June 28, 2015
The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County Presents

"Dreaming of a
Midsummer Eve's COncert"

Featuring
The Bravura Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble

Chiu-Ling Lin, piano
Chiu-Tze Lin, piano
Ning Mu, violin
Ingrid Tang, violin
Mira Kang, cello
Katie Liu, violin

Program
Korngold Suite, Op. 23 for 2 violins, cello, & piano
Gershwin Porgy and Bess for violin and piano
Schoenfield "Life of a Manic Depressive"

Return to 2014-15 season

"Great impact, not only with her exceptional virtuosity, but also with her ability to capture the intent of the composer" This is how composers and critics described pianist Chiu-Ling Lin - internationally renowned pianist and educator - after her tour as US Artistic Ambassador to Latin America. Chiu-Ling Lin plays before enthusiastic audiences around the world. She made her Carnegie Weill Recital Hall debut as the winner of the East and West Young Artist Auditions. She has soloed with fourteen orchestras, including the Atlanta Symphony, Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, and Des Moines Symphony. Appearances across the United States, England, Canada, and throughout the Far East have featured Chiu-Ling Lin's unique mix of music by Chinese and Western composers. Her virtuosity is showcased in a CD, "Portraits of China."  Chiu-Ling Lin is the 2014 MTNA Foundation Fellow, and Past President of the New Jersey Music Teachers Association.  She is Chamber Music Director of the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Director of Bravura Summer Music, a camp for pre-college musicians held at the Lawrenceville School.  

“ ….. a strong technique … a hearty tone that sounded big and unforced …” This is how the New York Times describes Chiu-Tze Lin, a dramatic and multifaceted Steinway artist.  Miss Lin began performing in Singapore, and she has continued her concert career in America and Europe.  Chiu-Tze Lin is a widely-acclaimed music director and concert pianist who was selected as a "Hottest Artist in New Jersey" in 2001. She is the conductor of the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bravura Youth Orchestra.  She is a Steinway Artists who has appeared as a touring soloist with the Chicago Symphony, and has also soloed with the Cincinnati Symphony. Ms. Lin's CD featuring the works of J. S. Bach for solo piano has been described by New York Concert Review magazine as a "most satisfying performance with eloquence and sensitivity." It has been broadcasted in Classical Music Station across the country.  

Ingrid Tang, a co-concertmaster of the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, was born in China, receiving her early training on the violin from her mother. She was later accepted into the Shenyang Music Institute. In the year of 1979, Ms. Tang was recommended to the National Orchestra of the Air Force in China, where she played as a professional violinist and later became the co-concertmaster of the Chinese National Orchestra of the Air Force. Ms. Tang also studied and received her degrees at the National Arts Institute in Beijing. Ms. Tang is currently living in Dayton, New Jersey where she performs actively as a chamber musician and playing with Boheme Opera NJ, New Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra. She maintains an active private teaching studio for 20 years and received the Teacher of The Year Award 2014 of New Jersey Music Teachers Association. She also serves as a chairperson for strings of NJMTA.

Ning Mu, principal violist of the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, is an experienced soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. He has received numerous awards for musical excellence in China and the US. He has performed in chamber music concerts in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Alice Tully Hall, including appearing with the Guarneri String Quartet. He recently gave a highly acclaimed performance of the “Butterfly Lovers" Concerto at the Ware Center in Lancaster, PA. Mr. Mu began studying violin with his father at 8 years old. He graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music of Beijing with a Bachelor’s degree, and received a Master’s degree at Rutgers University under Michael Tree. Mr. Mu taught violin and viola at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in Lancaster, and conducted its Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a viola professor at Franklin and Marshall College. Mr. Mu is the founder and Artistic Director of the International Festival and School in Colombia, South America. He has given master classes and chamber music recitals at the National Center for the Performing Arts and the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

The principal cellist at Bravura Philharmonic, Mira Kang has a versatile career as soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Since her successful debut concert at the age of 16 she has performed throughout South Korea, the Northeastern US, and Germany as a recitalist and chamber musician. Mira's performance venue include Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, Borden Auditorium, Miller theater in New York City and Nicholas Music Center at Rutgers University. Her piano trio TRIDENT will be the resident trio group at ASTA/Chamber Music Institute 2015. Their first recorded performance was released in Spring 2015. Mira has served as a conductor and a chamber music director at Bravura Youth  Orchestra and as a co-director of Bravura Summer Music. She has been invited to music festivals, such as Northern Lights Festival and ASTA/Chamber Music Institute on its faculty. She has been the judge of many competitions and auditions such as National League Performing Arts' competition. She is a director of a  string chamber ensemble group, Veritas. Its member is consist of highly achieved teenage string players. Mira currently teaches at Young Artist Program at Rutgers University. 

Concertmaster of the Bravura Youth Orchestra, Katie Liu is a junior at Mount Olive High School. Katie is a first prizewinner in numerous competitions including the Bravura Young Artist Competition, American String Teachers Association of New Jersey Solo Strings Competition, New Jersey Music Teachers Association Young Musician Competition, Summit Symphony Young Artists Competition, Adelphi Orchestra Young Artists Competition, and the New Jersey Youth Symphony Concerto Competition. She enjoys playing chamber music and served as concertmistress of the All-North Jersey High School Symphonic Orchestra in 2014 as well as a member of the New Jersey Youth Symphony. Aside from playing the violin, Katie participates in her school debate team, math and science league, and has a profound interest in mathematics and metaphysics. Katie continues to find creative ways to balance her many interests and schoolwork with practicing the violin. She aims to understand music better through collaboration with her peers; she strives to be a good musician not only as a soloist, but also within an ensemble. She is currently a student at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division.