Expansion…!

If there is one aspect of a career in music that is certainly true, it is that despite the requirement to seek a certain amount of limelight, the vast majority work goes on quietly in private, behind closed doors and well and truly out of the spotlight. Hours of practice obviously, but also almost an equal number of hours spent at the computer, in our office, working on websites, social media, fundraising, organizing tours, planning future recordings and, figuring out how we might expand! You may have noticed that we have been a little quiet over the Summer and needless to say we have been using the time well, feverishly working away on two new projects that we are so excited to share with you:

It has been a long-held ambition of ours to find like-minded players to perform with in a bigger ensemble and I must admit we did not expect our move to rural New Hampshire to help us in this quest. But, by a shear quirk of fate, we have met two incredible musicians locally with whom we have formed a new ensemble. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Samara Piano Quartet!

From this season onwards we will be regularly joined by Marcia Cassidy (viola) & Paul Cohen (cello), both highly experienced chamber musicians and exceptional musicians with whom we feel honored to be working. We have been rehearsing intensively over the last few weeks and it has been a real thrill to find players who speak the same musical language and challenge us to play even better. You can read more about our new ensemble and find out about our forthcoming performances on our new website samarapianoquartet.org Don’t worry, Steinberg Duo will continue to perform as well, and we have our own exciting plans for the future which we will share with you another time.

Last season was our first here in the US, and we were delighted with the response and support we received from the audiences here. We were so encouraged in fact, that we have now formally created a new concert series called Ashuelot Concerts. We are very lucky to have access to a wonderful concert hall here at Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center and we are making it our mission to bring world-class chamber music to our new home town. Every Summer, this area of New England comes alive with high-powered Summer Classical Music Festivals and we are now working hard to try to sustain what is on offer throughout the year. This year we will be presenting two programs of Piano Quartets alongside a Piano Trio concert and we will be working hard to build an audience and donor base that enables us to engage leading musicians to come and join our series in future years. We also have exciting plans for education outreach initiatives. For more information keep an eye on ashuelotconcerts.org over the next few weeks as our new venture is born!