Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio presented a varied program of works for violin and
viola with pianist Bryan Chuan, illustrating the range of great composers’
exploration of this musical conversation.
Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio
Described as a “violinist who most often takes your breath away” by Gramophone Magazine, Stephanie Sant’Ambrogio enjoys a varied performing and recording career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. Stephanie has performed as a soloist and chamber musician on the foremost stages of the U.S., as well as in Canada, Estonia, Sweden, Ghana, Italy, Peru, Chile and Mexico.
In addition to her active performing career, she is devoted to teaching serious string players, many who have won positions in America’s symphony orchestras and universities. Currently Professor of Violin and Viola at the University of Nevada, Reno, and violinist of the Argenta Trio, she was also the founding Artistic Director of Cactus Pear Music Festival, which she established in 1997 while serving as Concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony.
Former First Assistant Principal Second Violin of The Cleveland Orchestra under Christoph von Dohnányi, Stephanie toured and recorded internationally with this ensemble for eight seasons. Currently Concertmaster of the Fresno Philharmonic (CA) and the Lancaster Festival (OH) orchestras, and Artistic Director of Chamber Music Reno, Stephanie has a discography of over seventy-five orchestral and chamber music CDs. Fanfare Magazine wrote about her Soaring Solo: Unaccompanied Works for Violin & Viola: “she play[s] with immaculate technique, impeccable intonation, lustrous tone, and emotional warmth.”
Bryan Chuan
Bryan Chuan serves as lecturer of piano at the University of Nevada Reno and music director at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. He previously held appointments at Arkansas State University and completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he taught class piano and served as a collaborative pianist.
Bryan has an active career as a performer, collaborative artist and pedagogue. He has been a featured soloist with the Denver Pops Orchestra, Reno Chamber Orchestra, UNR Symphony Orchestra, Harvard Pops Orchestra and Northeastern Wind Symphony. His recent solo recitals have included lesser-known works Bohuslav Martinu, Albert Roussel, and Max Reger, and he is presenting at several conferences nationwide about the piano works of Reger. He is part of an upcoming recording release by BIS records featuring the world premiere of art songs by Kaikhosru Sorabji. An avid organist, Bryan has recently performed the organ works of Felix Mendelssohn, Jeanne Demessieux, and Joseph Ermand Bonnal for the Pipes on the River recital series at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
Bryan received his MM in Piano Performance from the University of Nevada, Reno and a B.A. in Music from Harvard University, where he received the Wister Prize in Music for the music student with the highest academic record. His primary instructors and advisors include Dr. Andrew Cooperstock and Dr. James Winn.