Chopin and the Cello
October 19th, 2024
7:30 PM
​
Christ United Methodist Church
​Featuring
Ji Young Lee, pianist
Jane Cords O’Hara, cellist
Horacio Nuguid, pianist

Program
All works are by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

Introduction, Theme and Variations in D Major for Piano Four-Hands
Introduction et polonaise brillante, Op. 3 for Cello and Piano

Intermission

Sonata for Piano and Cello in G Minor, Op. 65
I. Allegro moderato.
II. Scherzo: Allegro con brio.
III. Largo.
IV. Finale: Allegro.
Chopin, while faithful to his instrument, was not immune to the charms of the cello. As we commemorate the 175th death anniversary of the “Poet of the Piano,” pianist Ji Young Lee and cellist Jane Cords O’Hara will perform two of the composer’s works for piano and cello. Also in the program is the rarely performed work for piano duet, a set of variations on a Venetian Air.

Ji Young Lee

Ji Young Lee was born in Korea and began piano studies at the age of four. She graduated from Seoul Arts High School and received a bachelor's degree from Ewha Womans University. She went on to study in the United States, earning her master's degree at Eastman School of Music and doctor of musical arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Lee won first prizes at the Yokohama International Music Competition, United States Open Music Competition (Showcase Piano Solo Advanced), American Protégé Competition, and CCM Piano Concerto Competition. She also won prizes at the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition and the Chopin International Piano Competition in Asia.

In 2014, Lee's performance with Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Vladimir Fedoseyev, was broadcast nationally. She has given many solo recitals and chamber music concerts around the United States, Australia, Asia and Europe, including performances at the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Chamber Hall, Kumho Art Hall, Carnegie Weill Hall, Kilbourn Hall, Ceramic Palace Hall, Yongsan Art Hall, Sundin Hall, William Abbott Concert Hall, Harris Theater, Elim Hall, Kim Young's Hall, Kawai Hall, Weihai Center, Daejeon Arts Center, Oakland Inter-Stake Auditorium, Duo Music Hall, Watson Hall, Harris Concert Hall, Minnesota Symphony Music Hall, Corbett Auditorium, Berkman Recital Hall, Riverway Arts Centre, Werner Hall and Steinway Hall.

As a pedagogue, Lee has taught at the University of Cincinnati Starling Chamber Music Department, Hyupsung University, and Seoul Arts College. She is a member of CM Piano Trio, Liszt Piano Association, the Piano Society of Korea, and Music Teachers National Association. She is also an active judge for many competitions including MTNA and Asia International Piano Academy Festival.

​Jane Cords-O'Hara

Currently based in Minneapolis, Jane Cords-O'Hara is a busy freelance cellist who performs with a wide variety of groups. She is a member of The Knights, Fíora Ensemble and Ladyslipper Ensemble in Minneapolis. She has performed, toured and recorded with numerous other ensembles over the years including the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Argento, Da Capo Chamber Players, Minnesota Opera, Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, String Orchestra of New York City and A Far Cry. Equally comfortable in many styles, Jane has played a large amount of new and spectral music, as well as baroque cello, and has performed with Lyra Baroque, Bach Society of Minnesota and the WolfGang Ensemble. She is principal cello at the annual Bach Roots Festival, and has played the role of continuo in many large works such as St John's and St Matthew's Passion.

As a member of The Knights, a New York City based chamber orchestra, Jane has been performing since 2004. Nominated for a Grammy in 2017 and 2024, The Knights have collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Susan Graham, Dawn Upshaw, Chris Thile, Aaron Diehl and Bela Fleck. Recent appearances have been at the Caramoor, Tanglewood, Ravinia, Stillwater and Ojai Festivals, Central Park's Naumburg concert series, Trinity Wall Street and Carnegie Hall, where they are currently in residence. Internationally, Jane has appeared with The Knights in Germany, Denmark, Austria (at the Musikverein), Ireland and at the Canary Island's Music Festival. She can also be heard on several recordings on the Sony Classical label, and also on the album Azul, featuring Yo-Yo Ma as soloist.

Jane has a deep love of chamber music. A founder member of the Fíora Ensemble (formerly Jamison Ensemble), Jane performs all around the Twin Cities. Fíora is an ensemble flexible in size depending on repertoire. As a member of Ladyslipper Ensemble, Jane performs regularly in the Twin Cities and is featured on the album The World's Highway, recorded at MPR. Jane performed many times at the LOFT Chamber Music series in Minneapolis and has also been a frequent guest artist with Chamber Music Society of Minnesota. As a former member of Syrius Piano Trio, she performed in Ireland, at London's Conway Hall, Carnegie's Weill Hall and Brazil's Musica Nova festival in Sao Paulo. Syrius Trio recorded the complete piano trios of Saloman Jadassohn on the Toccata Classics label. She spent many summers performing at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Ireland. She is the core cellist of the Minneapolis quartet for Candlelight Concerts and plays many concerts a year at various venues in the Twin Cities.

Before relocating to the Twin Cities in 2014, Jane lived in New York City. She was artist-in- residence at International House from 2004-2005, and made her recital debut at Carnegie's Weill Hall in 2006 as a winner in the Artist's International competition.

Jane is a passionate teacher. She has a private studio in Minneapolis and also teaches at Augsburg University. She was on faculty at the International Cello Institute at St Olaf college in 2017 and at the Northern Lights Chamber Music Institute in 2018. She spent several summers mentoring young aspiring composers at the Walden School in New Hampshire.

Born and raised in Ireland, Jane began playing the cello at the age of 9. She studied with Hannah Roberts at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester before moving to New York to complete her studies with Timothy Eddy at Mannes College of Music. She has attended the International Musician's Seminar at Prussia Cove, Holland Music Sessions, London Masterclasses and the Conservatoire Americain at Fontainebleau, France. She was chosen to play at masterclasses at the World Cello Congress III and the International Cello Festival in Manchester.
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Jane lives with her husband, Dan, and daughter Aoife in Minneapolis.

Horacio Nuguid

Pianist Horacio Nuguid has captivated audiences with his "beautiful tone" and "elegance." In addition to several well-known piano concertos, Nuguid has performed lesser-known works also, such as Edward MacDowell's Concerto in A Minor, Clara Schumann's Konzertsatz in F Minor, Mario Pilati's Suite, and Ferdinand Ries' Grand Variations on Rule Britannia with orchestras in the Philippines, Mexico, and United States. As the pianist and artistic director of the Rochester Chamber Music Society, Nuguid has been performing with distinguished artists in the region for more than twenty seasons. He was the recipient of the Ardee Award (Mayor's Award) for Outstanding Artist in the city of Rochester. Nuguid received his music performance degrees from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila (BM), the University of Northern lowa (MM), and the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign (DMA). As a music educator, Dr. Nuguid has presented master classes internationally and has served as an adjudicator for piano competitions in Minnesota. He also has served as artist/faculty at the Young Artist World Piano Festival in Minnesota for over 20 years and has taught as guest artist at the Philippine High School for the Arts. Dr. Nuguid recently accepted the position of Co-Artistic Director at Bethel University Summer Piano Academy in Minnesota. In August of 2023, Nuguid published an anthology of piano pieces by Filipino composers, which he edited with annotations. He has been promoting this pioneering piano music collection through a series of lecture recitals in the Philippines and United States.
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