HVCA Classical Series - Kaleidoscope, violin/piano duo

VIOLIN/PIANO DUO TO GIVE HVCA MARCH CLASSICAL SERIES PERFORMANCE

Kaleidoscope, a violin/piano duo will brighten up
the Huron Valley Council for the Arts art center with eclectic musical
selections starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22.

The third performance in HVCA’s Classical Series, the concert will
feature Christine Chun on piano and Diana Lungu on violin. Doors open at 7 p.m.
for the event, which also will include light refreshments.

Chun and Lungu met while working on their Ph.D. degrees at the
University of Michigan, teaming up as Kaleidoscope
starting in June 2007.

Their eclectic tastes range from gypsy-like Kreisler melodies to
the great classics of Beethoven, as well as the lush romanticism of Johannes
Brahms and Cesar Franck and the impressionistic colors of Debussy and Faure.

Locally, the duo has played in a variety of venues, which include
the Gifts of Arts Series (2008) at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann
Arbor, the Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Music Series (2012) in Detroit and the
Harmony in the Hills Lenten Lunchbox Music Series (2013) at St. Paul’s United
Methodist Church in Rochester. At the 2011 “Art for God’s Sake” festival, Kaleidoscope performed the world
premiere of sacred music composer Daniel Knaggs’ “Anastasis.” At the 2013 “Art for God’s Sake”
festival, the women had the pleasure of working with nationally acclaimed
artist William Butler during two live-art/music experiences.

Lungu is actively teaches and performs throughout Michigan. She
was a teacher assistant for the University of Michigan’s school of music in Ann
Arbor from 2003-2006, where she co-taught the strings methods undergraduate
class for the education department, earning her Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA)
in 2006. Between 2006 and 2008, she served as music director of Thorncrest
Music Academy in Toronto, Canada, where she also taught string instrument
classes and earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) in 2006.

Since then, Lungu has actively taught in a private studio located
in Plymouth and also works as a clinician and private instructor with students
at Dexter High-School. She performs as a violinist with Michigan orchestras,
including those in Ann Arbor and Flint.

In addition to her doctoral degree, Lungu earned a Bachelor of
Music from Gh. Dima Music Academy in Romania as well as an Artist Diploma from
Hochschule der Musik in Munchen, Germany. She completed a Master of Music
degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where she taught string
instrument classes and served as concertmaster of the Las Vegas University
Philharmonic.

Her awards/honors include the Rislov Foundation Award for Young
Musicians, American Association of University Women Fund (Ann Arbor chapter) in
2005-2006, a graduate fellowship with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor from
2003-2006, the Sighisoara [Romania] International Festival String Instruments
Award in 2002, Romstal Fundation Fund in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (2001), and the Brevard
[North Carolina] Music Festival Scholarship in 2000.

Chun, who currently serves as director of music ministry and
organist for St. Anastasia Roman Catholic Church in Troy, received a Doctorate
of Musical Arts (DMA) in Organ Performance and Church Music from the University
of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2007. A full scholarship student, she was under the
direction of Marilyn Mason. In addition, she holds a Master of Music degree in
Piano Performance from the prestigious Indiana University’s Jacobs School of
Music in Bloomington, Ind. (2003) where she was a three-year recipient of the
Emma C. Claus Piano Scholarship. Chun also earned a Bachelor of Music degree
Piano Performance from the University of Michigan in 2000 and was an Angell
Scholar.

Her
awards and honors include the Rackham
Research Award for International Research in France
in 2006, which permitted her to travel, play, and research major historic Cavaille-Coll organs. She made her French
début at the Festival Organa 2006 in St. Remy de Provence.  

 Her international
appearances include taking part in the U-M Historic Organ tours with Marilyn in
Spain and France at the Catedral di Barcelona, the Baroque Academy of Pobla di
Cervoles and St. Marguerite of Paris, France in July 2009. Chun also was
chosen to compete at the 13th International César Franck Organ Competition, at
the Kathedraal Basilek Sint Bavo in Haarlem, The Netherlands in September 2010.

 Kaleidoscope and other concerts throughout the year are sponsored by The Oakland Press,
Iverson’s Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and Genisys Credit Union.

 Tickets are
$15 available at the HVCA   205
W. Livingston Rd., Highland 248-889-8660, on line at www.huronvalleyarts.org  or Main Street Art 432 N. Main St., Milford   248-684-1004.

Written by Anne Seebaldt