Celebrating the renewal of nature in spring as well as the promise of young, new musical talent during this Year of Czech Music 2024.

The program included works by Antonín Dvořák, Josef Suk, Vitězslava Kaprálová, and Bohuslav Martinů as well as the world premiere of a concert transcription of Bedřich Smetana’s iconic symphonic poem Vltava, newly arranged for chamber ensemble by composer/pianist Moshe Knoll.

The musicians in this concert comprised talented rising stars from The Juilliard School in the pre-college and college divisions as well as seasoned New York players and the young soprano Nicole Goldstein, who is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory. Juilliard’s recently formed Cabaletta Quartet was also be featured.

PROGRAM

Vitězslava Kaprálová, "Morning" from Two Songs, Opus 4

Bedřich Smetana, "Mařenka's Aria" from "The Bartered Bride," Act I

Antonín Dvořák, "Songs My Mother Taught Me"

Bohuslav Martinů, Adagio from Sonata for Violin and Piano no. 3

Bedřich Smetana, Allegro Vivo Appassionato from String Quartet no.1 in E Minor "From My Life"

Antonín Dvořák, Finale from String Quartet no.12 in F Major Opus 96, the "American"

Josef Suk, Appassionato from Four Pieces for Piano and Violin Opus 17

Antonín Dvořák, Allegro molto and Adagio molto e mesto from Piano trio no.1 in B Flat, Opus 21

World premiere of a concert transcription of Bedřich Smetana’s Vltava, newly arranged by composer Moshe Knoll for Chamber Ensemble (piano four hands, double string quartet, plus bass).

The Year of Czech Music is a celebration held once a decade on every year that ends on the number four, a number that marks many Czech music anniversaries. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Bedřich Smetana, known as the “father of Czech music.” It is also the 150th anniversary of the birth of Czech composer and violinist Josef Suk, who studied under Antonín Dvořák and married his daughter, and the 120th anniversary of Dvořák’s death.

This event was organized by Laura Jean Goldberg, violinist and DAHA Music Advisor, with support of the Bohemian Benevolent and Literary Association.

About

Pianist-composer Moshe S. Knoll was born in Venezuela of Eastern European immigrant parents. Educated at The Juilliard School and the University of Arizona, Knoll has a direct personal link to Antonín Dvořák: his mentor Ozan Marsh was a composition student of Rubin Goldmark, who was in turn a student of Dvořák, himself. Knoll has had a successful career as a pianist, pedagogue, composer, and arranger. His Piano Sonata #1 was published in 1980 and has been performed multiple times. In 1987 he received the Artist of the Year Award from the Pianist's Foundation of America. Recent achievements include his setting of Psalm 133 for Soprano, Narrator, and String Orchestra which has had repeated performances. ArtsAhimsa presented a Retrospective Concert of Knoll's works in NYC and he composed the soundtrack for the documentary film "God Knows Where I am" produced by Jedd and Todd Wider. His Chamber Cantata "Simplicity," set to texts by Henry David Thoreau, was premiered at Symphony Space by the Ark Trio in 2017, and it is included in their debut CD album, "Ark Resounding," which is now available on Amazon. His Piano Trio "Twilight Serenade" was performed at The Juilliard School in 2022, and in 2023 his composition “A Ballet for the New World” premiered at Bohemian National Hall, both with the composer at the piano. More than 80 of his compositions are published on Sheet Music Plus. Dr. Knoll has been Composer-in-Residence at ArtsAhimsa since 2012. He is also a member of the DAHA Board.

Violinist Laura Jean Goldberg is active as performer, teacher, and presenter for musicians and artists both in the US and abroad. As a solo violinist, she performed with the BSO at Boston's Symphony Hall and played recitals in Boston, New York, and in India. A member of the chamber music faculty at The Juilliard School Pre-college division, she previously taught at Columbia University, Yale, and Teachers College. She has performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Tanglewood, venues in India, Japan, London, Paris, and across the US. As founding member of the Cassatt Quartet, Goldberg earned top prizes at the Fischoff, Coleman, and Banff competitions and worked as assistant to the Juilliard and Tokyo Quartets. Goldberg is committed to celebrating the music of living composers including Julia Wolfe, Moshe Knoll, Eric Ewazen, Behzad Ranjbaran, and Gabriela Lena Frank, and she is a member of the Sullivan String Quartet, based in New York. Trained at The Juilliard School and the Charles Castleman Quartet Program, Goldberg is founder of ArtsAhimsa Music for Peace, presenting events that inspire and support inclusive communities, social justice, and the environment through the arts. Goldberg is director of the ArtsAhimsa Chamber Music Workshop for professional and amateur musicians that meets annually at Belvoir Terrace in Lenox, Ma. She teaches at Belvoir Terrace camp for girls and is a board member at DAHA.

Nicole Eve Goldstein, soprano, is a NYC-based crossover artist with an affinity for both Opera and Musical Theatre. She recently portrayed Celia in Iolanthe at Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Ted Sperling, and sang with New York City Opera for the American premiere of Vessels of Light by Lera Auerbach. Nicole has also performed at venues including Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall, and Opera America. She is graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre at NYFA.

CABALETTA QUARTET

First violinist Chili Ekman is in his second year at The Juilliard School, studying with Professor Joseph Lin. He attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Precollege, and has been part of various music organizations in the Bay Area of California, such as the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Young Chamber Musicians. Ekman has worked with many of the world’s leading chamber musicians including David Finckel, Paul Neubauer, Robert Lipsett, Daniel Phillips, and the Calidore Quartet. Recently, Chili has founded the Cabaletta Quartet at Juilliard with cellist Vanny Hu, violist Pearl de la Motte, and second violinist Henry Rogers.

Henry Rogers, second violinist, is a third-year undergraduate violinist studying with Joel Smirnoff at The Juilliard School. His prior teachers include Sally Thomas in New York City and Joan Kwuon at the Cleveland Institute’s Young Artists’ Program. As an orchestral musician he has performed with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony. Recent summers have been spent as a fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival & School, Sarasota Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Center.

Violist Pearl de la Motte is the second of eleven children in a musical family and currently pursuing her undergraduate degree at The Juilliard School where she studies with Hsin-Yun Huang. Pearl began violin at age two then switched to viola when she was ten. After being inspired by the viola’s deep and expressive voice, she became passionate about music and decided to pursue a career as a musician while honoring God with her playing. Pearl was named the first place winner of the 2019 LJSC Young Artist competition, the 2019 HB Goodlin Competition, the 2021 American Viola Society National Competition Senior Division and is also a proud recipient of the Kovner Fellowship at The Juilliard School.

Canadian cellist Vanny Hu is currently studying with Richard Aaron at The Juilliard School. She attended pre-college at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Canada where she studied with David Hetherington and Andrés Díaz. Hu served as Principal of the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra, Baroque Orchestra at Aspen Music Festival, NYO of Canada, and has worked with distinguished artists including Zuill Bailey, Zlatomir Fung, Joel Noyes, and John Sharp.