MIAMI BEACH STRING QUARTET RETURNS TO EMERSON CENTER JANUARY 7
The Emerson Center is pleased to announce the engagement of the acclaimed Miami Beach
String Quartet for a performance on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 4:00pm. This late afternoon concert
follows Vero’s enthusiastic reception of two previous concerts during the 2011 season. An exciting
program will comprise a string music gems by Mozart, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky. The musicians are all
seasoned performers at the top of their profession and determined to continue to merit the audiences’
enthusiastic praise as conveyed with expressions like “unforgettable,” “amazing talent”, and “I was
sorry it had to end.”
THE PROGRAM
To open the concert the quartet chose Tchaikovsky’s Andante Cantabile, the slow and melodic
second movement written for the composer’s quartet number eleven, but frequently played as a
separate piece because of its compelling beauty. The origin of the melody is said to be a tune whistled
by a workman which fascinated the composer who orchestrated it for string quartet. In any case it has
undoubtedly become one of the most beloved andantes in musical repertoire. Another famous piece
follows.
Mozart’s String Quartet Number 17 in B flat major has been named “Hunting” because of its
opening movement’s general mood of happiness and its suggestion of intense joy in effortless music
making. The second movement slows the rhythm to a dance movement contrasted by a more youthful
sounding trio. Then a lyrical Adagio third movement changes the perspective with a melodic phrase
played by the first violin with the accompaniment of the other instruments. A joyful and untroubled
Finale returns to the original mood to conclude the “Hunting Quartet.” The quartet ends in jubilant
music befitting Mozart’s gratitude to Josef Haydn to whom this piece and five others were dedicated.
The concert will end with Antonin Dvorak’s Quartet in F major, commonly called ”The
American.” This famous quartet was written during Dvorak’s two year stint as Director of the National
Conservatory of Music of America, specifically during a vacation visit to the Czech immigrant settlement
in Spillville, Iowa. There he made musical sketches of the Indian and American Western music which he
studied until he was able to capture their characteristics well enough to make a musical picture of the
American west described in this quartet and in his Quintet in E flat major. Although the music sounds
familiar they are Dvorak’s own compositions written in accordance with the keys, rhythms, scales, and
tonalities which give the themes their American indigenous characteristics while still retaining the
techniques of European art music. The Quartet in F major is considered a masterpiece of multi-cultural
composition which we will enjoy as it is performed by four outstanding musicians.
THE MUSICIANS
ALEXANDER ZHUK, FIRST VIOLIN
Sasha Zhuk was born into a celebrated musical family in Moscow, and started violin studies at
the Gnessin School for Gifted Children at age six. He earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the
Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands and holds a Graduate Performance Diploma from the
prestigious Peabody Institute in Baltimore. He came to Miami after winning a coveted fellowship with
the New World Symphony Orchestra under the famous conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas. His mastery
of the violin enthralled the audience during the Miami Beach String Quartet’s 2011 performances in
Vero Beach which included long solo parts in the Schubert, Beethoven, Haydn, and Borodin pieces. In
addition to the MBSQ, Sasha performs with the elite Atlantic Classical Orchestra, the Florida Grand
Opera Orchestra and other musical organizations which keep him much in demand and very busy.
EVGENIYA ZHARZHAVSKAYA, SECOND VIOLIN
Evgeniya was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and began to play the violin at age six also. She
entered the Rimsky-Korsakov School of music the same year. She later continued her studies at the St.
Petersburg state conservatory. While still at the conservatory she won a position with the Mariinsky
Theatre Orchestra under Valery Gergiev. She is currently studying at Lynn University in Boca Raton with
the famous concert violinist, Elmar Oliveira, who is scheduled to perform as soloist with the Atlantic
Classical Orchestra in the coming season.
Evgeniya has participated in a number of prestigious music festivals such as the Gustav Mahler
Academy in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany , the Verbier in Switzerland, and Miyazaki in Japan where she
performed with the world’s leading conductors including James Levine, Yury Temirkanov, Mstislav
Rostroprovitch, Charles Dutoit, and Christoph Eschenbach among others.
CHAUNCEY PATTERSON, VIOLA
Chauncey started playing the viola at age eight in the public school system of Burlington, North
Caarolina. His talent and determination propelled him to be one of the most sought-after violists in the
world. After his formal education at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, The Cleveland
Institute, and The Curtis Institute he began his professional career with the Denver Symphony. Shortly
after his arrival Maestro Phillipe Entremont designated him Principal Viola. He moved to the Buffalo
Philharmonic as Principal Viola under Seymon Bychkov. His virtuosity continuing to gain recognition,
Chauncey moved to the famed Miami String Quartet. He served as MSQ violist for fifteen years during
which MSQ won international acclamation after winning quartet competitions in London and Evian.
Following his tenure at MSQ, he joined the renowned Fine Arts Quartet for their world tour. His work
with Miami String and Fine Arts quartets has taken him to sixteen countries and every high profile
venue. His musical association lists two dozen distinguished artists.
Chauncey currently lives in Miami and divides his time between performance and education. He
performs with the Miami Beach String Quartet, the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, and Florida Grand Opera
where he has the distinction of being its Solo Viola. His faculty affiliations include The Cleveland
Institute, Blossom School of Music, Hartt School, Encore School for Strings, the New World School, and
five American Universities.
IAN MAKSIN, CELLO
Known for his intense passionate performances, Ian Maksin is quickly gaining international
acclaim as both a solo cellist and a composer. This summer Ian captivated European audiences with his
unique style and incredible range during his sold out tour of various European venues. In November he
completed a highly successful solo cello tour of Florida cities which included Vero Beach where he
performed at the Emerson Center on November 6. He has collaborated with famous artists such as
Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Snoop Dogg, and Gloria Estefan. In addition to performing as solo cellist with
many orchestras around the world Ian has performed at many international music festivals like Ravinia,
Spoleto, and the White Nights Festival in his native St. Petersburg, Russia. He is also an alumnus of
Michael Tilson Thomas’ New World Symphony and has had a long professional association with Maestro
Stewart Robertson and the Atlantic Classical Orchestra where he has been Principal Cello for six years.
This concert is the only Miami Beach String Quartet performance scheduled for Emerson Center in the
2012 season, so a large audience is anticipated. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Emerson Center
box office at 778 5249. Tickets are $25 for general admission. Tickets ordered from the box office in
advance are $20. Classical music lovers please make a note: MBSQ, Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 4:00
pm. You should not miss this event.