MIM: Classical Jam
Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Mansion

Classical Jam (CJ) is a vibrant ensemble of flute, percussion, violin, viola and cello. CJ creates a lively classical concert experience for today's contemporary audiences by their engaging presentational style, thought provoking concert themes (i.e. how do composers incorporate street elements in their concert music), and wide-ranging repertoire from Renaissance dance music, traditional classical works, CJ's very own arrangements and original music, to compositions by living composers. Classical Jam concerts range from subscription concert series to in-school concerts, bringing the highest caliber of music to diverse audiences.

CJ members, Jennifer Choi, violin; Cyrus Beroukhim, viola; Wendy Law, cello; Marco Granados, flute; and Justin Hines, percussion, perform regularly with “Musicians from Marlboro”, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Fireworks, and the Ritz Chamber Players. Individually, they have appeared as soloists with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Singapore Symphony, the Juilliard Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony and the Virginia Symphony, among others. They have performed in venues throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East. Along with their dedication to highly coveted individual musical careers, members of Classical Jam are teaching artists at such leading organizations as the Lincoln Center Institute, the New York Philharmonic, the 92nd St.Y and Young Audiences.

Recent Classical Jam performances include Quad Cities Arts, IL; Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, NY; Art Center At Killingworth, CT and Hudson Opera, NY.

Jennifer Choi, violin
The New York Times has described her as a player with "brilliance and command" and The Seattle Weekly applauded her performance with the words "intense, spectacularly virtuosic play." As a soloist, she has performed with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony, the Oberlin Virtuoso Strings, among others and has been recently engaged to perform with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. As a recitalist and chamber musician, she has performed in venues worldwide such as the Library of Congress in Washington, DC; Alice Tully Hall in New York; the Mozartsalle in Vienna and the RAI National Radio in Rome. In 2000, she was ‘Winner’ of the Artist International Award, leading to a debut recital in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Choi is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. A veteran Teaching Artist under the auspices of the New York Philharmonic and the 92nd St. Y, Jennifer offers the richness of classical music to over 300 inner city school children every year.

Cyrus Beroukhim, Viola
Praised as the "crème de la crème" on National Public Radio's "Performance Today," violinist/violist Cyrus Beroukhim has received international recognition as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. His recent performances of Bach and Vivaldi Concerti with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields were heralded as "flawless and sensitive" by the Zeitung im Espace Mittelland (Switzerland). He has appeared at major venues worldwide including Novell Hall in Taipei, Theaterplatz and Paul Klee Zentrum in Bern, Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, Kravis Center in Palm Beach, The Barns at Wolf Trap in Washington, DC, Qualcomm Hall in San Diego, Ravinia Festival in Chicago and various halls throughout Japan, Germany, Luxembourg, and Israel.

Currently based in New York City, Mr. Beroukhim is a member of Fountain Ensemble and the Zukofsky Quartet. In November 2008, the quartet presented the complete Milton Babbitt cycle at Columbia University's "Composer's Portraits" series and the University of Chicago's "Contempo" series. Mr. Beroukhim also enjoys exploring the music of other living composers, and has premiered works by Jonathan Dawe, Noel Zahler and Joshua Fineberg, among others. He has recorded numerous records for Vanguard Classics, Naxos, Furious Artisans, Aeon and New World Records; and has been broadcast live on NPR, WQXR 96.3 (New York) and K-Mozart (Los Angeles). As an established musical leader, he currently serves as concertmaster and soloist with the New York Symphonic Ensemble.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from Iranian descent, Mr. Beroukhim began his violin studies at the age of two. His early musical training was nurtured by Mimi Zweig and culminated in a successful debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at age 15. He pursued his undergraduate degree at the Oberlin Conservatory under Roland and Almita Vamos and went on to receive his Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School, where he studied with Cho-Liang Lin. In May 2007, he received his Doctorate of Music from The Juilliard School as a C.V. Starr Foundation Fellow.

Wendy Law, cello
Cellist Wendy Law has appeared as soloist with renowned orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Russian Philharmonic and Juilliard Orchestra. Ms. Law has performed throughout North America, appearing in such venues as General Assembly at the United Nations, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC and Jordan Hall, Boston. An active chamber musician, she has collaborated with the Borromeo String Quartet, Yo-Yo Ma and Pamela Frank among others. A proponent of the interdisciplinary arts, Ms. Law collaborates with artists from other genres. Past collaborations of note include performances of the Bach Cello Suites with the Juilliard Dance Ensemble choreographed by Igal Perry, VisionIntoArt and performances in the thematic interdisciplinary series "Voyage To The Exotics" (a series created and founded by Ms. Law in 2002). In addition to her active performance schedule, Ms. Law is a Teaching Artist at the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Marco Granados, flute
Grammy-nominated performer, Marco Granados, a native of Venezuela, has received worldwide acclaim for his diverse flute repertoire, dynamic sense of rhythm and exhilarating style. Since his 1991 New York debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, his performance highlights have included concerts at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, The 92 Street Y, the 1999 British Flute Society International Convention in Manchester, the closing ceremonies concert for the National Flute Association in Columbus, Ohio in 2000 and his successful London recital debut at Wigmore Hall in October 2000.

Justin Hines, percussion
Percussionist, composer and educator Justin Hines has been active in the NYC music scene since 1996. As a classical musician, he has performed with the New York Philharmonic, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Mexican American Symphony, The Aspen Chamber Music Festival, as well as Tony Award winning Broadway productions. As an educator, he has collaborated with the St. Louis Symphony, the New World Symphony, the 92nd St. Y and the Lincoln Center Institute. His compositions have been performed and heard in film, television and at many of New York City's premiere cabaret clubs, including the Duplex, the Triad Theater, Baldoria and Danny's Skylight Cabaret. Currently Justin freelances as a percussionist/drummer and is on the Teaching Artist Faculty of the New York Philharmonic.