Cellist Sarah Hong of Los Altos is scheduled to perform works from Russian composers in two chamber music concerts, June 20 in Palo Alto and June 22 in San Francisco.
The concerts have Hong teaming with pianist Makiko Ooka and violinist Fumico Ando performing pieces from Rachmaninoff, Myaskovsky and Arensky.
The first concert, set for 5 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, in Palo Alto, is a benefit for Phos, Hong’s humanitarian project. All donations from the concert will go toward ministry to children in earthquake-affected Myanmar. The second concert is scheduled 4 p.m. June 22 at Old First Church in San Francisco.
Hong and longtime collaborator Ooka have been performing since 2000 as a duo, “Le Due Muse.” Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, they have performances planned this summer in the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Acclaimed by music critics as a “free, warm and very expressive” performer, cellist Hong was born in Seoul, Korea. She began studying cello at age 6 and was selected as the most promising young cellist in the nation at age 16, her performance broadcast nationwide by KBS. She made her New York debut at Carnegie Hall as a winner of Artists International.
As a soloist, Hong won numerous competitions, including the grand prize from the International Young Artists Peninsula Music Competition, the International Sorantin Young Artist Award and the first prize award from the Jennings Butterfield Young Artist Competition.
Hong balances a busy career as a soloist, collaborative artist and teacher. In addition to Le Due Muse, she performs with the San Francisco Cello Quartet and Ensemble Ari. She started the Phos Benefit Concert Series in Palo Alto to help support various nonprofit organizations serving children in underdeveloped countries in 2014.
For more information, visit cellistsarahhong.com.
