Winning Combinations

Strings, Piano, Winds … Action!

Artists
Christopher Elchico, clarinet
Rachel Childers, horn
Randall Hodgkinson, piano
Peter Zazofsky, violin
Cara Pogossian, viola
Daniel Doña, viola
Ronald Lowry, cello

Boston Symphony members Christopher Elchico, clarinet, and Rachel Childers, French horn, are showcased in Mozart’s charming quintet for horn and strings, K. 407, and in the poetic and powerful Brahms trio Op. 114 for piano, clarinet, and cello. All ensemble members join in a rarely heard cauldron of passionate romanticism, the Dohnányi Sextet, Op. 37, in C major.

Program

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Horn Quintet in E-flat major, K. 407
Johannes Brahms, Clarinet Trio in A minor, Op. 114
Ernst von Dohnányi, Sextet in C major, Op. 37

About the Artists

Clarinetist Christopher Elchico joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2022, having previously performed with many orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Kansas City Symphony, and New World Symphony. His principal teachers were Burt Hara of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and James Campbell at Indiana University. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA, he completed a dual master’s degree in clarinet and classical saxophone performance at Indiana. Mr. Elchico is on the faculty of the New England Conservatory, where he is Chair for Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Chamber Music. Photo: Robert Torres

Rachel Childers joined the Boston Symphony’s horn section in 2011, becoming the BSO’s first female brass player. A native of Michigan, she previously played with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and several orchestras in California. Ms. Childers has a strong interest in education and performs in the BSO’s Concerts for Very Young People at local libraries and museums. She also brings expertise in data analysis to work with the BSO’s credit union and pension board. Ms. Childers holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the Colburn School in Los Angeles. She is on the faculty at New England Conservatory. Photo: Marco Borggreve/courtesy BSO

Pianist Randall Hodgkinson has performed as a soloist with major orchestras in the United States and abroad. In addition to his work with the Orion Ensemble, he is an artist member of the Boston Chamber Music Society. He also performs the four-hand and two-piano repertoire with his wife, Leslie Amper. Mr. Hodgkinson is a faculty member of the New England Conservatory, Wellesley College, and the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge. As a young artist, he won the International American Music Competition and the Tanglewood Music Center’s Cabot Award.

Violinist Peter Zazofsky has appeared as soloist with many great orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He often is a featured soloist with Israeli orchestras. As first violinist of the Muir String Quartet, Mr. Zazofsky is proud to have performed many complete cycles of the Beethoven quartets, and to have promoted new works by American composers. Early in his career, Mr. Zazofsky won top prizes in the Queen Elisabeth and Montreal International Competitions. He is a faculty member at Boston University and also teaches at New England Conservatory Preparatory School.

Violist Cara Pogossian is principal violist of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared as a guest artist with the Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Boston Pops Orchestra. In 2022 she won the Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award, and her quartet received honors at New England Conservatory. Her summer festival participation has included the Marlboro Festival, Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and the Taos School of Music. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, she is currently studying with Kim Kashkashian at New England Conservatory.

Violist Daniel Doña is an international performer and teacher focusing on multiple musical traditions. An avid chamber musician, he performs regularly with Emmanuel Music and other ensembles in the Boston area. He pursues interdisciplinary projects that combine poetry, music, and dance. Recent and upcoming performances include appearances at Composers Now’s Dialogues series, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Beijing Modern Music Festival, and Stanford Live Arts Festival. Mr. Doña is on the faculty of the Boston University School of Music and holds degrees from the University of Chicago, University of Oklahoma, and Boston University.

Needham Concert Society artistic director Ronald Lowry is principal cellist of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and the Boston Ballet Orchestra. He performs frequently with the Boston Symphony, both at home and on international tours. He has presented solo recitals at Jordan Hall and at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and he has been a guest artist with the Boston Chamber Music Society, the New England Conservatory First Mondays concert series, and the Muir String Quartet. Mr. Lowry teaches at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and the Rivers School Conservatory.