A powerhouse cornerstone of the trio repertoire, Dohnányi's Serenade meets a charming Dvořák gem written for the amusement of friends—then casually forgotten by the composer. Trio drama, salon sparkle, no apologies. Violinist Katie Allen, violist Paula Karolak, and cellist Emileigh Brooke Vandiver play modern and classic selections for string trio.
About the artists:
Katie Allen is the Assistant Principal Second of Opera San José and holds section positions with the California Symphony and Santa Rosa Symphony. In addition to these ensembles, she performs with many Bay Area orchestras, including the San Francisco Ballet and Opera orchestras, Marin Symphony, Symphony San Jose, and Berkeley Symphony.
Ms. Allen began playing the violin at the age of six, studying primarily with Ayako Kikuchi. In 2015, she began her undergraduate studies at DePauw University under the tutelage of Tarn Travers. During her four years there, she was a member of the Asbury String Quartet, a full-scholarship chamber music program, where she worked with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Decoda, and A Far Cry.
In 2019, Ms. Allen moved to the Bay Area to pursue her master’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she studied with San Francisco Ballet Concertmaster Cordula Merks. During her time at SFCM, she was selected for masterclasses with Grammy Award winner Hilary Hahn and San Francisco Symphony Concertmaster Alexander Barantschik.
Outside of music, Ms. Allen enjoys cooking, running through Golden Gate Park, and spending time with her boyfriend, Michael, and their cat, Nemo.
Paula Karolak has explored numerous musical styles and as a result she has shared the stage with such greats as Kenny Burrell, Haushka, John Cale, and Del Sol Quartet to name a few. She has appeared as a chamber musician in the Dilijan Chamber Series, Musicians Guild Chamber Series, Trinity Alps Chamber Players and One Found Sound Chamber Orchestra. She completed a BA at UCLA with Richard O’Neil and Paul Coletti and a MM at San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Paul Hersh and Jodi Levitz. Paula is now a tenured member of the Santa Rosa Symphony and freelances in the bay area. In her spare time she loves rock climbing and is pursuing a dual degree in Computer Science and Data Science at San Francisco Community College.
Cellist Emileigh Brooke Vandiver brings people together through the humanity of music, cello in tow. Described by the Boston Musical Intelligencer as a musician who conveys “a world of emotional meaning to the cello,” Ms. Vandiver’s performances, teaching, and community engagement reflect her desire to reverse the current trend of social isolation and reconnect people across cultures.
Reviewed by the New York Times as an “excellent performer," Ms. Vandiver is a versatile musician who has performed and toured internationally with various orchestras. Her orchestral experience includes holding section positions with the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic and an Associate Principal position with the Fort Worth Symphony. She loves playing with her dog, Olive, and exploring her new state, California!