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TRIO 488
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Pianist Jason Kwak is a great friend and support of Blanco Performing Arts, co-sponsoring BPA's annual Young Artist Concert with his organization the Texas State International Piano Competition. We are thrilled to invite him to fill the Ballroom with the unique sonorities of double reeds and piano. The Uptown Blanco Restaurant will be serving complimentary refreshments before the concert and during intermission.
Trio 488
Ian Davidson, oboe
Jason Kwak, piano
Daris Hale, bassoon
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Established in fall of 2008, 'Trio 488' is comprised of members from the applied music faculty at Texas State University. The goal of this group is to not only expose the vast amount of music written for this combination, but also to encourage and promote new music for this instrumentation. Within their first year, 'Trio 488' performed all around the country, was invited to perform at the International Double Reed Society in London, the International Conference in Arts and Humanities in Honolulu, Southwestern Chapter of College Music Society Conference, commissioned and premiered several works, and initiated plans for their first commercial CD.
Already highly recognized in their own field, members of 'Trio 488' are committed to exposing to the world the unique and beautiful sounds of this ensemble. About the Performers:Oboist Ian Davidson has appeared as soloist and chamber musician on five continents. His many international concerts have taken him to Italy, England, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Scotland, Austria, Slovakia, Poland, The People’s Republic of China, Hungary, Czech Republic, and the Republic of South Africa.
He is Associate Principal Oboe of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Oboe of the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra and Solo English Horn of the Bear Valley Music Festival. Other engagements include stints as Principal Oboe of the Dallas Bach Orchestra and the Austin Sinfonietta as well as Assistant Principal /Utility Oboe of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and Co-Principal Oboe of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra. Concerto appearances include the Dallas Bach Orchestra, the Austin Chamber Orchestra, the Austin Sinfonietta, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, the Laredo Philharmonic, Chamber Soloists of Austin, Balcones Chamber Orchestra, and the Bear Valley Symphony Orchestra. International recitals and residencies include the Moscow Conservatory of Music, Hong Kong Baptist University, the University of Silesia, Trinity College of Music in London, the Institute of Culture in St. Petersburg, the University of Piui in Brazil, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in South Africa, and the State Conservatory of Music in Bratislava. |
His festival appearances in the Aspen Music Festival, the Victoria Bach Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Bear Valley Music Festival, Mendocino Music Festival, Festivale da Musica Camera, and the Festivale dei due Mondi.
Dr. Davidson is a founding member of the Wild Basin Winds, an Austin-based national woodwind quintet that has performed in such locations as the Kennedy Center and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, and has commissioned, recorded, and premiered dozens of new works.
His recordings include numerous television commercials, pop music recordings, the movie “Spy Kids II”, and four recordings with the Wild Basin Winds - “Christmas”, “High-Wood”, “Three for Three”, and “Ferdinand the Bull” - all available on iTunes.
Recognized for outstanding contributions in teaching, service and scholarly/creative activity, he has received twelve Presidential Award Nominations, been twice named “Favorite Professor” by the Alpha Chi Honor Society, was the first performer invited to present the Dean’s Seminar, the first faculty member from the School of Music elected to the TSU Faculty Senate, and in 2003 was nominated by the Austin Critics Round Table as “Best Instrumental Soloist” for his work with the Chamber Soloists of Austin, performing the Complete Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach.
A two-time college nominee, Dr. Davidson was awarded the Presidential Award for Outstanding Scholarly / Creative Activities in 1999.
Dr. Davidson holds degrees from DePauw University and the University of Texas and is Professor of Music at Texas State University, where he teaches oboe and humanities.
Pianist Jason Kwak has already enjoyed a successful career, both as an artist and as a pedagogue. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Kwak began his piano studies at the age of four. He has earned his degrees in Piano Performance from Eastman School of Music and The University of Texas at Austin. His principal piano teachers include David Watkins, Douglass Weeks, Maria Clodes-Jaguaribe, Barry Snyder, and Nancy Garrett. He has also coached with many renowned artists including Lev Naumov, Claude Frank, Emanuel Ax, Gary Graffman, Alexis Weissenberg, Warren Jones, and Leon Fleisher. Dr. Kwak is currently an Assistant Professor of Piano at Texas State University. Previously, he has held teaching positions at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Extension Program, and the Austin Chamber Music Center. He is consistently in high demand for performances, masterclasses, lectures, and adjudications on a state, national, and international level.
Dr. Kwak has received top prize in many piano competitions including the Atlanta Steinway Society Competition, Handok Piano Competition, Southern Keyboard Competition, Atlanta Music Club, Peter Petroff Piano Competition, and the Clara Wells Piano Competition. He has made numerous national and international appearances as a solo pianist including performances with the Victoria Symphony, Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra, The University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Wind Symphony, The Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Rocky Ridge Orchestra. In Spring of 2010, Dr. Kwak was slated for many performances throughout the country and the world, including several performances in Turkey and Malaysia.
Dr. Kwak has also given solo performances in many notable venues and festivals, including performances at Tanglewood Music Festival, San Antonio Convention Center, Jeju National Museum, Bundy Arts Center in Waitsfield, Vermont, and Fox Theatre in Atlanta as well as solo performances at many National college campuses including North Texas University, Baylor University, Oklahoma University, Kennesaw State University, Souther Illinois University - Carbondale and the University of Texas at Austin and many International college campuses including Halla College (South Korea), Adnan Menderes University, Yasar University (Turkey), and University of Malay (Malaysia). An avid chamber musician, Dr. Kwak has collaborated with many distinguished artists including performances with Mezzo-Soprano Shin Ja Kim, pianists Jose Feghali and Nikolai Petrov and violinist Vincent Fritelli. In 2008, Dr. Kwak, along with Dr. Ian Davidson and Professor Daris Hale, formed 'Trio 488', a chamber group comprised of applied music faculty at Texas State University. The chamber group has already performed at the Hawaii International Conference in Arts and Humanities, College Music Society Regional Conference, and at the Mysterium of Modern Music Concert. In July of 2009, Trio '488' traveled to Birmingham, England to premiere the complete set of Russell Riepe's 'Five Rivers of Hades' at the Internationl Double Reed Society Conference.
As an educator, Dr. Kwak has presented many lecture performances including lectures for Victoria Symphony, Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra, Corpus Christi Music Teachers Association, Kingsville Music Club, Jeju National Museum, Texas Music Educators Association Convention and The University of Texas at Austin. Further, Dr. Kwak has presented master-classes throughout the US and around the world. In June of 2009, Dr. Kwak was a clinician at the Texas Music Teachers Association Conference in Houston, Texas where he presented his research in implementing various etudes into the piano lesson curriculum. In 2003, Dr. Kwak was awarded by Texas A&M University-Kingsville the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Also, in 2007, Dr. Kwak was included in Who’s who among American teachers and educators,
Daris Hale, bassoon, is a musician with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Lyric Opera, and is a founding member/bassoonist/choreographer with the Wild Basin Winds quintet. When she is not challenging classical music traditions and symphonic dress codes, she loves teaching music and humanities to students at Texas State University and performing/touring with the faculty ensemble, Trio 488.
Some of her other professional musical exploits include performing symphonies in Austria, quintets in Argentina, operas in Italy, trios in England, and, most rewardingly while on her Fulbright, African songs in Tanzania. Daris enjoys championing the new works of composers by producing concerts and albums featuring their compositions.
In Tanzania, she was able to collaborate with East African composers from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to write the music of their ethnic traditions for American classical musicians in order to produce the world premieres in the composers’ homeland. Daris is also a music contractor for film and TV shows such as the nationally televised PBS music education series, The Biscuit Brothers. Her bassoon performances can be heard on numerous iTunes albums, soundtracks, commercials, television, and approximately 85+ live concerts per year. She has two insanely adorable kids and a loving husband—all of whom agreed to follow her to Africa as long as she promised to follow them home.
Uptown Blanco Restaurant will provide refreshments on November 7
Located downstairs from the Ballroom, the Uptown Blanco Restaurant serves elevated American food in a restored 19th century main street building. The restaurant is now serving 5 days a week including Sunday brunch, with event space available.
Dr. Davidson is a founding member of the Wild Basin Winds, an Austin-based national woodwind quintet that has performed in such locations as the Kennedy Center and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, and has commissioned, recorded, and premiered dozens of new works.
His recordings include numerous television commercials, pop music recordings, the movie “Spy Kids II”, and four recordings with the Wild Basin Winds - “Christmas”, “High-Wood”, “Three for Three”, and “Ferdinand the Bull” - all available on iTunes.
Recognized for outstanding contributions in teaching, service and scholarly/creative activity, he has received twelve Presidential Award Nominations, been twice named “Favorite Professor” by the Alpha Chi Honor Society, was the first performer invited to present the Dean’s Seminar, the first faculty member from the School of Music elected to the TSU Faculty Senate, and in 2003 was nominated by the Austin Critics Round Table as “Best Instrumental Soloist” for his work with the Chamber Soloists of Austin, performing the Complete Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach.
A two-time college nominee, Dr. Davidson was awarded the Presidential Award for Outstanding Scholarly / Creative Activities in 1999.
Dr. Davidson holds degrees from DePauw University and the University of Texas and is Professor of Music at Texas State University, where he teaches oboe and humanities.
Pianist Jason Kwak has already enjoyed a successful career, both as an artist and as a pedagogue. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Kwak began his piano studies at the age of four. He has earned his degrees in Piano Performance from Eastman School of Music and The University of Texas at Austin. His principal piano teachers include David Watkins, Douglass Weeks, Maria Clodes-Jaguaribe, Barry Snyder, and Nancy Garrett. He has also coached with many renowned artists including Lev Naumov, Claude Frank, Emanuel Ax, Gary Graffman, Alexis Weissenberg, Warren Jones, and Leon Fleisher. Dr. Kwak is currently an Assistant Professor of Piano at Texas State University. Previously, he has held teaching positions at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University of Texas at Austin, The University of Texas Extension Program, and the Austin Chamber Music Center. He is consistently in high demand for performances, masterclasses, lectures, and adjudications on a state, national, and international level.
Dr. Kwak has received top prize in many piano competitions including the Atlanta Steinway Society Competition, Handok Piano Competition, Southern Keyboard Competition, Atlanta Music Club, Peter Petroff Piano Competition, and the Clara Wells Piano Competition. He has made numerous national and international appearances as a solo pianist including performances with the Victoria Symphony, Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra, The University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Texas A&M University-Kingsville Wind Symphony, The Busan Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Rocky Ridge Orchestra. In Spring of 2010, Dr. Kwak was slated for many performances throughout the country and the world, including several performances in Turkey and Malaysia.
Dr. Kwak has also given solo performances in many notable venues and festivals, including performances at Tanglewood Music Festival, San Antonio Convention Center, Jeju National Museum, Bundy Arts Center in Waitsfield, Vermont, and Fox Theatre in Atlanta as well as solo performances at many National college campuses including North Texas University, Baylor University, Oklahoma University, Kennesaw State University, Souther Illinois University - Carbondale and the University of Texas at Austin and many International college campuses including Halla College (South Korea), Adnan Menderes University, Yasar University (Turkey), and University of Malay (Malaysia). An avid chamber musician, Dr. Kwak has collaborated with many distinguished artists including performances with Mezzo-Soprano Shin Ja Kim, pianists Jose Feghali and Nikolai Petrov and violinist Vincent Fritelli. In 2008, Dr. Kwak, along with Dr. Ian Davidson and Professor Daris Hale, formed 'Trio 488', a chamber group comprised of applied music faculty at Texas State University. The chamber group has already performed at the Hawaii International Conference in Arts and Humanities, College Music Society Regional Conference, and at the Mysterium of Modern Music Concert. In July of 2009, Trio '488' traveled to Birmingham, England to premiere the complete set of Russell Riepe's 'Five Rivers of Hades' at the Internationl Double Reed Society Conference.
As an educator, Dr. Kwak has presented many lecture performances including lectures for Victoria Symphony, Jeju Philharmonic Orchestra, Corpus Christi Music Teachers Association, Kingsville Music Club, Jeju National Museum, Texas Music Educators Association Convention and The University of Texas at Austin. Further, Dr. Kwak has presented master-classes throughout the US and around the world. In June of 2009, Dr. Kwak was a clinician at the Texas Music Teachers Association Conference in Houston, Texas where he presented his research in implementing various etudes into the piano lesson curriculum. In 2003, Dr. Kwak was awarded by Texas A&M University-Kingsville the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. Also, in 2007, Dr. Kwak was included in Who’s who among American teachers and educators,
Daris Hale, bassoon, is a musician with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Austin Lyric Opera, and is a founding member/bassoonist/choreographer with the Wild Basin Winds quintet. When she is not challenging classical music traditions and symphonic dress codes, she loves teaching music and humanities to students at Texas State University and performing/touring with the faculty ensemble, Trio 488.
Some of her other professional musical exploits include performing symphonies in Austria, quintets in Argentina, operas in Italy, trios in England, and, most rewardingly while on her Fulbright, African songs in Tanzania. Daris enjoys championing the new works of composers by producing concerts and albums featuring their compositions.
In Tanzania, she was able to collaborate with East African composers from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to write the music of their ethnic traditions for American classical musicians in order to produce the world premieres in the composers’ homeland. Daris is also a music contractor for film and TV shows such as the nationally televised PBS music education series, The Biscuit Brothers. Her bassoon performances can be heard on numerous iTunes albums, soundtracks, commercials, television, and approximately 85+ live concerts per year. She has two insanely adorable kids and a loving husband—all of whom agreed to follow her to Africa as long as she promised to follow them home.
Uptown Blanco Restaurant will provide refreshments on November 7
Located downstairs from the Ballroom, the Uptown Blanco Restaurant serves elevated American food in a restored 19th century main street building. The restaurant is now serving 5 days a week including Sunday brunch, with event space available.
