String Theory at the Hunter to Welcome Chien, Barron, and McGill
String Theory at the Hunter, in partnership with Lee University and the Hunter Museum of American Art, will continue its 15th season with a concert featuring String Theory founder and pianist Gloria Chien, mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron, and clarinetist Anthony McGill. This highly-anticipated event will take place at the museum on Tuesday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m.
The performance will feature Johannes Brahms’ Zwei Gesänge, Louis Spohr’s Six German Songs, De Falla’s Seven Popular Spanish Songs, Florence Price’s Adoration, and Kian Ravaei’s Flower Garden.
A special pre-concert feature, “Pregame with Bob,” will take place at 5:45 p.m., in which Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Music Director Emeritus Bob Bernhardt will discuss the evening’s program, giving an in-depth look at the featured composers and works, including interviews with the artists.
Another pre-concert feature is a local collaboration with Classical 90.5 WSMC called String Theory Hour, airing on Tuesday, March 19, from 7-8 p.m. This will be a dedicated hour celebrating String Theory artists past and present, curated by Chien and providing listeners with a sneak preview of the upcoming concert.
Chien is the co-artistic director of Chamber Music Northwest in Portland, Oregon, as well as the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, Vermont, along with her husband, Soovin Kim. For the last decade, she was the director of the Chamber Music Institute at Music@Menlo. She frequently appears with the Chamber Music Society (CMS) of Lincoln Center and is a Steinway Artist. Chien has had a 21-year relationship with Lee University, where she is currently an artist-in-residence.
Barron is a current Rising Star of Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and an Artistic Partner of the Orquesta Sinfonica del Principado de Asturias in Oviedo, for which she will curate/perform multiple projects across several seasons. She is passionate about curating inclusive chamber music programming that amplifies the voices of diverse communities. Barron is also an active mentor and educator, having led vocal masterclasses and seminars at Manhattan School of Music, Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Royal Academy of Music, the Malaysian Philharmonic, Temple University, and King’s College London, and has also mentored young musicians privately.
McGill is principal clarinet of the New York Philharmonic—the first African American principal player in the organization’s history. His album, “American Stories” with the Pacifica Quartet, is currently nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, and he is Musical America’s 2024 Instrumentalist of the Year. McGill appears regularly as a soloist with top orchestras around North America, including the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony.
String Theory was founded in 2009 by Chien to expose new audiences to chamber music, invigorate the local classical music scene, and cultivate a future generation of music lovers.
Tickets for the Tuesday evening performance are on sale now through March 26 and are $45 for general admission, $35 for Hunter members, and $10 for students and music teachers.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit stringtheorymusic.org/ or call (423) 414-2525.
