"Free to Be Myself:" Piano Trios by Beach, Clarke, and Trimble

Benicia Chamber Players’ April program takes inspiration from Irish composer Joan Trimble’s philosophy: “I am free to be myself regardless of fashion.” Rather than adhering to a single school or style, Trimble embraced artistic freedom—an ethos reflected in Free to Be Myself, a program of piano trios by Amy Beach, Rebecca Clarke, and Joan Trimble. Written within a span of just 20 years, these works highlight the distinctive voices of three virtuoso musicians—American, English, and Irish—who later became deeply dedicated educators. Trimble’s award-winning Phantasy for Piano Trio carries a nod to Irish traditional music in its lush and melancholy character. Beach’s final composition, Piano Trio, Op. 150, showcases her commanding pianism, shifting between brooding lyricism and passionate intensity. Closing the program, Clarke’s trio is an unrelenting, emotionally charged work, weaving a single motivic thread through three movements. Join us for an evening of extraordinary piano trio music!

Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum

734 Marin St.

Vallejo, CA

We will also perform this program on April 19th in Lafayette

Founded in 2019, the award-winning Verve Trio has established itself as a diverse ensemble of technical precision and artistic flair. Comprised of pianist Chia-Lin Yang, violinist Elbert Tsai and cellist Brady Anderson, the trio has engaged audiences with creative programs combining familiar masterpieces with an array of duo sonatas and lesser-known gems that often highlight the influence of tango and jazz. They have performed at prestigious venues throughout California including the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Burlingame Music Club Concert Series, Stoneridge Creek Concert Series, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, and Barbro Osher Recital Hall at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Upcoming highlights of the 2024-25 season include a return engagement at the Santa Cruz Chamber Players and concerts at the Taipei National Concert Hall, Ira F. Brilliant Beethoven Center, and San Francisco Flower Piano Festival. The Verve Trio members are also widely known as pedagogues, giving masterclasses at Banff, Oberlin, University of Michigan, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and Seattle Young Artists Music Festival Association.

Host or Publisher Benicia Chamber Players