Gil Shaham, violin

Gil Shaham is one of the foremost violinists of our time; his flawless technique combined with his inimitable warmth and generosity of spirit has solidified his renown as an American master. The GRAMMY Award-winner, also named Musical America’s “Instrumentalist of the Year”, is sought after throughout the world for concerto appearances with leading orchestras and conductors, and regularly gives recitals and appears with ensembles on the world’s great concert stages and at the most prestigious festivals.

Highlights of recent years include the acclaimed recording and performances of J.S. Bach’s complete sonatas and partitas for solo violin. In the coming seasons in addition to championing these solo works he will join his long-time duo partner pianist, Akira Eguchi in recitals throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Appearances with orchestra regularly include the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, and San Francisco Symphony as well as multi-year residencies with the Orchestras of Montreal, Stuttgart and Singapore. With orchestra, Mr. Shaham continues his exploration of “Violin Concertos of the 1930s,” including the works of Barber, Bartók, Berg, Korngold, Prokofiev, among many others.

Mr. Shaham has more than two dozen concerto and solo CDs to his name, earning multiple GRAMMYs, a Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, and Gramophone Editor’s Choice.

He plays the 1699 “Countess Polignac” Stradivarius.

Nicholas McGegan, conductor

Nicholas McGegan has dedicated five decades to conducting. The 2019/20 season marked the end of his 34-year tenure as Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, for which he is now Music Director Laureate. He is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Pasadena Symphony and Hungary’s Capella Savaria. He is considered to be “an expert in 18th century style” (The New Yorker).  McGegan’s approach — intelligent, infused with joy and never dogmatic — has led to appearances with many of the world’s major orchestras, including Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Sydney, and the Royal Concertgebouw, and regular collaboration with choreographer Mark Morris on numerous projects.

His discography includes more than 100 releases spanning five decades, including more than 40 with Philharmonia Baroque and Chorale, and close to twenty with Capella Savaria, who appointed him Principal Guest Conductor for Life. He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to music overseas”. McGegan is committed to the next generation of musicians, frequently conducting and coaching students in regular engagements at Yale, Juilliard, Harvard, the Colburn School, Aspen Music Festival, and more.