnegie Hall/Europe Tour in the Spring.
Cheryl Duvall. Pianist
Toronto-based pianist Cheryl Duvall has established herself as one of Canada's foremost contemporary music interpreters. A dynamic soloist and in-demand collaborator, Duvall has immersed herself in a wide variety of compositional aesthetics and collaborative endeavours.
In 2012, she co-founded the "adventurous and smartly programmed" (Musicworks Magazine) chamber group Thin Edge New Music Collective, commissioning over 70 works, mounting multidisciplinary productions, touring worldwide, and collaborating with leading artists including Sarah Hennies, Linda Catlin Smith, and Ensemble Paramirabo. TENMC was awarded the 2020 Friends of Canadian Music Award by the CLC and CMC..
She has worked with the likes of choreographer Peggy Baker, film composer Darren Fung, American virtuoso violinist Andrew Sords, and has been the collaborative pianist for the Oakville Children's Choir for 16 seasons. She was appointed Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Mississauga in Feb 2022. Her debut solo recording, Harbour featuring the music of composer Anna Höstman, has been featured on the CBC radio, was chosen as the #1 Modern Composition Recording of 2020 by UK's 'The Wire' Magazine and was nominated for a Juno for Classical Composition of the Year.
