A curated journey of holiday classics from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, to Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, and Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride, with a little Havah Nagila and Ukranian Bell Carol to celebrate the season.

Our Performers

VIENESS PIANO DUO

Eva Schaumkell

German pianist Eva Schaumkell is an award-winning charismatic soloist who has performed in concert halls on three continents including Buckingham Palace, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Dr. Schaumkell earned her Doctorate with distinction at the USC Thornton School of Music. She is in high demand not only for her solo performances but also for masterclasses, competition adjudications and coaching chamber music while maintaining a private teaching studio.

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 as a pianist with profound musicianship, sparkling pianism and an innate sense of partnership. Venkatesh has rapidly established a major international reputation as top prizewinner in the San Jose, Seattle, Zimmerli, World Piano, and Waring International Piano Competitions. Mr. Venkatesh has 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 MPR's Performance Today® and NPR's "From the Top"

SOLATA PIANO TRIO

Eva Schaumkell

Niv Ashkenazi

Violinist and recording artist Niv Ashkenazi has made several Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center appearances in addition to performing in Europe, the Middle East and across North America. Niv has performed with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Juilliard String Quartet among other notable collaborations. His 2020 debut album, Violins of Hope was named one of the 10 best classical recordings of 2020 by the Chicago Tribune and was a featured soloist alongside Yo-Yo-Ma for the PBS documentary Harbor from the Holocaust.

Zack Reaves

Cellist, arranger and recording artist Zack Reaves has performed internationally with the award winning Altius Quartet. Zack has served as Visiting Music Director and Principal Cellist of the Oklahoma Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Principal Cellist of the Boulder Philharmonic. He has recorded albums with the Altius Quartet and the Los Angeles New Music Ensemble. Zack has taught at several Universities and currently serves as a teaching artist with the LA Phil’s Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, YOLA while maintaining his own private studio.