Trio Cleonice Takes 2nd

Congratulations to the Trio Cleonice! The piano trio, which just completed a three-year residency at NEC in the Professional Piano Trio Training Program directed by Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, has won second prize in the second annual Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld International String Competition. Held August 18—25 in Harbin, China, the competition aims to enrich the culture of music by recognizing and promoting highly gifted young violinists, cellists, and chamber ensembles. The Cleonice (Emely Phelps, piano; Ari Isaacman-Beck, violin; Gwen Krosnick, cello) won a $10,000 prize in the chamber music section.

Co-founded by violinist and artist teacher Alice Schoenfeld and her sister, cellist Eleonore Schoenfeld (now deceased), the competition is a further extension of the sisters’ philanthropy in the advancement of music and music education. They previously contributed $3 million to the construction of the new University of Southern California Thornton School of Music symphonic hall, which is named after the sisters who both spent more than a half century on the School’s faculty.  Cash prizes for the top violin and cello players in the competition were $30,000; chamber groups, $20,000; and the total prize amount for competition winners exceeded $200,000 in cash awards and instruments. Under the artistic direction of Harbin native Suli Xue, a former student of Alice Schoenfeld, Los Angeles Philharmonic member, and USC faculty, the competition boasted a distinguished panel of judges including cellist Lynn Harrell, who chaired the cello jury and David Cerone, who chaired the violin jury.

The competition, previously held in Hong Kong, took place at the Qihang Center, Harbin Engineering University, in recognition of the city’s burgeoning reputation as a center of music. According to the competition website, Harbin “urgently needs to hold an influential, international Music & Art event to support the art development of the city…This competition is designed to enhance the public perception of elegant music culture and art, discover a group of talented young musicians, provide additional opportunities for professional musicians and music fans, and help young people to realize their music dreams.”

Cleonice cellist Gwen Krosnick emailed us with details about the Trio's experience as well as a photo (above) of the ensemble enjoying their favorite things--food (hot pot), music, and each other's company:

We were invited to the competition in mid-July (while we were all at Yellow Barn), and they invited seven groups to be in the chamber music finals. We brought the first movements of Beethoven Op. 1, no. 2, in G major; of Mendelssohn's C minor Trio, Op. 66; and of our Richard Wernick Trio No. 2, "The Traits of Messina," which we were particularly proud to present. We actually were in Philadelphia - to attend and play in Ari's (Isaacman-Beck) brother's wedding! - just before coming to China, so we stayed with Dick and Bea Wernick and got to play the piece for him again just before coming. They were both so thrilled we were bringing it with us to China.

For more about the Trio Cleonice, click here.

For more about the Professional Piano Trio Program at NEC, click here.