The Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music will present a free Faculty Cello Recital featuring acclaimed cellist Dr. Steven Elisha and pianist Dr. Kyung A. Yoo on Monday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. The recital will take place at the Carol A. Carter Recital Hall on the Statesboro campus.
The program includes 19th and 20th-century masterpieces for cello and piano, featuring Felix Mendelssohn’s Cello Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 58, Johannes Brahms’ Cello Sonata No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99, and Bohuslav Martinů’s Variations on a Theme of Rossini, H.290.
This event is free and open to the public.
About Dr. Steven Elisha
Dr. Steven Elisha is an internationally recognized cellist who has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, Norway, China, Taiwan, Brazil, Israel, and the United States. He first gained attention at the age of 15 when he began performing professionally and gave solo performances with the Albany and Schenectady (New York) Symphonies.
Elisha’s New York debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the premiere performance of Cry of the Dove (a cello concerto composed by his sister, Adrienne Elisha) received critical acclaim. He has toured extensively in mainland China as an honorary member of the Beijing Cello Society, performing recitals and teaching master classes at prestigious conservatories, including Shanghai, Canton, Xian, Jinan, and Beijing.
While serving as Co-Principal Cellist of the Bergen (Norway) Philharmonic, Dr. Elisha also taught at the Grieg Academy of Music. He has performed as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the Beijing Central Philharmonic, Beijing, Xian, Jinan, and Canton Symphonies, as well as the Toledo Symphony, Connecticut Chamber Orchestra, and Grand Rapids Symphony, among others.
Dr. Elisha has held leadership positions such as Director of String Studies at Washburn University, Principal Cellist of the Topeka Symphony, and Conductor of the Topeka Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is also a frequent presenter of recitals, masterclasses, and workshops worldwide.
As co-founder and cellist of the Elaris Duo, alongside violinist Larisa Elisha, he has released several recordings, including DUO VIRTUOSO and DUO VIRTUOSO II on MSR-Classics, both of which received high praise from leading music publications.
Dr. Elisha is currently a Professor of Music, Strings Area Head, and Director of Orchestras at Georgia Southern University’s Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music. He is also Co-Director of Strings at the Southern Music Festival, the Elaris International Summer Academy, and serves as the Regional Representative for the American String Teachers Association Georgia Chapter.
About Dr. Kyung-A Yoo
Dr. Kyung-A Yoo, Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano at the Townsend School of Music, is known for her “expressive and sensitive sound.” She joined the faculty in 2021 and currently teaches collaborative piano, solo piano, chamber music, sight-reading, and basic musicianship. Dr. Yoo plans to introduce additional courses related to collaborative piano in the future.
Before joining Townsend, she served as an Artist Collaborator at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music for nine years, coaching and performing with string players and guest artists. Dr. Yoo has mentored students who have won competitions, secured orchestra jobs, and gained admission to prestigious music schools such as Juilliard, the Manhattan School of Music, the Colburn School, Peabody, New England Conservatory, and the Eastman School of Music.
Her performances have been featured on The Front Row, hosted by KUHF Houston Public Radio, and she has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Leone Buyse, Paul Kantor, Richie Hawley, and Stephen King. Dr. Yoo has performed extensively with ensembles like the New York Composers Circle and the Joy in Singing Art Song Competition, and has been featured in Classical Singer Magazine and on WQXR radio.
Dr. Yoo received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano from Manhattan School of Music, where she worked as a staff pianist and vocal coach. Her collaborative career includes performances with new music ensembles, premieres of numerous works, and participation in prestigious festivals like the Art Song Festival at Baldwin-Wallace College and the Music Academy of the West at Santa Barbara.
Her collaborations include performances of new works by composers such as Elliot Levine, Allison Sniffin, and Eugene McBride. Dr. Yoo has also premiered the world premiere of Tom Cipullo’s song cycle A Visit with Emily and is a frequent performer of contemporary works.
Related Topics
- Lonnie Johnson’s Guitar Mastery Shines on ‘Blues & Ballads’ Reissue
- Angie Zhang Brings a Fresh Perspective to Solo Piano Performance
- International Guitar Night Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Performance at Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House
