The Program

Liszt:  Romance Oubliée
Schumann:  Three Romances, Op. 22
Bruch:  Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46
Bruch:  Romance, Op. 85
Vieuxtemps:  Romance, Op. 40, No. 1
Sibelius:  Romance, Op. 78, No. 2
Benjamin:  Romantic Fantasy

The Artists

Recognized as one of the most celebrated violinists of her generation, Elissa Lee Koljonen has thrilled audiences and critics in over 100 cities throughout the world. Ms. Koljonen initially received international acclaim when she became the first recipient of the prestigious Henryk Szeryng Foundation Award and silver medalist of the Carl Flesch International Violin Competition. As a recitalist, Ms. Koljonen has performed in many musical capitals including London, Amsterdam, Salzburg, Seoul, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York. Also an avid chamber musician, Ms. Koljonen appears regularly at festivals throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Ms. Koljonen is a protégé of the great Aaron Rosand at the Curtis Institute of Music. Through his influence, she continues the legacy and tradition of Leopold Auer and his legendary school of violin playing. For more information on Elissa Lee Koljonen, visit www.elissaleekoljonen.com.

Roberto Díaz is former principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and President of the Curtis Institute of Music.  As a renowned recitalist and professor of viola at Curtis, he follows in the footsteps of renowned soloist/directors such as Rudolf Serkin and Gary Graffman.  In addition to regular recitals, he is frequently heard as a member of the Díaz Trio, with violinist Andrés Cárdenes and cellist Andrès Díaz, with whom he has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico and Chile.  Roberto Díaz has received numerous awards, including prizes at the Naumburg and Munich international viola competitions, as well as the Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2006 C. Hartman Kuhn Award, given annually to “the member of the Philadelphia Orchestra who has shown ability and enterprise of such character as to enhance the standards and the reputation of the Philadelphia Orchestra.” 

Pianist Robert Koenig has quickly established a reputation as a much sought-after collaborative pianist and chamber musician. He performs regularly in major centers throughout the world with many of this generation’s most renowned musicians. Recent engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Louvre Museum. His most recent CD of transcriptions for viola and piano by William Primrose was released in July 2006 on Naxos with violist Roberto Díaz and was nominated for “Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without orchestra)” at the 49th annual Grammy Awards in 2007. He is currently an associate professor at University of California in Santa Barbara.