Lunchtime Concert: Madeleine Mitchell, violin & Elektra Schmidt, piano

Madeleine Mitchell, described by The Times as ‘one of the UK”s liveliest musical forces (and) foremost violinists’ has performed as soloist and chamber musician in some 50 countries, including the BBC Proms, Lincoln Center, Sydney Opera House, with orchestras including BBC, Royal Philharmonic, National Polish Radio Symphony and Kiev Radio/TV Orchestra. Her acclaimed discography includes many works for her by leading composers, Violin Songs (including the short pieces featured today) and she’s also championed early 20C British music. Later this year she gives recitals and classes in Brazil and the USA, where she was former Fulbright Fellow, and Three Choirs Festival with the London Chamber Ensemble Quartet which she founded. She is also a professor at the Royal College of Music where as Foundation Scholar she won the Tagore Gold Medal.

www.madeleinemitchell.com

Pianist Elektra Schmidt performs as a soloist and in chamber groups in the United States, France, Greece, and the United Kingdom. Notable recent engagements include soloist performances in Benjamin Gribble’s Oleander (world premiere) with the Golden Gate Symphony, under Urs Steiner, Angélica Negrón’s Sinfonía Isleña with the Santa Rosa Symphony and Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto. As well as a flourishing performance career, Elektra curates for numerous festivals and art houses in Europe and San Francisco. She is the founder of Artist Migration, an organization dedicated to the integration and mobility of international artists. Elektra grew up in Greece and completed her postgraduate studies in Paris before moving to San Francisco. She has given several recitals with Madeleine Mitchell.