The Ahn Trio | Press Releases | Fairfield University

3 p.m., Sunday, December 4, 2011
Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Image: Ahn Trio Direct from a performance at the White House, the Ahn Trio presents its dynamic approach to the classical piano trio format when it performs at 3 p.m., Sunday, December 4, 2011 , at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts as part of its 2011-2012 "Classical Impressions" series. Sisters Lucia on piano, Angella on violin, and Maria on cello, are as comfortable appearing at famous concert halls around the world as they are gracing the pages of fashion and news magazines. All of the works on the program for the Quick Center concert will be pieces exclusively written or transcribed for the Ahn Trio, as they continue their reputation for embracing 21st century classical music with unique and innovative collaborations and style. Tickets are $35.

The Ahn sisters were born in Seoul, Korea, and educated at the Juilliard School in New York City. Reflecting the two cultures they grew up in, the Trio brings a new energy and excitement to the chamber music world. Such luminary composers as Michael Nyman, Maurice Jarre, Pat Metheny, Paul Schoenfield, Mark O'Connor, Kenji Bunch, Nikolai Kapustin, and Paul Chihara have written works for them. The trio's latest CD, "Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac" (released by Sony) spent 26 weeks on Billboard's Classical Album charts, climbing to #8. In October of this year, they were invited to perform in Washington, D.C., at a White House State Dinner for the Presidents and First Ladies of the United States and South Korea.

In over ten years of touring, the Trio has performed in all 50 states and in over 30 countries, and has recorded six albums. The first, a recording of Ravel and Villa-Lobos trios, brought rave reviews, with Audio Magazine praising "this is one of Ravel's best and never better played." The next EMI recording of trios by Dvorak, Suk, and Shostakovich, won Germany's prestigious ECHO Award. An MTV appearance on Bryan Adams' "Unplugged" inspired the trio to make "Ahn-Plugged" (EMI), and "Groovebox" (EMI) soon followed. The Trio recently formed LAMP (Lucia Angella Maria Productions), producing "Lullaby For My Favorite Insomniac." This album led to a fruitful relationship with Sony. Meanwhile, the sisters made a joint album "Smetana" (Warner) with the Czech Grammy-winning rock group Tata Bojs.

Maria, Lucia and Angella thrive on dissolving the barriers between art forms. They have fused their work with a range of artists and musical genres, from dancers and lighting designers to DJ's. The Trio enjoyed their successful collaboration with the Parsons Dance, touring extensively to critical acclaim. More recently, they performed in the Czech Republic with the Tata Bojs to sold-out shows. The Ahns recently performed on stage with the Kin, a two-brother rock band from Australia, as well as electronic music artist Juno a.k.a Superdrive from Berlin. It is precisely this vitality and commitment to innovation that has the Ahn Trio continually drawing new audiences to classical music.

"Their willingness to play new music at such a high level is an inspiring and exciting quality that will continue to define the unique spot that they are carving for themselves in the music world," said jazz guitarist-composer extraordinaire Pat Metheny.

The Ahn Trio's program for its Dec. 4, 2011, Quick Center concert includes "Yu Ryung" composed by Pat Metheny, "Paisagens Brasileiras Suite (Brazilian Landscape) for Piano Trio," by Nelson Ayres, which was co-commissioned by the University of Florida Performing Arts, the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and Ahn Trio, "Dies Irie" by Kenji Bunch, and "danceband," also by Kenji Bunch and commissioned by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, "Tremors" and "Skylife" by David Balakrishnan, and "Oblivion" an instrumental version of a song written for the movie "Henry IV" by Astor Piazzolla.

Dedicated to educating and inspiring the next generation of musicians, the Ahns hold master classes and workshops across the United States and around the world. Whether they are performing in Vienna's Musikverein, New York's Lincoln Center, Leipzig's Gewandhaus, Beijing's Concert Hall, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires or Istanbul's Aya Irini in Topkapi Palace, they share their innovative spirit and ever-evolving vision of music.

And, possessing an enviable combination of talent and style, the three sisters have long been natural subjects for the press. The Ahns made their magazine debut with Time magazine's cover story "Asian American Whiz Kids." They have since gone on to frequent fashion pages of Vogue and GQ, photographed by such photographers as Arthur Elgort, Ellen von Unwerth, and Patrick Demarchelier. They have been featured in ad campaigns for GAP, Anne Klein and Bodyshop, among others, and have been named three of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People. They most recently made a one-page appearance in Glamour Magazine .

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at fairfield.edu/quick .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit fairfield.edu/quick .