For Immediate Release Contact: Becki Gervin, 408.961.

5814
Aug. 31, 2009 bgervin@montalvoarts.org

New Villa Chamber Music Series Announced by Montalvo Arts Center

Cypress String Quartet, The Saint Michael Trio, Albers Trio, Brasil Guitar Duo,
The Harlem Quartet, and more bring a Fresh Perspective to Classical Music

SARATOGA, Calif. – Montalvo Arts Center announces its new 2009-2010 Villa Chamber Music Series,
featuring an innovative range of more than 10 classical concerts scheduled through spring 2010. This new
series is poised to be Montalvo’s most diverse presentation of chamber music to date, with a roster of
seasoned, emerging and revolutionary performers. Set in Montalvo's beautiful Grand Hall in the historic Villa,
the Chamber Music Series offers the audience the experience of listening to live classical music in an intimate
wood-paneled room with excellent acoustics and elegant views through floor-to-ceiling arched glass doors to
Montalvo’s front lawn and Italianate garden.

The Villa Chamber Music Series inaugural event is on Sept. 20, with the renowned Sonus Quartet conducted
by a Montalvo composer-in-residence, Geoff “Double G” Gallegos. The quartet will perform two works
composed by Double G during his residency. Commissioned by Montalvo, both pieces were inspired by local
treasures: Montalvo’s wooded trails, the Santa Cruz Mountains, and Saratoga’s noted Plumed Horse
restaurant. The series continues with talented local pianists, The Saint Michael Trio, on Oct. 4. The Cypress
String Quartet returns to Montalvo on Nov. 8, with the first of five performances, each delving deep into music
by Dvorak and Schubert, among others. On Jan. 10, 2010, the Albers Trio, comprised of three gifted sisters
who are all Julliard graduates, take the stage; the dynamic Chicago musicians, Fifth House Ensemble, will
appear on March 21, 2010; Brasil Guitar Duo, winner of the 2006 Concert Artist Guild International
Competition, performs on March 28, 2010; and the critically acclaimed and daring African American and Latino
ensemble, The Harlem Quartet, completes the series on April 23, 2010. The Villa Chamber Music Series is
brimming with must-see performances that promise to enrich the dimensions of the classical music experience.

“This year we’ve expanded our classical music performances to include both renowned artists and local
musicians who are at the forefront of advancing the boundaries of chamber music,” said Angela McConnell,
executive director at Montalvo. “We welcome this opportunity to offer this outstanding series to our members
and to classical music aficionados in such a uniquely beautiful setting.”

Pricing for all Villa Chamber Music Series performances is $30; $25 for Montalvo members; $20 if purchasing
three or more performances in the series (note: series can only be purchased through the Box Office).

For information on tickets, please call Montalvo’s Box Office at 408.961.5858 or www.montalvoarts.org. Most
tickets also are available at Ticketmaster.com.

VILLA CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES SCHEDULE:

The Double G “String Thing” featuring Sonus Quartet
Sun, Sept 20, 3pm, Historic Villa
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

Geoff “Double G” Gallegos presents an afternoon of original compositions performed by Los Angeles-based
Sonus Quartet. As a composer-in-residence at the Lucas Artists Residency Program, Double G completed two
commissioned pieces for string quartet, “String Quartet No. 2 Montalvo,” 2008-09 (inspired by the Santa Cruz
Mountains and Montalvo’s trails) and “String Quartet No. 4 Plumed Horse,” 2009 (dedicated to the Plumed
Horse restaurant in Saratoga). Both works were commissioned by the Montalvo Arts Center.

Initially trained at Boston’s Berklee College of Music as a saxophone player, Double G soon discovered his
talent as a conductor and composer. Throughout his early career, Double G regularly played the saxophone at
underground hip hop clubs while at the same time working under the tutelage of maestro Larry Baird. It was
during this time that Double G began to explore the possibility of bringing together formally and informally
trained musicians to create a new sound that tests the boundaries of traditional musical genres.

The Sonus Quartet has performed everywhere from the Grammy Awards to late-night television, establishing
itself as one of the most in-demand classical quartets in southern California.

The Saint Michael Trio

Sun, Oct 4, 2pm, Historic Villa
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

The Saint Michael Trio has quickly staked its claim as one of Northern California's premiere piano trios.
Established in 2007, the Trio performs with remarkable rapport and understanding, and as an ensemble they
showcase the same virtuosity that has marked their solo careers. Highly praised for their vivid interpretation of
the classical literature, the Trio has simultaneously established a reputation for making their concerts
interesting and accessible, through lively dialogue and commentary. They also charm audiences by mixing in
pop and jazz material alongside the classics.

In 2008 the Trio was named Musicians in Residence at Menlo College, where they teach master classes and
perform community musical events.

Cypress String Quartet

Sun, Nov 8, 3pm, Historic Villa: Dvorak “American” Quartet opus 96
Sun, Jan 31, 3pm, Historic Villa: Dvorak Quartet in G Major opus 106
Sun, Feb 28, 3pm, Historic Villa: Elena Ruehr Quartet based on the novel “Bel Canto” by Ann Patchett
Sun, Mar 14, 3pm, Historic Villa: Schubert Quartet “Death and the Maiden.”
Sun, April 25, 3pm, Historic Villa: Schubert Cello Quintet with Amos Yang, Associate Principal of the San
Francisco Symphony
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

Featuring the music of Dvorak, Schubert and Elena Ruehr, the Cypress String Quartet continues its unique
concert format: each performance highlights one featured piece in its entirety, with in-depth exploration of it
through musical examples, discussion and performances of additional single movements or short works. The
audience develops an intimate relationship with the featured music as well as with the performers and
discovers an experience that demystifies classical music and offers insight into the creative process.

(more)

2
Albers Trio
Sun, Jan 10, 3pm, Historic Villa
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

From their twos to their 20s, the Albers sisters have been captivating audiences with musical styles as diverse
as their distinctive personalities. All three sisters are graduates of Julliard: Laura, violin, Rebecca, viola, and
Julie, cello. They have performed at such distinctive venues as Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, National
Theatre in Taipei, and Carnegie Hall. Their performances have also been seen and heard on Live from Lincoln
Center, Kennedy Center Honors, Japan's NHK, the Washington, D.C., Voice of America and Bavarian Radio.

Laura, associate concertmaster of the San Francisco Opera, performs with various ensembles, including the
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in New York City. Rebecca, who currently teaches at the Julliard pre-college, is
the winner of Julliard's 02-03 viola competition and has performed with Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman, among
many others. Julie has received various awards including the Grand Prize in South Korea's Gyeongnam
International Music Competition and Second Prize in Munich's Internationaler Musikwettbewerbes de ARD.

Fifth House Ensemble

Sun, Mar 21, 3pm, Historic Villa
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

Chicago's Fifth House Ensemble, known for its connective programming and innovative approach to chamber
music, will make its California debut in Montalvo's Villa Chamber Music Series. Critics have praised this
versatile and dynamic group as “a little slice of nobility” and “simply fun to hear.” The Fifth House Ensemble
aims to verbally and musically communicate with the audience, allowing the performance to connect in
unexpected, thought-provoking and deeply personal ways.

A trio of musicians from the ensemble will perform works by Copeland and Piazzolla, a charming trio by
Martinu, and the iconic “Voice of the Whale” by George Crumb. A delight for the senses, the group's mix of
genres both familiar and adventurous, has enthralled chamber music audiences nationwide.

Brasil Guitar Duo

Sun, Mar 28, 3pm, Historic Villa
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

Classical Guitar Magazine exclaims: “The maturity of musicianship and technical virtuosity is simply
outstanding,” in describing the Brasil Guitar Duo, winner of the 2006 Artist Guild International Competition.
With a full touring schedule on two continents, critically acclaimed recordings and innovative programming
featuring a seamless blend of traditional and Brazilian works, the duo has quickly emerged as one of the
preeminent guitar duos of its generation.

Recent New York engagements include Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the River to River Festival, New
York Guitar Seminar at Mannes College, New York Classical Guitar Society and a special concert of works by
Cuban-born composer Tania Leon at Symphony Space.

The duo will conduct a Master Class at Montalvo on Monday, March 29. For registration information contact
learn@montalvoarts.org.

(more)

3
The Harlem Quartet
Fri, April 23, 8pm, Historic Villa
$30; Members $25; Subscription $20

“The Harlem Quartet played with panache.” – The New York Times

The Harlem Quartet, comprised of first place Laureates of the Sphinx Competition, made their acclaimed debut
in fall 2006 at the Sphinx Organization’s Gala Concert at Carnegie Hall and at the legendary Apollo Theatre in
Harlem, earning rave reviews from The New York Times. In addition to being accomplished chamber
musicians, each member of the Harlem Quartet is a seasoned solo artist, having appeared with the New York
Philharmonic, the Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Sinaloa de las Artes (Mexico) and Baltimore
Symphonies and the Boston Pops. Dedicated to education, community engagement, and superb performance,
this innovative and daring African American and Latino string quartet serves as Principal Faculty at the Sphinx
Performance Academy at Walnut Hill School in Massachusetts, one of the premier independent arts
preparatory schools in the world, and as Visiting Faculty at the Sphinx Preparatory Music Institute at Wayne
State University in Detroit.

About Montalvo Arts Center

Montalvo Arts Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to forging meaningful connections between art,
artists and the communities it serves through creation, presentation and education in extraordinary ways and
settings. Located in Silicon Valley's Saratoga hills, Montalvo Arts Center occupies a Mediterranean-style villa
on 175 stunning acres, including an international artist residency program. The historic villa and grounds were
left to the people of California by Senator James Phelan for the encouragement of art, music, literature and
architecture. In January 2005, the organization changed its name from "Montalvo" to "Montalvo Arts Center" to
commemorate its 75th year as an arts center and to better communicate its mission to expanding local,
national and international audiences. For more information about Montalvo Arts Center, call (408) 961-5800 or
visit http://www.montalvoarts.org/ .

###