Piano Trio Chicago to Perform at Bethel United Church of Christ

The critically acclaimed Piano Trio Chicago will present a concert at Bethel United Church of Christ on Saturday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. as part of the church’s Music@Bethel Concert Series. Since 1999, the intimate and acoustically pleasing sanctuary of Bethel has hosted some of the world’s most accomplished singers and musicians from Chicago and beyond. The concert program will include works by Schumann and Ravel.

Minister of Music Jeffrey Panko’s pianistic brilliance will be featured as the group performs Robert Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 2 in F major, Op. 80 and the Piano Trio in A minor by Maurice Ravel. Panko has been the artistic director of the church’s concert series since its inception and is often a featured soloist or collaborative artist.

Violinist Uli Widmaier was born in Germany, studied violin at the conservatory in Munich during the 80s and took master classes with Henryk Szeryng, Nathan Mironovich Milstein and Ruggiero Ricci. He then came to the United States to earn his B.A and M.A. in English Literature from Brown University and his J.D. from Yale Law School, after which he worked as a litigation attorney at the Intellectual Property firm Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson LLP for more than twenty years. He never left music far behind, and about two years ago made the decision to return to music full time.

Victor Sotelo is an active cellist in the Chicago area, whose performances have taken him across the United States and abroad. He is a top prizewinner in numerous competitions, including Protégé International and Alexander & Buono International Competitions. Sotelo is currently a member of South Bend Symphony and Chicago Arts Orchestra as well as a substitute member for Grant Park Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, and Chicago Sinfonietta.

A wine reception will follow the concert. Bethel United Church of Christ is located at 315 East St. Charles Road in Elmhurst. Tickets are available online through www.musicatbethel.com or by calling 630-279-4040. Ticket prices are adults $20, seniors $18 and students $5. A family pass is available at $45 for 2 adults and up to 5 children. The church is accessible and parking is free. Enter through Sandburg Middle School from St. Charles Road, or from Huntington off Poplar Street.