Arts Alive San Antonio

Is Chamber music your favorite music?

“Favorite” is always too tricky to say when it comes to these things, because there are days when a symphony, or cantata, or solo instrument, or chorus, move me like nothing else. But in general in the genre of classical music, chamber music is my favorite music to perform because of the deep conversation it invites between artists. There is the right balance between expressive autonomy, immediate feedback, careful listening, dialogue, and communal inspiration. I think part of that is the scale (few enough musicians to encourage individualism), and part is the extensive and comprehensive repertoire, spanning centuries.

What do you like about living and performing in San Antonio?

San Antonio is such an open, welcoming city. As an artist, I’ve never felt threatened or discouraged by any competitiveness or gatekeeping. Rather, the city seems to have an almost built-in desire to collaborate. Across the San Antonio Chamber Music Society and Agarita platforms, I’m excited to experiment with different ways of branching out and bridging gaps between organizations and fostering collaboration, so that together we can make the biggest impact possible in our community. And also… the tacos.

What famous musician (s) have you met over the years and which ones impressed you the most and why?

I’ve gotten to meet a few famous pianists over the years (Garrick Olhsson, Emanuel Ax, Claude Frank, Leon Fleisher), and they each had their unique powers. I performed a Beethoven concerto with Fleisher conducting, and he said something that stuck with me. I was opening the second movement of the third concerto in C minor, which is marked “pp,” very soft. I was young, and played it with a little bit of authority and presence—I was playing in a large hall, after all. But he said to me, “Make them listen closely to you.” And so, I went to a more private, internal place, as if I was performing only for myself, and only then did I produce just the right sound. There are small nuggets like these that pop up when you get to work with great artists, and they stick with you.

What attracted you to the position of President of the San Antonio Chamber Society? Isn’t that job more administrative than music and programming-related?

Along with my duties as Artistic Director and Pianist for Agarita (which I am absolutely continuing!), I have been a board member for the San Antonio Chamber Society for several years, and believe in the organization. We bring some of the most dedicated, world-class, and innovative classical musicians to San Antonio for a variety of traditional and forward-looking concerts and outreach programs. I’m excited to guide the Society – which has a rich history of over 80 years – into the next era of classical music in the United States, and that means connecting with audiences, promoting conversation between performers and listeners, and programming in a way that invites a sense of community. Yes, there are plenty of administrative tasks! But the Society board is filled with dedicated, kind volunteers who are genuinely passionate about the organization’s mission, and I am grateful for all of their support. My role will also involve some speaking and playing, which I’m looking forward to: pre-concert talks, Q&A sessions with the musicians, and music lectures outside of our main concert series, will all aim to make classical music more engaging, accessible, and relevant for our community.

What ensembles will you invite to play here?

Along with board member Pauline Glickman, I look for variety when I am a programming for our season. From veteran string quartets to young saxophone and percussion quartets to a cappella groups, our programs aim to show that “chamber music” is a broad and beautiful genre that defies precise instrumentation. It is a dialogue between individuals, and the rich repertoire expands well beyond its classical European roots. That said, it is vital that we remember and honor those roots, and I look forward to honoring the traditional repertoire (and groups that showcase it) as well as fresh, innovative voices that will surprise and delight our audiences. Through our programming, I’d like to encourage openness and curiosity while providing a moving listening experience. And sometimes, like with our Tango- or Gershwin-inspired concerts, the programs are just incredibly fun to experience.

Are there compositions that you would love to play but never got a chance?

The piano and chamber music repertoire feels infinite. Even in 50 lifetimes I doubt would be able to tackle all the great repertoire that I’d want to. But to narrow it down, Schubert is the composer closest to my heart, and I would love to one day learn all of his impromptus, piano sonatas, and song cycles. In terms of chamber music, his “Fantasie in C Major” is a major, timeless piece that I’m still itching to play.  

What will be your first steps as president?

As soon as I can, I’d like to be a face for the organization. The Society board is sprawling, and with our artists flying in for the concerts, I think it has been a little difficult for us to develop a sense of consistency, personability, and expectation for our audience. I’d like to be someone that audiences can relate to and associate with the society. From reaching out with more personal newsletters (sign up through our website sacms.org if you haven’t!) to giving in-person talks, I will start offering a more in-depth and personal experience for our audience, so that they have a chance to more deeply connect with the concert experience, and learn even more about this unique field of classical chamber music.

What concerts are coming up?

We’re starting off the SACMS season with some big stars, the principal players of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. For those who don’t know, this is one of the most     accomplished and dedicated groups in the world, coming in from London, England as part of their United States tour. We’re honored that they’ve chosen to make this stop in San Antonio,    and we’d love to make sure they get a warm welcome! The program consists of 3 different   “octets” (music for 8 players), including one brand new work written for them by the British composer Huw Watkins. That concert is on October 12 at 3:15pm, at Trinity Baptist Church. I’m  giving a pre-concert talk at 2:45. You can get your tickets at sacms.org, and while you’re there,      take a look at the other phenomenal groups we have coming in!