The Mind Over Finger Podcast 035 The Fischoff Effect: Lydia Rhea – former Kairos String Quartet
Today’s guest in the fifth and final episode of the Fischoff Effect series is Lydia Rhea from the former Kairos String Quartet. In this series, I bring you five former winners of the Fischoff competition to talk about their experience preparing for and competing at Fischoff, and about the wonderful adventures and opportunities that have followed their win: Blaise Magniere from the Avalon String Quartet, Dorival Puccini from Axiom Brass, Matt Landry from the Akropolis Reed Quintet , Christopher Whitley from the Thalea String Quartet, and Lydia Reah from the former Kairos String Quartet!
Whether you are a musician about to compete at the competition, or a music lover looking for a fresh approach to practicing and preparing for a concert, make sure to subscribe and tune in everyday, because those conversations are bursting with inspiration and EXTREMELY useful information! Each group has a unique and motivating story and my guests are so generous with their insightful tips and advice!
About Fischoff
Founded in 1973 in South Bend, Indiana, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition has grown to become the largest chamber music competition in the world, attracting the finest and most talented young musicians from around the globe. and is one of the most prestigious classical music prizes attainable today. Since its founding, more than 6,000 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education. Fischoff is also deeply committed to music education and partners with competition alumni to bring free, innovative Arts-in-Education programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, nearly 50,000 children, youth and adults have received free educational programming of the highest order.
Website: http://www.fischoff.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFischoff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fischoffchambermusic/
Meet the former Kairos String Quartet – 2018 Junior Division Gold Medal
Joshua Brown & Julian Rhee, violin/viola | Thompson Wang, violin | Lydia Rhea, cello
The Kairos String Quartet, coached by Rodolfo Vieira, is comprised of Joshua Brown (violin/viola), Julian Rhee (violin/viola), Thompson Wang (violin), and Lydia Rhea (cello).
“Kairos”, the decisive time for opportunity and action, captures the essence of ambition and boldness found in these four young artists. Kairos was formed in September of 2017 when all four students were scholarship recipient Fellows at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a pre-college training program for gifted musicians. Kairos Quartet won the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and First Prize in the Junior String Division of the 2018 M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition, making Kairos the first chamber group to win the top prizes at both Fischoff and M-Prize in the same year.
They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, First Place at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, and the Silver Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Named the Rembrandt Young Artists for 2018, Kairos was featured on a live broadcast of WFMT’s Introductions. All four members are currently pursuing music performance in college; Joshua, Julian, and Thompson are students at the New England Conservatory while Lydia is studying at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Lydia Rhea, cello
http://www.lydia-rhea.com/about/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydia_cello/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-KjdWREr9lehnLNf8wekg
Cellist Lydia Rhea is quickly garnering international recognition as a skilled soloist and chamber musician while currently pursuing a BM in Cello Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Dr. Melissa Kraut. Formerly a scholarship recipient Fellow at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, a training center for gifted pre-college musicians, Lydia studied with artist faculty member Hans Jørgen Jensen for four years. As a soloist, Lydia has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, the Muncie Symphony Orchestra, the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra, among others, and appeared on NPR’s From the Top with world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch and guest host Yuga Cohler.
An accomplished chamber musician, Lydia earned numerous honors as the cellist of the Kairos String Quartet in the 2017-2018 season. Kairos won the Gold Medal in the Junior Division of the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Competition and First Prize in the Junior String Division of the 2018 M-Prize International Chamber Arts Competition, making Kairos the first chamber group to win the top prizes at both Fischoff and M-Prize in the same year. They were also awarded the Grand Prize at the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Chamber Music Competition, First Place at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, and the Silver Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Named the Rembrandt Young Artists for 2018, Kairos was featured on a live broadcast of WFMT’s Introductions and NPR’s From the Top.
Lydia made her debut at the age of nine with the New World Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the Fishers Chamber Players, and she has twice served as principal cellist in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Side-by-Side program. Most recently, in the summer of 2018, she was invited to be a Professional Performance Artist at the Boston Music Institute’s 12-Hour Masterclasses with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and she attended the Festival de Écoles d’Art Americaines de Fountainebleau in France on a full scholarship as the festival’s youngest participant. While there, her string quartet was awarded the Premier Prix and the Prix du Château de Fontainebleau for the best interpretation of Ravel’s String Quartet in the Prix Ravel, sponsored by the Maurice Ravel Foundation. In the summers of 2016 and 2017, Lydia attended the Heifetz International Music Institute, while previous summers were spent at the Meadowmount School of Music, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, and the Indiana University String Academy. Lydia has had the privilege of taking lessons and master classes with Gary Hoffman, Philippe Muller, Pinchas Zukerman, Robert Levin, Blaise Déjardin, Sharon Robinson, Amir Eldan, Merry Peckham, Jonathan Koh, Richard Hirschl, and Richard Aaron, among others.
Lydia plays on a cello made by Lawrence Wilke in 2008.
If you enjoyed the show, please leave a review on iTunes! I truly appreciate your support!
Visit www.mindoverfinger.com for information about past and future podcasts, and for more resources on mindful practice.
THANK YOU:
Most sincere thank you to composer Jim Stephenson who graciously provided the show’s musical theme! Concerto #1 for Trumpet and Chamber Orchestra – Movement 2: Allegro con Brio, performed by Jeffrey Work, trumpet, and the Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Jim Stephenson.
Also a huge thank you to my producer, Bella Kelly!
MIND OVER FINGER:
https://www.facebook.com/mindoverfinger/
https://www.instagram.com/mindoverfinger/
Join the Mind Over Finger Tribe here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/mindoverfingertribe/