THE MUSICIANS CLUB OF NEW YORK
Presents
MATTHEW ENNIS, SAXOPHONE
BENJAMIN HOPKINS, PIANO
Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Liederkranz Concert Hall
6 East 87th Street
New York City
PROGRAM
Histoire du Tango – Ástor Piazzolla
La derniere nuit, danse pour 2 saxophones –
David Salleras Quintana
INTERMISSION
Sonata in C# Minor – Fernande Decruck
Concerto for 2 Violins, D Minor – Johann Sebastian Bach
Matthew Ennis, Saxophone
Praised for “his ability to remain musical, poetic, and profound while navigating the challenges of contemporary music,” saxophonist Matt Ennis’ vibrant career encompasses solo recital and chamber music performances, blending programs of avant-garde contemporary saxophone works with re-interpreted baroque and classical transcriptions. In addition to his highlighted 2012-13 recital tour with performances in Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, New York, and Barcelona, Matt has worked and recorded with distinguished composers and conductors including Alan Silvestri, John Williams, John Corigliano, Thomas Ades, and many more. In his home town of Los Angeles, Matt stays busy working with top orchestras, playing studio recording sessions, and appearing on popular television shows like The Voice.
Matt completed his Doctor of Music Arts degree in Saxophone Performance at the University of Southern California, where he studied with renowned saxophonist James Rotter. It was during this time that he was a finalist and prize winner in numerous international solo competitions including the Hennings-Fischer Young Artists Competition in Burbank, California and the Serge & Olga Koussevitsky Young Artists Awards in New York, New York. Matt currently serves on the music faculty at Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and at Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles, California, and he makes frequent appearances as an adjudicator, educator and mentor for young and aspiring saxophonists.
Benjamin Hopkins, Piano
Since winning first prize in the 2007 Thousand Islands International Piano Competition, Benjamin Hopkins has won numerous local, national, and international awards and has performed in Rochester, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, England and Italy. In 2008, as a result of winning the Rochester Philharmonic League’s Ness Award, Aldridge-Tinker Scholarship, and Special Award, he made his debut with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been honored with first prize at the David Hochstein Recital Competition, the prestigious Howard Hanson Award, and as a finalist in the first Pittsburgh Symphony Concerto Competition. Most recently, he was nominated for the 2013 American Pianists Association Classical Fellowship Award and won the 2013 Rio Hondo Symphony Young Artist Auditions. Hopkins has played in masterclasses for many renowned pedagogues and pianists, including Menahem Pressler, Julian Martin, Frederic Chiu, and Stephen Hough. An avid chamber musician, he works closely with violinist Henry Gronnier and performs frequently as a collaborator in the Los Angeles area. After earning his Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he was named as a Keyboard Department Outstanding Graduate, he is continuing his graduate studies at USC with Lucinda Carver. His past teachers include Norman Krieger and Brian Preston.
Videos created by Musicians Club of New York Members Paula K. Poulafearh and Christopher M. Argondizza.