The Program

Bach:  Violin Sonata TBA
Beethoven:  Duet "with two eyeglasses obligato" in E-flat Major, WoO 32
Kodály:  Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
Bach:  Viola da Gamba Sonata TBA
Beethoven:  Violin Sonata in F Major, Op. 24, "Spring"

The Artists

Pinchas Zukerman has remained a phenomenon in the world of music for four decades. He is equally respected as violinist, violist, conductor, pedagogue and chamber musician. A frequent chamber music performer, Pinchas Zukerman has appeared regularly with such friends and colleagues as Daniel Barenboim, Vladmir Ashkenazy, Itzhak Perlman, the Orion and Tokyo String Quartets, the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, Ralph Kirshbaum, Yefim Bronfman, Lynn Harrell, Marc Neikrug and the late Jacqueline du Pré. In 2003 he formed the Zukerman Chamber Players. His extensive discography contains over 100 titles and has earned him 21 Grammy nominations and two awards, including "Best Chamber Music Performance" in 1980 and "Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra" in 1981. Born in Tel Aviv in 1948, Zukerman studied music with his father, first on the recorder and clarinet, and later on the violin. He soon began lessons with Ilona Feher and came to America in 1962 with the support of Isaac Stern, Pablo Casals and the America-Israel and Helena Rubinstein Foundations. He began his studies at The Juilliard School with Ivan Galamian and, in 1967, was named first-prize winner of the 25th Leventritt Competition. In 2002 he became the first recipient of the Isaac Stern Award for Artistic Excellence at the National Arts Awards Gala in New York City.

Acclaimed as both soloist and chamber musician, Juno Award-winning cellist Amanda Forsyth has earned praise from audiences and critics alike. She is principal cellist for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa where she also appears frequently as a soloist and in chamber recitals, and she is a founding member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers. Forsyth's career has included collaborations with many eminent artists including Yefim Bronfman, Lynn Harrell, Joseph Kalichstein, Jaime Laredo, Louis Lortie, Yo-Yo Ma, Garrick Ohlsson, John Kimura Parker, Arnold Steinhardt, Michael Tree and Pinchas Zukerman. Born in South Africa, Ms. Forsyth moved to Canada as a child and began playing cello at age three. She became a protégé of William Pleeth in London, and later studied with Harvey Shapiro at the Juilliard School. After two seasons with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra she became the youngest principal ever selected by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra—a post she occupied for six years. Amanda Forsyth’s recordings appear on the Sony Classics, Naxos, Altara, Fanfare, Marquis, Pro Arte and CBC labels. For more information on Amanda Forsyth, visit www.amandaforsyth.com.

Consistently cited for her brilliant technique, tonal beauty and superb musicianship, pianist Angela Cheng is one of Canada's brightest musical stars. She has appeared as soloist with virtually every orchestra in Canada, as well as the Birmingham Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, Houston Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Saint Louis Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Utah Symphony and the Israel Philharmonic, among others. For more information on Angela Cheng, visit www.pianistangelacheng.com.