MATT
Favorite Period of Music: French Impressionism
Favorite Memory in Music: One time I got to perform for Luciano Pavarotti. He seemed really nice :-).
Favorite Quote: From a review: "The show was really interesting though because as you sit there and listen to what is being played, you actually notice how good it is being played as well and it makes you want to hear more of it because it is played so good by the person that is playing it." - Anonymous
Why I like Renovo: I think one of the really great things about directing a string ensemble with this caliber of musicians is that we can afford to concentrate almost purely on the musical phrasing and nuance. Most groups I have performed in are so focused on technical aspects, that the whole intent of the music gets lost and at performance time, it becomes a mesh of sound that's like a fruit smoothie gone bad. We like to keep it fresh.
Favorite Period of Music: My favorite piece changes each day depending on my mood. I have favorites in every time period. My top composers are Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Copland, and Borodin.
Favorite Memory in Music: My favorite musical memory is when Bobby McFerrin came to conduct the Rockford Symphony. He sang by himself for about 20 minutes and his voice was awe inspiring. He was also an inspirational conductor.
Favorite Quote: "Music is what tells us that the human race is greater than we realize." ~Napoleon Bonaparte
What do you like about Renovo: What makes Renovo special for me is having the opportunity to play fantastic repertoire that most orchestras are not programming. I love strings only music and wanted to play more of it. Renovo challenges me technically and artistically. Matt Cataldi pushes us to our limits while respecting our opinions. He is an inspirational musician.
DENISE
Concentrating on the score, Renovo String Orchestra violinist & director Matthew Cataldi has no time for games (har har). He's trying to to find where that subito piano is. Still looking. . .
Making sure everything is in place, Renovo String Orchestra violinist & director Matthew Cataldi is making sure the violas come in right on cue. Or is it the cellos? Hmm...
Concentrating on the score, Renovo String Orchestra violinist & director Matthew Cataldi has no time for games (har har). He's trying to to find where that subito piano is. Still looking. . .
Rehearsing with Renovo String Orchestra for Bartok's ingeniously hard and ever so marvelous Divertimento for Strings, Erik Leveille is ready to conquer the onslaught of fast notes to come.
Ah, the camera approaches..eth. But lyrical melodies are what make Erik Leveille happy with Renovo String Orchestra.
Rehearsing with Renovo String Orchestra for Bartok's ingeniously hard and ever so marvelous Divertimento for Strings, Erik Leveille is ready to conquer the onslaught of fast notes to come.
Favorite Period of Music: There's no real way for me to answer this one, but if I had to pick currently my favorite piece is the Berg Violin Concerto.
Favorite Memory in Music: Performing with the Green Bay Symphony with Maxim Vengerov soloing on the Beethoven Concerto. Not only was his performance wonderfully profound, but he was fully engaged with the orchestra in rehearsal and was as fully committed to the process as if he had been playing in New York or Vienna.
Favorite Quote: "Let the beauty we love be what we do."
-13th century Sufi mystic and poet Jelal-ud-din Rumi.
Why I like Renovo: I like getting the opportunity to play the wonderful repertory for string orchestra!
ERIK
OUR MUSICIANS
When she's not posing for the camera, Ayako Kikuchi is tearing up the scene on violin with Renovo String Orchestra.
Renovo String Orchestra violinist Ayako Kikuchi never stops playing!. Look at the intensity she brings to the group!
When she's not posing for the camera, Ayako Kikuchi is tearing up the scene on violin with Renovo String Orchestra.
Favorite Piece of Music: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.3.
Favorite Memory in Music: The first time I got to hold the violin at my first violin lesson. It was so awkward and uncomfortable!!! ...But it was a special moment for me.
Favorite Quote: "Art is the most beautiful of all lies"
- Claude Debussy
Why I like Renovo: I enjoy all the people I get to see, performers and the audience.
AYAKO
Music is no sleeping matter, but every now and then Renovo String Orchestra violinist Elisabeth Johnson likes a quick rest between her countless hours at work. Phew!
Casual, yet serious, Renovo String Orchestra violinist Elisabeth Johnson is a little miffed because she has yet to have her cup of coffee. Didn't you know? Renovo musicians are night owls!
Music is no sleeping matter, but every now and then Renovo String Orchestra violinist Elisabeth Johnson likes a quick rest between her countless hours at work. Phew!
Favorite Period of Music: The turn of and into beginning of the 20th century; my record collection includes the Symbolists, all Music Nationalist composers worldwide, American Jazz and all various composers/musicians; but Bach always deserves a special mention.
Favorite Memory in Music: I was about 5 years old sitting on the couch listening to the classical radio station when Albinoni Adagio came on and was moved to tears. After 2 years, my parents finally caved in and got me a violin on my 7th birthday.
Favorite Quote: "All music is folk music. I ain't never heard no horse sing a song." - Louis Armstrong
Why I dig Renovo: Chicago arguably attracts some of the finest musicians in the world and needs more orchestras! I enjoy Renovo it's high calibre of musicians, great personalities and community, as well as appreciate Maestro Cataldi's vision in presenting distinct and unique programming and repertoire.
ELISABETH
Watch out! Renovo String Orchestra violinist Denise Connolly is a veritable tiger on both violin and viola. All of our instruments suddenly start shaking when she entered the room!
Watch out! Renovo String Orchestra violinist Denise Connolly is a veritable tiger on both violin and viola. All of our instruments suddenly start shaking when she entered the room!
Renovo String Orchestra violist Lee Wilkinson devours each passage he sees. While it may be a bit of a strech, there is no sound of great music that Lee cannot reach.
Renovo String Orchestra violist Lee Wilkinson devours each passage he sees. While it may be a bit of a strech, there is no sound of great music that Lee cannot reach.
Favorite Work/Period of Music: I love Baroque music to listen to, but nothing beats a Tchaikovsky symphony for pure playing enjoyment!
Favorite Memory with your instrument/music: Soloing with Renovo last year was definitely a high point, and also performing the entire "Messiah" under John Nelson a few years ago.
Favorite Musical Quote: "The viola is a violin with a college education" - William Primrose
What makes Renovo special for you: I really enjoy performing with players of high caliber, who care about making great music!
LEE
Favorite Work/Period of Music: Einojuhani Rautavaara’s chilling Neo-Mystic work the Angel of Dusk for Double Bass and Orchestra.
Favorite Memory with your instrument/music:
My favorite memory stems back to when I was a graduate student performing with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Here, I met conductor Neeme Järvi, an artist who has studied, recorded and promoted all of Tubin’s orchestral works. He sat down with me and chatted through many aspects of the score – making for a deeply interpersonal experience with a piece I have loved for years.
Favorite Musical Quote:"...if it is art, it is not for all, and if it is for all, it is not art."– Arnold Schoenberg
What makes Renovo special for you: Renovo, more than any orchestra I perform with, is a dedicated group of energized chamber musicians, meaning, that each performer is singularly dedicated to an exciting, vibrant and intimate experience on stage. Everyone is invested in the success of each performance, filled with innovative and colorful programming causing the feeling on stage to be completely electrifying.
PHIL
Favorite Period of Music: My favorite music is whatever I happen to performing at the moment. I love the challenge of preparation and the discovery of interesting harmony and melody. I love different kinds of music at different times.
Why do you like Renovo: Renovo is a project that I personally like simply because of the enthusiasm of the other musicians. Renovo tends to exude a fresh youthful perspective and our musician are genuinely excited to perform for an audience. I look forward to each and every Renovo event.
JOHN
John Tuck is performing during the Classical Revolutions concert of the 2011-2012 season Neo-Music. So intense!
John Tuck is performing during the Classical Revolutions concert of the 2011-2012 season Neo-Music. So intense!
Go Phil, go! Renovo String Orchestra bass player Phlllip Serna is happy because he so excited to be at our next concert! Yea!
Kickin' it old school, Renovo String Orchestra bassist Phillip Serna likes to express his extreme virtuosity on his Viol da Gamba, a funky looking bowed guitar (Right?).
Go Phil, go! Renovo String Orchestra bass player Phlllip Serna is happy because he so excited to be at our next concert! Yea!
OTHER MEMBERS
Julia Birnbaum (Violin), Yuriy Geyer (Violin), Sara Chazin (Violin), Hannah Barton (Violin), Song-hea Sackrider (Violin), Kate Carter (Violin), Katy Gillan (Violin), Ryan Loeckel (Violin/Viola), Alex Smith (Viola), Ben Weber (Viola), Emma Strohbusch (Viola), Rachel Hsieh (Cello), Kyra Saltman (Cello), Byron Huey (Cello), Sarah Marsh (Cello), David Keller (Cello), Sarah Beske (Cello), Desiree Miller (Cello), Alex Rowney (Piano), Rick Ferguson (Piano).