Nicholas Currie

Nicholas Currie is Associate Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony, Associate Concertmaster of Concert Artists of Baltimore, and former Principal Second of the Baltimore Opera Orchestra.

Currie performed as a soloist with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, the Londontown Symphony, and with Concert Artists of Baltimore. He also performed chamber music with the Mariner String Quartet, the Cueto Quartet, the Melos Ensemble with clarinetist Gervase de Peyer, The Principles of Concert Artists Quartet, and Trio Giocoso.

Currie is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, as a student of Berl Senofsky, and also attended Illinois State University studying with Bernard Eichen of the Beaux Arts Quartet. His schooling included a summer in Fontainebleau France, at the American Conservatory.

Diana Greene

Diana Greene  graduated from Wheaton College, as a student of Reginald Gerig. She received a Master of Music from The University of North Texas studying with Tong-il Han. Other teachers include Carola Grindea and Mary Sauer.

Greene currently performs with violinist Nicholas Currie and cellist Adam Gonzalez as Trio Giocoso. Performances include Concerts at Christ Church in Newton NJ, Sound on Sound II for the Baltimore Composers Forum, and recital series’ at both McDaniel College and the Scott Center for Performing Arts in Westminster MD. The Trio Giocoso presented the world premiere of Garth Baxter’s “From the Headwaters” in 2010.

Kenny Baik

Saxophonist Kenny Baik, a founding member of the L’abri Trio, has been gaining recognition for his beautiful tone and “sensibility with unfailing musicality” (Korea Daily). Through his musicianship and passion for music, he aims to bring saxophone music to as wide an audience as possible. He appears as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States, Russia, and Asia.

Baik has performed at such distinguished American venues as the Mansion at Strathmore, Johns Hopkins University’s Shriver Hall, the Peabody Institute’s Griswold Hall, Friedberg Hall, and Goodwin Hall, as well as appearances abroad in Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Hall in South Korea, and Seoul Yamaha Artists Concert Hall. He has frequently performed across the country with orchestras and ensembles including the Symphony Song Orchestra, the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, and Seoul Peabody Alumni Orchestra.

From 2004-2007, as a member of the Marine Corps Band in Quantico Virginia, he performed more than 150 concerts per year; major performances include 2007 Super Bowl XLI, Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C, Columbus Day Parade in New York City, and “Hail to the Chief” for the President George W. Bush.

Highlights of the 2018/19 season include performances with Professor Psalm Shim, pianist Bonghee Lee, and upcoming new commissioned works by composer Zach Davis, Sun-Young Park, and Soonjung Suh. In addition to new compositions, Baik’s repertoire comprises masterpieces by composers from Steve Reich, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Jennifer Higdon to Michael Hersch.

Baik is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in the studio of renowned saxophonist, Gary Louie. His teachers have included Sgt. 1st Class Doug Earlenbaugh, Dr. Kenneth Fischer, Dr. Stephen Fischer, Dr. Joseph Wytko, and Dr. Connie Frigo. Baik holds a Master’s degree in Performance from the Peabody Institute; he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. www.kennybaik.com

AZIMUTH STRING QUARTET

Nicholas Currie violin

James Tung violin

Alice Tung viola

Adam Gonzalez cello

Formed in 2007, Azimuth String Quartet brings a wealth of experience into all its repertoire, breathing freshness into timeless classics and challenging audiences with new music. Having performed extensively throughout the state of Maryland, the quartet has also performed in Denver, Boston, and New York City. Former ensemble in residence at the Carroll Community College, Azimuth is committed to being accessible as artists and teachers to its community and strives to create moving performances by highlighting the human spirit.

Nicholas Currie, violinist, is the Assistant Concertmaster of Concert Artists of Baltimore, Assistant Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony, and Concertmaster of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony. Currie is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, where he studied with the late Berl Senofsky. Currie also studied under the late Bernard Eichen, member of the Beaux Arts Quartet, at Illinois State University.  Currie has performed as a soloist with Concert Artists of Baltimore, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, and the Londontown Symphony. His chamber music experiences include performances with the former Mariner String Quartet, the Cueto Quartet, the Melos Ensemble with clarinetist Gervase de Peyer,  and the Principles of Concert Artists Quartet.  When Currie is not performing, he is often teaching as an Adjunct Lecturer at McDaniel College, University of Maryland, Baltimore College, and as a private instructor from his home. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three children and painting in his spare time.

James Tung, violinist, has performed as a soloist with the Frederick Symphony Orchestra and has held recitals at Mount St. Mary’s University, Shippensburg University, and Frederick Community College. A founding member of the Azimuth String Quartet, he is also a frequent collaborative artist with the faculty at McDaniel College, Gettysburg College, and at Mount St. Mary’s University. Assistant Concertmaster of the York Symphony, Tung was also the former Concertmaster of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with the Annapolis Symphony, Maryland Symphony, and Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. He attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY where he received a bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance.  He is on faculty at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg MD and is the music director at Urbana School for Strings. During his spare time, Tung enjoys playing with his daughter and cooking for his family.

Alice Tung, violist, is a member of the Maryland Symphony and the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. A founding member of the Azimuth String Quartet, she is also a frequent collaborative artist with the faculty at McDaniel College, Mount St. Mary’s University, and Frederick Community College. Former Principal Violist and Soloist at the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, Tung also performs in orchestras throughout the northeast region including Virginia’s Alexandria Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, and Virginia Chamber Orchestra. She received her Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from the Eastman School of Music and her Master of Music in Viola Performance from the Peabody Conservatory. She is on faculty at McDaniel College in Westminster MD and is co-music director of the Urbana School for Strings. During her spare time, Tung enjoys tending to her garden and caring for her daughter Cecilia.

Adam Gonzalez, cellist, is a member of the Trio Giocoso and has performed extensively with groups throughout Maryland and Virginia. He is a graduate of Wheaton College (IL) and has an M.A. in cello performance from Boston University (MA). His commercial recording work has included music for the History Channel and National Geographic. Gonzalez has taught at Georgetown University (DC) and Montgomery College (MD), and was Director of Instrumental Music at the Waldorf School in Baltimore. He currently teaches Music History at Carroll Community College and at Frederick Community College. When not on stage, Gonzalez can be found on board his 29-foot sailboat, Mystique.

ARABESQUE DUO

Kathrin Murray guitar

Troy King guitar

The Arabesque Duo is a husband and wife duo of guitarists Kathrin Murray and Troy King.  The duo was formed in 2000, when composer Gilbert Biberian invited them to play at his summer guitar festival in Cheltenham England. Since then, the duo has performed across the United States, including New York, California, Hawaii, Michigan, and numerous performances along the East Coast. Originally called the “Murray/King Duo,” they adopted their current name in 2011 when they released their debut recording Piano Music for Two Guitars on Centaur Records. They currently reside in Baltimore MD, with their 3 boys.

www.arabesqueguitarduo.com

Kathrin Murray, guitarist, is originally from Honolulu HI.  She quickly established herself as a genuinely committed performer with the ability to present music as having a “life of its own” and “beautiful tone.” (The Washington Guitar Society)

Having performed in the United States and Europe, Murray has been featured as a guest artist at the Charlton Kings International Guitar Festival (England), on the BBC, and at the Dutch and Finnish Embassies in Washington, DC.  Recent performances have taken her to Fairfax VA; Washington DC; the Portland Museum of Art in Maine; and the Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia. She has won the Rising Stars Recital Competition, and has received the Levine Faculty Development Grant, the Peabody Career Development Grant, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival’s Performing Associate Award, and has twice received the Levine Performance Grant.

Murray holds a master’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Julian Gray, and a bachelor’s degree from the Lamont School of Music of the University of Denver, where she was a scholarship student of Ricardo Iznaola. She has also studied at the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival and privately with composer Gilbert Biberian in England. Murray has served on the faculties of McDaniel College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Frederick Community College, and Mount Saint Mary’s College. Currently, she teaches at the Baltimore School for the Arts and at the Bryn Mawr school of Baltimore.  She also maintains a significant private studio.

www.kathrinmurray.com

Troy King, guitarist, has a reputation as an inspired, technically refined performer. He is widely recognized as an artist who brings an intense, passionate commitment to his art, and who is able to connect emotionally with audiences. As printed in The Independent (USA), he projects “a powerful presence both musically and on stage.”

King regularly performs concerts throughout the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He has been heard on the BBC and frequently on National Public Radio in both the United States and Spain. Notable festival appearances have included guest artist recitals at the Interlochen Arts Festival (Michigan), the Charlton Kings International Guitar Festival (England), the Portland Guitar Festival (Oregon), and multiple appearances as guest artist/teacher/lecturer at the Summer Guitar Workshop (New Mexico).

King has two commercially released recordings: Musique de Salon: Classical Guitar Music for a New Belle Epoque (released in 2000 on the IGW label), and Musica del Arte: Masterworks for Guitar by Latin Composers (released in 2005 on Centaur Records). King won First Prize at the Fifth Portland Guitar Festival International Guitar Competition, the Lamont Chamber Music Competition, the Montpelier Recitalist Competition, and was a Finalist in the IV Manuel Ponce International Guitar Competition in Mexico City.

King holds performance degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with John Holmquist, and from the University of Denver, where he was the teaching assistant to Ricardo Iznaola. He lives in Baltimore Maryland, where he teaches classical guitar at Towson University. www.troykingguitar.com

WEST SHORE PIANO TRIO

Heather Haughn violin

Diana Flesner cello

Jay DeWire piano

Since their first performance on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in 2008, the West Shore Piano Trio has brought passion, color, and penetrating insight to the works they perform, not only through their playing but also through their commentary and interaction with audiences. Praised for their “fluid” and “sultry” playing, the West Shore Piano Trio brings new life to the monuments of the trio literature.

Highlights from recent seasons include the premier of Ruby Fulton’s trio “Whitney,” which was commissioned by the West Shore Piano Trio and premiered at Community College of Baltimore County Essex Community College in Baltimore MD; collaborative performances with DancEthos at Washington D.C,’s Fringe Festival, the Atlas Theater and the Dance Loft; a concert and masterclass at Endicott College in Beverly MA; tours of New Mexico with performances in Placitas, Socorro, and Silver City; the Steinway Performance Series at Troy University; a performance of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time at Frostburg State University; the Baltimore Composers Forum 25th Anniversary Concert; and a performance on the FUMC Vesper Concert Series in Lubbock TX. Past concerts have taken the West Shore Piano Trio from coast to coast; they have performed in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. Performances include concerts at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Chautauqua Institution, Intersections Festival, An die Musik, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Goucher College, Frostburg State University, Washington College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Harmony Hall, and the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.

The West Shore Piano Trio believes education and live performance enhance each other, and that the better informed an audience is about a work, the more deeply they will appreciate its performance. To this end, members of the trio accompany each concert with brief verbal commentary, providing biographical details about the composer, framing the work in the context of its time, and highlighting thematic and compositional elements of the piece, as well as connections shared between each work on the program.

Based in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, the members of the trio were educated at the Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, Rice University Shepherd School of Music, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, and the University of Virginia.  www.westshoretrio.com