Laura Hamilton, violin
Laura Hamilton was Principal Associate Concertmaster for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, where she led hundreds of performances over 33 years. She was concertmaster for many of the MET's popular “Live in HD” videocasts, including Carmen, Parsifal, Turandot, Faust, Salome, and Madama Butterfly. She is currently Artistic Director and Concertmaster for the summer festival Classical Tahoe in Nevada, and Concertmaster for CityMusic Cleveland.
Laura returns to Downtown Music with violinist Amy Kauffman, cellist Lanny Paykin, and pianist Cullan Bryant to offer two iconic violin works from the Baroque era--with a twist. She will present Bach's Chaconne from Partita #2 in a rich and inventive arrangement by Jeanne Lamon for string trio, followed by Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons as recomposed and interpreted by London-based composer Max Richter.
Amy Kauffman joined the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 2002. She is a former member of the Houston and Pittsburgh Symphonies, and a graduate of Indiana University and Juilliard. Amy loves playing chamber music, and has performed frequently in New York and in festivals throughout the United States. One of Amy’s favorite collaborations was with violinist Cornelius Dufallo on a recording of Anna Clyne’s “The Violin,” a set of duos written for them. The New York Times included an excerpt in a recent list entitled “5 Minutes that will make you love classical music.” She has also performed and recorded on baroque violin with numerous ensembles throughout the U.S. Amy is on the faculty of Mannes School of Music and performs with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra during the summer.
Pianist Cullan Bryant is a preeminent chamber musician and accompanist in New York City. He has been heard in collaboration with many of the great musicians of the century including violinist and UN Messenger of Peace Midori, violinists Oleh Krysa, Misha Keylin, Emanuel Borok, cellists Peter Rejto, Paul Tobias, members of the Amati, American, and Borromeo Quartets, members of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, Orchestra of St Luke’s, NYC Ballet, Boston and Detroit Symphonies in such venues as Merkin and Alice Tully Halls, Metropolitan Museum and Detroit’s Orchestra Hall.
Cellist Lanny Paykin was born in New York City, where he attended the High School of Music and Art. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University, and Master of Music from the Juilliard School. Mr. Paykin has enjoyed a diverse career in New York, appearing regularly with the New York City Ballet and Metropolitan Opera, in recording studios, and in solo and chamber music concerts. He is a member of the American Composers' Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, and the Westchester Philharmonic. He has performed as principal cellist of the New York City Opera, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic, Westchester Philharmonic, American Composers' Orchestra, and American Symphony Orchestra. He toured Asia with the New York Philharmonic and performed with them at Avery Fisher Hall. In 2014 Mr. Paykin served as Acting Associate Principal with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Australia. Summer activities have included festivals at Aspen, Dartmouth College, Bard College, Lake Tahoe, and the island of Paros in Greece. He teaches at the Ridgewood (NJ) Conservatory. Previously he served on the faculties of Manhattan School of Music (precollege), New Jersey City University, Wesleyan University, and Montclair State University’s summer program at Stokes Forest, New Jersey.
This concert is made possible, in part, with the generous support from the law office of Paul Bergins, Esq. White Plains, NY.