General Info

For nearly 30 years, Market Square Concerts has been dedicated to the presentation of a wide repertoire of chamber music performed by distinguished professional artists, both established and emerging, and to the education and engagement of the general public in chamber music as an art form. With an annual summer festival and six concerts in the regular season, Market Square Concerts presents premieres of newly composed music as well as the monumental works from the most revered composers from the past and present. The festival again honors the memory of Dr. Jason Litton, who for many years was president of the board of Market Square Concerts and had a strong association with its Summermusic Festival. The festival is partially underwritten by contributions received from the Jason Litton Memorial Fund and Linda Litton. Corporate Sponsor for the 2010 Summermusic Festival is The Novinger Group. Season sponsor is Capital Blue Cross. Crowned "The most exciting piano trio in America" by The New Yorker Magazine, Trio Solisti is comprised of three brilliant instrumentalists - violinist Maria Bachmann, cellist Alexis Pia Gerlach and pianist Jon Klibonoff. Trio Solisti has earned a reputation for soulful and passionate performances marked by virtuosity, electric energy, seamless ensemble playing, and thrilling abandon. These qualities have drawn high praise from critics like Terry Teachout of The Wall St. Journal, who proclaimed, "To my mind, Trio Solisti has now succeeded the Beaux Arts Trio as the outstanding chamber music ensemble of its kind." Called "dazzling", and "a pianist with the soul of Chopin", Ching-Yun Hu, captured the top prize at the 2008 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in Tel Aviv, where she was also awarded the Audience Favorite Prize. She then won the 2009 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. Deeply impressed and equally moved by her artistry, prominent music critic Chanoch Ron wrote in the leading Israeli newspaper, Yediot Acharonot, "This young woman brings with her the secret, the mystery, and the style. She has the suspense of Brendel, Perahia's lyricism and Barenboim's depth." The group continues to build on its reputation for imaginative, spontaneous music-making that the Washington Post calls "emotionally high charged but never out of control." Its mission: bring every piece of music to the audience in vivid color, with pronounced communication and teamwork and great respect to the composer. The Bach Choir of Bethlehem sings with the dedication and enthusiasm of The Bach Choir of a century ago, but today's performances, featuring the finely-honed vocal ensemble, a fully professional orchestra, and world-renowned soloists, reveal a new understanding of Bach's choral universe. The Bach Choir of Bethlehem and members of the Bach Festival Orchestra, under the direction of conductor and artistic director Greg Funfgeld, appear in a program called Songs of Hope. Distinguished vocal soloists include Rosa Lamoreaux, soprano and William Sharp, baritone, with Daniel Taylor, countertenor and Benjamin Butterfield, tenor. Jonathan Biss represents the third generation in a family of professional musicians that includes his grandmother, for whom Samuel Barber composed his Cello Concerto, as well as his parents, violinist Miriam Fried and violist/violinist Paul Biss. In recent years Jonathan Biss and Miriam Fried have each devoted a portion of their schedules to performing together. Miriam Fried was the first violinist for nearly 30 years with the Mendelssohn String Quartet. Jonathan Biss won an Avery Fisher Career Grant and studied at the Curtis Institute with Leon Fleischer. After his Market Square Concerts performance, Jonathan will travel to play Beethoven's Emperor Concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis conducting. Parking for Market Square Church is available in the Market Square Garage adjacent to the church at Second and Chestnut Streets. Handicapped access is