Stellaria Duo: Violin & Piano Concerts
“Notable was both the rich sound and musical cohesion. Their playing intertwined and came together with power and intensity, leavened by interspersed lighter moments. The virtuosic precision was there, but the performance reveled in the work’s grand lyricism." The Times Argus
Photo Credits: Dave Yandell
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A native of Long Lake, NY, pianist Claire Black resides in Charlotte, VT. Praised as “a fine pianist with substantial, crystal-clear technique, plenty of power, yet with a sensitive musicality and a penchant for lyricism” (Jim Lowe, Times Argus), Claire is an active performer of classical music in solo and collaborative settings, and has presented her programs throughout North America. Claire's deep interest in and commitment to chamber music synergize with her abundant experience, including many years of performance tours with the Cialde Quintet and with her cello-piano Elegua Duo. Her current chamber music endeavors include concerts with the Stellaria Trio and Vermont Virtuosi. She also freelances as an accompanist for vocal and instrumental soloists and for the Burlington Choral Society. Before moving to Vermont, Claire spent eight years in Cleveland, OH. There, she worked as a staff accompanist at Baldwin Wallace University and trained at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM). She received a Master of Music degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Margarita Shevchenko.
Claire is an avid educator, maintaining a substantial private studio of piano players at all levels. She previously taught at Oberlin Conservatory's Community Music School and at CIM's Summer Sonata festival for young pianists. She also works in several administrative capacities, currently managing the Stellaria Trio and having served on the Vermont Music Teachers Association board as Competitions Chair, as Bookings Coordinator for the Cathedral Arts Series in Burlington, and as a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs.
Letitia Quante started violin with the Suzuki method. She studied with David Einfeldt at Hartt Music School and performed in Australia, Japan, Belgium, France, and Alice Tully and Carnegie Halls in New York. At age 11 she entered Juilliard pre-college, studying with Louise Behrend. She also minored in conducting until she graduated at age 15. She worked as a violinist, was apprentice conductor to the NY Youth Symphony, and completed her Suzuki teacher training at School for Strings. Resuming her studies at the Peabody Conservatory, Letitia completed her BMA with full scholarship, studying with Victor Danchenko. While living in Maryland, she played principal with Mid-Atlantic Symphony and assistant concertmaster with Lancaster Symphony, and concertized both as a soloist and chamber musician with other ensembles in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. She has performed with diverse musicians such as Mikhail Kopelman, Leon Fleisher, Eugene Drucker, Phil Setzer, Sarah Chang, Kanye West, Bajofondo, and Natalia Lafourcade. She has also performed with Singapore Symphony, New World Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Since moving to Vermont in 2012, Letitia performs with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Middlebury Opera, Handel Society at Dartmouth, Vermont Contemporary Ensemble, and Vermont Virtuosi. Letitia is playing on an 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume on generous loan from Vermont Violins.
Claire is an avid educator, maintaining a substantial private studio of piano players at all levels. She previously taught at Oberlin Conservatory's Community Music School and at CIM's Summer Sonata festival for young pianists. She also works in several administrative capacities, currently managing the Stellaria Trio and having served on the Vermont Music Teachers Association board as Competitions Chair, as Bookings Coordinator for the Cathedral Arts Series in Burlington, and as a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs.
Letitia Quante started violin with the Suzuki method. She studied with David Einfeldt at Hartt Music School and performed in Australia, Japan, Belgium, France, and Alice Tully and Carnegie Halls in New York. At age 11 she entered Juilliard pre-college, studying with Louise Behrend. She also minored in conducting until she graduated at age 15. She worked as a violinist, was apprentice conductor to the NY Youth Symphony, and completed her Suzuki teacher training at School for Strings. Resuming her studies at the Peabody Conservatory, Letitia completed her BMA with full scholarship, studying with Victor Danchenko. While living in Maryland, she played principal with Mid-Atlantic Symphony and assistant concertmaster with Lancaster Symphony, and concertized both as a soloist and chamber musician with other ensembles in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York. She has performed with diverse musicians such as Mikhail Kopelman, Leon Fleisher, Eugene Drucker, Phil Setzer, Sarah Chang, Kanye West, Bajofondo, and Natalia Lafourcade. She has also performed with Singapore Symphony, New World Symphony, Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Since moving to Vermont in 2012, Letitia performs with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, Burlington Chamber Orchestra, Middlebury Opera, Handel Society at Dartmouth, Vermont Contemporary Ensemble, and Vermont Virtuosi. Letitia is playing on an 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume on generous loan from Vermont Violins.