CLASSICAL SUNDAYS AT SIX

Phillip Levy, violin & Tae Yeon Lim

January 28, 2024 | 6:00 PM

Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as the top classical performer of 1995, violinist Phillip Levy has received worldwide critical acclaim at festivals in Spoleto, Bayreuth, Edinburgh, Israel, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Ojai, Seattle and Aspen.

“Powerful playing… clean articulation, appealing tasteful and confident sense of style… taking no aspect of music at face value.” (London Telegraph, Wigmore Hall Debut Recital)

Mr. Levy has received many prestigious awards and prizes including the International Chamber Music Competition, Florence, Italy; The Royal Overseas League, England; The Myra Hess Trust, Welsh Arts Council, American Israel Cultural Foundation and Rubin Academy Violin Competition, Israel.

He has collaborated with renowned artists including Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Iona Brown, Sir Neville Marriner, Dawn Upshaw, John O’Connor, Ralf Gothoni and Lynn Harrell. He has also premiered and recorded new works by composers William Bolcom, Henri Lazarof, Donald Crocket and John Harbison.

Born in Cardiff, Wales, Mr. Levy trained in Israel and Europe. Returning to England, he joined the English Chamber Orchestra and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, with whom he also appeared as soloist. He led the London based Locrian and Amphion String Quartets and was subsequently invited to perform Bartok’s Violin Duos on BBC television with Sir Yehudi Menuhin.

Concertmaster of The Monterey Symphony Orchestra for six seasons, Mr. Levy frequently appeared with them as soloist and conductor. He was also the principal violinist for the Apple Hill Chamber Players, held a senior lectureship in violin and chamber music at Stanford University for eight years and also led the Stanford String Quartet, performing and recording with them extensively.

Currently residing in Los Angeles, Mr. Levy leads the Capitol Ensemble, artists in residence for Great Music at Saint James’ Sundays at Six, formerly Los Angeles County Museum’s Sunday’s Live. 

His numerous solo performances have been broadcast on Israel Television and Radio, NPR and the BBC.

Mr. Levy is also a recording artist for the Hollywood film studios and has been featured on over one thousand movie soundtracks, including Star Wars, ET, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, X-Men, Frozen and Avatar. He has also recorded with legendary artists such as Barbra Streisand, Sting, Phil Collins and Elton John.

A much sought after teacher, Mr. Levy has taught at festivals throughout the world.

Tae Yeon Lim is known for her powerful performance style, combining energetic delivery with an intelligent touch.

Originally from South Korea, Tae currently lives in Los Angeles where she is active as a pianist and conductor. Revealing a talent for music at a young age, she was selected as a soloist with the Sorisam Chamber Orchestra at 11 years old, performing Mozart’s Concert Rondo. She was also invited to perform in the prestigious Chosun Journal Young Artist Debut Series at Sejong Arts Hall, in Seoul. Her work as a collaborative pianist was recognized early, as winner of the Busan Duo-Piano Competition. Tae studied with the pioneering American pianist James Tocco at the Manhattan School of Music before earning a D.M.A. at the University of Southern California, Thornton School of Music, where her mentor was the renowned piano pedagogue Stewart Gordon.

Tae has since developed an international career spanning Asia, Europe, and the United States, including performances in Korea, China, Germany, Italy, and Austria. Her recent project, Joachim Raff: Complete Music for Cello and Piano, released on the British label Toccata Classics, includes the world premiere recording of the Sonata for Piano and Cello (Op. 183) by the 19th century Swiss-German composer. Recent solo recitals include a concert at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, the Brand Library and Arts Center, and the Alhambra Performing Arts Center, among others. An active concerto soloist, Tae has performed with orchestras in Beijing, Seoul, and particularly in Southern California, including the Los Angeles Sinfonietta and the Vicente Chamber Orchestra. Upcoming concerto engagements include a performance with the M.U.D. Orchestra in Korea in the Fall of 2020.

A versatile artist, Tae has emerged not only as a pianist of note but also as a conductor. Prior to joining the Vicente Chamber Orchestra as an Assistant Conductor, she served as Assistant Conductor of the Esperanza Azteca Los Angeles Youth Choir and was a fellow at Chorus America Conducting Academy. At the University of Southern California, Tae studied conducting with Larry Livingston.

Tae is currently a member of the Overland Duo.