Trio Barclay
Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 5pm
presented by Irvine Barclay Theatre
Trio Barclay, comprised of violinist Dennis Kim, cellist Jonah Kim, and pianist Sean Kennard is an ensemble of big musical personalities who have joined together to create a dynamic and exciting musical experience for themselves and for audiences.
The trio’s founding in 2021 is the culmination of years of collaboration between its members. Dennis and Jonah have appeared frequently at Festival Mozaic and at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Jonah and Sean have played as recital partners for years, recently releasing a duo album on the Delos label. All three members appear together regularly on the Celtic to Classical summer concert series in Delaware, where they perform new works and push stylistic boundaries. Bound together by friendship and mutual respect, Trio Barclay is on a mission to take piano trio music to new heights, offering definitive and unforgettable performances of works ranging from the early 18th century to the music of our day.
Please click here to see program notes.
Dennis Kim, violin
Dennis Kim is currently concertmaster of the Pacific Symphony, having previously served in the same role at the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Seoul Philharmonic, among other orchestras. A native of Canada, Dennis first studied with the late Victor Danchenko, making his solo debut with the Toronto Philharmonic at age 14. Though internationally renowned as a leader of orchestras, chamber music has always been a key part of his musical life. Coached by Isaac Stern, Felix Galimir, and Claude Frank, Dennis has since gone on to collaborate with such artists as Pinchas Zuckerman, Jamie Laredo, and members of the Guarneri and Tokyo String Quartets. Dennis is also a committed pedagogue whose students have gone on to the top conservatories and orchestras around the world. He coaches chamber music at Orange County School of the Arts, Junior Chamber Music OC, and maintains a private violin studio in Irvine. As an active studio musician in Los Angeles, Dennis and can be heard in numerous titles, including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Sing 3, and Jumanji 3. Dennis brings a bold approach to repertoire and a fearless intensity in performance style to his work with Trio Barclay. His high-octane violin playing is also capable of great tenderness, coaxing a beautifully sweet tone from the 1701 ex-Dushkin Stradivarius he plays.
Jonah Kim, cello
Jonah Kim is a performer of great charisma and originality. Jonah’s teacher, the great Hungarian cellist Janos Starker, called him the “top of his generation,” and The Washington Post referred to him as “the next Yo-Yo Ma.” Though primarily a soloist who has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the National Symphony, Jonah is equally passionate about chamber music — extensively exploring the piano trio repertoire with his colleagues Joel Link and Yuja Wang. Jonah brings to Trio Barclay a great reverence for the classical tradition, with a particular affinity for the chamber works of Brahms and Dvorak. From the Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume cello he plays, he calls forth a pallet of vivid colors in all shades, leaving an indelible impression on all who hear him.
Sean Kennard, piano
Sean Kennard is a star piano soloist with a remarkably flexible and collaborative approach as a chamber musician. Raised in Hawaii, Sean has an impressive list of musical accomplishments, including albums for the Centaur, Delos, and Naxos labels; and a 2017 appointment to the Stetson University. Described as a “strong, luminous pianist” by The Washington Post, Sean’s playing is also characterized by great delicacy, as is displayed in his recording of the highly intricate and charming sonatas of Baroque composer Domenico Scarlatti. Sean brings to Trio Barclay a commitment to flawless preparation and an easy-going demeanor that belies the seriousness of his approach. Sean is a Steinway artist.
Tickets start at $15
