Mendelssohn Piano Trio Click on image to download print-quality version

GRANTHAM, Pa. (Nov. 16, 2006) — Through an evening of music, the Mendelssohn Piano Trio, ensemble in residence at Messiah College, and friends will present Shostakovich Night to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Russian composer Dmitry Shostakovich. The concert will take place at Messiah College on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. in Poorman Recital Hall in the Climenhaga Fine Arts Center, located on the college’s Grantham campus. The concert is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Messiah College music office at (717) 796-1800, extension 3310.

About the Mendelssohn Piano Trio

The Mendelssohn Piano Trio members, Peter Sirotin, violin; Fiona Thompson, cello; and pianist Ya-Ting Chang, will perform the “Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor.” Soprano Elaine Henderson will join the Trio for the “Seven Romances for Soprano and Piano Trio, Op. 127.” Pianist Richard Roberson will also perform “Prelude and Fugue in B-Flat Minor” and, alongside Chang, the “Concertino for Two Pianos, Op. 94.”

The Trio has been performing internationally for almost a decade, reflecting their international heritage: Sirotin is from Russia, Thompson from England and Chang from Taiwan. The members are active educators who have given master-classes at a variety of universities, colleges and music schools around the world. The Trio is currently ensemble-in-residence at both Messiah College and at the Embassy Series, located in Washington, D.C.

“The Washington Post” hailed the Trio as “one of the more recent stars adding radiance to today’s constellation of chamber music ensembles.” The Trio also received great reviews from “American Record Guide” and “Fanfare” magazines. In 2002, the group presented a critically-acclaimed cycle of complete piano trios by Beethoven in Washington, D.C. and Portugal. Their recent performance from the National Gallery of Art in Washington was featured on NPR’s “Performance Today” program.

Guest musicians Henderson and Roberson are both affiliated with Messiah College – Henderson as senior lecturer in music, and Roberson as dean of the School of the Arts.

About Messiah College

Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls more than 2,800 undergraduate students in 50 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.