Adam Golka – Piano, Wendy Sutter – piano, Ben Breen – violin

Program:

• Beethoven Sonata for Piano No. 8 in C minor “Pathetique”, Op.13
• Beethoven Sonata No. 2 for Cello and Piano in G minor, Op. 5
• Brahms Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87

Adam Golka – Piano

Pianist Adam Golka was invited by Andras Schiff to perform a series of recitals under Schiff’s sponsorship in New York (presented by the 92nd St. Y), and in Berlin, Zurich, and at the Ruhr Festival in Germany. Mr. Golka has appeared with symphony orchestras in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, New Jersey, Phoenix and, most recently, with the Vancouver, San Diego, Seattle, Richmond, California and Fort Worth Symphonies.  Internationally, he has performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Sinfonia Varsovia, Shanghai Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco, among others, and has played recitals in Paris, Amsterdam, Tokyo and at the Wroclaw and at the Duszniki Chopin Festivals in Poland.  His American festival performances have included recitals at Caramoor, Ravinia, Mostly Mozart in New York, the New York City International Keyboard Festival at the Mannes School of Music, Music@Menlo in California, and the Colorado, Grand Teton, and Newport Music Festivals.

A first generation American from a Polish family, Mr. Golka was raised in Texas and studied first with his mother, pianist Anna Golka, and with José Feghali at Texas Christian University.  Following several years of playing professionally, he returned for further studies with Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Institute and, through associations formed at the Marlboro Music School and Festival and Prussia Cove, he has continued to work with mentors such as Alfred Brendel, Murray Perahia, Ferenc Rados, Andras Schiff, Mitsuko Uchida, and Rita Wagner.  Mr. Golka is a winner of the Gilmore Young Artist’s award and the Max I. Allen Classical Fellowship Award of the American Pianists Association. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

Wendy Sutter – Cello

Cellist Wendy Sutter has appeared as soloist with the Dallas, Colorado, Tucson, Seattle, La Jolla, Shanghai, and North Netherlands symphony orchestras; Hong Kong, Brussels, and Hague Philharmonic orchestras; and the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra and Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Ms. Sutter has also toured extensively throughout China and the United States with composer/conductor Tan Dun at the podium performing his works, including the Academy Award–winning Crouching Tiger Concerto, The Map Concerto, and as soloist in his Water Passion. As a solo recitalist and chamber musician, Ms. Sutter has performed in festivals worldwide including Marlboro, Aspen, Spoleto, and Ravinia; with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; and with the Seattle Chamber Music Society. Ms. Sutter was the on-stage soloist with Mikhail Baryshnikov performing A Suite of Dances, a ballet for cello and dancer choreographed for Baryshnikov by Jerome Robbins. Wendy Sutter’s 2008 recording of Philip Glass’s Songs and Poems for solo cello, which was written for her by the composer and has been performed more than 100 times worldwide, was voted best new CD of the year by National Public Radio listeners and was the second best–selling CD in the classical division on iTunes.

Ben Breen – Violin, Artistic Director

Benjamin Breen is recognized internationally for his “exceptional purity of tone” and “beguiling sensitivity” (the Strad) made his New York recital debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.  His “intense emotion” and “tone tinged with gold” (Sydney Morning Herald) have led to engagements in Australia, Europe, the United States and Japan, both as soloist with orchestra, in recital, and as chamber musician. Breen has premiered works dedicated to him by the Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe and Spanish composer Elisenda Fabregas and given the German premiere of Philip Glass’ “Strung Out”.  In Australia he has made television appearances on ABC-TV and the 9 Network and participated in radio broadcasts on

ABC-FM, ABC Radio National, 2MBS-FM & 3MBS-FM.  His list of U.S. broadcast credits include broadcasts on WNYC, and National Public Radio stations nationwide. Breen began studies at the age of 5 in Sydney, Australia.  At 11 he entered the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where his teachers were John Harding and Janet Davies.  After pursuing musical studies in Germany, he returned to Australia, where he participated in master classes with Valery Klimov, Igor Ozim and Raphael Hillyer.  Participation in the Melbourne Summer Music Festival with Pinchas Zukerman led Mr. Breen to continue his studies in New York.  At The Juilliard School, Breen studied violin with Stephen Clapp and chamber music with Samuel Sanders and Paul Doktor.  He subsequently continued violin studies with violinist Harry Shub in New York, whose pedagogy influenced him greatly.  As chamber musician he has appeared at the Aspen, Next Generation, Telluride, Sitka, North-West Bach and Lake Placid music festivals.  Breen is founder and artistic director of Hudson Chamber Society in New York. Performances with ex-Heifetz pianist Milton Kaye led to the release of Breen’s recording of the Brahms Sonatas on the Australian Tall Poppies label available world-wide. Tall Poppies have also released “Cafe Fiddle”, an album of encores to wide critical acclaim.  His violin is “the Boyle” Guarneri “filius Andrea” made in 1712, with bows by Dominique Peccatte and Joseph Henry. He also performs on a violin by Boris Sverdlik made in Cremona 2005.  www.ausifiddler.com