Chamber Music returns to The Block in Muskegon in its final concert of the 14-15 season
Muskegon, Michigan, May 21, 2015 – Saturday, June 6, The Block in downtown Muskegon will present an evening of chamber music titled “Gregorian. Family. Strings.”
In the final concert of its 2014-15 season, the West Michigan Symphony’s small performance venue called The Block, will feature West Michigan Symphony principal cellist Alicia Gregorian Sawyers, joined by two violinists, her brother Ara Gregorian and sister Ani Gregorian Resnick. Meghan Schaut joins them on piano.
Alicia Gregorian Sawyers has performed with a diverse selection of artists ranging from Itzhak Perlman to Kanye West. Ms. Sawyers has also performed in a wide variety of halls including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York. A native of East Lansing, Sawyers graduated with her Master’s Degree from New England Conservatory in Boston, MA, where she studied with Natasha Brofsky. A passionate teacher, Mrs. Sawyers has been teaching privately since the age of 16. She has a studio of over 30 students in Grand Rapids, MI, where she resides.
Known for his thrilling performances and musical creativity, Sawyers’ brother Ara Gregorian made his New York recital debut in 1996 in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and his debut as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Symphony Hall in 1997. Since that time he has established himself as one of the most sought-after and versatile musicians of his generation with performances in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center and in major metropolitan cities throughout the world.
Violinist Ani Gregorian Resnick received her Master of Music degree in 1999 from The Juilliard School. She has performed on Broadway in musicals such as“The Lion King,” and “Sister Act,” on the Late Show with David Letterman, with Bono (of U2) in Giants Stadium and with Bryan Adams on MTV Unplugged, which was subsequently released on A&M Records. Mrs. Resnick has also performed in Italy with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, toured Asia with the Juilliard Orchestra and is currently a member of the Springfield (MA) Symphony Orchestra and the New Choral Society of Scarsdale.
The Saturday evening program will feature well-known composers such as Dvorak, Mendelssohn and Brahams, some less often performed composers such as Kriesler and Pergolessi as well as a piece that continues the familial theme, composed by Rouben Gregorian.
Tickets to Gregorian. Family. Strings. are $20 and can be purchased by calling 231-726-3231 or at the door on the evening of the performance at 360 W. Western Ave. in Muskegon. The bar and doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7:30 p.m. More information about The Block can be found at theblockwestmichigan.org.
