Virginia Commonwealth University’s Rennolds Chamber Concerts will focus on artists linked to the Menuhin Competition for young violinists in its coming season, culminating with a performance by the competition’s jurors during its Richmond rounds.
Forty-four violinists aged 21 and younger will compete during the 2020 Menuhin, running from May 14 to 24 at several Richmond venues.
In contrast to past years, when all Rennolds concerts were presented on Saturday nights, four of the six in the 2019-20 season will be on Sunday afternoons and one on a Sunday evening. All will be staged in Vlahcevic Concert Hall of Singleton Arts Center, Park Avenue at Harrison Street.
Ticket subscriptions for the series are $170, or $140 for seniors (60 and older) and VCU employees and members of the VCU Alumni Association. Subscribers receive free valet parking. Single tickets are $35 per concert, $32 for seniors and VCU employees and alumni association members, $25 for those 16 and younger. Valet parking is $10 per concert for single-ticket buyers.
To obtain a brochure or more information, call (804) 828-1169, or e-mail musictix@vcu.edu
The Rennolds Concerts 2019-20 lineup:
Sept. 15 (3 p.m.) – Violinist Inmo Yang and pianist Sahun Hong. Yang was second-prize winner in the 2014 Menuhin Competition’s senior category, and currently is enrolled in the artist diploma program at New England Conservatory of Music. He also will perform on Sept. 21 and 22 with the Richmond Symphony and guest conductor Marin Alsop.
Oct. 6 (3 p.m.) – The Dover Quartet, winner of the 2013 Banff Competition, currently quartet-in-residence at Bienen Schhol of Music at Northwestern University and several chamber-music festivals. Joel Link, the Dover’s first violinist, was a first-prize winner in the 2004 Menuhin Competition.
Nov. 3 (3 p.m.) – The Catalyst Quartet, composed of faculty members at the performance academy of the Sphinx Organization, which offers opportunities to young musicians of color in classical music. The organization’s founder, Aaron P. Dworkin, is one of jurors of the 2020 Menuhin Competition, and its chamber orchestra, the Sphinx Virtuosi, will perform during the competition.
Feb. 23 (3 p.m.) – Cellist Paul Watkins with pianist Alessio Bax, both internationally prominent solo and chamber-music performers. Watkins is an alumnus of the Menuhin School for young musicians in Surrey, England.
April 4 (8 p.m.) – Pianist Jon Nakamatsu, gold medalist of the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, currently on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, an audience favorite in past seasons of the Rennolds Concerts.
May 17 (7:30 p.m.) – Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 Jurors Showcase, with pianist Gordon Back, artistic director of the competition; violinist Pamela Frank, chair of the jury; violist Joji Hattori, the jury’s vice chair; and three other jurors, violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley, cellist Ralph Kirshbaum and pianist Anton Nel.
Programs for the concerts will be announced later.
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