Madrona Quartet: Candlelit Holiday Concert – Music from Around the World
$35 ($25 youth/senior)
- Christina Wu, violin
- Johana Chai, violin
- Aleida Gehrels, viola
- Mary Riles, cello
- Fan Ping, voice
- Can Tang, percussion & piano
- Dave Dolacky, narrator
Join Seattle's most exciting new string quartet, The Madrona Quartet, and some very special guests for a candlelit holiday concert featuring music from around the world.
2 performances:
- Friday, December 8, 7:30pm at Congregational Church on Mercer Island (UCC)
- Sunday, December 17, 4pm at The Royal Room in Seattle
About Madrona Quartet
Deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest, Madrona Quartet draws inspiration from the lush, scenic beauty of our region. We are dedicated to presenting chamber music in an intimate setting, aiming to create an interactive and immersive music experience, fostering community culture in distinctive venues. Christina Wu (violin 1), Johana Chai (2nd violin), Aleida Gehrels (viola), Mary Riles (cello)
About Christina Wu, violin
Currently serving as concertmaster in Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Christina also appears
frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. She is a recurring artist at the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria. Her past affiliations include first violin with Washington Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. Her notable collaborations feature legends such as Leon Fleisher, Kiri Te Kanawa, the Vienna Boys' Choir, Jose Carreras, Claus Peter Flor, Joseph Silverstein, and Alan Gilbert.
Christina started playing the violin at the age of five, receiving her early training at the Wuhan
Conservatory of Music. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in violin performance with honors under Zuo Jun and Alexandra Souptel at the National University of Singapore, and later was granted a full scholarship to pursue her Master's Degree and Performance Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied with the renowned violinist Cyrus Forough who himself was the student of the legendary violinist David Oistrakh.
About Johana Chai, violin
Johana Chai has a dynamic career highlighted by her roles as concertmaster of the Western Symphony Orchestra, principal player with the Prague Summer Night Symphony, and musician with the Midcolumbia and Bellingham Symphonies. She brings extensive experience as a first violinist in the Scholarship String Quartet and Western Faculty Chamber, and has been a standout in various chamber ensembles. Johana's global performances have graced stages in the U.S., South Korea, Czech Republic, and Canada.
https://en.dolceartstudio.com/studio-artists/johana-chaiAbout Aleida Gehrels, viola
A versatile Seattle-based violist, Aleida Gehrels excels in both contemporary and classical music. She has toured with Macklemore, appeared on KEXP with ODESZA, and featured on Netflix's Love Is Blind. Her collaborations extend to artists like Father John Misty, Perfume Genius, and Smokey Robinson. In the classical sphere, Aleida has played with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra and The Sound Ensemble, featuring in live broadcasts on KING FM. She has also been engaged with the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle Modern Orchestra, Bellingham Festival of Music, and Village Theatre, showcasing her broad musical reach.
https://aleidagehrels.com/About Mary Riles, cello
Mary Riles received her BA in Classics and BM in Cello Performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Andor Toth, Jr.; and her Masters of Music from the Ester Boyer College of Music at Temple University, where she studied with Jeffrey Solow, whom she met as an award student at the Chautauqua Music Festival. She then relocated to Seattle, Washington, where she provides private cello instruction and chamber coaching. Mary has performed with a variety of Seattle area ensembles, including NOCCO, Seattle Modern Orchestra, the Sound Ensemble, and Thalia Symphony Orchestra. She is currently principal cellist of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. She has additionally been involved in many performances of both solo and chamber works in St. Louis, Ohio, Texas, New York, Philadelphia, and Juneau.
https://www.nocco.org/mary-rilesAbout Fan Ping, voice
The gifted lead singer of CHIME band, Fan Ping stands out as a popular and versatile performer in Seattle's music scene. This summer, she achieved remarkable success by placing in the top 10 of the "Sing China" US region competition and securing a silver medal in the worldwide "Water Cube" singing contest, leading the Seattle Division in both events. Fan's performances are consistently lauded for her impressive vocal range, unmistakable stage presence, and her exceptional adaptability across various musical styles.
About Can Tang, percussion & piano
An active performer in the Greater Seattle area, has been a member of several renowned bands including CHIME, Lychee, Bafang, and Fomalhaut. He has performed in hundreds of concerts with these groups and collaborated with numerous distinguished artists. In addition to performing, Can Tang also engages in composing and arranging, notably creating music for the hit game "Sands of Salzaar," which has amassed over 400 million plays.
About Dave Dolacky, narrator
The role of announcer is familiar territory for Dave. In Seattle he was an on-air personality for KISW-FM, KVI, and from 1980 to 2000 a news and talk show host for KIRO Radio & Television. He continues to use his voice talent as a Master of Ceremony for various performance and fund raising events, as well as doing voice-over work. Dave is also an accomplished theatrical lighting designer.