Rebecca Jackson, violin. Hailed as “riveting” by The San Francisco Examiner, Korean-American, Sound Impact co-founder & violinist Rebecca Jackson, is a native of California. Ms. Jackson received her B.M. from The Juilliard School and a graduate degree from UC Santa Cruz. She is founder and artistic director of Music in May. Rebecca is founding member of Ensemble San Francisco; “a… group of high-quality chamber musicians who are dedicated to fresh programming” raves the SF Classical Voice.
Ms. Jackson is a member of Sarasota Opera Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, performs with the San Francisco Opera & Ballet, and this season will join Santa Fe Opera in their production of Salome. Believing strongly in the power of music to heal and unite, an important part of her career has been discovering volunteer opportunities to serve others through her violin. These activities have taken her into communities in Ukraine, Romania, Dominican Republic, and into the Haitian tent cities. Combining her passion for music and service, she is co-founder of Sound Impact, an ensemble devoted to taking music to underserved communities such as youth in hospitals & correction facilities.
2015 Guest Artist, Martin Beaver, violin. He was first violinist of the world-renowned Tokyo String Quartet from June 2002 until its final concert in July 2013 appearing to critical and public acclaim on the major stages of the world including New York’s Carnegie Hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Berliner Philharmonie, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Mr. Beaver’s concerto and recital appearances span four continents with orchestras such as the San Francisco Symphony, l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège and the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.
Christine McLeavey Payne, piano. A prizewinner at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition, she was featured on Radio France and France TV. Ms. Payne has performed in such venues as Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, the Kingston Chamber Music Festival with Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim, the Banff International Keyboard Festival, and the Tanglewood Music Festival, and worked as a rehearsal pianist for the New York Philharmonic. She resides now in Portola Valley, CA with her husband and son. Ms. Payne completed her masters in 2004 at the Juilliard School of Music and previously graduated as valedictorian of Princeton University, with a degree in Physics.
Katrine Gislinge, piano. A native of Denmark, she has over the last two decades, established herself as one of Scandinavia’s most significant pianists performing both solo and chamber music concerts throughout Europe. Katrine was educated at the Royal Danish Music Conservatory and performed her debut concert in 1992. She has performed at many festivals including Lockenhaus in Austria, Festival de Radio France et Montpellier in France, Cervantino Festiva in Mexico, Bergen Festival in Germany, & London City Festival in the United Kingdom.
Jonah Kim, cello, made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2002 as the top prizewinner of Philadelphia Orchestra’s Albert M. Greenfield Competition. He also appeared as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra as a “Star of Tomorrow” in 2003. Jonah graduated from the prestigious Curtis Institute in spring of 2006 when 17 years old, and has soloed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Jonah has performed recitals at the Kimmel Center, Kravis Center, and the Kennedy Center. Jonah is an associate Principal cellist for San Francisco Ballet, of which he is the youngest member.
Alexandra Leem, viola, is a graduate of the Eastman School and Yale University. A recipient of the Yale University scholarship, she worked closely with the Tokyo quartet during her Yale residency graduate program. Alexandra was the Principal violist for the Concerto Soloists and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia in performances across the US with many influential conductors and soloists. She was a member of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and a substitute for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Alexandra played for orchestras and festivals in the US and in Europe and recently for the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the Santa Fe Concert Association. She is currently a member of the Santa Fe Opera and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and resides in California.
Liang-Ping How, viola, has been a member of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra since 1980. He has toured extensively throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia. He made his solo debut with the National Youth Orchestra of Taiwan at the age of seven. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1974 with the New York String Orchestra and has since appeared with numerous orchestras throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.
Musicologist in Residence, Kai Christiansen, specializes in classical chamber music. Mr. Christiansen writes and lectures throughout the Bay areas working regularly with such organizations as Music at Kohl Mansion, Monterey Bay Chamber Music, Music in May and the San Francisco Community Music Center as well as a number of international chamber music presenters. Mr. Christiansen is also the founder of earsense.org, an extensive online chamber music exploratorium featuring one of the world’s most comprehensive databases of chamber music literature spanning 500 years.
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Special Guest Tokyo String Quartet First Violin Martin Beaver performs. Additional Special Guest Pianist Katrine Gislinge, flown in from Copenhagen, also performs.
Program for Friday, May 29
J.S. Bach-Goldberg Variations for String Trio • Mozart G Minor Viola Quintet (featuring violists Alexandra Leem and Liang Ping How & guest artist Martin Beaver) • Mendelssohn Piano Trio in D Minor
7:00 p.m. Pre-concert lecture; 8:00 p.m. Concert
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Program for Saturday, May 30
Faure Elegie for Cello and Piano (featuring Jonah Kim) • Debussy Violin Sonata (with pianist Katrine Gislinge & guest artist Martin Beaver) • Franck Piano Quintet in F Minor (with pianist Christine McLeavey Payne & guest artist Martin Beaver)
