Knox Galesburg Symphony will present a performance by the Knox-Galesburg Symphony Trio. featuring David Suda - violin, KGS principal cello Carolyn Suda, and KGS artistic director/conductor Bruce Polay, piano. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 6 at Knox College in the Ford Center for Fine Arts’ Kresge Recital Hall. At intermission, Bruce Polay will be available for autograph signing of his "Pictures For an Exhibition: Music by Bruce Polay" CD and the KGS' "Golden" CD.
The KGS Trio, will perform Robert Schumann’s Second Trio in F Major, Opus 80, Ernest Bloch's "Three Nocturnes," and Anton Arensky's Trio in D minor, Opus 32.
Ernest Bloch (1880-1959) was an American composer of Jewish descent who emulated his rich cultural heritage into his musical style. Deeply influenced by his heritage are his "Baal Sham" for violin and orchestra and the "Suite Hebraique" for Viola and Small Orchestra. Bloch's combination of rich cultural influences and his luscious harmonic style often identifies him as a neo-romantic composer. The "Three Nocturnes", composed in 1924 in Cleveland, represent such a mantle. Anton Stepanovich Arensky (1861-1906) was a Russian composer of Romantic classical music, a pianist and a professor of music. He studied composition at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory in 1882, and then became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory. Among his students there were Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Gretchaninov. In 1895, Arensky returned to Saint Petersburg as the director of the Imperial Choir. He retired from this position in 1901, spending his remaining time as a pianist, conductor, and composer. Tchaikovsky was the greatest influence on Arensky's musical compositions. Robert Schumann (1810-56) exerted considerable influence in the nineteenth century and beyond, leaving an array of acclaimed music in virtually all the forms then known. Partly through his protégé Brahms, Schumann's ideals and musical vocabulary became widely disseminated. Composer Edward Elgar called Schumann "my ideal." Most particular to Schumann in his piano writing is a largely virtuosic technique that appears primarily in the grand staff (never too high or too low). Lacking the "showy" quality of many lesser contemporary composers, Schumann's gift lies in his intricate harmonic invention and in his unique genius for creating endearing melodies out of the simplest of patterns.
Dr. David Suda, professor of humanities and intellectual history at Monmouth College, was concertmaster of the KGS from 1984 to 2007. Dr. Suda received his Ph.D. from Emory University in 1983, where his time was equally divided between academics and professional music. He has been a member of the Georgia State String Quartet and concertmaster of both the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. As violinist for the Emory Piano Trio, Dr. Suda participated in recitals throughout the eastern U.S, including Charleston's Spoleto Festival and Monadnock Chamber Music Festival in New Hampshire. Dr. Suda and the KGS Trio have performed at the University of Barcelona and the Reus Conservatory of Music (Spain). In addition to Dr. Suda's academic teaching and research, he teaches violin and is a frequent faculty recitalist at Monmouth College.
Carolyn Suda, KGS principal cellist, is a member of the music faculty at Monmouth College and adjunct faculty at Knox College. Prior to coming to Illinois, she served as adjunct cello faculty at Emory University and was principal cello of the Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Choral Guild, and the Atlanta Pops Orchestra. Additionally, she served as principal cello for the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and the Chattanooga Symphony. As a member of the Emory Piano Trio, Carolyn presented recitals throughout the eastern U.S. and recorded a series of chamber music programs for Public Television. With the KGS Trio she has performed at the University of Barcelona and Reus Conservatory. In addition to her full-time academic schedule, she maintains a large studio of private cello students, and conducts the Monmouth College Chamber Orchestra, Knox College String Ensemble and Cello Choir. Carolyn has served as cello clinician at string festivals in many parts of the United States, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Dr. Bruce Polay, artistic director/conductor of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony (KGS) since 1983, is professor and chair of music at Knox College, where he teaches music history, theory, orchestration and composition. In addition to his accomplishments as a conductor and published composer, he maintains an active piano performance schedule. He has performed in New York’s famed Carnegie Hall, as a recitalist in Europe and the U.S., and has judged international piano competitions in Italy and Canada. Additionally, Bruce judges the Midwest Young Artists Competition and the KGS Young Pianists Competition. He is also recognized as an award-winning conductor whose appearances include the Arad Philharmonic (Romania), the Belorussian State Philharmonic Orchestra (Minsk), the Bolshoi Theater Chamber Orchestra (Moscow), the Emporda Chamber Orchestra (Spain), the Kharkiv Philharmonic (Ukraine), and the State Symphony Orchestra of Mexico.
On Sunday, February 7 at 2:30 p.m., the Trio will perform their recital at The Bistro, 101 W. Main Street in Toulon, IL. Tickets will be available at the door.
General admission tickets are $12.00 and are available at the Orpheum Theatre Ticket Office (309-342-2299), 250 East Main St., Galesburg or at the door. Children and students are half-price. Reduced KGS Trio ticket prices are available with the purchase of a KGS 3-concert ticket package for the February 27, March 27, and April 17 KGS subscription concerts.
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