Kliment Krylovskiy, clarinet; Vanessa Mollard, violin; and Riko Higuma, pianoPROGRAM: Béla Bartók — Contrasts(1881 – 1945)

I    Verbunkos:  Moderato, ben ritmatoII    Piheno:  LentoIII   Sebes:  Allegro vivace

Dmitry Shostakovich — Three Duets(1906 – 1975)

I    PraludiumII   GavotteIII  Walser

 Aram Khachaturian — Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano(1903 – 1978)

I    Andante con doloreII   AllegroIII  Moderato – Prestissimo - Moderato

The Zodiac TrioThe Zodiac Trio enjoys an international concert schedule that spans three continents and presents an eclectic repertoire that mixes contemporary with the traditional. In its relatively short history - the ensemble formed in 2006 at Manhattan School of Music, before becoming the first American group and the only ensemble with a wind instrument to enter the esteemed Ysaÿe Quartet Chamber Music program at the Paris Superior Conservatory -  has managed to achieve a level of recognition on the international chamber music stage, rarely bestowed upon an ensemble of such untraditional instrumentation.The Trio has performed at Ottawa Chamberfest, Festival Radio France Montpellier, International Colmar Festival, the Oriental Performing Arts Center in Shanghai, National Performing Arts Center in Beijing, Izumi Hall in Japan, Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium, New York’s Tishman Auditorium and Merkin Concert Hall, UCLA Clark Library; has been broadcast by France 3 Television, Beijing’s CCTV News, Canada’s CBC Radio and Television, NBC, WXQR, 98.7 WFMT, WGBH’s “Live from Frasier”, and has recorded for Radio France in Paris.The Zodiac Trio was originally formed under the guidance of renowned clarinetist David Krakauer and violinist Isodore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio. Shortly after its inception, the Trio was introduced to the New York audience on WQXR’s “Young Artist Showcase.”  Subsequently, the Zodiac Trio gave its official debut at the Kaufman Center, prompting Edith Eisler of the New York Concert Review to describe the young ensemble as “excellent...” praising its “remarkable ability” and “infectious enjoyment of the music.” The debut was followed by a string of concerts in Southern France where the Trio was further praised by the local media: “...unforgettable concerts by the Zodiac Trio! ...Truly exceptional and sublime talent... The prestigious level of the performances radiated the undeniable talent of the trio and foreshadowed their great success in the future.” – raved the Nice- Matin.In 2007, the Zodiac Trio was first brought to the attention of the international chamber music scene in a feature by the London- based international MUSO magazine, praising the Trio for “bringing a rare combination of instruments into the spotlight by unearthing old repertoire and commissioning new music.” At this time, the young ensemble was making its mark on the competition circuit, having garnered prizes at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (Ohio, U.S.), FNAPEC International Chamber Ensemble Competition (Paris, France), International Chamber Music Competition of Duchi D'Acquaviva (Italy), Val Tidone International Music Competition (Italy), the Cziffra Foundation (France), Joyce Dutka Foundation for the Arts (New York), International Peninsula Young Artist Festival in California and the ProMusica Ensemble Competition (France), among others. The ensemble also received a Recording Grant and a Commission Grant from Co-op Press, resulting in its first commercial CD.