The Jozef Chasyd Quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet in A minor Op. 132, Fauré’s Quartet in E minor and and Smetana’s Second Quartet in D minor in the atmospheric setting of Trinity College’s Old Combination Room. The Quartet is named after a brilliant Polish Jewish violinist who was regarded by the legendary Fritz Kreisler even more highly than Jascha Heifetz, but who died tragically young in 1950 at the age of just 26 as the result of unsuccessful treatment for a severe mental disorder. All the remarkable works to be performed were written when their composers were afflicted by illness and mental health problems: Smetana’s Quartet was actually composed in an asylum. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to Lifecraft, a Cambridgeshire mental health charity. The concert celebrates one of the great lost talents of musical history and represents the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
The members of the Jozef Chasyd Quartet are Leora Cohen (violin), Ikuko Sunamura (violin), Malcolm Allison (viola), Edward Mead (cello).
Biographies
Leora Cohen, violin
British-American violinist Leora Cohen has been described as “a brilliant player” (Suzi Klein),with a “natural feel for melody” (Nicola Benedetti) and “the sound of heavenly beauty” (Maxim Vengerov). Following her double-first degree from the University of Cambridge and postgraduate diplomas from the Royal College of Music, she now enjoys a diverse career performing as a recitalist, soloist and ensemble musician around the world. Leora is regarded as a prominent concertmaster of her generation; she is a former leader of the National Youth Orchestra, the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra and Cambridge University Orchestra. Having led concerts in major concert halls globally, and concert series such as the BBC Proms, she now plays alongside professional orchestras on top of her many solo engagements. Leora toured internationally with the LGT Young Soloists during her studies and currently appears as a regular soloist with the Piccadilly Sinfonietta, the Albion Chamber Orchestra and the Tel Aviv Soloist Ensemble. She takes particular delight in creating and performing a range of recitals around innovative themes and topics.
Ikuko Sunamura, violin
Ikuko Sunamura is a Japanese violinist, who began violin lessons at the age of 4 with the Suzuki method. She went on to have lessons with Takako Nishizaki in Hong Kong then with Kek Tjang Lim in Melbourne. She was taught by Akiko Tatsumi in Tokyo during her years at Toho until she went to Mannheim to study with Roman Nodel, where she acquired her Kunsterische Ausbildung (post grad diploma) followed by Konzertexamen (Advanced Soloist Diploma) with the highest mark. She has had masterclasses with Saschko Gawrillow, Franco Gulli, Michael Frischenschlager, Boris Belkin, Devy Erlih and Lewis Kaplan. She has had scholarships to attend these masterclasses, in Japan, at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and at Accademia Chigiana in Siena. She has had chamber music lessons with Werner Hink, Paul Dan, Kazuyoshi Wanami and Franco Gulli. As an orchestral player, Ikuko has held sub principal positions at the Radio Sinfonie Orkest and the Kamerphilharmonie of the Netherlands, as well as playing in many of Londons top symphony and chamber orchestras. The Philharmonia, RPO, Britten Sinfonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, LPO, CBSO, BBC Concert Orchestra to name a few. As a chamber musician, Ikuko was leader of the Amos Klavierquartett and a member of Skwortsow Quartet.
Malcolm Allison, viola
Malcolm Allison won a scholarship to the Yehudi Menuhin School when he was twelve. His principal teacher was Margaret Norris until his final year, when he was taught by Mauricio Fuks. Visiting teachers included Igor Ozim, Felix Andriewsky and Yehudi Menuhin. He continued his studies at McGill University, Montreal with Mauricio Fuks for three years before returning to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to complete his studies with David Takeno. He won the Dorothy Adams Prize in 1993 for String Quartet playing and the Maurice Warshaw Prize in 1994 for Sonata playing .He was also a finalist in the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in 1991. His chamber music teachers have included Hans Keller, Peter Norris, the Takacs Quartet and members of the Borodin Quartet. He has also participated in master classes with Robert Mann ( Julliard Quartet),Robert Tree (Guaneri Quartet) and Sigmund Nissel (Amadeus Quartet).
Malcolm has chamber, orchestral and solo experience in the UK, Europe and North America. He was Leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain in 1989. As a freelance musician he played with, amongst others, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the English Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players, the Academy of St.Martin’s- in- the- Fields, the London Festival Orchestra, the Composer’s Ensemble, Nigel Kennedy, London Octave and the Guildhall Strings.
Malcolm is a member of the Chasyd Quartet and performed in the Dante Quartet, the Kreuzer Quartet, the Caractacus Quartet and the Artington String Quartet. Malcolm premiered Errollyn Wallen’s ‘Rapture’ for Viola and piano in 1998 and recorded Britten’s ‘Lachrymae’ with the London Festival Orchestra. He toured Central America and South America as a soloist on the viola, performing Mozart Sinfonia concertante. He recently performed as a solo violist with ‘I maestri’ in Telemann’s Viola Concerto , with the London International Orchestra in Walton’s Vìola Concerto and with Leora Cohen and the Albion Chamber Orchestra.
Edward Mead, cello
Welsh cellist Edward Mead is a dedicated and experienced musician, playing on both modern and period instruments. Eddie is honoured to be a Fellow of The English Concert, one of the world’s most prestigious early music ensembles. He has appeared alongside esteemed colleagues as a guest principal of the New London Orchestra, and as a soloist with the Nidum Ensemble. Eddie also works with Sinfonia Cymru, with whom he has toured with a diverse list of dynamic artists including Max Bailey, and Patrick Rhimes. Other groups he has worked with include Meridian Sinfonia, Marryat Players Festival Ensemble, and Music Theatre Wales, and he previously sat as a principal cellist and Leverhume Scholar of NYOGB. He has played in venues including Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, King’s Place, Wales Millenium Centre, Cadogan Hall, Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Berlin Konzerthaus as well as in France, Italy and across Spain. Eddie is also a published composer whose music has been performed by musicians including Sussane Kessel, Jackie Shave, and John Kenney, in venues including Beethoven-Haus Bonn Kammermusiksaal. His cello piece ‘Gestures’ was recorded for the BBC Radio 3 Proms website by a member of the BBCSO, and his arrangements have been performed by Sinfonia Cymru. In 2021 Eddie began studying at the Royal College of Music with Richard Lester having studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Adrian Brendel. At the RCM, Eddie is the Fishmonger’s Colyer- Edwards Bequest Scholar supported by the Robert McFadzean Whyte Award.
