We are thrilled that you will be joining us this Saturday, May 15, and we look forward to sharing an evening of live music together. To ensure ease of travel and logistics, please read the following information carefully.
Saturday, May 15, 5:30 pm The home of Terri and Jerry Kohl 800 Holladay Road, Pasadena
BACH Suite for Cello in in E-flat Major, BWV 1010 II. Allemande III. Courante IV. Sarabande VII. Gigue Mira Kardan, Cello
TSINTSADZE “Chonguri” from Five Pieces in Folk Style for Cello and Piano Mira Kardan, Cello
BRIGHT SHENG Seven Tunes Heard in China Shengyu Meng, Cello
KODÁLY Sonata for Cello, Op. 8 I. Allegro appassionato e maestoso Mei Hotta, Cello
Selections for Cello Quartet: SATIE Gymnopédie, No. 1 MOSZKOWSKI La Guitarre SCHUBERT March Militaire STRAUSS Jelačić Marsch PIAZZOLLA La Muerte del ángel Clive Greensmith; Mei Hotta; Mira Kardan; Shengyu Meng, Cellos
To ensure everyone’s health and safety, please plan to wear your mask and practice social distancing. The performance will be outdoors; we advise appropriate footwear and sun protection. Plentiful street parking available.
Clive Greensmith was the principal cellist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and was the cellist of the renowned Tokyo String Quartet for 15 years, from 1999 until 2013. As a member of the quartet, he gave more than 100 performances each year in the most prestigious international venues, including Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, South Bank Centre in London, Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Berliner Philharmonie, Musikverein in Vienna, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
Deeply committed to the mentoring and development of young musicians, Mr. Greensmith has enjoyed a long and distinguished teaching career. In addition to a 15-year residency with the Tokyo String Quartet at Yale University, Mr. Greensmith has served as a member of the faculty at the Yehudi Menuhin School, Royal Northern College of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and New York University. He joined the faculty of the Colburn School Conservatory of Music in 2013 as Professor of Cello and served as Co-Director of String Chamber Music Studies from 2013–2018. Students of Mr. Greensmith have gone on to secure major positions in orchestras throughout the world and have won a number of prestigious awards.
Mei Hotta currently studies with Clive Greensmith. Mei has been featured twice on NPR’s From the Top and was a semi-finalist at the 2017 and 2018 Stulberg International Competition. In her free time, she enjoys drawing in different mediums such as digital and watercolor. Mei will be attending the Colburn Conservatory of Music starting this fall.
Fourteen-year Mira Kardan attends the Colburn School where she studies with acclaimed cellist Clive Greensmith. She began her cello studies in the Colburn Community School with Nancy Yamagata at age five. Mira has attended summer programs including the Heifetz Institute and Indiana University’s Summer String Academy. At the Colburn School, Mira has served as principal cello of the Community School’s String Orchestra and has been selected to play on the bi-annual Honors Recital. Additionally, her piano trio was chosen for the school’s Honors Chamber Ensemble program. Her trio has won first place on two occasions in the regional division of MTAC’s VOCE competition. Mira has been awarded the laureate title at the Sound Espressivo Competition. Now a member of Colburn’s prestigious Music Academy for gifted young artists, Mira participates in a comprehensive program of musical studies that include music theory, history, lessons and ensembles. Additionally, Mira has had the opportunity to study cello and chamber music with Hans Jensen, Amir Eldan, Peter Stumpf, Fabio Bidini, Susan Moses, and the Calidore Quartet.
Mira’s interests include reading, writing, and listening to music of all genres. She also enjoys traveling and experiencing new international cuisines. Mira lives in Los Angeles with her parents and beloved rescue dog, Daisy.
Shengyu Meng began playing cello at the age of 5. She is currently completing her bachelor’s degree in the Colburn Conservatory of Music with professor Clive Greensmith. Shengyu has participated in many music festivals including Morningside Music Bridge, Music@Menlo, Yellow Barn, Piatigorsky International Cello Festival, and Cello Akademie Rutesheim. She was the first place winner of the Aiqinbei National Music Competition, the third prize winner of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music Chamber Music Competition, the third prize winner of Morningside Music Bridge Concerto Competition, and also won Honorable Mention in the Music Center’s Spotlight Program. Shengyu was a featured performer on NPR’s From the Top episode #367, and she is a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.