Press Kit

“Sierra Ensemble does much more than define chamber
music...they breathe life into every note for even the most casual listener.”

— Jan Bevan - Artist in Residence, Cummer Museum

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Performances

Sierra Ensemble performs trios and duos from its diverse 18th to 21st century repertoire:

Bay area composer Brian Wilson’s: “And Ezra the Scribe Stood Upon the Pulpit”
Eric Ewazen: Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano, Horn Sonata by Beethoven, Opus 11
Mozart: Sonata in Bb Major, K. 454 for Violin and Piano

SAN FRANCISCO MUSIC DAY

Sunday, October 4, 2020 • 3:00 PM 4:00 PM

Sierra Ensemble performs the Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano by Ethel Smyth.

Bio

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Sierra Ensemble is an innovative violin, French horn, and piano trio committed to supporting a lively chamber music environment. Performing worldwide and throughout the United States since 1998, Sierra Ensemble continues to fulfill its mission to build community locally as well as globally via composer commissions, education projects and accessible performances. Sierra Ensemble has been awarded a CEC ArtsLink and U.S. Department of State grants for two residency programs in Turkey that took place in May and June, 2013. Sierra Ensemble, in partnership with Bilgi University Music Department in Istanbul, Turkey, and Bilkent University, Ankara, announced the debut of the Turkish American Composers Project. This included collaboration with composers Tolga Z. Özdemir, Onur Turkmen, Aida Shirazi, and Mert Kocadayi, as well as eight graduate student composers. Sierra Ensemble was the resident chamber ensemble at the Pera College of Music, Istanbul, Turkey, June, 2011. Members of Sierra Ensemble taught master classes with several student ensembles as well as private lessons on violin, horn, and piano.

Sierra Ensemble also performed trio and duo works for the faculty, student body and community. Sierra Ensemble has commissioned composers Russell Steinberg of Los Angeles and Martha Stoddard of San Francisco as well as Persian composer Aida Shirazi, Panamanian composer, Andrés Carrizo, and Anthony DeRitis of Boston, Massachusetts.

Sierra Ensemble has performed numerous concerts on the West Coast, including Incline Chamber Music Series in Tahoe, California, the Chamber Music Concerts of Brookings, Oregon, Crocker Gallery Concerts, Sacramento, Old First Concerts, San Francisco, the Presidio Sessions, San Francisco, CA, 2018, and was honored to present: the world premiere performance of Russell Steinberg’s Trio at Boston Court, Pasadena, California, November 3, 2017.

Education

Sierra Ensemble is dedicated to its East Bay students from Richmond, Albany, El Cerrito, Berkeley, Hercules, Pinole, El Sobrante, San Pablo, and Oakland, CA.

Through music education workshops and performances Sierra Ensemble cultivates a learning environment where students become critical and creative thinkers, skillful collaborators, and courageous, compassionate citizens.

As the ensemble in residence for the John Adams Young Composers Program at the Crowden Music Center in 2012, Sierra Ensemble worked with students and teachers in a recording and performing project.

Sierra Ensemble performs education outreach concerts in West Contra Costa Unified School District schools, Washington, Fairmont, and Kensington Elementary Schools as well as Korematsu Middle School, El Cerrito, Ca: May, 2020.

Press Photos

Reviews

"Sierra Ensemble does much more than define chamber music...they breathe life into every note for even the most casual listener." - Jan Bevan, Poet, Author, and Artist in Residence, Cummer Museum, Jacksonville. FL

"I loved your energy, collaboration and more specifically your open minded attitude to modern music and my music." - Mert Kocadayi, composer, Ankara, Turkey

"...exceptionally beautiful artistry..." - New Music Center, San Francisco, CA

"...incredible control and technique..." - Music on the Hill, San Francisco, CA

"...glowing dexterity...a first class blend of sensitive Brahms...." - Pacifica Tribune

"...[they] played in almost cathedral stride this song of worth by a composer who could change poetry to note..." - Jean Bartlett, Arts Correspondent, Pacifica Tribune

"...Each instrument played like a clock that ticked the poetry of the day. It was a beautiful memory driven by the talent of three musicians of extraordinary skill. On the final movement "Finale – Allegro con brio" the darkness turns to violin and piano laughter and calming notes of worldly horn. Throughout the ebb and flow of Brahms travel from dark to light,.... Mr. Steiner on piano was glowing dexterity. And Ms. Lieberman on horn offered a first class blend of sensitive Brahms..." - Pacifica Tribune Review of The San Francisco Concerto Orchestra’s Competition for Musicians, January 22, 2006 at Sanchez Concert Hall, Pacifica By Jean Bartlett, Arts Correspondent