SONOSYNTHESIS: Arcanum | a benefit concert for VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment

This event is almost sold out! If you have question about seating options please reach out to Cari Shipp at carishippflutist@gmail.com

SONOSYNTHESIS: Arcanum features local professional musicians Cari Shipp, flute & Jeremy Thompson, piano

Join us in this beautiful, intimate performance space for wine and hors d'oeuvres at 7 PM with the program beginning at 7:30.

Program:

Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata in E minor

Fikret Amirov - Six Pieces

Reena Esmail - Sonata, mvt II

Walter Gieseking - Sonatine

THIS CONCERT:

This is the sixth time Cari Shipp and Jeremy Thompson will be playing together, and the fifteenth concert in the SONOSYNTHESIS benefit concert series. Arcanum means "secret" or "mystery" in Latin, and encapsulates the vast, expansive nature of the program.

THE PROGRAM:

This program includes familiar names like JS Bach and famed pianist Walter Gieseking, as well as the wonderfully successful young composer Reena Esmail (currently the Los Angeles Master Chorale's 2020-2025 Swan Family Artist in Residence among other accolades), and the seldom performed but electrifying music of Azerbaijani composer Fikret Amirov.

This program features enchanting, mysterious music for flute and piano. The Bach Sonata in e minoropens with the most emotionally evocative movement of his seven flute sonatas, followed by riveting technical movements. The Six Pieces by Amirov is joyful music filled with the rich harmonies of Eastern European folk music. Gieseking's Sonatine is haunting with it's twisting melodies, peaceful in the gentle barcarolle-esque second movement, and dazzling with the twinkling tessitura of the finale. Reena Esmail's unfinished Sonata is unlike anything we've ever played - I'll quote the composer's own words: "The second movement of my Sonata for Flute and Piano begins in a Hindustani (north Indian) raga called Ahir Bhairav. I love the dark, yearning nature of Ahir Bhairav - the way it feels so otherworldly, and seems to long for a place that is just out of reach."

THE BENEFITTING ORGANIZATION:

We are delighted to be benefitting VIA Centers for Neurodevelopment. VIA's mission is to empower people to embrace the strengths and meet the challenges related to autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities by providing compassionate, evidence-based services throughout their lives with locations in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Lexington. To learn more, visit viacenters.org.

The cost of each ticket supports both the musicians and VIA, but additional donations are welcome at the concert going directly to VIA.

THE VENUE:

801 Park Street, or North End, is the beautiful and historic home owned by Daniel Krasnegor and Kristin Jensen. They have hosted concerts for Early Music Access Project, Victory Hall Opera, and of course, SONOSNTHESIS Benefit Concert series. We are delighted to be playing in this warm, welcoming space once again. Free street parking is available and feel free to use Park Hill for drop offs as needed.

THE CONCERT SERIES:

SONOSYNTHESIS is a benefit concert series in Charlottesville, Virginia founded and produced by Cari Shipp. "Sonosynthesis" means fusion of sound: the fusion of sound and support for local organizations, the fusion of sound by bringing musicians together, and fusing the community with high quality classical music, creatively programmed and presented. This is the fifteenth concert in the series since its inception in 2017.

THE MUSICIANS

Cari Shipp, a performer at heart, enjoys time on the orchestral, chamber, and solo stage. She has appeared with orchestras such as the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, Charlottesville Symphony, Charlottesville Opera Chamber Orchestra, Opera on the James, and Lynchburg Symphony. As a soloist she has been featured in concerts throughout Central Virginia, Washington DC, and Baltimore. She served three years as principal flute with the Hunt Valley Symphony Orchestra and performed Mozart's Concerto in G Major with the orchestra in 2015, and performed the Bach Orchestral Suite in B minor with the Blue Ridge Chamber Orchestra in 2024.

In 2017 she started her own benefit concert series, SONOSYNTHESIS, through which she has produced and performed thirteen solo concerts benefitting local organizations. Through this series she has been honored to collaborate with elite musicians such as Jeremy Thompson and Colin Davin.

After graduating from the Interlochen Arts Academy, she completed her Bachelors of Music in flute performance from the University of North Texas under the tutelage of Dr. Mary Karen Clardy and her Masters of Music in flute performance from the Peabody Conservatory under Laurie Sokoloff. She has been featured in master classes with Jeanne Baxtresser, Marina Piccinini, Jim Walker, Trudy Kane, Mark Sparks, Mathieu Dufour, Paul Edmund-Davies, and more.

She maintains a full private lesson studio in Charlottesville, VA where she lives with her husband, dog, and two cats. When not teaching or performing she enjoys long hikes and longer books.

Jeremy Thompson was born in Dipper Harbour, a small fishing village in New Brunswick, Canada. He furthered his studies at McGill University in Montreal, studying piano with Marina Mdivani who was herself a student of Emil Gilels.

He began his organ studies while he was in Montreal, among the many incredible instruments of that city. He was fortunate to have the opportunity to continue his studies with Dr. John Grew. In 2005, he earned a Doctorate of Music in piano performance from McGill, where he held two of Canada's most prestigious doctoral fellowships.

He has appeared frequently with orchestras including the Saint Petersburg State Academic Orchestra, the Saratov Philharmonic Orchestra, the Georgian National Orchestra, the Charlottesville Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony and the McGill Symphony Orchestra. He has performed extensively throughout North America in both solo and chamber music settings, and has also completed three tours to the former Soviet Union.

Thompson enjoys performing music from all eras, yet specializes in highly virtuosic repertoire. He has focused recently on several recording projects, including a 2 CD set of the organ music of Karl Höller on the Raven CD label. He recently released a recording of the piano music of Vasily Kalafati on the Toccata Classics label. Previous recordings include an album of the piano music of Scriabin on the MSRCD label, and a recording of contemporary piano music from Quebec on the McGill label.