Violinist Artur Girsky has led a fascinating life. It started in Riga, Latvia, in those days an SSR of the USSR (long since proudly restored to independence). He continued to Moscow where he trained at the renowned conservatory. Soon, Artur was a part of the Moscow Soloists, traveling Europe with leader and violist, Yuri Bashmet. On tour, Artur’s taste for adventure kicked in and he circuitously wound up in the USA, unbeknownst to the Moscow Soloists. Stints in New York, New Jersey and Florida followed. Eventually, he found his forever home with fellow violinist and WWCMF regular, Natasha Bazhanov, in Seattle, where both are members of the Seattle Symphony and the Girsky String Quartet. (ahem… about that name.)

Artur’s sense of adventure hasn’t waned in the least. And who knows, with a ravenous affinity for certain local brisket tacos, a “defection” to Walla Walla wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise. You’ll get to know Artur, find out where to get those tacos, and hear works by Arvo Pärt, Alfred Schnittke and JS Bach. Pianist Benjamin Hochman joins Artur for this special program. All works will be announced from the stage.

Artists: Artur Girsky, violin; Benjamin Hochman, piano; Timothy Christie, moderator

This event has been made possible by the generosity of Elizabeth Carr in memory of Rosalie Chantiny, chamber music mentor.

Cellist David Requiro has played at WWCMF for many years. He gave a Portrait of an Artist recital back in the days before the Walla Walla Piano Group provided a beautiful Steinway and the means to transport it around the valley.

In fact, a lot of things were different last time David played on the PoA series. He wasn’t married then, for example. He wasn’t a dad. Therefore, we are overdue for a check-in. We will find out what new musical revelations have shaped this, his middle period.

One thing is for sure. When David plays, it will a be heel-stomping good time. WWCMF Founder and Artistic Director Timothy Christie moderates the conversation.

Artists: Timothy Christie, moderator; David Requiro, cello; Ronaldo Rolim, piano

This event has been made possible by the generosity of Brad Anderson & Kay Mead.

When the four members of Seven)Suns play together, they explore dystopian music rooted in the language of avant-metal and hardcore. You’ll find out what that means on Thursday, June 22. But what happens when you take the quartet apart and hear each musician individually? Metal or Mendelssohn? Hardcore or Handel? Dystopia or Debussy? Each musician brings a unique perspective, and hopefully rejects the concept of alliteration.

The members of Seven)Suns, Jennifer DeVore, Fung Chern Hwei, Adda Kridler, and Earl Maneein are joined by pianist Ronaldo Rolim for this recital. WWCMF Founder & Artistic Director Timothy Christie moderates.

Artists: Jennifer DeVore, cello; Fung Chern Hwei, viola; Adda Kridler, violin; Earl Maneein, violin; Ronaldo Rolim, piano

This event has been made possible by the generosity of Margo & Tom Scribner.

Christina McGann first visited Walla Walla in 2008, violin in hand. She recruited board members to WWCMF just by practicing with the window open. The sound of Bartok and Tchaikovsky floating out over Palouse and Catherine Streets was both an invitation and a call to action.

Christina returns to WWCMF this season with not just her violin, but also her viola. Her recruiting efforts are going into overdrive. Who can resist the siren song of a viola played well? Christina is joined by Whitman College Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Piano Tom Hicks, making his WWCMF debut.

WWCMF Founder & Artistic Director Timothy Christie moderates the conversation. Music by Schubert, Vieuxtemps and Wieniawski.

Artists: Timothy Christie, moderator; Tom Hicks, piano; Christina McGann, violin/viola

This event is made possible by the generosity of Michael Haight & Cathy Lee-Haight.

Cellist Rowena Hammill enjoys a varied career between Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. A year-round resident of Vashon Island, WA, naturally Rowena is Assistant Principal Cello of LA Opera.

She is an avid horseback rider, teaches cello at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, WA, and has appeared at WWCMF numerous times as cellist of the Girsky Quartet.

Just to put a finer point on the sheer variety of her life in music, Rowena coached actress Michelle Pfeiffer on how to play cello for her role as Claire Spencer in the film What Lies Beneath. With that title as directive, WWCMF Founder & Artistic Director Timothy Christie will ask the probing questions.

Artists: Timothy Christie, moderator; Rowena Hammill, cello; Thomas Rosenkranz, piano

This event is made possible by the generosity of Jim Johnson.

Violinist Jennifer Caine Provine performed in the inaugural season of WWCMF back in 2008 (and many times since). Fully 15 years later she now makes her PoA debut! Jennifer is violinist of the Volta Piano Trio (formerly Icicle Creek Piano Trio) and Associate Concertmaster of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra. Add to that degrees in Slavic Languages and Literature from Harvard and Oxford Universities, and you begin to get the sense we have an iceberg on our hands.

WWCMF Founder & Artistic Director Timothy Christie, more of an Ice-Burg kind of guy, will join pianist Oksana Ejokina for an entertaining deep dive into what makes Jennifer tick, the mountain below the waterline.

Artists: Jennifer Caine Provine, violin; Timothy Christie, moderator; Oksana Ejokina, piano