HELIAND TRIO – clarinet, bassoon, piano
Heliand Trio. Photo by Brent Harrewyn.
Heliand Trio formed in 2006 and is the core ensemble of Heliand Consort. The trio blends the warmth of clarinet and bassoon with the dynamism of piano. Audiences delight in the trio's vivacious energy and dynamic performances of classical masterworks.
The trio performs a core of European classical and romantic works along with modern selections from France, Brazil and America. Hailed for its passionate performances of classical music, Heliand Trio has appeared live on VPR Classical, given interviews on WCVT, and has been selected as a 'Pick of the Week' by Seven Days.
The Trio’s roots extend back eighteen years to when Elisabeth LeBlanc, of St. Albans, and Rachael Elliott, of Lyndon, performed side-by-side in the Vermont Youth Orchestra and All State woodwind sections. They reconnected in 2006, after returning to Vermont following professional studies and freelancing in New Haven, New York City and Montréal. Together with founding pianist Annemieke Spoelstra, they formed Heliand Trio to explore the classical repertoire for winds and piano, and to serve the communities of Vermont by performing live chamber music throughout the state. In 2009, the trio welcomed pianist Cynthia Huard to the ensemble. Ms. Huard is a sought-after collaborator and a founder and artistic director of the Rochester Chamber Music Society.
> > What’s in a name? 'Heliand' is Old Saxon for healing power; helianthus means sunflower. We strive to bring light and joy to the lives of our listeners, through the visceral and irreplaceable experience of hearing great music performed live.
The trio performs a core of European classical and romantic works along with modern selections from France, Brazil and America. Hailed for its passionate performances of classical music, Heliand Trio has appeared live on VPR Classical, given interviews on WCVT, and has been selected as a 'Pick of the Week' by Seven Days.
The Trio’s roots extend back eighteen years to when Elisabeth LeBlanc, of St. Albans, and Rachael Elliott, of Lyndon, performed side-by-side in the Vermont Youth Orchestra and All State woodwind sections. They reconnected in 2006, after returning to Vermont following professional studies and freelancing in New Haven, New York City and Montréal. Together with founding pianist Annemieke Spoelstra, they formed Heliand Trio to explore the classical repertoire for winds and piano, and to serve the communities of Vermont by performing live chamber music throughout the state. In 2009, the trio welcomed pianist Cynthia Huard to the ensemble. Ms. Huard is a sought-after collaborator and a founder and artistic director of the Rochester Chamber Music Society.
> > What’s in a name? 'Heliand' is Old Saxon for healing power; helianthus means sunflower. We strive to bring light and joy to the lives of our listeners, through the visceral and irreplaceable experience of hearing great music performed live.
HELIAND TRIO PROGRAMS
"THE FRENCH-BRAZILIAN CONNECTION"
with CLARINET, BASSOON & PIANO ...a buoyant and feisty program of music inspired by folkloric & dance influences from France and South of the Border Danzon by Paquito D'Rivera Première rhapsodie for clarinet & piano by Claude Debussy Sonata for clarinet & bassoon by Francis Poulenc Pièce en forme de Habanera by Maurice Ravel Suite Cantando by Bill Douglas Choros No. 5 'Alma Brasileira' by Heitor Villa-Lobos Fantaisie Concertante by Heitor Villa-Lobos "CLASSICAL BLISS" with CLARINET, BASSOON & PIANO ...a sparkling selection of classical music, brimming with charm and delight for listeners Trio, Opus 11 by Ludwig van Beethoven Stars (vocal trio) by Don Jamison Trio Pathétique by Mikhael Glinka Fantasy Trio by Robert Muczynski Concertpiece No. 2 in D minor, Opus 114 by Felix Mendelssohn | HELIAND CONSORT PROGRAMS
"SUMMER LIGHT MUSIC"
with FLUTE, OBOE, CLARINET & BASSOON ...a delightful set of music and song with folk, jazz and mythological roots Quatuor by Jean Françaix Eight Etudes by Elliott Carter Four Old Tunes by Gordon Jacob Give Me Your Hand by Rory O’Cahan Pan from “6 Metamorphoses” by Benjamin Britten What Pan Was Doing** by Don Jamison **World premiere, written for Heliand Consort's June 2011 Tour "PERFUMES OF PARIS" with OBOE, CLARINET, BASSOON & PIANO ...music from Paris at the dawn of the 20th century, Roaring 20s & beyond Suite Brève en Trio by Eugène Bozza selections from Miroirs by Maurice Ravel Première rhapsodie by Claude Debussy Cinq Pièces en Trio by Jacques Ibert A tour d’anches by Florent Schmitt Trio for oboe, bassoon & piano by Francis Poulenc |
ABOUT THE TRIO
Heliand Trio. Photo by Stina Booth.
Cynthia Huard, pianist, has appeared as a featured soloist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Aston Magna Early Music Festival, and in recital as a pianist and harpsichordist throughout the United States and in Europe. As Artistic Director of the Rochester Chamber Music Society's summer series, she has performed with Lark Quartet, Johannes Quartet, cellist Nathaniel Rosen, and with chamber players of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, National Symphony, and the Colorado, Utah, and Vermont Symphony Orchestras. Her recent premieres include music by Nico Muhly, along with commissions from Erik Nielsen and Thomas L. Read. Ms. Huard holds advanced degrees from Indiana University and The Akademie of Music in Graz, Austria. She teaches piano and chamber music at Middlebury College.
contact Cynthia: cynthia [at] heliandconsort.org
Elisabeth LeBlanc, clarinetist, has performed with Heliand Trio since 2006. She was born in Québec and raised in St. Albans, Vermont. Ms. LeBlanc earned performance degrees from the Juilliard School and McGill University. This season she has performed the world premiere of Don Jamison’s Through the Clouds for clarinet, bassoon and strings with the Burlington Chamber Orchestra and given several performances of Mozart’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings with Burlington Ensemble. In addition to her freelance career, she is a certified personal trainer, triathlete, and a member of Burlington’s Social Band. Ms. LeBlanc teaches clarinet lessons in St. Albans and the Burlington area.
contact Elisabeth: elisabeth [at] heliandconsort.org
Rachael Elliott, bassoonist, has performed with Heliand Trio since 2006. She grew up in Lyndon, Vermont and is currently based in Durham, North Carolina. A versatile chamber musician, she has performed throughout the United States and Europe, with additional performances in Australia and Mexico. She performs with Clogs, Dark in the Song and the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, along with Heliand Consort. Ms. Elliott teaches bassoon at the University of Vermont, Middlebury College, and Duke University. Her debut chamber music album, Polka the Elk, was released last September and selected as WQXR’s Q2 Album of the Week on September 20th.
contact Rachael: rachael [at] heliandconsort.org
contact Cynthia: cynthia [at] heliandconsort.org
Elisabeth LeBlanc, clarinetist, has performed with Heliand Trio since 2006. She was born in Québec and raised in St. Albans, Vermont. Ms. LeBlanc earned performance degrees from the Juilliard School and McGill University. This season she has performed the world premiere of Don Jamison’s Through the Clouds for clarinet, bassoon and strings with the Burlington Chamber Orchestra and given several performances of Mozart’s Quintet for Clarinet and Strings with Burlington Ensemble. In addition to her freelance career, she is a certified personal trainer, triathlete, and a member of Burlington’s Social Band. Ms. LeBlanc teaches clarinet lessons in St. Albans and the Burlington area.
contact Elisabeth: elisabeth [at] heliandconsort.org
Rachael Elliott, bassoonist, has performed with Heliand Trio since 2006. She grew up in Lyndon, Vermont and is currently based in Durham, North Carolina. A versatile chamber musician, she has performed throughout the United States and Europe, with additional performances in Australia and Mexico. She performs with Clogs, Dark in the Song and the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble, along with Heliand Consort. Ms. Elliott teaches bassoon at the University of Vermont, Middlebury College, and Duke University. Her debut chamber music album, Polka the Elk, was released last September and selected as WQXR’s Q2 Album of the Week on September 20th.
contact Rachael: rachael [at] heliandconsort.org