Cleveland Orchestra's Principal Violist Performs in Rocky River

For the final concert of its 56th season, Rocky River Chamber Music Society is thrilled and honored to present Robert Vernon in a concert featuring highlights of the viola repertoire. Six of Mr. Vernon’s colleagues and friends will also be participating in this concert on Monday, May 18, 7:30 p.m. at West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River. Joining Mr. Vernon on stage will be Katherine Bormann, violin; Amy Lee, violin; Daniel McKelway, clarinet; Lembi Veskimets, viola; Mark Kosower, cello; and Jee-Won Oh, piano. Five of these six musicians are members of The Cleveland Orchestra.

Appointed to the Principal Viola chair in 1976 by Lorin Maazel, Robert Vernon will have performed with The Cleveland Orchestra for 40 years when he retires in the summer of 2016. Mr. Vernon has had the longest tenure of any string principal in the Orchestra’s history and has performed in more than 5,000 concerts with the Orchestra. His many other milestones include recording more than 300 works with The Cleveland Orchestra, performing in more than 110 concert tours across the country and the world with the Orchestra, and teaching and mentoring hundreds of professional violists world-wide. In November 2015, Mr. Vernon will be performing as soloist in the fourth work commissioned for him by the Orchestra.

As is true of all concerts presented by the Rocky River Chamber Music Society, there is no admission charge and all are welcome. For further information call 440-333-4296 or visit our new website at www.rrcms.org.

Program, May 18, 2015:

Mozart, String Quintet No. 3 in C major, K. 515

Bruch, Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola & Piano, Op. 83 (Nos. 2, 5, & 6)

Schumann, Märchenerzälungen (Fairy Tales) for Clarinet, Viola & Piano, Op. 132

Brahms, String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 111