Department of Music

The McIntire Department of Music is pleased to present the 2013-2014 University of Virginia Chamber Music Series. This annual series, which presents innovative performances by the University of Virginia's world-class faculty and celebrated guest artists, continues with four upcoming professional performances for the University and the central Virginia community. These intimate concerts are programmed to offer both new and traditional works that will delight audiences of all musical tastes.

The Rivanna String Quartet kicks off the new year with an evening of string quartet classics on Friday, January 31 at 8:00 pm. The group lends its energetic vision to Felix Mendelssohn's String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op.13, Giacomo Puccini's Cristantemi, and Béla Bartok's String Quartet No. 1 in A minor, a series of emotionally-charged, passionate works from early in each composer's career. 

The Rivanna String Quartet, comprised of UVa string faculty members who also serve as principal players in the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia, features Daniel Sender and David Sariti, violin; Ayn Balija, viola; and Adam Carter, cello.

Daniel Sender, violin 
Daniel Sender enjoys a diverse musical career and has appeared in concerts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and China.  A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Sender holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance and Education from Ithaca College and graduate degrees from the University of Maryland.  He serves as concertmaster for the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia (The Mary Dean Scott Chair) and is on the faculty at the UVA McIntire Depatment of Music. Sender's teachers include Vilmos Szabadi, Gerald Fischbach, David Salness and the Guarneri Quartet.

David Sariti, violin
Violinist David Sariti maintains a career of uncommonly diverse musical accomplishments, with a repertoire spanning from the seventeenth century to the present day. He serves as Principal Second Violinist of the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia (The Robert D. Cross Memorial Chair) and is on the faculty at the UVA McIntire Department of Music. He completed his doctorate at the Hartt School (University of Hartford) in the Honors Chamber Music program, writing on "The Austro-German Violin Sonata, c. 1650". He also holds degrees from the University of Akron and Ithaca College. Studies were with Katie Lansdale, Pamela Gearhart, Pamela Frank and members of the Cleveland and Miami Quartets.

Ayn Balija, viola
Ayn Balija serves as Principal Violist of the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia (The Elizabeth W. Gatewood Chair). Ms. Balija earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music.  Ayn is on the faculty at the UVA McIntire Department of Music, provides private lessons as a Boyd Tinsley Tutor in the Charlottesville Public Schools, performs outreach concerts, serves as President for the Virginia Viola Society and maintains a private viola studio. Jeffrey Irvine and Peter Slowik continue to be her principal instructors and mentors.

Adam Carter, cello

Cellist Adam Carter is principal cellist for the Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia (The Genevieve B. Horween & Marion H. Chase Chair) and is on the faculty of U.Va’s McIntire Department of Music.  He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees with distinction from the Eastman School of Music, and received his doctoral degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His principal teachers include Steven Doane, Rosemary Elliot, Robert Marsh and Uri Vardi.

The Chamber Music Series continues on Saturday, February 1 at 8:00 pm, with the Albemarle Ensemble presenting an invigorating program of woodwind chamber music. The group will blend staples of the repertoire, such as Anton Reicha's Wind Quintet in D Major,with lesser-performed gems, including Darius Milhaud's Sonata for Oboe, Flute, Clarinet, and Piano, and Alexander von Zemlinksy's Humoreske (Rondo). The program, which concludes with Louise Farrenc's Sextet for Piano and Winds,features Kelly Sulick, flute; Aaron Hill, oboe; Rob Patterson, clarinet; Stephanie Corwin, bassoon; Maria Serkin, horn; and John Mayhood, piano.

Matthew Ernst, recently-appointed trumpet instructor at the University of Virginia, will be featured in recital on Monday, February 24 at 8:00 pm. Joined by his wife Janna Ernst, piano, Ernst will offer a musical greeting to the community with works by Eric Ewazen, George Enescu, George Anthiel, Tomaso Albinoni, and Robert Russell Bennett. The concert, which features Nathaniel Lee, trombone, and Maria Serkin, horn, will conclude with "The Vocal Trumpet," a setting of songs by Johannes Brahms and an aria from Vincenzo Bellini's opera Norma.

The 2013-2014 University of Virginia Chamber Music Series concludes on Monday, March 3 at 8:00 pm with Peter Spaar, double bass, in recital. Spaar demonstrates the full spectrum of the instrument's capabilities, performing works from classical and jazz realms. The recital features works by Henry Eccles, Giovanni Bottesini, and Paul Hindemith.  In addition, Spaar will perform a piece by UVA composer Matthew Burtner, as well as one of his own jazz compositions.

Tickets for all concerts are $15 general admission, $8 for students, and are free for UVA students who reserve in advance and for those under 18.  Tickets can be purchased by calling the Arts Box Office at 434.924.3376, or by visiting https://artsboxoffice.virginia.edu/. 

For additional information, please visit http://music.virginia.edu/uvacms.

The University of Virginia Chamber Music Series is supported by the George F. and Marion E. Jones Endowed Lectureship Fund.