Karen Slack

American soprano Karen Slack has garnered international renown for her artistic versatility, charisma, and entrepreneurial endeavors, receiving critical acclaim for her dynamic and passionate performances in both lead operatic roles and on the concert stage. Known for her leadership and advocacy as a curator and artistic advisor, and her ground-breaking approach to engagements, she is a sought-after collaborator.

Hailed for possessing a voice of extraordinary beauty, a seamless legato and great dramatic depth, Ms. Slack has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, and San Francisco Opera. In recent seasons, she has been seen as Alice Ford in Falstaff, Leonora in Il trovatore, and Tosca with Arizona Opera, as Aïda at Austin Opera, Emelda Griffith in Champion with New Orleans Opera, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Nashville Opera, and Violetta in La Traviata with Sacramento Opera; Sister Rose in Dead Man Walking with Minnesota, Atlanta, and Vancouver Opera and made her Scottish Opera debut as Anna in Puccini’s Le villi. Additionally, Ms. Slack portrayed a featured role as the Opera Diva in Tyler Perry’s movie and soundtrack “For Colored Girls.” Ms. Slack is an Artistic Advisor for Portland Opera, Co-Director for the 2020-21 Opera Program at the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, and Co-Chair of the Women’s Opera Network with Opera America.

Drew Petersen

On February 10, we welcome acclaimed young American pianist Drew Petersen. He is a sought-after soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician and has been praised for his commanding and poetic performances of repertoire ranging from Bach to Zaimont, and is the recipient of the 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 2017 American Pianists Award, and the Christel DeHaan Fellow of the American Pianists Association.

His career has taken him to some of the nation’s biggest concert halls and collaborations with top orchestras. Whether appearing in colo concerts, chamber settings, or concerto engagements, he is praised by critics and audiences alike for his playing, insight, and virtuosity. He’ll present an evening of Chopin, Ravel, and Rachmaninoff.

Drew’s firm belief in the importance of music in contemporary society led to collaborations with Young Audiences NY that presents performances in New York City’s public schools. His appearance in Andrew Solomon’s New York Times bestselling book, Far From the Tree, sparked a nation-wide conversation on raising extraordinary and different children who test the willpower and capabilities of their families and society. Petersen continually advocates for the necessity of classical music and other arts in society, and was named a 2006 Davidson Fellow for his portfolio entitled Keeping Classical Music Alive.

Time For Three

Bonded by an uncommon blend of instruments and vocals, Charles Yang (violin), Nick Kendall (violin), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass), have found a unique voice of expression. To experience Time For Three live is to hear the various eras, styles, and traditions of Western music fold in on themselves and emerge anew.

Earning praise from NPR, NBC, The Wall Street Journal, Time for Three is renowned for their charismatic and energetic performances in venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and The Royal Albert Hall. They have collaborated with artists as diverse as Ben Folds, Branford Marsalis, and Joshua Bell, and have premiered original works by composers Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize-winners Jennifer Higdon and William Bolcom. An upcoming commission by Pulitzer Prize-winner Kevin Puts will be premiered with the San Francisco Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra. In 2020, the band partnered with cellist and composer Ben Sollee to put together the soundtrack to the new Focus Features' film Land, starring and directed by Robin Wright. The film first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021.

Their concert will wrap up our season with arrangements of pop standards, original songs, and classical mash-ups created by the band.