Rika Seko, violin

After graduating from Tokyo University of Arts, Rika Seko began her professional career in Bogota, Colombia in 1986, first as guest Concertmaster of the Colombia Symphony, then as Assistant Concertmaster in the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra. During that time, she performed over 20 different concertos, from Baroque to Contemporary Repertoire, and gave numerous recitals in Latin America.

Since moving to Chicago in 1994 Rika has appeared with many Chicago-area orchestras including Chicago Philharmonic, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Camerata Chicago. As soloist she has performed with Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra (WI) and Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (IL). She gave the Colombian premier performance of Serenade by Bernstein in 2006.

Currently she is Concertmaster at Elmhurst Symphony and a member of Grant Park Music Festival Symphony, Music of the Baroque, Fulcrum Point New Music Project and Associate Concert Master of Camerata Chicago.

Violin Concerti & Serenades with Rika Seko


March 19, 2021
6pm CDT
PianoForte Studios, Chicago

Rika Seko,violin
Camerata Chicago Chamber Ensemble

Fabulous violinist Rika Seko will perform the Bach Violin Concerto in E Major, the Schubert Rondo and Wagner Traume with our Camerata Chicago Chamber Ensemble, which will also perform the Ambrose Hall String Serenade.

 

Chamber Ensemble
Mathias Tacke,violin – Songhea Sackrider, violin
Istvan Loga, viola – Christopher Ferrer, cello
Dan Carson, bass – William Billingham, keyboard

 

There are only 25 physical audience tickets available.

 

Top row: Rika Seko, solo violin; Middle row: Mathias Tacke, Concert Master & violin; Songhea Sackrider, violin; Istvan Loga, viola; Bottom row: Christopher Ferrer, cello; Dan Carson, Bass; William Billingham, Keyboard

Ambrose Hall, composer

Ambrose Hall has been composing since the age of 7. Born in 1970, he has written various works for orchestra, notably Fantasia at the age of 14 and Zap for Orchestra at the age 24. He composed the String Serenade originally as a quintet and it was first performed in Ipswich, England in 1988. Ambrose studied with the late Sir Charles Mackerras and interviewed him shortly before his death in 2010, which can be heard on MackerrasLegacy.com. Ambrose Hall received his Masters in Music (M.Mus Conducting) from the University of East Anglia, England in 2010. Currently Ambrose is working on a series of Albums in popular genres as well as classical works. Many of his works and performances are available on soundcloud and Youtube. Ambrose has played internationally as a virtuoso jazz pianist.

Camerata Chicago Chamber Ensemble Artists

Mathias Tacke – Concert Master, Violin

Mathias Tacke is Concert Master of Camerata Chicago and was the second violinist of the acclaimed Vermeer Quartet, Chicago from 1992 until 2007. He is Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at Northern Illinois University and Guest Lecturer for String Chamber Music at Northwestern University. Mathias was appointed Concertmaster of Camerata Chicago in the summer of 2008. … read more.

Songhea Sackrider – Violin

Songhea Sackrider received her Bachelors degree in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan and a Masters degree in Violin Performance from Northwestern University. She has been a member of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Arts Orchestra and guest principal and soloist with the Kalamazoo Symphony and is a recipient of the Kapnick Scholar Fellowship with the Civic Orchestra and Northwestern University. Songhea is on faculty at the New Music School, Chicago School of Music, Elmhurst Music Academy and GEMS World Academy and is a longtime member of Camerata Chicago.

Istvan Loga – Viola

Istvan Loga has followed his passion for classical music across borders. At the George Enesco School of Music under the guidance of Professor Alexander Gavaller he won numerous prestigious awards and studied at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. In 2010 he studied with the Cordis Quartet at Nederland’s Strijkkwartet Academie under Stefan Metz (Orlando Quartet) and Marc Danel (Quatuor Danel). Istvan performed alongside world-renowned pianist Martha Argerich … read more.

Christopher Ferrer – Principal Cello, Continuo

Cellist Christopher Ferrer is Principal Cellist of Camerata Chicago and a member of Lakeshore Rush. From 2013-2014 he worked as principal cellist for the West Side Story North American Tour. Christopher attended the Royal College of Music in London and Northern Illinois University. While in high school, he was a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Encore Chamber Orchestra. … read more.

 

Dan Carson, Bass

Dan Carson is a freelance bassist and teacher based in Chicago. Dan earned his Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, as well as his Master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Carson served as Principal Bass of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra in Birmingham from 2013-16. He has since performed with many of America’s premier orchestras, including the St. Louis Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and the Minnesota Orchestra. Carson is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate at the University of Southern California, studying with David Allen Moore, renowned double bass pedagogue and member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

William Billingham, keyboard

Pianist William Billingham has served as an Assistant Conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago since 1995. He has assisted in the preparation of over 75 productions, playing for rehearsals, coaching singers, conducting offstage musicians, and performing on the piano onstage, organ in the loft, and harpsichord in the pit. William has also worked as a coach and accompanist for the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Cleveland Orchestra, Florentine Opera (Milwaukee, WI), Los Angeles Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Active as a chamber musician, he is a frequent collaborator with singers and instrumentalists. … read more.