August Concerts with Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival

The Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival will continue its seventh annual summer concert series this August, with six public concerts across North State California and Oregon. On the programs this month will be classical and contemporary works featuring strings, woodwinds, and piano. The performers are coming from across California to collaborate on this program: violinist Petr Masek and oboist Gabrielle Castriotta from Los Angeles, clarinetist Matthew Boyles and violinist Rachel Patrick from Napa, and cellist James Jaffe and pianist Ian Scarfe from San Francisco.

During this tour, the organization will be celebrating its 200th public concert—an astonishing accomplishment for a music festival in its seventh season! Founded in 2011 by pianist Ian Scarfe and violinist Ellen McGehee, this festival has become one of the premiere presenters of classical chamber music in North State California. A variety of performances have been offered each year, including seasonal classical programs, tours of local schools, family concerts, and this annual summer series.
The ensemble will combine in different groups to offer a variety of works, including Mozart’s Quartet for oboe and strings, Igor Stravinsky’s Suite from “A Solder’s Tale” for clarinet, violin, and piano, music from the 1986 film The Mission, Czech composer Martinu’s Piano Quartet, and others.

Also on the program will be the world premiere of a new composition written for the Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival by nationally known California composer Noah Luna. Luna, born in 1984, is a composer and orchestrator who is equally comfortable working with classical ensembles and popular artists. His collaborations include the Berkeley Symphony, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, Friction Quartet, and Bay Area Chamber Choir. His collaborations in popular music have ranged from Billy Joel to Kanye West, and he has worked as an orchestrater for a number of Bollywood films, independent feature films, and a PBS Special entitled “The Power of Music.” Mr. Luna’s new composition “Landscape Variations” is inspired by poetry of Federico García Lorca, and tries to “capture the sensation of walking around a garden of chaos and having a perfect circle come into focus.”

Mr. Luna’s composition was underwritten and commissioned by one of the Festival’s sponsors, the Law Offices of Michael Cogan, which observes that “music can open our minds and hearts in ways that are beyond our understanding.” The festival musicians have embraced this attitude, and aspire to do just that in all of their musical programs, presenting new compositions alongside classical masterpieces with dedication and love.

The listed concerts are all free and open to the public, a tradition that this organization has held since its founding. Audiences are encouraged to make a personal donation at the door, or supporters can make a donation online to help the festival continue this kind of musical programming.