As part of one of the Academy's initiatives to promote global mobility and international collaboration between musicians, students of the Zenith Quartet – Chloe Bowers-Soriano, Jonasz Szachtmajer, Andrea Fages and Julius Maknickas (pictured left) – have just finished a three-night residency at Carnegie Hall with the Czech Philharmonic.
Led by Semyon Bychkov, the Academy's Klemperer Chair of Conducting, our students played alongside the orchestra and renowned soloists Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham and pianist Daniil Trifonov across these three concerts, who each performed a concerto by the Czech Philharmonic’s founder, Antonín Dvořák. The first concert included a performance of three movements from Smetana's Má vlast and was livestreamed – click here to watch.
While in New York, the quartet also took part in a concert at Bohemian National Hall, performing with strings principals from the Czech Philharmonic, members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy and members of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA.
This exchange programme began in October when Chloe, Jonasz, Andrea and Julius travelled to Prague to take part in three SIDE-BY-SIDE concerts with the Czech Philharmonic, where they performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No 25 and Mahler's Symphony No 5 at the Rudolfinum. On her time playing with the orchestra, Chloe wrote: 'The last concert was without a doubt the best musical experience of my life – there was no holding back, and the emotion and energy were electric. By the fifth movement, there was this extraordinary sense of unity and passion, and I think that this is what flying must feel like.’ Read Chloe's full account of the Prague leg of the tour in an article in The Strad.
Our students continue the tour with the Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov this weekend, when they will perform in two concerts at the Koerner Hall in Toronto. This exchange programme is supported by generous donors to the Semyon Bychkov Educational Enhancement Fund, established at the Royal Academy of Music for Semyon Bychkov’s 70th Birthday.
SIDE-BY-SIDE projects are an essential part of musical training at the Academy, giving students the experience of rehearsing and performing in a completely professional context. Recent projects include the Academy Manson Ensemble performing with the London Sinfonietta at the Southbank Centre and the Academy Baroque Ensemble performing in Edinburgh with the Dunedin Consort in November. In the spring term, we look forward to our students performing SIDE-BY-SIDE with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Nash Ensemble.