Aubree Oliverson, violinist and Vijay Venkatesh, pianist

Eva Schaumkell, piano and Niv Ashkenazi, violin

Zack Reeves, cello

Concert Program

• • L.V. Beethoven Piano Trio in D major, Op.70 No.1 "Ghost”
  • F. Schubert Fantasie in F Minor D. 940
  • J. Brahms Hungarian Dances
       No. 1 in g minor, Allegro molto
       No. 5 in f-sharp minor, Allegro vivace
  • J. Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 77
  

Our Performers

Aubree Oliverson

Praised for her evocative lyricism and joyful, genuine approach, 23-year-old violinist Aubree Oliverson is proving to be one of America's most compelling young artists, distinguishing herself with clear, honest, and colorful interpretations. Her performances have been described by the Miami New Times as “powerful… brimming with confidence and joy” and “masterful” by the San Diego Story.

A dynamic and sensitive chamber musician, Aubree has collaborated with artists such as Stefan Jackiw and Robert McDuffie in Harris Hall at the Aspen Music Festival and School, with Gil Shaham on tour in Mexico, and with Lynn Harrell, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Orli Shaham, Robert Chen, Andrew Marriner, and Clive Greensmith as part of the Colburn Chamber Music Society in Los Angeles.

Vijay Venkatesh

Hailed by the Herald-Tribune for his “dazzling pianism verging on the impossible, effortless technical command and authority with a sense of poetry and refinement that belies his years,” Indian-American pianist Vijay Venkatesh has been recognized on three continents as a pianist with profound musicianship, sparkling pianism and an innate sense of partnership. Vijay has rapidly established a major international reputation as top prizewinner in the San Jose, Seattle, Zimmerli, World Piano, and Waring International Piano Competitions. He has also been named a Davidson Fellow Laureate at the Library of Congress, USC Thornton's Discovery Scholar, Grand Prize Winner of the Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight Awards and featured on NPR’s “From the Top” with host Christopher O'Riley.

Originally from California, Mr. Venkatesh is an Artist Diploma candidate at the Colburn School in Los Angeles with Fabio Bidini. He holds degrees from USC Thornton and IU Jacobs School of Music, where he was a recipient of the Barbara and David Jacobs Fellowship under the tutelage of Norman Krieger and André Watts. Venkatesh previously studied with Jeffrey Kahane and has received artistic guidance from Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Menahem Pressler, and Murray Perahia.

Eva Schaumkell

German pianist Eva Schaumkell is established on three continents as a brilliant soloist and collaborator praised for her “astonishing combination of depth of expression and thrilling virtuosity”. Dr. Schaumkell has established a major international presence as Gold medalist in the 2018 International James Ramos Piano Competition, the 2014 International Siegfried Weishaupt Piano Competition. She has also been awarded prizes at the Coeur d’Alene Piano Competition, Thürmer Piano Competition in Bochum, Jugend Musiziert Competition, and is a recipient of the Carl Maria von Weber Scholarship, the Deutschlandstipendium, the Thornton Music Scholarship, as well as the Drosihn Prize.

Niv Ashkenazi

Virtuoso violinist Niv Ashkenazi has captivated audiences with his heartfelt musicianship and emotional performances. Praised for his “extremely colourful interpretations, characterized by maturity and authority” (Pizzicato Magazine), he has made several Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center appearances, and has performed in Europe, the Middle East, and across North America. In the 2019-2020 season, he was the first ever Artist in Residence at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya). His debut album, Niv Ashkenazi: Violins of Hope, released in March 2020 on Albany Records to international critical acclaim and was named one of the 10 best classical recordings of 2020 by the Chicago Tribune. Niv has performed with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Juilliard String Quartet, Cavani Quartet, and Ariel Quartet. Niv holds both a B.M. and M.M. from The Juilliard School, where his teachers included Itzhak Perlman and Glenn Dicterow.

Zack Reeves

Zack Reaves is professional cellist, teacher, and arranger well versed in a wide range of musical styles. Born into a musical family, Zack began playing cello at age 10 through the public school strings program and has now been playing for 24 years. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Zack spent seven years as a founding member of the Altius Quartet, which toured internationally, recorded three studio albums, and were prizewinners at the 2014 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. He was also formerly the Visiting Music Director and Principal Cellist of the Oklahoma Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Assistant Principal Cellist of the Boulder Philharmonic, and frequently appears as a substitute with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. As an arranger, Zack has built a large catalog of songs arranged for strings that are frequently performed by ensembles around the US. Recordings of his arrangements have received over two million streams on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music. As a teacher, Zack carries a strong philosophy of critical thinking and communication through music. He believes that anyone can learn to play an instrument and has taught cellists of all ages and skill levels. With over a decade of experience, he has taught at institutions such as Oklahoma City University, University of Colorado-Boulder, Denver School of the Arts, Boulder Valley Waldorf School, and La Cañada High School, as well as maintaining his own private studio. Reaves holds degrees in cello and string quartet performance from Southern Methodist University and University of Colorado-Boulder. When not making music, Zack enjoys snowboarding, hiking, photography, exploring LA’s vibrant restaurant scene, and spending time with his wife, Parisa, and two dogs, Cassie and Blue.

More Info

Aubree Oliverson - web page

Vijay Venkatesh - web page