FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015, 7:30 PM
PRE-CONCERT TALK AT 6:40 PM
Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, School of Music, University of Victoria
Victoria Summer Music Festival brings the Chooi brothers back to Victoria for their first concert here after the rousing success of their Victoria Symphony appearance in 2014. They’re joined by fellow Victoria native Lorraine Min, piano in a wide-ranging program of works for one or two violins and piano. All three have been on our wish list for a few seasons, and we’re thrilled to bring these dynamic performers to you in one program.
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921) Sonata in D Minor for Violin and Piano
Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953) Sonata in C for Two Violins
Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953) Sonata No. 1 in F for Violin and Piano
Serge Arcuri (1954 – ) Soliloquy for solo piano
Pablo de Sarasate (1844 – 1908) Navarra for Two Violins and Piano
Nikki Chooi (violin) has been described as, “a model of taste and tonal refinement” (Boston Globe) and “vigorous and colorful” (New York Times). First Prize Winner of the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition and a Laureate of the 2012 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, Nikki’s many engagements have included performances as soloist with the Victoria Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, National Orchestra of Belgium, Malaysian Philharmonic, and the Auckland Philharmonia.
Nikki’s younger brother Timothy is currently enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music studying with Ida Kavafian. At the age of 16, Chooi captured the 2010 Grand Prix of the 71st l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Standard Life Competition, bringing him numerous concert engagements. Chooi debuted his performance with the l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal under the command of Maestro Jean-François Rivest. The La Presse Newspaper of Montréal described Chooi’s debut as ”le miracle (the miracle).” He has since played with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal again under the baton of Maestro Kent Nagano.
Lorraine Min (piano) has dazzled audiences internationally with her poetic artistry and brilliant virtuosity. Cited by the New York Times for her “impeccable phrase-shaping (and) crystalline sound,” and by the Washington Post for her “admirable playing,” Min has performed extensively throughout Canada and USA, in Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Australia, India, and in South America. She has performed solo recitals and has made concerto appearances in some of the world’s most important concert halls such as New York’s Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Town Hall, Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall, Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre, and the Chan Centre, to name only a few. Born in Victoria and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Min studied on full scholarship at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and earned her Bachelor degree, Pi Kappa Lambda.