From East to West

From Mozart and Brahms to Yun and Hsiao, the program tonight revolves around themes of love, space, and the human yearning for freedom. Come ready to receive a special message that spans cultural and geographical boundaries as we delve into the intricacies of these masterworks in performance!

About the performers:

Eric Tsai is an up and coming Taiwanese-American violinist whose playing has been described as both “dashing” and “heart-wrenching” (NZ Herald), and whose thoughtful approach to old and new works alike has earned him a place on stages across the globe. The 2nd prize winner of the 2019 Michael Hill International Violin competition, Eric has garnered critical acclaim as a soloist and chamber player, as well as a champion of music from his home country of Taiwan. Simultaneously, he is a committed educator, passionate about raising up the next generation of young musicians, and works frequently with children from underserved communities and schools.

Performing as a featured artist throughout the United States, Europe, Taiwan, and New Zealand, Eric is deeply committed to spreading hope and light to audiences around the world through his art. In 2021, at the height of the worldwide pandemic, his quartet partnered with Taiwan Connection’s education outreach program and traveled to elementary schools situated in under-reached communities across the country. Other past community engagement projects include performances at homeless shelters, hospitals, and veteran homes across New York and Philadelphia.

Eric’s previous teachers include Catherine Cho, Ida Kavafian, and Shmuel Ashkenasi, and he has also worked closely with renowned artists such as Pamela Frank, Peter Wiley, Joseph Lin, Ralph Kirshbaum, and Joseph Silverstein. Recent awards include the bronze medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition with his piano trio, the prestigious 2022 Chimei Arts Award, and his quartet, the Quatuor Cael, being selected as an Honors ensemble at Juilliard for the 2022-23 season. Eric received his B.M. from the Curtis Institute of Music and his M.M. from the Juilliard School, and is currently a doctoral candidate at StonyBrook University.

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Calvin Hu is a pianist, chamber musician, and active photographer in both SF and NYC.

A passionate educator, Calvin was the 2019 recipient of the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation Scholarship, and has most recently served as an instructor and chamber coach at Stony Brook University’s undergraduate music program. He has also previously been on faculty at the Young Artist’s Program and maintains a private studio.

In the 2021-2022 year, Calvin was a recipient of the Silicon Valley Chamber Music Festival Fellowship program, and worked on a pilot program in conjunction with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music for multi-month residency outreach music program.

As a chamber musician, Calvin has been mentored by pianist Gilbert Kalish through his Chamber Music Piano Intensive, as well as members of the Emerson String Quartet. In recent summers he has received fellowships from Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival and has performed recently alongside Alan Kay, Carol Wincenc, James Austin Smith, and David Requiro.

Calvin completed his undergraduate studies with Antoinette Perry and Inna Faliks at UCLA and his Master’s of Music and Doctora

What's the music?

Eric Tsai

Attendees

Jennifer R.

Ben C.

Mihaela C. (she/her)

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Lukas R.