Chicago Symphony’s Charles Pikler performing with trio

Charles Pikler

SUNY Fredonia’s Violin Professor Janet Sung will join guest violist Charles Pikler of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and cellist Paul York for a string trio recital on Monday, April 3 at 8 p.m. in the Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

“For me, this is a special treat,” said Ms. Sung. “I have wanted to bring (Mr. Pikler and Mr. York) here to share their musicianship with the school and the community. This is a great opportunity for us.”

Music for the evening concert will include Jean Francaix’s 1933 work “String Trio,” Alfred Schnittke’s 1985 selection “String Trio” and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “String Trio in G Major, Op. 9, No. 1.”

Ms. Sung described Francaix’s “String Trio” as “very typically French…very charming, very light – like a dessert, but with interesting harmonies.” She called the Schnittke selection “a masterpiece,” and remarked that Beethoven’s work was filled with “absolutely beautiful melodies…it is very fast, and very exciting.”

Guest artist Charles Pikler joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a violinist in 1978 and, in 1986, was named principal violist. He is a former member of the Minnesota Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic. In 1995 and 1996, he served as guest principal viola for the Boston Symphony. Mr. Pikler currently serves on the faculties of North Park University and Northwestern University.

An accomplished soloist, chamber musician and teacher, guest artist Paul York is a member of the University of Louisville string faculty. He recently performed Vivaldi’s “Double Concerto in G Minor” with internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and will tour Japan later in April. Mr. York holds degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Ms. Sung has been praised by Leonard Slatkin as a “major musical personality” and has appeared as a soloist with such prestigious ensembles the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Aspen Chamber Symphony, the Pusan Philharmonic (South Korea) and the Omsk Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), among others. She has appeared on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” and holds degrees from Harvard University and The Julliard School. She joined the SUNY Fredonia School of Music faculty in 2004