Café Ludwig Opens Up For The 2019-20 Season Bringing In Beethoven And Brahms

Pacific Symphony principal musicians Dennis Kim, Meredith Crawford and Joseph Morris join host and pianist Orli Shaham for the return of Café Ludwig for the 2019-20 season. “Beethoven and Brahms” will feature a curated chamber program highlighting the talents of each musician for a relaxing matinee concert of delightful music-making. The program features Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C Minor, Notturno in D Major and Violin Sonata No. 8 in G Major, and Brahms’ Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in F Major.

A consummate musician recognized for her grace and vitality, Orli Shaham has established an impressive international reputation as one of today’s most gifted pianists. Hailed by critics the world over, Shaham is in demand for her prodigious skills and admired for her interpretations of both standard and modern repertoire. The New York Times called her a “brilliant pianist,” and praised her “daringly forceful interpretation of Brahms.”

Dennis Kim is the new concertmaster of Pacific Symphony. He was first appointed concertmaster of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra at the age of 22. He then served as the youngest concertmaster in the history of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, before going on to lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland. As guest concertmaster, Kim has performed on four continents, leading the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

Joseph Morris is the principal clarinet of Pacific Symphony. Previously, he has held the positions of principal clarinet with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra and the Madison Symphony Orchestra (Wis.), where he was featured as soloist in performances of Copland’s Clarinet Concerto in September 2015. Morris has appeared as guest principal clarinet with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Sarasota Orchestra. In addition, he has performed with the Utah Symphony and Opera, Kansas City Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony and New World Symphony.

Meredith Crawford is the principal viola in Pacific Symphony. She graduated in 2009 from the Oberlin College and Conservatory under the direction of Peter Slowik. Crawford was the first-prize winner of the Ohio Viola Society’s annual competition in 2007, the 2009 Skokie Valley Symphony Annual Young Artist Competition and the 2009-10 Oberlin Conservatory Competition in which hers was the first win for a violist in over a decade. Crawford is also an active chamber musician performing frequently with the L.A.-based Salastina Music Society, the Historic Portsmouth Chamber Music Series in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and the High Desert Chamber Music series in Bend, Oregon.