Rebecca Clarke: Morpheus for Viola and Piano
Matthew Cohen, viola
American violist Matthew Cohen is a dynamic and versatile artist whose captivating performances have made him one of the most sought-after violists of his generation. The recipient of numerous accolades, he has been awarded the 2018 Center for Musical Excellence International Performing Arts Grant, top prizes at the 2018 Art of Duo: Boulder International Chamber Music Competition with pianist Zhenni-Li Cohen, the 2016 “Citta di Cremona” International Viola Competition in Cremona, Italy, the 2016 Juilliard Concerto Competition and the “Best Performance of Commissioned Work” prize at the 2014 Primrose International Viola Competition. Recent solo engagements include concerti with the Juilliard Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall, the Gstaad Festival Orchestra in Switzerland, the I Virtuosi Italiani orchestra in Cremona, Italy and the world premiere of Garry Schyman’s viola concerto “Zingaro” with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. Matthew is a recent graduate of the Juilliard School’s Master of Music program where he was the proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship. He is a member of the chamber music faculty at the HeifetzPEG Institute in Virginia and is the co-founder and artistic director of Fishin’ in C, a concert series based in Fishtown, Philadelphia. His recording of York Bowen’s Phantasy is available on the Soundset label.
Zhenni Li-Cohen, piano
Zhenni Li-Cohen’s riveting personality and passionate performances have brought audiences to their feet around the world. Hailed as “...an artist of tremendous conviction, who fascinates even as she provokes...“by Gramophone Magazine, “...a thrillingly good pianist...” by The New Yorker and for her "...big, gorgeous tone and a mesmerizing touch" by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ms. Li-Cohen has appeared in debut recitals in Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, the American Philosophical Society and Smithsonian Museum, performances with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, and Shengyun Symphony Orchestra, as well as the release of her CD recording debut “Mélancholie” on the Steinway & Sons label. Highlights of upcoming projects include concerto appearances with the Knoxville, Fairbanks, and Johns Hopkins Symphony Orchestras and recording three albums for the Steinway & Sons label featuring works by Sergei Bortkiewicz, Beethoven, and traditional Chinese works. Ms. Li-Cohen has garnered worldwide recognition, most recently as the winner of the 2017 New York Concert Artists Worldwide Debut Audition, Astral Artist’s 2016 National Auditions, and the Grieg International Competition in Norway. She is the co-founder and Artistic Director of "Fishin' in C Chamber Music Series", a diverse concert series in Philadelphia. Zhenni Li-Cohen is a Steinway Artist.