Levine Presents: The Poignant Pull of Folk Tunes
Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 7 PM ET
Thank you for joining us for the 2024-25 Levine Presents Performance Series.
View on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/event/4870383/
Levine is committed to building new audiences for music by offering outstanding performances, master classes, and other musical events free-of-charge. This season’s online recordings of Levine Presents is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of many donors. Please consider making a gift to support these programs.
Program
Romanian Folk Dances | Béla Bartók
I. Bot tánc / Jocul cu bâtă (Stick Dance)
II. Brâul (Sash Dance)
III. Topogó / Pe loc (In One Spot)
IV. Bucsumí tánc / Buciumeana (Dance from Bucsum)
V. Román polka / Poarga Românească (Romanian Polka)
VI. Aprózó / Mărunțel (Fast Dance)
Piano Trio No. 2 in e minor, Opus 67 | Dmitri Shostakovich
I. Andante – Moderato
II. Allegro con brio
III. Largo
IV. Allegretto – Adagio
– – Intermission – –
Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Opus 81 | Antonín Dvořák
I. Allegro, ma non tanto
II. Dumka: Andante con moto
III. Scherzo (Furiant): Molto vivace
IV. Finale: Allegro
Performers
Violinist Erin Durham Wright (B.M., M.M.) joined the faculty at Levine Music in 2015 and has performed with chamber and orchestra ensembles in the DC region, including at Wolf Trap, The Mansion at Strathmore, The Church of the Epiphany, the Washington Chamber Orchestra, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.
Violinist Shaundra Baird Culatta performs as an invited soloist and professional chamber and orchestral musician regularly throughout the DC region. She has recorded for several albums, including with her mother, Melinda Baird. She is a mother of four musical children and owns Encore Strings, a violin shop in Northern VA.
Violist Carrie Castleton has been teaching and performing in the DC area since 2010. She has performed with the National Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, and Alexandria Symphony orchestras. In 2023, she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland.
Cellist Seth Castleton is a Levine faculty member and regular performer, teacher, and composer in the DC area. He recently joined the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras’ conducting team, directing the Preparatory Strings Youth Orchestra. He regularly performs with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and has recently composed two premieres performed in the DC area.
Pianist Melinda Baird received her doctorate at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of Menahem Pressler and joined the Levine faculty in 2008 where she currently serves as Director of Piano Programs.
Together, Erin, Shaundra, Carrie, Seth, and Melinda join together as the Stoneybrook Chamber Players.