Chopin Birthday Celebration
In honor of the 200th anniversary of Frèdèric Chopin’s birth, the Chopin Society of Houston organized a full weekend of events in February, 2010, highlighted by a performance of both Chopin piano concerti, with two renowned international musicians and one of Houston’s finest chamber orchestras.
Schedule of Events Saturday, February 27, 2010 Stude Concert Hall, Rice University, Houston, Texas
Meet the Artists | Adam Golka
The concert featured pianist Adam Golka, winner of the 2009 Max I. Allen Classical Fellowship Award of the American Pianists Association, the 2008 Gilmore Young Artist Award, and the 2003 China Shanghai International Piano Competition.
Adam has appeared as soloist in recent seasons with major orchestras such as the BBC Scottish, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis symphonies. Currently, Adam resides in Baltimore, Maryland, where he is studying with the legendary Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Institute.
Meet the Artists | Tomasz Golka
Conductor and older brother Tomasz Golka is the winner of the 2003 Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition, and Music Director of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in Texas and the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania.
As a conducting fellow at the 2006 Tanglewood Music Festival, he worked with James Levine, shared the podium with Bernard Haitink, and conducted a historic performance of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale with legendary composers Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter, and John Harbison as narrators.
Maestro Golka has received critical acclaim from his performances in the Americas and Europe. His powerful and insightful leadership is sure to make this gala celebration a most memorable and moving performance.
Meet the Artists | River Oaks Chamber Orchestra
The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra brings together forty all-star musicians from throughout the U.S. and Canada, each an acclaimed artist and soloist, in a collaborative and inspiring environment dedicated to creating an extraordinary audience experience. Their innovative programs have been broadcast nationwide on NPR’s Performance Today.
About the Chopin Society of Houston
The Chopin Society of Houston, celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year, was established by Anna Golka, the mother of the talented brothers, at the start of the millennium, after a very successful Chopin Youth Competition in 1999. The board made it their mission to provide performance opportunities for artists to come together to express without words what they have in their hearts as it relates to Chopin’s music. They do this through regular youth competitions, workshops and masterclasses, adult amateur competitions , and other events.
This event would not be possible without the generous support of individual donors like you. Donate now and help spread the beauty of Chopin's music.
Schedule of Events Saturday, February 27, 2010 Stude Concert Hall, Rice University, Houston, Texas
- 10am ~ 5pm: Fourth International Adult Amateur Chopin Competition
- 7:00pm: Performance by participants of the Sixth International Youth Competition in the lobby as well as exhibition of Chopin memorabilia
- 8:00pm: Chopin's 200th Birthday Celebration Gala Concert
- ~10:00pm: Meet the artists after the concert
- 1:00pm: Midday reception banquet at Chateau Polonez
- 1:30pm: Live Chopin music by Clive Swansbourne, and others (TBD)
- 2:30pm: Complimentary champagne toast, lunch buffet, followed by dessert and open cash bar
Meet the Artists | Adam Golka
The concert featured pianist Adam Golka, winner of the 2009 Max I. Allen Classical Fellowship Award of the American Pianists Association, the 2008 Gilmore Young Artist Award, and the 2003 China Shanghai International Piano Competition.
Adam has appeared as soloist in recent seasons with major orchestras such as the BBC Scottish, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis symphonies. Currently, Adam resides in Baltimore, Maryland, where he is studying with the legendary Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Institute.
Meet the Artists | Tomasz Golka
Conductor and older brother Tomasz Golka is the winner of the 2003 Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition, and Music Director of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra in Texas and the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania.
As a conducting fellow at the 2006 Tanglewood Music Festival, he worked with James Levine, shared the podium with Bernard Haitink, and conducted a historic performance of Stravinsky's Soldier's Tale with legendary composers Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter, and John Harbison as narrators.
Maestro Golka has received critical acclaim from his performances in the Americas and Europe. His powerful and insightful leadership is sure to make this gala celebration a most memorable and moving performance.
Meet the Artists | River Oaks Chamber Orchestra
The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra brings together forty all-star musicians from throughout the U.S. and Canada, each an acclaimed artist and soloist, in a collaborative and inspiring environment dedicated to creating an extraordinary audience experience. Their innovative programs have been broadcast nationwide on NPR’s Performance Today.
About the Chopin Society of Houston
The Chopin Society of Houston, celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year, was established by Anna Golka, the mother of the talented brothers, at the start of the millennium, after a very successful Chopin Youth Competition in 1999. The board made it their mission to provide performance opportunities for artists to come together to express without words what they have in their hearts as it relates to Chopin’s music. They do this through regular youth competitions, workshops and masterclasses, adult amateur competitions , and other events.
This event would not be possible without the generous support of individual donors like you. Donate now and help spread the beauty of Chopin's music.
