Originally broadcast Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Ray Chen is a violinist who redefines what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st Century. With a media presence reaching out to millions, Ray Chen's remarkable musicianship transmits to a global audience that is reflected in his engagements with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world.

Students from the School of Music Instrumental Program will work with renowned violinist Ray Chen, performing then receiving feedback.

Satoka Abo, violin
Sonata No. 4 (I. Allemanda)
- Eugène Ysaÿe (1858-1931)

Bright Johnston, violin
Akiko Konishi, piano
Concerto Op. 53 (I. Allegro ma non troppo)
- Antonín Dvorak (1841-1904)

Julimar González, violin
Akiko Konishi, piano
Concerto No. 1 (I. Nocturne, II. Scherzo)
- Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Satoka Abo, 21, is a violinist from Moscow, Idaho. She completed her undergraduate studies with Ivan Zenaty and Ilya Kaler at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is currently finishing her master’s degree with Syoko Aki and Soovin Kim at the Yale School of Music. Satoka has attended Heifetz Institute, Kneisel Hall, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar, among other festivals. As a chamber musician, she has been coached by Joel Krosnick, Natasha Brofsky, Dmitry Kouzov, and members of the Cavani and Brentano Quartets. In 2019, Satoka earned Honorable Mention in CIM’s Concerto Competition, and performed with the CIM Orchestra in the spring of 2020.

Bright Johnston made her orchestral debut at the age of 15 with the Montecito International Festival orchestra. Her past summer studies have included the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Chautauqua School Music Festival. Her recent awards consist of Gold prize in the 2020 MASTA competition and finalist placement in the University of Michigan’s 2021 concerto competition. Bright graduated from the Blair School of Music Precollege program with Certificate of Distinction with honors and currently studies with Aaron Berofsky at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

Born in 1996 in Maracay, Venezuela. Julimar Gonzalez began her violin studies at the age of 7 with Professor Heemath Jahoor at the world-renowned music program known as ‘El Sistema’. She has appeared as a soloist in various cities around Venezuela. She has also performed overseas recitals in Barcelona, Spain at the Vesprades de Tardor Music Festival and she has spent her summers at Chautauqua Music Festival and Bowdoin Music Festival in the United States during consecutive years since 2014. Ms. Gonzalez in 2022 won the concerto competition at Roosevelt University as a graduate student and in the same year she won first place in the Collegiate Strings Division. In 2021 Ms. Gonzalez won The Farewell Trust award by the Musician’s Club of Woman competition. In 2019 she won the concerto competition at Chicago College of Performing Arts and got first place at the Illinois American String Teachers Association Competition of the same year. In the past she has also been a semifinalist of the Sphinx Competition in Detroit and a finalist at the SAI concerto competition held at Chautauqua Institution. Since 2013, Ms. Gonzalez has been a student of Almita and Roland Vamos. She earned her Bachelor’s degree and Performance Diploma in Violin Performance at Roosevelt University.

About Chautauqua Institution: Chautauqua Institution is a community on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York state that comes alive each summer with a unique mix of fine and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship and programs, and recreational activities. As a community, we celebrate, encourage and study the arts and treat them as integral to all of learning, and we convene the critical conversations of the day to advance understanding through civil dialogue. CHQ Assembly is the online expression of Chautauqua Institution's mission.