Annual Thanksgiving Concert

Featuring:

Grant Houston, violinist

Ariel Horowitz, violinist

Kayla Williams, viola

Nicholas Johnson, cello

Program

Mendelssohn Quartet 6 in F minor, Op. 80

Jerod Tate Woodland Songs

Eleanor Alberga String Quartet no. 2

About the Musicians

Violinist Grant Houston connects with listeners through performances of unbridled energy and emotional magnetism. Known for drawing in audiences with a uniquely compelling musical voice, he has been described as playing "as ethereally as mist... the audience kept so quiet that it seemed we were holding our breath throughout." (Yale Alumni Magazine). Particularly devoted to chamber music, Houston is a founding member of Trio Gaia, a co-artistic director of the GRAMMY-nominated Palaver Strings, and a frequently featured performer at chamber music series and festivals across the country.

Hailed by The Washington Post as “Sweetly Lyrical,” violinist, composer/songwriter, and community organizer Ariel Horowitz (they/them or she/her) cannot remember life before loving music. In 2020, Ariel joined the Concert Artists Guild roster for North American management, and enjoys an active touring schedule as a soloist and as one-half of Vision Duo, an ensemble formed with fellow CAG artist Britton-René Collins in 2021. As a composer, songwriter, and avid improviser, Ariel's original music centers themes of healing, community, and liberation. She has performed her compositions and songs around the world, including at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Kayla Williams is a dynamic violist celebrated for her warm tone, versatile collaborations across genres, and vibrant stage presence. Originally from Florida, she began playing violin at the age of four before discovering her true passion—the viola—at ten. In 2018, she made her concerto debut performing Bartók’s Viola Concerto as the winner of the Lynn Concerto Competition. As a recitalist, Kayla has performed across the country in concert series such as the Lyric Chamber Music Society, GatherNYC at the MAD Museum, Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, St. Lawrence University, the Island Concert Association February Festival (St. Simons Island, GA), Trinity Concert Series, Warner Robins Community Concert Association, Lakeside Society for the Performing Arts, the Oxford College of Emory University, the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Guest Artist Series, and Rejoicing in Mayesville, SC.

Cellist Nicholas Johnson (they,he) strives to create meaningful art at local levels through collaborations which cross genres. As a recipient of the 2023 St. Botolph Club Foundation’s Emerging Artist Award, they commissioned and recorded a new suite of music inspired by the cosmos by Mason Bynes and Jingmian Gong, building upon Toru Takemitsu’s “Orion” for cello and piano (to be released Summer 2024). They perform and record with Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Odyssey Opera, and in the 2022-2023 season returned to their native state of Florida as guest principal of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. In recent seasons Nicholas has performed with Boston Public Quartet, Semiosis Quartet, Winsor Music, and Juventas New Music. With these ensembles and the contemporary sinfonietta Sound Icon, he regularly works with young composers at Berklee College of Music, RWU, and MIT to workshop and record their new music. Nick has soloed alongside Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, members of the Silk Road Ensemble, and Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble performing Chen Yi’s Suite for Cello and Chamber Winds.