About the Artist/Ensemble
The Rainier Trio is a dynamic ensemble featuring violinist and violist brothers Kevin and Bryan Matheson with pianist Melia Garber. Known for their vibrant and captivating performances, they offer diverse programs including movie music, Vivaldi paired with Piazzolla, and an all-American selection. Their engaging style and virtuosity have won acclaim at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Yamaha Hall, and they have delighted audiences across the U.S. and internationally.
Hailed as “two perfect virtuosos” at their international performance début, Kevin and Bryan Matheson of the Classic Strings Duo were received with critical acclaim at their Carnegie Weill Recital Hall début as part of the Ibla Grand Prize competition winners’ tour. The duo has been recognized for its mesmerizing and spirited performances – two perfect virtuosos, playing as one. In November 2014 and July 2016, the Classic Strings Duo was presented in Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, Japan. https://youtu.be/gSr_cmBBAFc
Pianist Melia Garber, a native of Romania, has won numerous piano competitions, including first prize at the prestigious International Piano Competition in San-Bartholomeo, Italy. She also won MTNA competitions in piano at the state and regional levels and won the Concerto Competition while at the University of Tennessee playing the Liszt Piano Concerto in E-flat Major. Ms. Garber has performed concertos by Bach, Mozart, Liszt and Grieg with the Philharmonic Orchestra of “Banatul” Timisoara, Romania.
Concert/Performance Description
Concerts: $1,000-$2,400
- A Celebration of American Composers with the Rainier Trio: Featuring Heifetz’s arrangements of Gershwin’s “Three Preludes” and “An American in Paris,” Copeland’s arrangement of “Hoe-Down” from Rodeo, Perlman’s virtuoso adaptation of Joplin Rags, and Broadway songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Bernstein and Sondheim. The audience will be singing along and leave with a spring in their step. https://youtu.be/54LsmzYORlc?si=iEBiDppa9IA2aAzl
- A Night at the Movies with the Rainier Trio: Beautiful renditions of favorite music from the movies you love, including Fiddler on the Roof, Schindler’s List, Gabriel’s Oboe, Chariots of Fire, Memoirs of a Geisha, Lara’s Theme, Sound of Music, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.
- The Four Seasons: Vivaldi and Piazzolla: The Rainer Trio presents the timeless music of Antonio Vivaldi paired with passionate tangos, “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires,” by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. Readings of the poems that inspired Vivaldi’s music help the audience to hear the bird calls, thunder, insects and frigid winds.
- A Romantic Evening with the Rainier Trio: Favorite pieces by Kreisler, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Elgar and Massenet that tug at your heart strings with the lush sounds of the violin and viola and will bring a nostalgic tear to your eye.
- Violin-Viola Magic with the Classic Strings Duo: An entertaining program of diverse works for the violin-viola duo including Ragtime, Celtic, Beethoven, Sibelius, Handel-Halvorsen, R&B and Peter Schickele. https://youtu.be/KUCy-Rn3lqs
- Educational Concerts, Master Classes, Residency Programs: $600-$2,000: Rates are negotiable, discounts for block bookings. Travel and accommodations are negotiable.
Technical Requirements
Two music stands, concert stage lighting, an acoustic piano tuned the day of the performance or performers can bring their own digital piano.
Educational Programs
From Appalachia to Arabia: Music of contrasting styles from Bach to Bartok and Appalachian to Arabian including discussions of what makes folk and classical music different and how sounds are produced on stringed instruments. An instrument “petting-zoo” with small-sized violins allows students to experience playing a violin and feel how the physics of stringed instruments work. https://youtu.be/ungjOJRyTOU
Availability
Throughout the year.
Audience
- All Ages