We are thrilled to be collaborating with some incredible artists for our January 24-26 season centerpiece together. Jennifer Choi will be the violinist on the show. We asked Jennifer to tell us a bit about the process and a bit about herself.
Austin Classical Guitar: You’ve been part of this series form the beginning. i/we, dream, together. What does this series mean to you?
Jennifer Choi: I feel so honored to have been a part of all three concerts in this series, which is one of the most unique projects that I have been involved in. I loved how much the community at large has been interwoven within the programs, and that we heard these voices from the heart. It brought us a real perspective and deeper understanding of the events happening around us each day, and made the music so meaningful to perform.
ACG: What do you wish everyone knew about the process of creating, collaborating on, and sharing new music and new art?
JC: With new music, there is always a sense of adventure because you are meeting the music for the first time, and on some occasions, you’re meeting the composer for the first time too, like going on a musical blind date! You don’t know exactly what you’re gonna get, so of course there’s a feeling of the unknown. But then, you take a peek, and when the music speaks to you, it can feel like something strikes a chord in your being and that something can be soul-moving, bring you to tears.. or it can be joyful and exciting, and you just want to get more of it! I have so much respect for composers. They are putting all their energy into something they believe in for us to listen to and be moved with them.
ACG: What’s it been like work with this team?
The process here at ACG has been one of deep connections and collaboration from the beginning. So much thought has gone into each concert with a vision that is large and all encompassing. I loved that there were no constraints. Every idea was considered, and in the end, a wide range of music and genres has been incorporated into the format. It says a lot about an organization when year after year, the core team stays the same and everyone is in it for the same, beautiful purpose.
ACG: Tell us a little about what else you have going on – how can people learn more about you?
JC: Last month I was in Toulouse, France playing with Les Freres Meduses -no strangers to ACG- guitarists, Randall Avers and Benoit Albert. I have found that chamber music with guitars and violin to be a divine combination. The Texas Guitar Quartet with Isaac Bustos and Alejandro Montiel have also graciously invited me to perform with them and I also brought Isaac and Al to NYC last season and it was just so much fun to reunite then as it is now. I continue my various collaborations with composer/performers in New York, and most recently I have joined the Artist Faculty of Juilliard Global which takes me around the world for performances and master classes. My website is www.jenniferchoi.com if you’d like to know more about me go to https://www.jenniferchoi.com.
If you would like to know more about the inspiration of ‘together,’ we invite you to read this article by Artistic Director, Joe Williams, and Education Director, Travis Marcum.