May 2, 2024
Ann E. Pitzer Center Recital Hall, UC Davis
featuring Igor Veligan, violin, Susan Lamb Cook, cello, I-Hui Chen, piano
Piano Trio in G Major, Hob. XV:25, “Gypsy Rondo” by Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)
Andante
Poco Adagio
Presto
Piano Trio in D minor, Op. 49 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
Molto allegro agitato
Andante con moto tranquillo
Scherzo – Leggiero e vivace
Finale – Allegro assai appassionato
I-Hui Chen is a compelling pianist who seamlessly radiates her music and thoughts to the audience. She regularly appears in concerts throughout Taiwan and the United States. Chen completed her undergraduate degree at the Taipei National University of the Arts where she studied piano performance under Alexander Sung whose musical lineage can be traced to Emil von Sauer (one of Liszt’s students) and Carl Czerny. Before moving to the United States, Chen lectured in piano at Aletheia University music department in Taipei, Taiwan. She also held the keyboard section position in the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, Chen was appointed as a Lecturer in Music in piano at the UC Davis Department of Music. In addition to teaching, she coaches student chamber music groups and frequently performs with fellow faculty members. She lives in Davis, California, with her husband and three young children.
Susan Lamb Cook is currently Lecturer in Cello and Chamber Music at the University of California, Davis, and is a member of the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera and the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. She is an active performer and educator both nationally and internationally and is sought after as soloist and chamber musician with performances throughout Europe, the Far East, and the United States. She has served on faculty for the Saarburg Festival, Germany, the Vianden Festival, Luxembourg, and on the artistic staff for the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria. Susan has performed as soloist with numerous orchestras and has performed and given master classes at San Francisco State University, Scripps College, Harvey Mudd College, Marshall University, West Virginia, James Madison University, Virginia, and Austin College, Texas. Ms. Lamb Cook studied with Angelica May at the Academy of Music in Vienna, Austria, and Charles Wendt at the University of Iowa.
Igor Veligan joined the faculty of the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in the fall of 2006 where he teaches violin, viola and chamber music. He also teaches at American River College. He holds a Master’s Degree in violin performance and chamber music from Odessa State Conservatory, Ukraine and has performed extensively in Ukraine, Russia, Germany and Japan. In 2013 Igor Veligan along with pianist Natsuki Fukasawa released a CD titled “Voices of Eastern Europe” featuring violin and piano sonatas by Enescu, Skoryk and Babadjanian. Igor Veligan is an artist faculty member of the Pacific Music Institute (Hawaii), Orfeo International Music Festival (Italy). He is a cofounder and artistic director of Chamber Music Festival at San Domenico Conservatory of Music. Recent solo appearances with symphony orchestra include Prokofiev violin concertos No.1 and No.2, Bartok Viola Concerto, and others. Mr. Veligan is a founder and violin/viola teacher at the Young Talents Music School. Many of his students are winners of numerous local and state competitions.