The Live from Hochstein fall concert series airs exclusively on WXXI Classical 91.5/90.3 FM and streaming at wxxiclassical.org (no live audience in the hall*) will now begin on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, from 12:10–12:50 pm. Performances on the five-concert series feature Hochstein students, faculty members, and RPO musicians. One concert features all American composers, and another takes us on a trip to different parts of the world. The series continues through Wednesday, December 9th. You can also hear an encore broadcast of Live from Hochstein later the same day at 10 p.m. on WXXI Classical 91.5/90.3.
The Live from Hochstein concert series gives the radio audience an opportunity to enjoy classical music by outstanding musicians, including soloists, duets, and small ensembles. Hosted by WXXI Classical 91.5’s Mona Seghatoleslami and broadcast live on WXXI Classical 91.5/90.3 FM, Live from Hochstein is the longest-running live broadcast concert series in Western New York. *Please note that because of health and safety guidelines during the pandemic, the fall concert series will be broadcast without a live audience in the Performance Hall.
November 11: American Sounds
The RPO Quartet – Willa Finck, violin; Robert Simonds, violin; Melissa Matson, viola; and Lars Kirvan, cello – performs an All-American program with a nod to Veteran’s Day. The concert includes works by contemporary composers Luke Cissell, Kenji Bunch, and Caroline Shaw, and a piece by Elmira’s Charles Griffes that is based on Chippewa/Ojibwe music. To read the program notes and artists' bios, click here.
November 18: Travel Remotely
Although our in-person travel experiences are limited during this unique time, music can take us to different parts of the world with no limitations. Pianist and Hochstein instructor Yi-Wen Chang takes us on a tour around the world with works by Catalan composer Federico Mompou, Leopold Godowsky, Taiwanese composer Shui-Long Ma, Brazil’s Heitor Villa-Lobos, and George Gershwin (arr. Percy Grainger). To read the program notes and artist's bio, click here.
November 25: David Hochstein Recital Competition Concert
The 2020 David Hochstein Recital Competition winners – Maxwell Sun, marimba (Rochester, Grade 11); Noah Lee, violin (Pittsford, recent HS graduate); and Amy Feng, piano (Pittsford, Grade 11) – perform works by Schumann, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Bach, and Stout in this concert rescheduled from the spring. Since 1991, The Hochstein School has commemorated the life of David Hochstein – a Rochester native and gifted violinist and composer – with a yearly competition for local upper-level high school students. Hochstein is proud to honor his legacy by celebrating and encouraging these talented young musicians. To read the program notes and artists' bios, click here.
December 2: Madrigalia: A Physically Distanced Cup of Good Cheer
Due to the rapidly increasing COVID rates, we have made the difficult decision to cancel this performance for the safety of the performers and the crew. WXXI will broadcast a past favorite Cup of Good Cheer program from the archives.
December 9th: Bach and Beyond with Natalie Spehar
Recognized for her versatile skill set, Hochstein cello instructor Natalie Spehar has performed live with artists including Disturbed, Cage the Elephant, 2 Cellos, Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman, Dessa, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, Johnny Mathis, Michael Bolton, Il Volo, Michael Bublé, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She is also an active composer and studio recording artist. Her concert includes works by Bach and William Grant Still, among others. To read the program notes and artists' bios, click here.
