We are making progress on the Virtual Competition scheduled for April 10, 2021. While we are all sorry that we will not have the joy of the finalist ensembles in residence here in Easton, we are confident that we can give all our viewers a wonderful opportunity to meet these superb musicians on our Virtual Stage. In early March, we will publish the schedule of performances and the time for the judges’ announcement of the winners. There will also be a link to the virtual program book which will remind you of these young artists and list the program each will perform. And now, for our last (but certainly not least) finalist ensemble, the Soma Quartet.
Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Soma Quartet was formed at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Since their formation in 2016, their excellence has been confirmed by prizes in a range of Chamber Music, Saxophone and Woodwind Competitions.The quartet is committed to expanding the repertoire for Saxophone Quartets and has performed numerous outreach concerts to bring saxophone to a wider audience.
Featured here is a transcription of the Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 6 in Fminor, Mvt 3. This was the last string quartet the Mendelssohn wrote in 1847 and is dedicated to his sister Fanny who died earlier that year. Mendelssohn died shortly after completing the work. The Soma Quartet has spent considerable time studying this work and not long ago even took to attempting a performance of the original on strings, an interesting experiment for them to understand better what the composer was trying to say. Their own transcription is inspired by this experience and the third movement, an adagio, is featured here.
Anne Moran, Competition Chair
And now for the Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition. Details will be available in early March with the day long performance scheduled for April 10.
