The annual Mimir Chamber Music Festival under way, featuring an outstanding lineup of performing artists from the world’s leading orchestras and music schools who share their love for chamber music each summer at TCU.
Mimir, named for the Norse god of wisdom, is the premiere Festival in the South Central United States dedicated exclusively to the study and performance of chamber music. Artists are selected not only for their superb performing skills, but also for their ability to teach.
Throughout the event, guest artists hold master classes for aspiring pre-professional musicians, selected for participation through a rigorous audition process. In the evenings, guest artists present a series of five exciting and distinctly different musical performances.
Remaining Mimir Artists concerts are set for July 13 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. Each will be in PepsiCo Recital Hall. Individual tickets are $25 at the regular price, with discounts for TCU faculty, staff, students and seniors and for those attending multiple concerts. For a complete schedule and details, go to www.mimirfestival.org. For information, phone ext. 5443.
Mimir Young Artists concerts (free and open to the public) will be tonight at 7 p.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church and Thursday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m in PepsiCo.
Mimir will also present an outreach concert in Granbury on July 17 at 7 p.m. featuring singers Julie Liston Johnson and Bert Johnson at the First United Methodist Church. Phone number there is 817-573-5573.
This year’s performers are:
Nathan Cole (violin) is a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s first violin section and faculty member at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
Erin Keefe (violin), winner of the 2006 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a member of the prestigious Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Stephen Rose (violin), is principal second violin of the Cleveland Orchestra and serves on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is a featured artist in festivals world-wide.
Curt Thompson (violin), founding director of Mimir and associate professor of violin at the TCU School of Music, has performed as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician on five continents.
Che-Yen Chen (viola), also known as Brian, is a four-time winner of the National Viola Competition in his native Taiwan. He studied at The Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School and is now principal viola of the San Diego Symphony.
Kirsten Docter (viola) is a member of Cavani String Quartet, winner of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award. The quartet maintains a residency at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Karen Basrak (cello) joined the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra as associate principal cellist in 2001, served as acting principal cellist from 2002-05, and has been principal cellist since 2005, and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Texas.
Brant Taylor (cello), a member of the Chicago Symphony, appears as guest soloist with orchestras and at music festivals around the world. He also serves on the faculty of the DePaul University School of Music.
Alessio Bax (piano) was First Prize winner of the Leeds International Pianoforte Competition in 2000. He has performed with more than 70 orchestras and worked with a number of esteemed conductors.
Lucille Chung (piano) was First Prize winner of the Stravinsky International Piano Competition. She has performed in more than 30 countries as recitalist and as soloist with many of the world’s most prestigious orchestras.
John Novacek (piano) is a Grammy-nominated musician who regular tours the world as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist. He has recorded more than 30 CDs.
Victoria Luperi (clarinet) is principal clarinetist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and serves on the faculty of the TCU School of Music.