To Ukraine… with Tears and Love
Helping Ukrainian War Refugees
Saturday, June 4th, at 4 PM
Covenant United Methodist Church
4410 Duval Rd, Austin, TX 78727
Classical Music For the World is presenting this Love Concert to express empathy and love for the people of Ukraine who have bravely endured their terrible war situation since February. We hope that compassion will abound during the concert, not only for Ukrainians, but also for the entire global community.
CMFW has selected the Kids in Need Foundation (KiN), an Austin area non-profit organization, as its beneficiary organization, and all monetary donations will go toward assisting Ukrainian refugees. Kids in Need Foundation has been helping Ukrainian families and individuals meet their basic needs, both in the Austin area and in Ukraine, since 2019. Its partnering team in Ukraine currently is providing refugees with water, food, clothing, and shelter accommodations. Donation can be accepted at the concert, or at any time directly through the foundation’s website at www.kidsinneed.me/donation with the note: “CMFW Love Concert”.
PROGRAM
A Call for Love Concert – Eurythmy Performance with poem recitation by Beth Usher and Steve Usher.
Greeting by Younnie Wall, Founder & Executive Director of Classical Music For the World.
Introducing the Beneficiary Organization, Kids In Need Foundation (KIN) by Tatyana Alpatova, Vice President of KIN.
Poem Recitation by Albina Pozdnyakova, Ukrainian poet, translator, critic, and publisher, representing Austin Ukrainian community. She will present three of her poems: “Lost Suitcase” , “Unwashed Windows”, and “Cherry Plum Blossom”.
MUSIC | PERFORMERS | POEMS & LYRICS
MUSIC
Prayer
Ave Maria ………………………………………………………………Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Zoe Chunghui Kim, soprano
Joseph Choi, piano
Unfolding Story
Scherzo No. 2 in B-Flat Minor Op. 31………………………………….Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Joseph Choi, piano
Love’s Sorrow
Liebesleid ………………………………… Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
Nick Hammel, violin
Joseph Choi, piano
Nostalgia
Partita #2 in D Minor, BWV 1004 – Sarabanda……………………………………….J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Sandy Yamamoto, violin
~ Intermission ~
Hope
Spring from The Four Seasons …………………………..Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
CMFW Chamber Orchestra
Eugene Gratovich, soloist, violin
Nick Hamel, violin I principal
Sandy Yamamoto, violin II principal
Joseph Choi, Harpsichord
Compassion & Peace
Homeward Bound………………………………………George W. Meyer/ Howard Johnson (1917)
I Believe…………… Mark A. Miller, composer / written by unknown person during WW2
Covenant United Methodist Church Choir & CMFW Chamber Orchestra with friends musicians
Richard Frazier, conductor
Steven Wottrich, piano
Zoe Chunghui Kim, soprano solo
PERFORMERS / MUSICIANS
Albina Pozdnyakova (Альбіна Позднякова), poet
Ukrainian poet, translator, critic and publisher. Author of poetry books: “Gravity” (2012) and “Delicacies” (2013). Co-editor of the anthology of queer poetry “120 pages of Sodom (Contemporary LGBT literature)” (2003). Coordinator of the projects “8 poets for March 8”, “8 translators for March 8” and “Woman 3000”. Translator from Polish (Artur Pałyga’s plays) and English (including Virginia Woolf’s “Waves”). Ran the “Difficulties of translation” column in the magazine “Sho” about fiction books translated into Ukrainian. Originally from Lviv (Ukraine), currently lives in Round Rock, Texas. In Poland, her poems were published in “Radar” (translated by Ksenia Kaniewska), “Wakata”, “Babiniec Literacki” and in the anthology “30 poems from abroad. Young Ukrainian Poetry”.
Beth Usher, eurythmist, earned a four year diploma with Dorothea Mier at the School of Eurythmy in New York, where she taught as full-time faculty and holds a bachelor’s degree in Literature from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Beth has, with her husband Stephen, performed and taught in solo and ensemble programs and conferences throughout the US and Canada. In Austin, she co-founded Chaparral Eurythmy.They performed in the University of Texas’ Jessen Auditorium in recital with Tchaikovsky Competition winner voice professor Nikita Storojev. Beth presented a solo for the World Eurythmy Conference at the Goetheanum in Switzerland. She has edited Eurythmy: An introductory Reader by Rudolf Steiner, published by Rudolf Steiner Press, London, c. 2006. Beth is a member and regional representative for the Eurythmy Association in North America. www.chaparraleurythmy.net
SOLOISTS
Eugene Gratovich, violin
Violinist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra; Associate Professor of Violin and Chamber Music (Ret.) at UT-Austin, Butler School of Music. Active as a performer, recording artist, author, educator, editor and scholar of American Violin Music. Dr. Gratovich is also active as a mentor to young professional musicians. Born in Ukraine, moved with his family to Boston, MA, so that he could attend Boston Conservatory on a full scholarship. At age 14, he was invited to solo with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra after winning a music competition. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University. He is married to pianist Sylvia Golmon. They have two children and a grandson.
Joseph Choi, piano
Pianist, currently on the faculty at Concordia University in Austin, Joseph Choi holds a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School. He obtained his Doctorate of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees at the University of Texas at Austin under the tutelage of Anton Nel. Joseph was the Second Prize winner of the 2014 NTD International Piano Competition, Finalist in the 2016 San Antonio International Piano Competition, where he was awarded the prize for Best Performance of a Baroque Composer, Second Prize winner of the 2012 Tuesday Musical Club Competition in San Antonio, and winner of the 2012 concerto competition at the University of Texas at Austin. He has performed in venues such as Zankel Hall in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Benedict Music Tent at the Aspen Music Festival. Choi has performed with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, University of Texas Symphony Orchestra, Aeolus Quartet, along with several others.
Zoe Chunghui Kim, soprano
Soprano Zoe Chunghui Kim has been celebrated as an artist with special voice color and ample expressivity. She earned the Doctor of Musical Arts at UT Austin under the tutelage of Darlene Wiley and her Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with renowned mezzo-soprano Mignon Dunn. She has been selected to perform in a wide variety of venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Opera America- National Opera Center, and Seoul Arts Center. She also has been given the Distinction Award in the 2018 Metropolitan International Vocal Competition – Opera Division. As a young artist scholarship recipient at the Butler Opera Center, she performed many leading roles in the 2018-2020 seasons. She is currently singing as a freelance opera singer based in Texas.
Nick Hammel, violin
Violinist and a senior at The University of Texas Butler School of Music, Nick specializes in violin performance under the tutelage of Sandy Yamamoto. He has soloed with the Central Texas Medical Orchestra and the University of Texas University Orchestra, and has plans to solo with the Austin Civic Orchestra and the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra. He was appointed Principal Second Violin of the Austin Symphony Orchestra. Nick is also an active chamber music performer. Recently, he won first place in the Ann and Charles Eisemann International Young Artists Competition.
Sandy Yamamoto, violin
Violinist Sandy Yamamoto has dazzled audiences in concert performances around the globe for the past three decades as a soloist and as a member of the Miró Quartet. She began her violin studies at the age of 4. At 11, she made her solo debut with the North Carolina Symphony and has since appeared with orchestras throughout the US and Europe to critical acclaim.
With the Miró Quartet, she performed on the major concert stages of the world, regularly concertizing in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. As a member of the Quartet, she was a recipient of the Naumburg Chamber Music and Cleveland Quartet Awards, won First Prize at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and was one of the first chamber musicians to be awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. She has shared the stage with many prominent musicians including Leif Ove Andsnes, Joshua Bell, Eliot Fisk, Lynn Harrell, Midori, Jon Kimura Parker and Pinchas Zukerman. Since leaving the Quartet in May 2011, she has been appointed Associate Professor of Practice in Violin Performance at the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin. She also founded the Butler Trio with Miró Quartet cellist, Joshua Gindele and pianist, Colette Valentine. She has since been enjoying a versatile performing career, playing concertos and recitals as well as being a guest artist in the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the East Coast Chamber Orchestra. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Butler School of Music Teaching Excellence Award.
Richard Frazier, conductor
Richard Frazier has been involved in music for over fifty years. Recently retired from 34 years as public school music teacher, Mr. Frazier has led, recognized, and awarded orchestras, bands, choirs, and other kinds of music ensembles at every level. Recognized as an HEB award winning educator as well as a National Board Certified teacher Mr. Frazier loves teaching music. He has been the music director and Choir conductor at Covenant United Methodist Church for four years.
CMFW CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
VIOLIN I: Eugene Gratovich , Nick Hammel, Thomas Gougeon; VIOLIN II: Sandy Yamamoto, Albert Li, Younnie Wall; VIOLA: Chet Fagerstrom, Gerald Liu, Kaya Fagerstrom; CELLO: Daniel Hur Meglino, Je-Shiuan Hsu; BASS: Lite Pei
CHOIR
SOPRANO: Zoe Chunghui Kim, Juyoung Kim, Cox Ruth, Jane Denson, Jennifer Jackson, Judy Bright, Rebecca Currey, Sonia Vasquez
ALTO: Elaine Vinas, Maja Nipper, Margie Jones
TENOR: Patrick Vinas, Roger Weaver, Stephen Jarreau, Todd Flanagan, Kathy Reinhart
BASS: Henry Rowland, Justin Knaplund, Charlie Kirschner, Mark Flanagan, Rich Watson, Steve Reinhart
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
