RB Library opens concert season with Asa String Trio

Music lovers can look forward to a new season of concerts at the Rancho Bernardo Library beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

The library’s 17th concert season will begin with the Asa String Trio, performing a concert from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. in the second floor community room at the library, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. All concerts begin at 6:15 p.m. and will take place in the community room. All concerts are free and open to the public.

Funding for these concerts comes primarily from attendee free-will donations, with additional cash sourcing from sponsors, grants, and the Friends of the RB Library.

The Asa String Trio is comprised entirely of principals of the string section of the San Diego Symphony.

Performing will be Wes Precourt, acting assistant concertmaster; Chi-Yuan Chen, principal viola; and Chia-Ling Chien, associate principal cello.

The Asa String Trio will be performing works by Beethoven and Schubert.

They are appearing as part of the San Diego Symphony Outreach Program. This program sends musicians from the San Diego Symphony into area communities to introduce their coming concert season. This is the third consecutive year that Chien has led a group at the RB Library.

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the library will present a double bass and piano concert featuring Jory Herman of the San Diego Symphony. This performance was included due to the popularity of a similar double bass and piano performance in May by Herman’s colleague, Jeremy Kurtz-Harris.

Herman is well known for his double bass recording of the Bach Cello Suites, which helped change the image of the double bass as a solo instrument.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, Camarada will perform, led by flutist Beth Ross-Buckley. This sextet includes a pianist and includes members of Camarada and the San Diego Symphony. “I expect this performance to rival any ensemble concert presented in this area,” said Harvey Levine, the concert series director, in a press release.

November will kick off a series of performances by piano trios, beginning with The Kensington Trio, long-time favorites at the Rancho Bernardo Library, on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

On Wednesday, Jan. 27, the Orvieto Trio will perform. Finishing up the series of piano trios will be The Aviara Trio on Wednesday, Feb. 24. This trio is made up some of the most popular performers at the Rancho Bernardo Library, according to Levine: Ines Irawati on piano; Erin Breene on cello; and Rob Schumitzky on violin.

On Wednesday, March 23, Kate Hatmaker and Friends will perform. Hatmaker, a violinist for the San Diego Symphony, will be putting together a new ensemble for the performance. “She never fails to come up with a spectacular program,” said Levine.

April’s concert will feature Travis Maril on viola, accompanied by Ines Irawati on piano on Wednesday, April 27.

In June, the Highland String Quartet will temporarily become a quintet to perform the Brahms Piano Quintet on Wednesday, June 22. Ines Irawati will join the group on the piano to perform the piece.

The artist for May has not yet been announced, but the concert will be held on Wednesday, May 25.

Jazz concerts will also begin again in October, with the first being held Wednesday, Oct. 14. Peter Deluke and the Mellotones will perform an all Duke Ellington and Bill Strayhorn concert. The Mellotones are a San Diego group that is dedicated to special arrangements of the Ellington/Strayhorn library and have existed for over 30 years.

On Wednesday, Dec. 2, The Rob Thorsen Jazz Quartet will perform a concert of classic jazz, latin, and original music, and on Wednesday, March 9, Peter Sprague will perform.

The artists for the jazz concerts on Wednesday, Feb. 12; Wednesday, April 13; and Wednesday, May 11 have not yet been announced.