Friday Oct 11, 2024
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM CDT
Kirkwood Performing Arts Center
In the Strauss Black Box Theatre at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center This concert, originally scheduled for July 26, has been rescheduled for October 11. Tickets for the original date are valid for the new date. Presented by Project String Quartet Project String Quartet is a premier ensemble known for their exceptional artistry and electrifying live performances. Based in St. Louis, this talented string quartet brings a fresh perspective to both timeless classics and modern hits. Hailing from prestigious institutions like Juilliard and Oxford, each member brings a wealth of talent and experience, creating a powerhouse of musical brilliance. Their upcoming tribute to David Bowie, "Stardust," promises to be a spectacular showcase of their versatility and virtuosity. With their innovative arrangements and profound musicality, Project String Quartet delivers performances that are both breathtaking and unforgettable. Join them at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center for an evening that celebrates Bowie's legendary music through the lens of classical sophistication. Rebecca Chung is an accomplished violinist known for her expressive lyricism. She holds a Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Northwestern University and a Master of Music in violin performance from The Juilliard School. Rebecca has recorded violin on studio albums by major recording artists, including Ariana Grande, Sarah McLachlan, Barry Manilow, Metro Boomin, Melissa Manchester, Andrea Bocelli, and Marvin Hamlisch. As a film and television session violinist, she has performed on numerous soundtrack scores including HOUSE OF CARDS, STAR TREK DISCOVERY, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., ORVILLE, ONWARD, and the LEAGUE OF LEGENDS video game soundtracks. Her television appearances include on-screen violin performances for NBC’s CHUCK and CBS’s HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. Rebecca has also worked as a music consultant, providing coaching for Academy Award-nominated actress Catherine Keener’s performance in A LATE QUARTET. Rebecca has also performed in concerts across Europe, South America, and Asia. She currently teaches violin at Washington University in St. Louis, Webster University, and maintains a private studio. Rebecca is the founder and violinist of the St. Louis-based Project String Quartet. Graham Woodland received his Bachelor of Music Degree in violin performance from the University of Missouri, where he was a student of Eva Szekely and studied chamber music with Julie Rosenfeld and Peter Miyamoto. He went on to receive his Master of Music Degree from the Hartt School, where he studied with Katie Lansdale and completed long-term Suzuki Teacher Training with Christie Felsing. Additionally, Graham has completed Suzuki Teacher Training with Teri Einfeldt, Edward Kreitman, and Thomas Wermuth. He has appeared as soloist with the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, University of Missouri Philharmonic, Hartt Contemporary Players, and the MU Chamber Soloists. He is currently Assistant Concertmaster of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra and performs with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Previously, Graham was Principal second violin of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and performed with the New Britain Symphony and Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. He has been a winner and finalist in many competitions including the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist, Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA), and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.\ He has participated in masterclasses with Paul Biss, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Lipsett, Lawrence Dutton, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic. Summer festivals attended include the Innsbrook Institute Academy and Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and the Texas Music Festival. A dedicated teacher, Graham’s students have earned leadership positions in the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Missouri All-State Orchestra, and have had success in local and state level competitions. He recently joined the Suzuki violin faculty at the Community Music School of Webster University in St. Louis. Matt Pickart is Director and Co-founder of Clazz International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, and Assistant Professor of Music at Webster University in Saint Louis, where he serves as Director of Chamber Music and teaches violin, viola, improvisation, and music entrepreneurship. He has the distinct honor and privilege of having performed at both Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Music Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Other career highlights include performances with The Who, Barry Manilow on tour, The Vogues as concertmaster, and as principal violist for Bernadette Peters and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras in the USA, Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands. As the former violinist and vocalist of the Hot Club of Pittsburgh and a featured artist of Jazzstadt Stuttgart, Pickart has performed and recorded in multiple genres internationally. Active in the Saint Louis area, Pickart has performed with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Bach to the Future, Ariel Concert Series, and Chamber Project Saint Louis. Mr. Pickart is lucky to count some of the great luminaries of the music world, among his teachers, such as: Sidney Harth (legendary American concertmaster); Yuri Gandelsman (former principal violist of Israel Philharmonic and violist with the Fine Arts Quartet); and Rodney Whitaker (bassist of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.) Prior to coming to Webster University, he served on the faculty of Beloit College, Michigan State University Community Music School, Duquesne University’s City Music Center, and University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Summer Music Clinic among numerous other programs. Grace Eunhey Park began playing cello at 10 years old. She is a cellist with a passion for ensemble performance. She is a member of Ensemble Secreta, Ariel Concert Series, and Project String Quartet. She was a member of Peoria Symphony Orchestra and an associate member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. She holds substitute positions with in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Huntington (WV) Symphony Orchestra, and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. In 2012 Grace won first prize in the Indianapolis Matinee Musical Competition, graduate string/woodwind level, and she received honorable mention in the Graduate Concerto Competition at Ball State University in 2011. She is a native of the Republic of Korea where she won the Catholic University of Daegu Competition in 2003, and her ensemble was awarded first prize in the Fringe Festival of the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) in 2006. Grace took second prize in the string division of Daesin University in 2013 in Korea. She was previously a member of the Daegu Opera Festival Orchestra in Korea. Grace was a cellist in the Orchestre de la Francophonie in Montreal, Canada, in 2013 and in 2008 attended the Festival Ensemble of the TIMF Academy in Korea on a full scholarship. She earned an Artist Diploma from Ball State University, where she studied with Peter Opie with a full assistantship. Prior to entering Ball State, she completed her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Yeung-nam University in Korea, where she studied with Seungzhin Lee.