RCMFS hosted “Russian Music in the Park” on August 25, 2013 at 3:00 PM at Luther Burbank Park on Mercer Island. RCMFS featured a new ensemble in residence Russian Chamber Music Piano Quartet with Brittany Boulding – violin, Mara Gearman – viola, Kevin Krentz – cello, Natalya Ageyeva – piano. The program included pieces by Borodin, Glinka, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky.
The Russian Chamber Music Piano Quartet represents the Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle. Brittany Boulding, violinist is in demand as a chamber musician, soloist, orchestral performer. She is a concertmaster of the Auburn Symphony Orchestra and 5th Avenue Theatre. This year she is performing as Concertmaster of the Northwest Sinfonietta. Other recent solo performances have been with the New Haven Symphony, Spoleto Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, and Cascade Symphony. She also regularly performs with Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera. Mara Gearman, violist has been third chair of the Seattle Symphony since 2009. As a chamber musician, she regularly performs at the Eastern, Methow and Olympic Music Festival. She won numerous international viola competitions. Recently, she soloed with Cascades Symphony and with New Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria. She currently teaches at Cornish College of the Arts. Kevin Krentz, cellist is an avid chamber musician. A devoted musician, he is Artistic Director of the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival. He has been a winner in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition in Verona, Italy and the Greenlake Festival. Natalya Ageyeva, pianist, founder and Artistic Director of the Russian Chamber Music Foundation of Seattle. She is also a founder of the Russian Piano Festival/Competition that was designed for young talents ages five through college and adults. She has dazzled audiences throughout the United States and internationally, including Italy, Austria, Canada, and Israel, as well as on tour in her native Russia. She has appeared at a broad range of venues, from Governor’s Mansion in Olympia to the Rachmaninoff Hall in Moscow.
Featuring guest violinist Artur Girsky
Born in the family of violinists, Artur Girsky started to play violin at the age of 5. After graduating from Moscow Conservatory in 1991,he continued his education in Royal College of Music in London for the postgraduate program. After returning to Moscow in 1994, Artur Girsky was invited to become a concertmaster of “Moscow Soloists” chamber orchestra under leadership of world famous violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet. In 1997 Artur Girsky moved to US and became a Principal Second violin Florida Orchestra in Tampa, Florida, where he worked from 2003 to 2006. Since 2006 Artur Girsky is a member of Seattle Symphony Orchestra.