Critically Acclaimed Classical Trio Performing at ACV

The Merling Trio has had to cancel. We have scheduled a replacement violin/piano duo from Florida State University to perform in their place. Same date, time and venue.

Celebrating its 30th season with original members Renata Artman Knific on violin, Bruce Uchimura on cello, and Susan Wiersma Uchimura on piano, the Merling Trio has long been recognized as one of today’s premier ensembles. The Merling Trio has been hailed as a brilliantly distinguished group endowed with remarkable gifts of communication, magnificent precision, and an impeccable blend of sound. The trio made its New York debut in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 1993, and was named a finalist for the Naumburg Foundation Chamber Music Award in 1994. Since then, their distinguished career has included performances in 44 states, Canada, Europe and China.

Advent Christian Village is excited to finally be able to include the Merling Trio as part of its Live! at Dowling Park Artist Series. Plan to come enjoy this talented group on Friday, April 27, at 7 p.m. in The Village Church.

The trio is committed to bridging the gap between classical music and other genres. In 2017, the Trio joined with Chicago composer Gene Knific for their innovative project, “The Merling Trio Performs the Great American Songbook”. This cycle features brilliant arrangements of the greatest composers of the genre, such as Duke Ellington, Henry Mancini, Burt Bacharach, and Harold Arlen. For their newest groundbreaking project, the Trio will be collaborating with the Bach Festival of Kalamazoo to commission arrangements of Bach works in jazz format from composers Gene Knific, Tom Knific and Adam Schumaker, to be premiered this June.

In residence at the School of Music at Western Michigan University, members of the trio have also been faculty members at the Schlern International Music Festival and the ENCORE School for Strings. Renowned educators, their students hold positions in major orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout the world.

The Merling Trio has released a number of critically-acclaimed recordings. About Centaur Records’ 2006 release of the trio’s recording of works by Piazzolla and Proto, the American Record Guide said, “The Merlings play with a properly stylistic balance between abandon and control. This is an unusual and beautifully played program.” 2013’s Postcards in E features works of Shostakovich and Dvorák, and was issued on the MSR Classics label to rave reviews. The Great American Songbook project is due to be released this year.

Join us on Friday, April 27, at 7 p.m. at The Village Church in Dowling Park. Tickets may be purchased at the door, from the Advent Christian Village cashier (386-658-5343), or in Live Oak at The Music Center or Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce. General admission tickets are $17 each, student tickets are $7, and children five and under are free.