Gloria Chien / Lee University contributed photoGloria Chien founded String Theory chamber music series in 2009 with three goals: introduce new audiences to chamber music, invigorate the local classical music scene and develop a future generation of music lovers.
A celebration of String Theory's successful first decade is planned for Saturday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, 1511 Riverview Road.
String Theory, in partnership with Lee University and the Hunter Museum of American Art, will hold a 10th Anniversary Gala with performances by Emerson String Quartet, violinist Soovin Kim, and pianist Chien.
"This gala will not only be a great opportunity for us to celebrate the music, but also to celebrate our partners, sponsors, patrons, community and everyone who has been a part of String Theory in the past 10 years," said Chien. "It will be an unforgettable evening of music along with an hors d'oeuvres and dessert reception."
Soovin Kim / Lee University contributed photoFounded in 1976, the Emerson String Quartet took its name from American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. The quartet is comprised of violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Seltzer, violist Lawrence Dutton and cellist Paul Watkins.
In its 40 years, the Emerson String Quartet has received nine Grammys, three Gramophone awards, the Avery Fisher Prize and made more than 30 recordings. The quartet serves as the quartet-in-residence at Stony Brook University, where each of the members is a professor.
Violinist Kim is a concert soloist and member of the Johannes String Quartet. In 2009, he founded the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, Vermont. Kim recently joined the violin faculty at the New England Conservatory of Music.
For 11 years, Chien has served at Music@Menlo, where she was appointed director of the Chamber Music Institute in 2010. The following year, she was chosen to join the Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center.
In 2017, she joined her husband, Soovin Kim, as co-artistic director of the Lake Champlain Music Festival. Chien and Kim have most recently been named new artistic directors for Chamber Music Northwest.
Chien is an artist-in-residence at Lee University, as well as a Steinway artist.
Tickets are $150 and all sales are final. Cocktail attire is suggested.
For more information: www.stringtheorymusic.org or call 423-414-2525.