Trio Oriens – Salut to Life: Music by Shoenfield, Ko, Igudesman, & Mozart!

Friday, February 26, the University of St. Thomas Music Department presents Trio Oriens – Salut to Life: Music by Shoenfield, Ko, Igudesman, & Mozart!, in UST-Cullen Hall.

Performed by Trio Oriens & Trio Oriens Junior with Richard Nunemaker, clarinet.

Trio Oriens is comprised of Ning-chih Hsu, violin, Olive Chen, cello, and I-Ling Chen, piano.

Trio Oriens draws together three outstanding musicians from the island nation of Taiwan.

After launching a successful inaugural season in the spring of 2010, the trio quickly became one of the most active chamber music ensembles in the Houston area.

Recognized for their intelligent artistry, Trio Oriens brings innovative programs and diverse repertoire to its audiences. The trio specializes in historically informed interpretations of classical period works, Taiwanese/Chinese music, Latin American and Contemporary compositions.

Trio Oriens is committed to ensemble collaboration with outstanding musicians and devoted to community outreach in local schools, nursing homes and churches.

Trio Oriens is resident artists of Houston Community College Southwest Fine Arts Center, and have performed regularly at the University of St. Thomas, Houston Baptist University, Christ King Lutheran Church, and the Crain Garden Series at the Methodist Hospital as well as in a variety of non-traditional venues in Houston, gaining a wide and dedicated following through their focus on audience development and outreach.

They have appeared as featured guests on Houston Public Radio’s Front Row, the premier on-air arts news magazine in Houston.

Richard Nunemaker has had a varied and prolific career as a symphony musician, concert soloist, recording artist, producer, educator and author. Nunemaker played clarinet, bass clarinet and saxophone with the Houston Symphony Orchestra from 1967-2008. He was also a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra in 1966, the Louisville Orchestra from 1964- 1966 and the Erie Philharmonic from 1962-1964.

Born in Buffalo, New York Nunemaker’s career has run the gamut from managing his own dance bands in high school, to being in the pit for New York road show productions such as West Side Story, My Fair Lady and South Pacific as well as being a featured soloist both in recital and with symphony orchestras around the country.