About the Artist/Ensemble

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 an

In November 2014 and July 2016, the Classic Strings Duo was presented in Yamaha Hall, Tokyo, Japan collaborating with piano and opera singers.https://youtu.be/gSr_cmBBAFc

Now in its tenth season, the Rainier Trio is an exciting and energetic group that captivates audiences with gems from the violin-viola-piano trio repertoire. A combination written for since the 17th century, the repertoire includes works by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Milhaud, bridging genres from classical to ragtime and tango. The trio has performed on numerous concert series throughout Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina.

Kevin and Bryan Matheson have teamed up with pianist Brenda Wittwer, who has been accompanist for Theater Charlotte, Pfeiffer University Concert Choir and Sounds of America, a musical group which toured the 48 contiguous states. With the Wytheville Community College Choir she has performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The Rainier Trio has performed a series of concerts in Pittsburgh and on the classical radio station WQED with Alex Jones, principal clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic. The trio has performed at Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and collaborated with opera singers at the Vocal Arts and Music Festival at Virginia Tech. Their CD was chosen as “CD of the week” by WQED Pittsburgh.

Concert/Performance Description

Virtual and online concerts of these programs are available.

• A Night at the Movies with the Rainier Trio: Includes Fiddler on the Roof, Schindler’s List, Lara’s Theme and many more famous movies. https://youtu.be/lxAssfhkvTY
• A Night at the Movies II with the Rainier Trio – Featuring Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Sound of Music, Harry Potter, Star Wars and more. https://youtu.be/GEjaLc6cFuM
• 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 to write the music help the audience to hear the bird calls, thunder, insects and frigid winds. https://youtu.be/DEoroxqC1-0
• Classical and Holiday Pops with Seasonal Sing-Along – Rainier Trio with Guest Soprano https://youtu.be/kZRFtHpScpU
• The Classic Strings Duo in Concert: Beethoven, Sibelius, Schickele and Mozart https://youtu.be/KUCy-Rn3lqs
• Rainier Trio: Romantic Music and More! Gems for violin, viola and piano by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Glinka http://youtu.be/HYawjh_drkE Music for Flute, Harp and Strings – Celtic, Japanese and French Impressionism – The Classic Strings Duo with Julee Hickcox, flute and Helen Rifas, harp. http://youtu.be/SDgSC-Eyj68
• Music from France and Spain – Faure’s popular Piano Quartet in C Minor, Tango by Albeniz and Variations on Yankee Doodle. The Classic Strings Duo with Judith Clark, piano and Julia Goudimova, cello. http://youtu.be/ZiTxO3HAUKM https://youtu.be/PmQPK6STba0

Educational Concerts, Master Classes, Residency Programs: $600-$2,000

• Rates are negotiable, discounts for block bookings. Travel and accommodations are negotiable. https://youtu.be/Ho3XbXNsmgs

Technical Requirements

Two music stands, concert stage lighting. For Trio, 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. Virtual and online concerts of all programs are available.

Audience

• All Ages