30 Campus Road, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, 12504
The Bard Alumni Ensemble is thrilled to present its debut recital on May 17, 2024 from 8PM at the Bitó Performance Space of the Bard Conservatory of Music in Annandale-on-Hudson. The Ensemble consist of Bard Conservatory Alumni graduates from class of '16 to class of '23 hailing from three continents. They share a special musical bond and unique approach to chamber music that they acquired during their times at Bard. They are eager to extend the talent and excellence that Bard represents to a wider audience, inspiring young students to attend and music-lovers to support their cause.
In the framework of the recital they present a diverse and colorful variety of repertoire ranging from the music of beloved romantic composers such as Zemlinksy to contemporary masters such as Joan Tower or Tan Dun.
PROGRAM:
- Joan Tower - Petroushkates
- Alexander Zemlinsky - Clarinet Trio, Op.3
- Nino Rota - Trio Flute, violin and piano
- Tan Dun - Prayer and Blessing
- Guillaume Connesson - Techno Parade
The event is free of charge.
About the Artists
Andrea Ábel - flute
Andrea Ábel, a versatile flutist, composer, and multimedia artist, born and raised in Hungary and currently based in Manhattan, NYC. Recognized by Millbrook Independent for their “Displays complete command of technical and emotional registers” Andrea's prowess as a performer shines through her solo appearances with esteemed orchestras, including the Prague Philharmonic, Budapest String, and The Orchestra Now.
Notably, they performed Joan Tower’s virtuosic flute concerto, conducted by the composer herself, and embarked on a tour to Hainan, China, alongside Academy Award-winning composer and conductor Tan Dun. Andrea's collaborative spirit extends to renowned new music groups in NYC, including the Da Capo Chamber Players, the Tactus ensemble, Fader-Bowers duo, and others.
Expanding their creative horizons, Andrea premiered their first multimedia performance in 2019, "from Ictus to Raptus" an immersive multi-art show that they conceptualized, directed, and accomplished as a composer, writer, sound artist, videographer, dancer, choreographer, and stage and lighting designer.
They hold two degrees from Bard College, one in flute performance and another in multidisciplinary studies which incorporated three different majors: electronic music composition, written arts/poetry, and theater and performance (directing). Currently pursuing their master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music’s Contemporary Performance Program, as an emerging professional in contemporary music, they are dedicated to shaping the future of music, championing equity by highlighting new musical voices, and fostering collective processing and healing of our contemporary experience through their compositions.
Neilson Chen - piano
Dr. Neilson Chen, a native of Taiwan, is a highly sought-after recitalist and collaborative pianist whose dazzling technique and thoughtful interpretations have been praised by the L.A. Times as “stunning.” A doctoral graduate of Arizona State University, Dr. Chen also holds two Master of Music degrees from Taipei University of the Arts and the University of Texas at Austin.
Over the course of his career, Neilson has been the recipient of many prestigious honors and awards, including winning the inaugural duo competition at Music Academy of the West in 2019. As an active recitalist, chamber music artist and collaborative pianist, Neilson has performed extensively throughout the United States and has given performances in Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea and Taiwan. Highlights include performing at the National Concert Hall in Taiwan in conjunction with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor Op. 50, “In Memory of a Great Artist” on the Tempe Center for the Arts’ concert series Performance with a View.
Besides these accomplishments, Neilson is highly active in his community and passionate about promoting new works by a new generation of composers. Dr. Chen is currently serving as a Collaborative Pianist at Bard College Conservatory of Music and Collaborative Piano Artist in residence at Meadowmount School of Music.
Nathan Francisco - cello
Nathan Francisco, cello, originally from Collegedale Tennessee, is currently pursuing a degree in cello performance at Julliard School in New York. His musical background also includes extensive training in cello with Wesley Baldwin, organ and historical keyboards with Judy Glass, and viola da gamba with Martha Bishop. In addition to his studies, Nathan is an active chamber musician, having collaborated with and been coached by musicians such as Joan Tower, Gilles Vonsattel, Marka Gustavsson, and many others. Nathan has been an active part of the At First Sight community since its inception in 2009. In his recreational time, Nathan enjoys playing disc golf, jazz bass, and sight reading chamber music with friends.
Noémi Sallai - clarinet
Aspiring Hungarian clarinetist Noémi Sallai has been selected as the sole clarinet fellow in Carnegie Hall's prestigious music program, Ensemble Connect for the 2018-2020 season. A devoted chamber musician, Ms. Sallai has spent her summers at the Crescendo Summer Institute in Hungary, the Sarasota Music Festival in Florida and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, where she collaborated with such renowed artists as Charles Neidich, Frank Morelli and Peter Frankl. As a passionate interpreter of solo repertoire written for the clarinet, Ms. Sallai premiered works for her instrument in the United States through The Juilliard School's Focus! Festival and has received first prize at several national and international clarinet competitions. As the winner of the 2018 PRISMA Concerto Competition in Canada, Ms. Sallai had the opportunity to play in the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, in Russia. She was featured as soloist at the Charlotte White's Salon de Virtuosi concert series and received first prize at the 2018 International Internet Music Competition. An enthusiast of orchestral music, she went on tour with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, conductred by Iván Fischer, to Edinburgh, Budapest and New York participating in their production of Mozart's Don Giovanni.
Ms. Sallai appeared as a clarinetist in such renowned groups as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra, The Princeton Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony in C, the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, the New Juilliard Ensemble and the Axiom contemprorary music ensemble. Playing all positions in the Bard Conservatory Orchestra, she took part in three major orchestra tours to China, to several cities in Europe and to Cuba. In 2014, being the winner of the Concerto Competition, Ms. Sallai was featured as a soloist and performed Carl Nielsen`s Clarinet Concerto with the Bard Conservatory Orchestra. In 2013 she performed as principal clarinet player Shostakovich`s 10th Symphony with the Bard Conservatory Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall. Ms. Sallai also participated in the Zoltán Kodály World Orchestra conducted by the renowned Hungarian pianist and conductor Tamás Vásáry.
Ms. Sallai holds a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School of Music, where she was a recepeint of the Irene Diamond and R. & H. Gold Woodwind Award. She completed her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees at Bard College, receiving the László Z. Bitó Scholarship. Her principal teachers include Jon Manasse, David Krakauer, Anthony McGill and Laura Flax.
Guest Artists
Bihan Li - violin
Bihan Li, a distinguished Chinese violinist and Juilliard alumna, has made her mark on the world stage as a soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician. Her talent has been lauded with top honors at international competitions. Notably, she has graced venues like Carnegie Hall and the United Nations Headquarters as well as Fontainebleau Castle with her performances, and she has been a part of prestigious collaborations, including with Yujia Wang, Joan Tower, Jaime Laredo and Zhou Long.
Li’s chamber music expertise is highlighted by her Prix Ravel award and the prize for the Best Interpretation of the Ravel Quartet granted by Fontainebleau Castle and Fondation Maurice Ravel in 2018, and she has been a driving force in acclaimed quartet performances. In 2019, she joined Dawn Upshaw’s concert at National Sawdust as a collaborative violinist, premiering composer Susan Botti’s Italian Folk Songs. In 2016, she was featured in a Mendelssohn Octet performance with her colleagues at the National Theatre of Cuba.
Her orchestral leadership was showcased during her tenure as concertmaster with NYO-China in 2017 at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Ludovic Morlot. The same year, Bihan was appointed as the concertmaster of the Bard Conservatory Orchestra under Maestros Leon Botstein and Jean-Marie Zeitouni. In 2019, she joined New York String Orchestra Seminar under maestro Jaime Laredo and the Juilliard Orchestra under maestros Jeffrey Milarsky and David Robertson.
Li holds a Master of Music Degree from the Juilliard School under the tutelage of violinist Ronald Copes, the second violin in the Juilliard Quartet. She completed her double degrees in Violin Performance and Asian Studies as a full-ride scholarship recipient at Bard Conservatory of music, studying with Weigang Li and Laurie Smukler. Currently a doctoral candidate at the Manhattan School of Music, she is under the tutelage of Nicholas Mann, honing her craft further. Bihan Li continues to inspire as a performer and educator, embodying the spirit of classical music excellence.
Sungyeun Kim - soprano
South Korean-born soprano Sung-yeun Kim has been recognized for her potential and diverse performance abilities as a classically trained vocalist. Now studying abroad in the United States, Ms. Kim hopes to eventually bring her multifaceted musical training home to Korea, sharing what she loves about classical music with a wide audience who may not otherwise have access to this art form.
Most at home on the operatic stage, Kim has explored various musical perspectives through the vast world of opera production, not only as a professional performer but also as an assistant stage manager. Through her first opera, Die Zauberflöte, she began to understand how musical composition and stage expression were more intense and intertwined than any other musical or performance genre. This formative experience led her to question how various elements in opera could work together to create a syncretic art form. Working as an assistant director in the opera, Don Giovanni, helped Kim start to understand what would be necessary for a career as an opera singer, both in terms of musical training but also in terms of understanding character development. Other professional credits include a showcase as the Fox in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto, Matilde in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell and Sophie in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier. Kim has also appeared as a soloist with the SNU Orchestra, Hankyung Philharmonic and The Orchestra Now performing works by composers ranging from Mahler to Verdi.
Getting Bachelor's degree of Seoul National University, Kim graduated the Bard Conservatory of Music Graduate Vocal Arts Program '23 as a full-scholarship recipient under Stephanie Blythe and Edith Bers. She performed the role of the Fox in Bard’s production of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen in March 2022. Kim also succesfully participated in both SongFest in Nashville and Toronto Music Festival this Summer.