Announcing the Washington Arts Ensemble, A New Arts Collective in DC
Left to right: Natalia Kazaryan, Christopher Schmitt, Chrystal E. Williams, Loewi Lin
I have a very exciting announcement to share with you today! I’ve teamed up with my friend and former Juilliard classmate Christopher Schmitt to create a new arts collective in Washington, DC. It’s called the Washington Arts Ensemble!
Our community needs music more than ever, and performers are itching to bring their art to audiences in person, but chamber music series across DC and the US have shuttered. This is one small step towards rebuilding our cultural lives that the pandemic has devastated.
We have a series of concerts lined up for this fall and plan on continuing through the winter/spring. I hope you can join for one of our unforgettable concerts, where we can meet and chat over a drink and snacks, before and after the performance!
The Details
Here are some additional details and background info for context.
Washington Arts Ensemble is dedicated to delivering an unforgettable chamber music experience, launching first at the historic Arts Club of Washington. Emphasizing the connection between the audience and performing musicians, there will be ample opportunity to mingle, enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres prepared by a world-class chef, and listen to chamber music in a setting steeped in culture and visual art. Furthermore, we plan on offering an array of concerts in differing environments, making the series accessible to all in the city.
Washington Arts Ensemble consists of musicians at the highest level to curate memorable experiences for discerning DC residents and visitors. Uniquely positioned as a chamber music society in the city that offers immersive experiences, we plan to stamp a unique artistic thumbprint on the cultural fabric of DC.
Inaugural Concert, September 17
The inaugural concert launches on Friday, September 17, 2021 featuring yours truly and my co-founder Christopher Schmitt (concert pianist)—alongside Zino Bogachek (violinist, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra) and Loewi Lin (cellist, National Symphony Orchestra).
This opening event features intimate chamber works originating from Germany, France and Russia.
BRAHMS Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38
NADIA BOULANGER Three Pieces for Cello and Piano
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50
Access the livestream for only $10. I know many of you are not in the DC area, so this is a convenient option.
Other Fall Concerts on the Series
Future concerts in this new series are slated for October 20, November 19, and December 10, which all occur at the Arts Club of Washington. The programming of the series will embrace the canonical classical masterworks, but will also emphasize music by lesser-known composers of all eras. The objective is to foster a meaningful relationship with the local community and offer an enthralling experience far beyond the traditional classical chamber music concert.
The October 20th concert features the theme "Art of the Trio" with violinist Ying Fu (Associate Concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra), cellist Joseph Gotoff (faculty, Levine School of Music in DC), pianist Christopher Schmitt, and me. The program includes Beethoven's Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 70, No. 2; Debussy's Piano Trio in G Major, L. 5; and Rebecca Clarke's Piano Trio in E-flat minor.
The November 19th concert features piano quartets by Mozart and Brahms featuring violinist Laura Colgate, violist Jacob Shack, cellist Dorotea Racz, and two pianists — Christopher Schmitt and me.
December 10th is "An Evening of Lieder" featuring the breakout mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams who made international headlines for her role in the Metropolitan Opera's Akhnaten.
Tickets for these events are available via the Arts Club of Washington’s website.
I’ve worked so hard recently on creating and launching this organization. I hope you can attend an event when you’re in town. Certainly check out our new website for more details.