The Friday Noon Concert Series
presents
Tonya Burton, viola
MuChen Hsieh, violin
Guzal Isametdinova, piano
Friday, April 1, 2022
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC - RSVP required
(limited seating available)
Program
Sarasateana Suite - Efrem Zimbalist (1889 – 1985)
I. Tango
II. Polo
III. Malagueña
IV. Zapateado
Bebop for Beagles - Benedikt Brydern (b. 1966)
I. Hoover’s Holiday
II. Cookies in Space
III. Purzelbaum
IV. Roosevelt’s Sun Shower
V. Flea Control: Mission Impossible
VI. Kitchen Blues
VII. Bebop for Beagles
About the Artists:
Passionate about performance, D.C. based violist, Tonya Burton can be found performing in diverse venues across the United States. She has been a guest artist for the Houston Viola Society, Texas A&M Corpus Christi, Texas Lutheran University and has been featured on the All Classical Portland 89.9 station as well as the Los Angeles KCRW 89.9 station. She recently released her debut album under the Tonsehen label featuring the music of Max Reger. Tonya is a core member of the KINETIC, both performing and programming for the Houston-based chamber ensemble known for showcasing diverse and under-represented classical music. She is also a founding member of the D.C. based Natonya duo, has played with the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra in Los Angeles and performs annually at the Caroga Lake Music Festival in the Adirondacks of New York. Prior summers have been at the Perlman Music Program, Talis Festival and Academy, and the Heifetz International Music Institute. She has collaborated with renowned artists including Donald Weilerstein, Jeffrey Irvine, Katherine Murdock, Mark Kosower and Richie Hawley. Tonya is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of Maryland while serving as teaching assistant to Katherine Murdock.
MuChen Hsieh, from Taiwan, joined the Houston Symphony as Principal Second Violin in 2017. Prior to her appointment at Houston Symphony, she has worked with conductors such as Thomas Ades, Charles Dutoit, Larry Rachleff, David Robertson, Joshua Weilerstein, and Hugh Wolff, among others. She studied with Kathleen Winkler, Malcolm Lowe, and Masuko Ushioda at Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and New England Conservatory of Music.
MuChen performs regularly in the US and Taiwan. Most recently, she appeared as a soloist with the Houston Symphony in 2022, 2020 and 2019. As an avid chamber musician, she has collaborated with James Dunham, Cho-Liang Lin, Jon Kimura Parker, Gil Shaham, and Kathleen Winkler. When MuChen is home in Taiwan every summer, she enjoys playing chamber concerts with friends and coaching string orchestras.
Uzbekistani pianist Guzal Isametdinova has cultivated her passion for music from a very early age. As a soloist, she appeared with a Chamber Orchestra of Uzbekistan, performing Mozart’s D minor concerto. As a chamber partner, Guzal won twice the John Oliveira String Competition, the Lyric Chamber Competition in 2018 in Florida with her group Trio Fantasia, which led to their New York recital debut. Additionally, she is a prize recipient of competitions held in the United States, Europe, Russia, and Uzbekistan both as a soloist and a chamber musician.
She participated in masterclasses for Leon Fleisher, Jonathan Feldman, Warren Jones, Martin Katz, Eroica Trio, and so many more. Guzal’s experience as a pianist ranges from baroque repertoire to contemporary music, including living composers, such as Christopher Theofanidis, Yevgeniy Sharlat, Scott Wheeler, who she collaborated with on their recently written music. Guzal always tries to diversify her job as an artist by also specializing in organ and harpsichord playing. Guzal Isametdinova is currently pursuing Doctoral Degree at the University of Maryland under the guidance of renowned Rita Sloan. She holds a Master of Music degree from the Lynn Conservatory of Music as a student of Professor Lisa Leonard. Her previous professors also include Alla Kim, Ofeliya Yusupova, and Anna Gringof.
Lunch is available to ACW members after the concert.
