Concordia Chamber Players Presents Season Finale: “Roots” – A Journey Through Spain, America, and Hungary on Sunday, April 27.
Reported on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Pictured Above: Michael Stephen Brown. Photo Credit: Sofian Kahn
NEWSROOM POST: NEW HOPE, PA
Violinist Siwoo Kim, described as an "incisive" and "compelling" artist celebrated for his extraordinary musical artistry and dynamic performances, joins pianist Michael Stephen Brown, hailed by The New York Times as "one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers,"
New Hope, PA – Concordia Chamber Players closes its subscription season with a captivating program showcasing composers whose musical voices were shaped by their distinctive cultural traditions.
Our third and final subscription concert showcases three extraordinary composers whose musical compositions are deeply rooted in the distinctive cultural traditions that shaped their artistic voices. In the Piano Quartet in A minor, Opus 67, written in 1931, composer Joaquín Turina infuses his music with the spirit of his homeland, Spain. William Grant Still, referred to as the dean of African-American composers, wrote his Suite for Violin and Piano in 1943. He found his inspiration from three sculptures: Richmond Barthé’s African Dancer, Sargent Johnson’s Mother and Child, and Augusta Savage’s Gamin. Each of these works was created in the 1930s, and each artist was associated with the Harlem Renaissance. We bring our season to a close with one of the first and still most beloved chamber compositions by Johannes Brahms, the Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Opus 25. This masterpiece possesses a distinctive style with roots in Hungary and “gypsy” music. One can easily imagine being in the streets of Vienna.

Pictured Above: Siwoo Kim. Photo Credit: Contributed.
The performance will be brought to life by an extraordinary ensemble of world-class musicians. Violinist Siwoo Kim, described as an “incisive” and “compelling” artist celebrated for his extraordinary musical artistry and dynamic performances, joins pianist Michael Stephen Brown, hailed by The New York Times as “one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers,” alongside local Bucks County talent Natalie Loughran, first-prize winner of the 2021 Primrose International Viola Competition, and cellist Michelle Djokic, the artistic director and founder of Concordia Chamber Players.
Speaking about the William Grant Still piece, violinist Siwoo Kim notes: “It’s a wonderful, charming work that fits nicely into any program… As a kid growing up, I took art lessons. I was always drawing, shading and whatever. One of my favorite violin lessons was when my teacher said the violin bow is a lot like a paint brush. You have short strokes, you have deep strokes, long strokes, and so I appreciate how each of the three movements were based on African-American artwork.”

Pictured Above: Natalie Loughran. Photo Credit: Contributed.
Pianist Michael Brown, who will be performing Brahms’ Piano Quartet, shares: “Talk about roots, it does feel like it’s in my bones. It’s one of these pieces I just feel like I’ve spent a lot of time with. It’s a piece that I keep coming back to and playing often with a lot of different people. Every time is fresh, and colleagues bring something different. You can find different interpretations that work and some things that really don’t work, but the piece is magical.” This performance promises an unparalleled musical journey through cultural landscapes and emotional terrains.
The public is invited to attend a free open rehearsal on Saturday, April 26, at 2:30 PM at the Trinity Church 6587 Upper York Rd, Solebury, PA 18963. This unique opportunity allows audiences to witness the collaborative process behind bringing these masterful arrangements to life.
Tickets for the main performance on April 27 are available at concordiaplayers.org/tickets. Students under 18 years are always welcome to our concerts free of charge. For more information about Concordia Chamber Players and their 2024-25 season, please visit concordiaplayers.org.
Links to Musician’s Bios:
Siwoo Kim – violin
Michael Stephen Brown – piano
Natalie Loughran – viola
Michelle Djokic – cello
About Concordia Chamber Players
Concordia Chamber Players was founded in 1997 in New Hope, Pennsylvania by Artistic Director and cellist Michelle Djokic. Michelle’s gifts for creative programming, her ability to communicate key aspects of the music, and the depth of her multi-faceted collaborations appeal to seasoned and new concertgoers alike.
The concerts include a stellar list of guest artists—including a host of Grammy award nominees and winners—performing in various intimate venues throughout beautiful Bucks County. Concordia showcases a range of talent, from veteran musicians to rising young performers, presenting seasons of treasured masterpieces and unexpected gems.
Students under 18 years are always welcome to our concerts free of charge.