The Santa Ynez Valley Classical Music Series presents pianist Robert Cassidy and Ani Aznavoorian, the principal cellist of Camerata Pacifica, in a benefit concert, 5 p.m. Saturday, June 26 at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church in Los Olivos.
To celebrate being able to perform again for a live audience, Cassidy and Aznavoorian have planned a concert of beloved sonatas including Beethoven’s “Sonata in C Major, op.102 #1;” Debussy’s “Sonata for Cello and Piano;” and the Brahms “Sonata in E Minor, op. 38.”
The performance will be recorded and will be accessible via the St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley website starting July 3; visit smitv.org/syv-concert-series.
The concert is free but the artists hope audience members will consider making donations to support the upcoming season of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series and the world class artists who will be performing at St. Mark’s throughout the year.
In 2018 Aznavoorian and Cassidy created and performed the two-part The Beethoven Project for the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series. Across those two concerts, Aznavoorian and Cassidy performed all of Beethoven’s works for cello and piano.
Cassidy has received acclaim for his performances and recordings of both solo piano repertoire and chamber music. He received his bachelors and masters degrees in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and doctor of arts in piano chamber music and accompanying/piano performance from Ball State University.
In addition to his performances, Cassidy has a teaching career based at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. He has been artistic director of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series since 2019.
Aznavoorian is described by The Strad Magazine as having “Scorchingly committed performances that wring every last drop of emotion out of the music. Her technique is well-nigh immaculate, she has a natural sense of theater, and her tone is astonishingly responsive.”
This season marks her 14th year as principal cellist with Camerata Pacifica. Aznavoorian also is a member of the faculty at summer festivals as well as the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana.
She received her bachelor and master of music degrees from The Juilliard School and continues to perform in New York and worldwide as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Tokyo Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Symphony, International Sejong Soloists, and Juilliard Orchestra.
St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church is at 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. For patron ticket purchases and any questions, contact SYV Concert Series coordinator Linda Burrows, 805-705-0938; syvconcerts@smitv.org; St. Mark’s office, 805-688-4454; or visit www.smitv.org.