She shared the stage with the New York Philharmonic when she was only 8 years old and released her first album at 10. Now, captivating violinist Sarah Chang makes her debut at the Moss Arts Center. Joined by pianist Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome, Chang will perform sonatas by Brahms and Franck in a program that includes Bartók’s “Romanian Folk Dances,” on Tuesday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m.
The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall.
Chang has impressed audiences with her technical virtuosity and refined emotional depth, performing with some of the world’s most esteemed orchestras, conductors, and accompanists in an international career spanning more than two decades.
Highlights from Chang’s recent and upcoming seasons include performances with the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics, the Philadelphia and National Symphony orchestras, and the Chicago, Boston, Cleveland, Montreal, Houston, Detroit, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, Cincinnati, San Diego, and New Jersey symphonies. She also has performed at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Aspen music festivals, among others.
With a career that has blossomed internationally, the accomplished recital and chamber musician regularly travels the world, performing with artists such as Pinchas Zukerman, Yefim Bronfman, Leif Ove Andsnes, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Chang’s most recent recording featured the Brahms and Bruch violin concertos with Kurt Masur and the Dresdner Philharmonie. She has also recorded Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons;” Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 live with the Berliner Philharmoniker; and the Dvořák Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis.
Pianist Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome’s performances are known for their fresh, imaginative, and passionate interpretation. Her extraordinary artistry brings new life to a wide array of piano repertoire — from baroque to the 21st century.
Ovrutsky Fensome has performed in major venues in the United States, Europe, Russia, and South Africa, including Carnegie Concert Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Aspen Music Festival, Palace de Beaux Arts in Brussels, and Lucerne Music Festival.
Her numerous competition awards include the Aspen Music Festival Competition and Concert Artist Competition in New York. A passionate supporter of music education, Ovrutsky Fensome was appointed director of the Piano Academy at M. Steinert and Sons in Boston in 2014. Her commitment to teaching and inspiring young people in their study of piano music was recognized with the Top Teacher Award by Steinway & Sons for five consecutive years. Her music appreciation YouTube channel, “From My Piano Room,” dedicated to classical piano music, is quickly gaining recognition around the world.
During her visit to Blacksburg, Chang will speak with Virginia Tech music majors about violin performance, touring, music education, and service.
Tickets for the performance are $20-45 for the general public and $10 for Virginia Tech students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center’s box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.
