CLASSICAL ENCOUNTERS presents Edith Orloff, Pianist with Roger Wilkie, Violinist

J.S. Bach – Partita No. 3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006/Sergei Prokofiev – Sonata in D major for Violin and Piano, Op. 94b/Josef Suk – Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 17/Saint-Saens – Rondo and Capriccioso

Background    Violinist Roger Wilkie has enjoyed a rich and varied musical life as his career began in 1983, when at the age of 21 he joined the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, eventually being appointed principal second violin. He has since returned to the ensemble appearing as guest concertmaster. He has also been guest concertmaster with such groups as Los Angeles Opera, the Round Top Festival Orchestra of Texas, the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and the Real Filharmonia de Galicia, Spain under music director Helmut Rilling. Presently, Mr. Wilkie’s orchestral life is centered around the Long Beach Symphony, where he has served as concertmaster since 1990. He has had many opportunities to solo with the orchestra, performing the violin concertos of Brahms, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Bruch, Prokofiev, Brahms Double Concerto and in January, 2009, the Tchaikovsky concerto. He was a founding member of the Angeles String Quartet performing and touring from 1988-1993. He was solo violinist with Santa Barbara based Camerata Pacifica as both recitalist and chamber musician over a ten year period. He has appeared at many chamber music festivals including La Jolla Summerfest, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Festival. Presently, Mr. Wilkie is a member of the Pacific Trio with cellist John Walz and pianist Edith Orloff. The trio concertized in Europe in 2002, and again in 2004. The highlight of the 2004 tour was a performance and recording of the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Prague Philharmonic. In February 2009, the Trio toured Germany and Austria. His career extends to the Hollywood Studios, where he has participated in the soundtracks for hundreds of films. In 2005 he received the honor of serving as concertmaster for John Williams' scores for “Indiana Jones IV”, “Munich” and “Memoirs of a Geisha”.

Pianist Edith Orloff has earned acclaim in the United States and Europe where she has concertized with equal success as recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestra. Her solo German debut in 1998 was received as “elegant, a pleasure to hear”, and her music-making has won praise at home and abroad for its interpretive vitality and perceptive musicianship. She is a founding member of the Pacific Trio with Violinist Roger Wilkie and Cellist John Walz who make annual tours of the U.S. and Europe. For many years the group has served as ensemble-in-residence for the Idyllwild Arts summer festival, where Ms. Orloff has taught piano and chamber music since 1976. In February of 2009, the Pacific Trio traveled to Europe to perform and record trios by American composers. The CD, “American Composers”, featuring works of Gershwin, Bernstein, Copland, and Muczynski for the Marsyas label, which was released in September of 2009 in conjunction with a European tour. Highlights of the 2012 season include the trio’s debut performance on the noted Coleman Chamber Music Series in Pasadena in January, duo-recital concerts throughout Southern California, and a European tour in the fall. Ms. Orloff has appeared as guest artist with many notable ensembles, including the Houston Symphony Chamber Players, the Ensemble Con Brio of Bruchsal, Germany, and the Czech String Trio. Ms. Orloff also enjoys a long-standing musical collaboration with her husband, Houston Symphony principal clarinetist David Peck. Their CD of modern works for clarinet and piano was released in 2004. She has also recorded for the Brio Classics, Resort Classics, and Yarlung labels. Summer concerts have included La Jolla SummerFest, Grand Tetons Festival, Ventura Chamber Music Festival, Santa Barbara Chamber Music Festival, Festival Mozaic in San Luis Obispo, and ongoing performances at Idyllwild Arts. A master’s degree graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, where she studied piano with Earle Voorhies and chamber music with Cesare Pascarella, she has also worked with Jerome Lowenthal, Reginald Stewart, Rosina Lhevinne, Daniel Pollack, and Roberto Eyzaguirre. Ms. Orloff teaches privately and in master classes. In addition to musical activities, she enjoys literature, travel, and study of languages. She resides in Houston and San Diego.