Tickets on sale soon
$20 general admission
Students free (ticket required)
Mead Witter School of Music Faculty Artist Series
Matthew Zalkind and Alice Yoo, cello
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Program
Sonata in C Major, G. 6 Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805)
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
Sonata in A Major, G. 4 Luigi Boccherini
I. Adagio
II. Allegro Moderato
III. Affettuoso
Brief Pause
Sonata in G Major, G. 15 Luigi Boccherini
I. Allegro
II. Largo
III. Allegro
Sonata in C Major, G. 17 Luigi Boccherini
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro assai
Variations on a Theme from Moses in Egypt by Gioachino Rossini Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840)
(for two cellos)
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Praised for his “impressive refinement, eloquent phrasing, and singing tone” by The New York Times, American cellist Matthew Zalkind regularly performs throughout the United States and abroad as a recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician. He was awarded First Prize in the Washington International Competition, as well as top prizes in the Beijing International Cello Competition and Korea’s Isang Yun Gyeongnam International Competition.
As a soloist, Matt has performed recitals at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, the Moscow Conservatory in Russia, the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater in Washington, DC, and the Beijing Concert Hall in China. He has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Utah Symphony, Albany Symphony, Hongzhou Philharmonic, Musica Viva Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Tongyeong International Music Festival Orchestra, Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other North American orchestras. He has performed under the baton of celebrated conductors including Ludovic Morlot, Thierry Fischer, Giancarlo Guerrero, and David Alan Miller.
An active chamber musician, Matt has appeared at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, New York’s Alice Tully Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a former member of the acclaimed Harlem String Quartet, he toured internationally with jazz legends Stanley Clarke, Chick Corea, and Gary Burton. He regularly participates in prominent chamber music festivals, including Marlboro and Musicians from Marlboro tours. Alongside his wife, cellist Alice Yoo, Matt is the Co-Artistic Director of the Denver Chamber Music Festival, a premier destination for world-class chamber music in Colorado. More information is available at denverchambermusicfestival.org.
Matt is a dedicated teacher and currently teaches at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His students have been recognized on national and international concert stages. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan. A native of Salt Lake City, his primary mentors included Richard Hoyt, Pegsoon Whang, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Timothy Eddy, and Richard Aaron. Matt performs on a rare Italian cello made by Florentine maker Luigi Piatellini in 1760.
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Cellist Alice Yoo has been warmly hailed for her sensitive musicianship, expressive nuance, and passionate commitment to teaching. She has performed extensively throughout the United States and abroad as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician.
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Denver Chamber Music Festival, she and cellist Matthew Zalkind have created a new chamber music festival in Denver, Colorado that features the world’s most sought-after chamber musicians in world-class chamber music summer concerts all around the city of Denver.
A sought after chamber musician, Yoo has performed with distinguished artists including James Ehnes, Itzhak Perlman, Mitsuko Uchida, Dénes Varjon, Pamela Frank, Miriam Fried, Midori Goto, Kim Kashkashian, Jonathan Biss, and members of the Cleveland, Guarneri, Takacs, and Juilliard Quartets. Festival appearances include the Marlboro Music Festival, Moab Music Festival, Ravinia Festival, Music@Menlo, Yellow Barn, Caramoor Evnin Rising Stars, Perlman Music Program, VIVO Music Festival, Olympic Music Festival, and IMS Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music. Yoo regularly appears on tour with Musicians from Marlboro and performs with premiere ensembles including the New York Classical Players, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, and The Knights.
Yoo is currently on the string and chamber music faculty at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music. She previously held the post of guest cello professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder during the 2018-2019, 2022, and 2024 school years. She currently holds teaching posts at the Green Mountain Music Festival, Lamont Summer Academy, and Boulder Cello Festival. Previous teaching posts include Guest Artist at the 2019 and 2021 Intermountain Suzuki String Institute, faculty of cello and chamber music at Bard College’s Preparatory Division, Colorado State University, and masterclasses and residencies across the United States including Skidmore College, North Dakota State University, and more. From 2012-2014, Yoo was a member of Ensemble Connect (ACJW), a program of Carnegie Hall, the Juilliard School of Music, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.
Yoo is a top prize winner in several competitions, including the Holland-America Music Society Competition, Schadt International String Competition, National Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, and Klein International String Competition. Solo appearances with orchestra include the USC Chamber Orchestra, Longmont Symphony, Cleveland Philharmonic, New York Classical Players, Billings Symphony, and the Bozeman Symphony. Her performances have been featured and broadcasted on Colorado Public Radio, Chicago’s WFMT, and Boston’s WGBH.
Passionate for new music, Yoo has worked closely with the esteemed composers Sophia Gubaidulina, Jennifer Hidgon, György Kurtág, Paul Wiankco, and John Harbison. She has given world premieres of acclaimed composers Samuel Carl Adams and Andy Akiho at Carnegie Hall. Recent recordings include Pierre Jalbert’s String Trio for Music at Copland House, music of the Tonight Show band The Roots, and works by Andy Akiho and Derek Bermel with Grammy award-winning producer Judith Sherman.
A native of Bozeman, Montana, Yoo’s teachers include Ralph Kirshbaum, Dr. Ilse-Mari Lee, Richard Aaron, and Paul Katz. She holds degrees from the New England Conservatory, Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, and the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.
Yoo currently resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband, cellist Matthew Zalkind, and plays on a cello made for her in 2018 by Ryan Soltis.
More information can be found at Aliceyoocello.com and Denverchambermusicfestival.org
