PROGRAM (click title for audio recording)
Peterson-Berger: Sommarsång Brian Ray, piano
Von Koch: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano - Jason Oates, saxophone; Brian Ray, piano
Aulin: Four Watercolors - Basil Alter, violin; Brian Ray, piano
Frumerie: Det blir vackert där du går (There is beauty where you walk) - Angela Wilson, soprano; Brian Ray, piano
Stenhammar: Hjärtat (Heart) - Daniel Ward, tenor; Brian Ray, piano
Hallén: Mountain Voices - Paul Murray, bass; Brian Ray, piano
Alfvén: Herdsmaiden's Dance - Gregory Maytan, violin; Brian Ray, piano
WKNO-FM Checking on the Arts Interview
Hailed by the Commercial Appeal as a “teenage virtuoso,” Basil Alter, 18, is a violinist in Memphis, Tennessee. He began violin lessons from his mother at the age of 3. Shortly after moving to Memphis he began studies with Joy Wiener, Concertmaster Emeritus of the Memphis Symphony. He has performed in masterclasses withJames Buswell, Tomo Keller, Paul Roby, Gregory Maytan, and Mark Reneau. He was appointed concertmaster of the Walker Chamber Ensemble in 2015, and in March of 2016, he premiered composer Jerald Walker's "Violin Concerto No. 1" with the orchestra. He is the violinist of the University of Memphis’s Contemporary Chamber Players under Kamran Ince. He is also known for his work in jazz, performing alongside artists including Joyce Cobb and Steve Lee. This fall, he was a featured artist for the Duration Fine Arts Club. He studies with Dr. Marcin Arendt at the University of Memphis’s Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.
Gregory Maytan has been praised for his ‘infectious vitality’ and for his ‘lyrical freshness’ by The Strad, who also awarded his CD of Scandinavian music with the distinction of CD of the Month. The Nordsee Zeitung, Strings Magazine and the American Record Guide have also reviewed Maytan’s performances favorably. Maytan has performed virtually all the major violin concertos with orchestra, and regularly performs in recitals and concerts in Europe and the US. He has performed on the Dame Myra Hess series, and also at venues such as Ravinia and Tanglewood. He has also performed in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan and China. Maytan has been nominated for a Grammis award (Swedish Grammy) and has had his CD receive the distinction of ‘Classical CD of the Year’ by Hifi Magazine. He has also completed a Fulbright Specialist Grant at the Norwegian Academy of Music.
Paul Murray, bass, is a native of Memphis, TN. He spent ten years in the Bay Area, receiving his MM in 2005 from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and performing many main-stage roles and concerts with various companies, including Opera San Jose, West Edge Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, Opera Bangkok, the Silicon Valley Symphony, the San Francisco Bach Choir, the San Jose Symphonic Choir, the Sonoma County Bach Choir, Chora Nova, the Mendocino Music Festival, and the Santa Rosa Symphony. He has served on the faculty of CSU Fresno and Santa Clara University; was the conductor of Jubilate Deo, a children's choir based in Hayward, CA; and coached young bands for the School of Rock, back home in Memphis. Currently, while pursuing a doctorate at the University of Memphis, he is adjunct faculty at Rhodes College, a member of the Rhodes Mastersingers and BealeCanto, and serves as Assistant Choirmaster of St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Jason Oates is a local performer and private instructor of saxophone. He holds a Master's Degree in Music Performance from Florida State University. This is his first Luna Nova performance, however he is a regular performer with the Concerts at 5 series held at the Beethoven Club. In addition, Jason was the Woodwind judge in the 2017 Beethoven Club Young Artist Competition. Recent performances include University of Tennessee at Martin's Woodwind Day Recital, Concerts at 5 series, and the Break-Up Show 6 at the New Daisy.
Brian Ray is an instructor of piano as well as the departmental collaborative pianist at Rhodes College. An active soloist and chamber recitalist, he is also a frequent competition adjudicator. Ray completed his Bachelor of Music Degree from The University of Tennessee at Martin where he studied with Allison Nelson. He completed his Master of Music Degree and his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at The University of Memphis where he studied with Joan Gilbert. He has also taught at Christian Brothers University and The University of Memphis.
Daniel Ward is a senior at Christian Brothers High School. Throughout his high school career, he has been involved in several honor choruses on local, state, and national levels. He has attended the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts for Vocal Music where he had the opportunity to study for a month with internationally recognized voice and opera faculty. He currently serves as Student Director of CBHS Choirs and assumes primary responsibility for the Honors Chorus, selecting repertoire, rehearsing, and conducting.
Angela Wilson is a senior Religious Studies major at Rhodes College. She has been singing since middle school, and has been fortunate enough to perform with the Arlington High School Chorale and Jazz choirs, as well as Rhodes Singers, and Rhodes Masters Singers Chorale. She enjoys Star Trek, petting cats, and drinking way too much coffee.