Concerts at First: Bach's Lunch CANCELLED
Free (RSVP requested)
- Christina Smith, flute
- Elizabeth Remy Johnson, harp
- Jonathan Colbert, double bass
- Emily Daggett Smith, violin
- Jessica Shuang Wu, violin
- Joseph Skerik, viola
- Guang Wang, cello
Claude Debussy — Danses sacrée et profane, L. 103
Astor Piazzolla — Histoire du Tango (Mvts. 1-3)
Marcel Tournier — Suite for Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Harp, Op. 34
NOTE: Concert has been cancelled due to storms.
Bask in the romantic and sensual sounds of French harp music along with an exploration of Tango at this free lunchtime event in Midtown. This concert features works by Ravel, Debussy, Piazzola, and Tournier.
About Vega Quartet
The Vega String Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at Emory University, is cultivating a new generation of chamber music lovers through dynamic performances and innovative community engagement. The New York Times raved that "[the Quartet's] playing had a kind of clean intoxication to it, pulling the listener along…the musicians took real risks in their music making" and the L.A. Times praised their "triumphant L.A. debut." They concertize both nationally and internationally. The Quartet's major performing projects at Emory have included performing the complete cycle of Beethoven quartets, as well as pairing Bach's complete works for solo violin, viola, and cello with the six Bartók quartets. They have also developed a series of "Jazz Meets Classics" programs, bringing the two genres together.
http://www.vegaquartet.com/About Concerts at First (Atlanta)
Located at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta in the heart of Midtown right next to the Woodruff Arts Center, Concerts at First presents between 15 to 20 concerts per season with local, national, and international world-class musicians. Let yourself be transformed through outstanding performances by artists of all backgrounds and heritages!
https://concertsatfirst.org/About Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta
Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta is the Southeast’s largest and most active chamber music organization brings together some of the city's finest resident musicians with internationally-known performers who are dedicated to performing the most delightful, exciting, and interesting music from the chamber repertoire in some of the most acoustically and visually beautiful spaces in Atlanta.
https://chambermusicsociety.emory.edu/About Christina Smith, flute
Principal Flute of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Christina Smith is one of the most sought-after flutists in the country as an orchestral player, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Smith's flute solos can be heard on 37 ASO recordings. She has also appeared with the orchestra numerous times as a concerto soloist.
https://www.aso.org/artists/detail/christina-smithAbout Elizabeth Remy Johnson, harp
Elisabeth Remy Johnson was appointed principal harpist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1995. With the Atlanta Symphony, Elisabeth has performed concertos by Debussy, Handel, Mozart, and Ginastera. Winner of first-place awards in competitions of the American Harp Society and the American String Teachers Association, she is also a NFAA/ARTS awardee. She graduated from Harvard University Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in Music and French. Her harp studies were with Ann Hobson Pilot in Boston and Alice Chalifoux at the Salzedo Summer Harp Colony in Camden, Maine. Elisabeth is co-founder of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble, a program serving students in the Atlanta Public School system, and was artistic director from 2000 to 2010. For this work she received Atlanta's Channel Eleven Community Service Award and the TBS Pathfinder's Award. In fall of 2009, Elisabeth was awarded the Atlanta Business Chronicle's "Up & Comers Award," also known as "40 under 40," showcasing young community leaders in Atlanta.
In 2018, Elisabeth founded The Merian Ensemble, a group of colleagues from the ASO dedicated to performing and commissioning chamber music composed by women.
https://www.elisabethremy.com/About Jonathan Colbert, double bass
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, double bassist Jonathan Colbert has had a successful international career in the United States and Europe. Jonathan has performed extensively in Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and the United States. Jonathan is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, received a diploma from The Juilliard School, and attended Interlochen Arts Camp as the Emerson Scholar for the state of Georgia. He has performed/held positions with the Atlanta Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony, Chineke! Orchestra and was Co-Principal Bass with The Royal Danish Opera Orchestra. Jonathan is also the Principal Bass of the Sphinx Virtuosi.
Jonathan is an award winner in numerous competitions, including the International Society of Bassists orchestral competition and the BassEurope orchestral competition. His teachers include the late Ralph Jones, Timothy Cobb, Leigh Mesh, and Al Lazslo.
Jonathan is also in high demand as a teacher and guest clinician. He has taught classes throughout the United States, Europe and South America. He is the double bass Professor Morehouse College, and was at the University of Memphis from 2020-22.
About Emily Daggett Smith, violin
About Jessica Shuang Wu, violin
As a founding member of the Vega String Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at Emory University, Jessica Shuang Wu has performed extensively throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. Born in Shanghai, China, Ms. Wu began her violin studies at the age of five and made her solo debut with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of twelve.
http://music.emory.edu/home/people/biography/wu-jessica.html