The Center for gifted young musicians
at Temple Music Prep, in collaboration with
the philadelphia chamber music society
present violinist Miho Saegusa and
cellist Karen Ouzounian,
of the Aizuri Quartet
Ms. Saegusa and Ms. Ouzounian WILL BE WORKING
WITH STUDENTS IN THE CENTER FOR GIFTED YOUNG MUSICIANS
VIRTUAL CHAMBER MUSIC INTENSIVE DURING THE CLASS.
Violinist Miho Saegusa, a versatile chamber musician and orchestral leader, has built a multifaceted career that allows her to cherish the spirit of collaboration. Her passion for chamber music was ignited and nurtured through memorable summers at the Marlboro Music Festival, Ravinia Steans Institute, and Music@Menlo as well as on tours with Musicians from Marlboro. During these summers she had the opportunity to collaborate with venerated musicians such as Mitsuko Uchida, Richard Goode, Arnold Steinhardt, David Soyer, and Miriam Fried.
In addition to chamber music, Miho loves the energy and intimacy of chamber orchestras. She is a member of the celebrated Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and currently is serving as one of its three Artistic Directors. For five seasons she was Concertmaster of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and since 2001 is a member of IRIS Orchestra, where she has held the Isaac Stern Concertmaster Chair on numerous occasions. In addition, Miho has been a guest with A Far Cry, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, and NOVUS.
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Described as “radiant” and “expressive” (The New York Times) and “nothing less than gorgeous” (Memphis Commercial Appeal), cellist Karen Ouzounian approaches music-making with a deeply communicative and passionate spirit. Winner of the S&R Foundation's 2016 Washington Award and at home in diverse musical settings, she is especially drawn towards unusual collaborations and eclectic contemporary repertoire.
In addition to her work with the Aizuri Quartet, Karen performs around the globe with the Silkroad Ensemble, the Grammy award-winning group founded by cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 2000. Her commitment to adventurous repertoire and the collaborative process has led to her membership in the innovative chamber orchestras The Knights and A Far Cry, and the critically-acclaimed new music collective counter) induction.
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Praised by The Washington Post for “captivating” performances that draw from its notable “meld of intellect, technique and emotions,” the Aizuri Quartet was awarded the Grand Prize and the CAG Management Prize at the 2018 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, along with top prizes at the 2017 Osaka International Chamber Music Competition in Japan, and the 2015 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition in London. The Quartet’s debut album, Blueprinting, featuring new works written for the Aizuri Quartet by five American composers, was released by New Amsterdam Records and nominated for a 2019 GRAMMY Award.
Through its engaging and thought-provoking programs, branded by The New York Times as “genuinely exciting” and “imaginative,” the Quartet has garnered critical acclaim for bringing “a technical bravado and emotional power” to bold new commissions, and for its “flawless” (San Diego Union-Tribune) performances of the great masterpieces of the past. In the 2019-20 season the group will tour extensively across North America giving both debut appearances at Lincoln Center and at Carnegie Hall as part of CAG Winner’s Series.
Based in New York City, the Aizuri Quartet was the 2017-2018 MetLiveArts String Quartet-in-Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they presented five unique programs throughout the season, leading The New York Times to applaud them as “a quartet of expert collaborators, who cogently traverse a range of repertoire staples and modern works.” Previous residency engagements include: the 2015-2016 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts; resident ensemble of the 2014 Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute; and, from 2014-2016, the String Quartet-in-Residence at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
