Chamber music series presents evening of art songs

The Rocky River Chamber Music Society continues its gala 60th concert series on Feb. 25 with "Late Romanticism in Transition," an evening of art songs featuring soprano Amelia D’Arcy and pianist Hyunsoon Whang. The first work to be performed, "Arabeske" by Early Romantic composer Robert Schumann, will set the scene for works of such Late Romantic composers as Richard Strauss, Charles Ives, George Gershwin and Francis Poulenc.

Amelia D’Arcy began her vocal studies at the Baltimore School for the Arts and at age 15 was a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her career she has sung in recitals and concerts with orchestras, chamber ensembles and opera companies. She has studied at The Juilliard School and Columbia University and has performed at New York’s Central Park Summer Stage, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. New York critics lauded Amelia's “compelling vocal quality” and commented that “her voice invariably sounded lithe and alluring.”

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Hyunsoon Whang began her piano studies at the age of 4 and started playing in public concerts at the age of 12. Since then she has thrilled audiences in Asia, Canada, Europe and the United States – including a visit to the Rocky River Chamber Music Society series in 2014. Critics have praised her as “the kind of player who appears to immerse her entire being in the music,” and as one who has “always delivered with grace and beauty.” Hyunsoon completed her education at the North Carolina School of the Arts, the St. Louis Conservatory of Music and The Juilliard School. She earned a doctorate from Indiana University and has been on the faculty of Cameron University since 1993.        

This first RRCMS concert of 2019 will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River. There is no admission charge and all are welcome. For more information visit the RRCMS website at www.rrcms.org, or follow RRCMS on Facebook and Twitter.