Music on Thursdays
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Thursday 21st September 2023
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Asaka Quartet
Iona McDonald & Eriol Guo Yu, violins
Susie Xin He, viola
Fong Ho Man Jonathan, cello
Programme
Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)
String Quartet No 12 in C minor D703 (1820)
Quartettsatz Quartet Movement Allegro assai
Danish Traditional
arr Danish String Quartet / Danske Strygekvartet
Minuet No 60 [4:00]
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847)
String Quartet in Eb major (1834)
I Adagio ma non troppo
II Allegretto
III Romanze
IV Allegro molto vivace
Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin (b 1982)
Shore
Johan August Andersson (1860/1866-1907) Swedish Traditional
arr Danish String Quartet
Polska from Dorotea /Stenselepolskan
courtesy of the Royal Academy of Music
Concert duration approx: 45 minutes
Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455
Asaka Quartet
The Asaka Quartet is a prizewinning string quartet formed in 2021 at the Royal Academy of Music. They were the 2022/23 Chamber Music Fellows at the Academy and are about to begin a further year as the 2023/24 Open Academy/Wigmore Hall Fellowship Ensemble.
Yielding from China, Hong Kong and Scotland, the Asaka’s each bring with them their own identities. They pride themselves on communicating their enjoyment of making music together and sharing this with their audiences, and they have a keen interest in music by underrepresented composers.
Asaka were 1st prize winners in the Wolfe Wolfinsohn String Quartet Competition at the RAM in July 2022 for their performance of Beethoven’s String Quartet Opus 18 No 2 in G major. They attended the Tunnell Trust's Chamber Music Coll in June 2022 and 2023, where they were mentored closely by Ralph de Souza of the Endellion Quartet, Scott Dickinson and Jonathan and Charles Tunnell.
The quartet have also been mentored closely by Martin Outram since 2021, when they were selected for the prestigious Frost Trust Advanced Specialist Strings Ensemble Training Scheme (A.S.S.E.T.) at the Academy.
The Asakas made several festival appearances this summer, as String Apprentices at the Southwell Music Festival, performing at the Dinard Opening Festival in France as well as premiering a new work for string quartet by composer Ned Bigham at the Petworth Festival in July. In January 2024 they will embark on a tour of Scotland, performing in Skye, Biggar, Moffat, and Argyll.
Asaka also enjoy working with young musicians. In November 2022 and April 2023 they visited the Poole Society for Young Musicians to work with the young chamber ensembles. They have also presented workshops introducing the String Quartet to primary school children across Exmoor as part of the Two Moors Festival.
As close friends, growing up on opposite sides of the world in the most contrasting of cultures, they have a keen interest in learning and experiencing new things, which lead them to enjoy discovering and sharing underrepresented music. Through presenting creative and innovative programmes, they invite their audiences to discover new repertoire from a fresh and exciting perspective.
Asaka are delighted to have been selected for The Stoller Hall’s Emerging Artists Scheme and are also one of Chamber Music Scotlands Ones to Watch for 2022/23.
[Stoller Hall opened as a performance space at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester in 2017. Soon after its opening, the building won a RIBA National Award. You can read more about the Stoller Hall here.]
The Asakas:
Iona McDonald is a Scottish violinist recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music where she obtained her Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees studying with Maureen Smith and Michael Foyle. Graduating her Masters with a Distinction, she was additionally awarded a Postgraduate Diploma (DipRAM) for an outstanding Final Recital as well as a Regency Award for distinguished studentship and the Sir John Barbirolli Prize for outstanding studentship.
Iona is a member of the prizewinning Asaka Quartet, formed in October 2021 at the Royal Academy of Music.
She is also a keen orchestral player, regularly playing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra. Iona was a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester from 2019-2022. Highlights of her time working with the GMJO include performing on the opening night of the Salzburg Festspiele in July 2021 and a collaboration with the GMJO and the Dresden Staatskapelle in March 2020.
While studying, she performed regularly with the RAM Symphony Orchestra which she notably led for their performance of Mahler 3 at the Royal Festival Hall conducted by Semyon Bychkov for the Academy’s 200th Anniversary Concert in June 2022.
Iona has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland ensembles since the age of 8, touring China in 2015, performing at the Proms in 2016 and leading the Symphony Orchestra in the 2017 season. In July 2022 she was invited back as a soloist to perform Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 with the NYOS Junior orchestra. She has also performed as soloist with Buxton Music Society, Musicale, Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and High Peak Orchestra.
Iona is passionate about music education and has been working with the Benedetti Foundation since January 2020. She has also enjoyed working with the Poole Society for Young Musicians with the Asaka’s and presenting the String Quartet in primary school workshops as part of the Two Moors Festival in September 2022.
Iona is a member of the prizewinning Asaka Quartet, formed in October 2021 at the Royal Academy of Music.
She is also a keen orchestral player, regularly playing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra. Iona was a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester from 2019-2022. Highlights of her time working with the GMJO include performing on the opening night of the Salzburg Festspiele in July 2021 and a collaboration with the GMJO and the Dresden Staatskapelle in March 2020.
While studying, she performed regularly with the RAM Symphony Orchestra which she notably led for their performance of Mahler 3 at the Royal Festival Hall conducted by Semyon Bychkov for the Academy’s 200th Anniversary Concert in June 2022.
Iona has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland ensembles since the age of 8, touring China in 2015, performing at the Proms in 2016 and leading the Symphony Orchestra in the 2017 season. In July 2022 she was invited back as a soloist to perform Bruch Violin Concerto No 1 with the NYOS Junior orchestra. She has also performed as soloist with Buxton Music Society, Musicale, Halifax Symphony Orchestra, Glasgow Chamber Orchestra and High Peak Orchestra.
Iona is passionate about music education and has been working with the Benedetti Foundation since January 2020. She has also enjoyed working with the Poole Society for Young Musicians with the Asaka’s and presenting the String Quartet in primary school workshops as part of the Two Moors Festival in September 2022.
Born in 1998 in Hangzhou, China, Eriol Guo Yu started playing the violin at the age of eight. During her time studying in Shanghai, she won the East China Normal University’s concerto competition leading to a highly praised performance of Brahms violin concerto at Shanghai Concert Hall.
Eriol performs in many renowned venues across Asia and Europe including Royal Festival Hall, Tokyo Opera City, Berlin Konzerthaus, and Wigmore Hall. She has taken part in festivals such as Young Euro Classic in Berlin, Snape Maltings Proms in the UK and Bolzano Music Festival. In 2022 she was invited to Encuentro de Santander and Dartington Summer Festival.
She has a wealth of orchestral experience, having played with many orchestras such as London Sinfornietta, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra. As a former member of Asian Youth Orchestra, NYO-China, International Regions Orchestra and more, she has enjoyed working with many renowned conductors such as Bychkov, Ludovic Morlot, James Judd, Sir Mark Elder and more.
A keen chamber musician, Eriol is a member of Asaka Quartet.
Eriol studied her Masters degree with an entrance scholarship at Royal Academy of Music, under the mentorship of Prof Michael Foyle. She is a passionate baroque violinist as well, having learned with Nicolette Moonen, and collaborated with Rachel Podger, Lawrence Cummings, and Bojan Čičić. She is now a Chamber Music Fellow with her quartet at the Academy.
She has previously learnt with Lin Chang, Weimin Zheng from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and received guidance from Yo-yo Ma, Midori, James Ehnes, Bin Huang, Ian Swensen, Liwei Qin and more.
Eriol is playing on a Giuseppe Pedrazzini made in 1930.
Eriol performs in many renowned venues across Asia and Europe including Royal Festival Hall, Tokyo Opera City, Berlin Konzerthaus, and Wigmore Hall. She has taken part in festivals such as Young Euro Classic in Berlin, Snape Maltings Proms in the UK and Bolzano Music Festival. In 2022 she was invited to Encuentro de Santander and Dartington Summer Festival.
She has a wealth of orchestral experience, having played with many orchestras such as London Sinfornietta, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, and Shanghai Opera House Symphony Orchestra. As a former member of Asian Youth Orchestra, NYO-China, International Regions Orchestra and more, she has enjoyed working with many renowned conductors such as Bychkov, Ludovic Morlot, James Judd, Sir Mark Elder and more.
A keen chamber musician, Eriol is a member of Asaka Quartet.
Eriol studied her Masters degree with an entrance scholarship at Royal Academy of Music, under the mentorship of Prof Michael Foyle. She is a passionate baroque violinist as well, having learned with Nicolette Moonen, and collaborated with Rachel Podger, Lawrence Cummings, and Bojan Čičić. She is now a Chamber Music Fellow with her quartet at the Academy.
She has previously learnt with Lin Chang, Weimin Zheng from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and received guidance from Yo-yo Ma, Midori, James Ehnes, Bin Huang, Ian Swensen, Liwei Qin and more.
Eriol is playing on a Giuseppe Pedrazzini made in 1930.
Eriol
Susie
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Iona
Jonathan
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'Susie' Xin He, grew up in China and began playing the viola at age of 12 in Guangzhou Xinghai Conservatory of Music with Donglei Hou. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the Royal Northern College of Music, receiving four years of full scholarships from ABRSM and learning with Lucy Nolan, Veit Hertenstein, and Martin Schaefer.
Since commencing her studies at the RNCM, Xin has had masterclasses with viola players such as Thomas Riebl, Henk Guittart, and Timothy Ridout. Xin won the RNCM Concerto Competition of 2021 and performed Bartok Viola Concerto with RNCM Chamber Orchestra in October 2021. In March 2022, she performed Enescu's Viola Concertstück with Harvey Davies in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
Susie was the winner of the viola prize and one of the finalists of the RNCM Gold Medal in 2022. She completed the undergraduate course with a first-class honours degree from Royal Northern College of Music.
In September 2022, Xin started her postgraduate study at the Royal Academic of Music, with Martin Outram. She is a chamber music fellow of RAM in 2022-2023, and earned second place at the RAM String and Piano Duo Prize in November 2022 and the Mica Comberti Prize in January 2023.
Her debut album in collaboration with Barbara Hannigan on chamber music by Igor Stravinsky will be released by Linn Records in 2023.
Since commencing her studies at the RNCM, Xin has had masterclasses with viola players such as Thomas Riebl, Henk Guittart, and Timothy Ridout. Xin won the RNCM Concerto Competition of 2021 and performed Bartok Viola Concerto with RNCM Chamber Orchestra in October 2021. In March 2022, she performed Enescu's Viola Concertstück with Harvey Davies in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
Susie was the winner of the viola prize and one of the finalists of the RNCM Gold Medal in 2022. She completed the undergraduate course with a first-class honours degree from Royal Northern College of Music.
In September 2022, Xin started her postgraduate study at the Royal Academic of Music, with Martin Outram. She is a chamber music fellow of RAM in 2022-2023, and earned second place at the RAM String and Piano Duo Prize in November 2022 and the Mica Comberti Prize in January 2023.
Her debut album in collaboration with Barbara Hannigan on chamber music by Igor Stravinsky will be released by Linn Records in 2023.
Fong Ho Man Jonathan is currently a Chamber Music Fellow at Royal Academy of Music, where he completed his Masters majoring in cello performance with Distinction under Josephine Knight. He completed his undergraduate study at Hong Kong Baptist University, under Chen Yi Chun.
As the winner of the Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition during Summer 2019, he is very passionate in performance and his chamber group was the only Hong Kong group admitted into Princess Galyani Vadhana International Ensemble Competition, Chamber Ensemble Group in 2018. He had won two champions in other music festivals when he was young.
In the past two years, he has been invited to premiere two new solo cello pieces celebrating the Bicentenary of the Royal Academy of Music.
Jonathan is active in orchestral performances and has performed in numerous countries including Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States.
He has worked with well-known soloists such as Mengla Huang, Chuanyun Li, Shen Wenyu, Xue Wei, Charles Castleman, Anne Akiko Meyer and Liping Zhang. Apart from performance, he participates in masterclasses from world-class musicians like Qin Li Wei, Norbert Anger, and was even selected to participate in a quartet masterclass by Quatuor Van Kuijk in the event of Le French May Arts Festival in Hong Kong.
In 2016, Jonathan was admitted as a member of Asian Youth Orchestra for an Asian performance tour under the baton of Maestros Richard Pontzious and James Judd with the two cello coaches, Anna Kwan and Rhonda Rider.
In 2019, he was admitted to Eastern Music Festival with the guidance of Julian Schwarz. During his study in Hong Kong, Jonathan was a member and the principal cellist of both Hong Kong Baptist University Orchestra and Collegium Musicum Hong Kong from 2017 to 2020. During his masters degree study, he has performed with the Manson Ensemble and the RAM Symphony Orchestra, under the batons of Sir Mark Elder and Semyon Bychkov.
In 2021, he and his friends formed a string quartet officially named the Asaka Quartet.
As the winner of the Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition during Summer 2019, he is very passionate in performance and his chamber group was the only Hong Kong group admitted into Princess Galyani Vadhana International Ensemble Competition, Chamber Ensemble Group in 2018. He had won two champions in other music festivals when he was young.
In the past two years, he has been invited to premiere two new solo cello pieces celebrating the Bicentenary of the Royal Academy of Music.
Jonathan is active in orchestral performances and has performed in numerous countries including Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and United States.
He has worked with well-known soloists such as Mengla Huang, Chuanyun Li, Shen Wenyu, Xue Wei, Charles Castleman, Anne Akiko Meyer and Liping Zhang. Apart from performance, he participates in masterclasses from world-class musicians like Qin Li Wei, Norbert Anger, and was even selected to participate in a quartet masterclass by Quatuor Van Kuijk in the event of Le French May Arts Festival in Hong Kong.
In 2016, Jonathan was admitted as a member of Asian Youth Orchestra for an Asian performance tour under the baton of Maestros Richard Pontzious and James Judd with the two cello coaches, Anna Kwan and Rhonda Rider.
In 2019, he was admitted to Eastern Music Festival with the guidance of Julian Schwarz. During his study in Hong Kong, Jonathan was a member and the principal cellist of both Hong Kong Baptist University Orchestra and Collegium Musicum Hong Kong from 2017 to 2020. During his masters degree study, he has performed with the Manson Ensemble and the RAM Symphony Orchestra, under the batons of Sir Mark Elder and Semyon Bychkov.
In 2021, he and his friends formed a string quartet officially named the Asaka Quartet.
Recordings of the works in today's concert
Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)
String Quartet No 12 in C minor D703 (1820)
Quartettsatz Quartet Movement Allegro assai [9:00]
This first movement, plus 40 bars of the Andante that would have followed it, are all that we have of Schubert's String Quartet No 12. He never completed it.
Here to play the Allegro assai movement are the Amadeus Quartet:
String Quartet No 12 in C minor D703 (1820)
Quartettsatz Quartet Movement Allegro assai [9:00]
This first movement, plus 40 bars of the Andante that would have followed it, are all that we have of Schubert's String Quartet No 12. He never completed it.
Here to play the Allegro assai movement are the Amadeus Quartet:
Danish Traditional
arr Danish String Quartet / Danske Strygekvartet
Minuet No 60 [4:00]
Justin Alexander Hall produced this recording with Danish String Quartet violinist Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen.
Justin is a writer and cellist based in Roanoke, Virginia where he is a pretty active member of the modern podcast generation! He studied at Cleveland Institute of Music and, alongside his teaching career, he writes and podcasts on philosophy and musicology.
With Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen participating, this is clearly an approved rendition of Minuet 60.
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel (1805-1847) [22:00]
String Quartet in Eb major (1834)
I Adagio ma non troppo
II Allegretto
III Romanze
IV Allegro molto vivace
Like the Music on Thursdays audience, Asaka Quartet have a strong interest in the performance of music by less frequently heard composers.
This performance comes from last year's 2022 Südtirol in Concert (South Tyrol) and was recorded in the Stadttheater at Meran, or Merano.
The players in the Selini Quartet are Nadia Kalmykova and Ljuba Kalmykova, violins, Loredana Apetrei, viola, and Loukia Loulaki, violoncello.
Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin (b 1982)
Shore [3:15]
You may see this piece listed as the work of the Danish String Quartet as they have a sort of agreement that that is how they will publish their individual or collective work.
We don't usually show the dates of birth of performers, but we'll make an exception so you can see part of the reason for the closeness of this quartet. Like the Asakas, members of the Danish String Quartet were all born in a close group of years:
Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen (b1983), violin
Frederik Øland (b1984), violin
Asbjørn Nørgaard (b1984), viola
Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin (b1982), cello
Johan August Andersson (1860/1866-1907) Swedish Traditional
arr Danish String Quartet
Polska from Dorotea /Stenselepolskan [3:20]
What a jolly piece to finish our concert ! This recording comes from the Litteraturhaus, Copenhagen in 2021. If it feels a little Scottish to you that could be due to the strong connections between Scotland and the Nordic group of countries, and their comparative isolation from the main economic and cultural influences of Europe.
Previous concert
14 September 2023 - Buck Brass Trio (trumpet, horn, trombone) - click here
Next concert
28 September 2023 - Francisco Correa, classical guitar - click here
