“A breathtaking ensemble of virtuosity and sensitivity” – Radio France
“One of the best chamber ensembles of its generation” – La Marseillaise
The Cornwall Concert Series kicks off the Spring concert season with a 2:00 pm matinee on Sunday, April 14, 2024 with the Zodiac Trio.
The Trio will present “Tales from the Americas”, a program that unites the two American continents, highlighting music that will include works by George Gershwin (American in Paris), Astor Piazzolla (Chau Paris), Arturo Márquez (Danzon No. 2), and featuring a special Benny Goodman tribute.
Over the past decade, the Zodiac Trio has established itself as the leading international trio of its kind. Taking advantage of its unusual instrumentation of clarinet, violin and piano, the Zodiac Trio has been on the forefront of innovative programming, presenting 20th century masterpieces alongside new works and acclaimed original arrangements, offering the listener an immersive, musical journey.
Russian/American clarinetist Kliment Krylovskiy has been praised for his “easy facility, a vibrant tone” and “expressiveness and exuberance” by the New York Concert Review, “masterful playing” by L’Orfeo (Mexico), “simply fabulous clarinetist" by Journal des Citoyens (Canada) and proclaimed as “an artist whose profound musicality is only matched by his sparkling technique” (Nice-Matin, France).
Violinist Vanessa Mollard has appeared as soloist with the Ghent Symphony Orchestra, Geneva Philharmonic, Marseille Symphony Orchestra and the Monte-Carlo Symphony. Ms. Mollard is a recipient of the Princess Grace of Monaco Foundation sponsorship.
A versatile musician, pianist Riko Higuma is a highly sought-after piano collaborator and a sensitive chamber musician, performing with the world’s leading artists throughout the United States, Europe, Russia and Japan. As a soloist, she was a top-prize winner at the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition and the Santa Fe International Piano Competition.
Having performed over 300 concerts since its inception in 2007, the Zodiac Trio enjoys an international concert schedule that consistently spans three continents and is recognized by many to be one of the foremost clarinet-violin-piano ensembles performing today. When the Zodiac Trio was still in its formative years studying at the Paris Conservatory as protégé of the Ysaÿe Quartet, MUSO Magazine (a London based publication dedicated to classical musicians under thirty) found the young ensemble and featured it in a two-page spread, praising the group for "bringing a rare combination of instruments into the spotlight." Since then, the Zodiac Trio has been on a mission to expand its audience by creating a more inclusive concert experience that would please both the chamber music aficionado and the concert hall newcomers. By creating and programming unique arrangements alongside profound contemporary masterpieces as well as new music, the Zodiac Trio strives to reconcile the two worlds under the banner of: music is music. Whether its performing Bartok at a beer hall in a "Beer, Brats and Bartok" event, or giving a choreographed performance of Stravinsky's "A Soldiers Tale," costumes and all, for a children's theatre in Beijing, the Zodiac Trio is dedicated to re-imagining chamber music.
The Zodiac Trio’s extensive touring schedule has brought it to many premiere international venues such as Ottawa Chamberfest (Canada), Festival Radio France Montpellier, International Colmar Festival (France), Edinburgh Festival (Scotland), Beijing Performing Arts Center, Guangzhou Performing Arts Center (China), Izumi Hall in Japan, as well as over 100 different chamber music concert series in the United States and Canada.
The trio’s live performances have been broadcast by France 3 Television, Radio Classique, Beijing’s CCTV News, Canada’s CBC Radio and Television, NBC, New York’s WXQR and WNYC, Chicago’s WFMT, Boston’s WGBH, Italy’s RAI and Radio France in Paris.
The ensemble has been critically praised for its “impeccable technique” (Fanfare Magazine), "remarkable musicality of rare intensity" (La Tribune, France), “seemingly effortless ease” (San Angelo Standard Times), “truly exceptional and sublime talent,” (Nice-Matin, France); and declared by the French newspaper La Marseillaise as “one the best chamber ensembles of its generation...”
Strong advocates for new music, the Zodiac Trio has commissioned numerous composers over the past 10 years, and has had over 100 works written for them through commissions and University residencies. The ensemble has released three critically acclaimed albums, and has received the Classique Info Magazine "RING" for their 2012 CD "Zodiac Trio." The Zodiac Trio are founders of the international Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in the South of France (www.zodiacfestival.com), which presents 10 concerts yearly and has been bringing young artists from all over the world to the Côte D'Azur.
The 2023-2024 Concert Series closes on Saturday, May 4, 2024 with the Weston Silver Band and their program Hymn of the Highlands. Three-time North American Brass Band Champions, and now in its 100th season, the 33 brass and percussion players of the Weston Silver Band return for their third appearance with the Cornwall Concert Series. (Songs of the British Isles-2016, Beatles Go Brass-2018). This evening of music will transport you to the highlands of Scotland.
All concerts are held at Aultsville Theatre. Single tickets ($35) for all performances may be purchased in advance (cash or cheque) at these locations: TD Canada Trust, 1 Ninth Street East; Jolly Tours, Eastcourt Mall; The Squire Shop, 113 Pitt Street; and tickets are also available at the City of Cornwall Box office locations - Cornwall Aquatic Centre - 100 Water Street East, Cornwall (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) and Benson Centre - 800 Seventh Street West, Cornwall (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.). Single tickets may also be purchased at the box office on the afternoon of the performance subject to availability. For further information, visit www.CornwallConcertSeries.com.
