Essential Thursdays: Neoclassical Trio
Pascal Archer, clarinet; Emlyn Ngai, violin; Mark Fraser, cello
Thursday, August 20, 7:30 pm
Old School Baptist Church
Sponsored by Beaverdam Builders
The third and final Essential Thursday series marks the return of Pascal Archer on clarinet, accompanied by Emlyn Ngai on violin and Mark Fraser on cello. The repertoire mirrors the end of the season, bringing clarity and order as we prepare ourselves for autumn and the onset of winter. Archer, Ngai and Fraser give voice to this “call to order” through the compositions of neoclassical composers in the style of Copland and Stravinsky and will include Concerto a Tre by Ingolf Dahl and works by Beethoven and Honegger.
Pascal Archer leads an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player and teacher. He is the artistic director and founder of Exponential Ensemble; a chamber music ensemble influenced by music and mathematics. He is currently Principal Clarinet of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Preceding his residency in New York City, Archer was a full time member of the New World Symphony for four consecutive seasons where he performed under Michael Tilson Thomas. On several occasions Archer was featured with the New World Symphony either as a soloist or for the NWS chamber music series in Miami, Boston and Europe. Archer has been invited to many prestigious music festivals such as the Marlboro Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, and the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, to name a few. As an orchestral player, Archer has had the opportunity to work with such conductors as Charles Dutoit, James Levine, Kurt Masur, Mstislav Rostropovitch, David Robertson and Marin Alsop. Originally from Quebec, Pascal Archer has performed on Canadian television and radio. Archer is on faculty at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division, Hunter College (CUNY) and a teaching artist for Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Archer is a graduate of the Montreal Conservatory, University of Montreal, Indiana University and Manhattan School of Music.
Canadian violinist Emlyn Ngai holds degrees from McGill University, Oberlin College Conservatory, and the Hartt School. As a member of the Adaskin String Trio and concertmaster of Tempesta di Mare, he regularly tours Canada, Europe and the U.S. He is also associate concertmaster of the Carmel Bach Festival where he runs Circle of Strings, a Festival outreach program for string players and teachers. He has recorded for Centaur, Chandos, MSR Classics and New World Records. His recordings for the label Musica Omnia have received acclaim in BBC Music Magazine, Gramophone, and The Strad. Ngai has been a faculty member of Boston University, McGill University and Mount Holyoke College, as well as Amherst Early Music, Madison Early Music Festival and the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute. At the Hartt School he currently teaches modern and baroque violin, chamber music, performance practice, and co-directs the Hartt School Collegium Musicum.
Cellist Mark Fraser, originally from Montreal, studied with Walter Joachim, Aldo Parisot, Yuli Turovsky, and David Finckel and holds degrees from McGill University, l’Université de Montréal, and The Hartt School. For many years he was the Artistic Director of Project Renaissance, an arts festival near Montreal. Recording credits include a CD of works by Bach, Schumann, and Prokofiev with pianist Sooka Wang. Fraser also performs frequently as a soloist and in recital in Western Massachusetts, where he now lives. In 2007, he founded Valley Concerts in Northampton, Massachusetts, which has featured the Adaskin String Trio and guests in numerous well-received concerts.
Come hungry! The Ate.O.Ate Gourmet Food Truck will be on site serving dinner before the performance. Visit ateoatecatering.com for menu du jour.