BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Acme Widgets\, Inc.//NONSGML ExportToCalendar//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Groupmuses near X-WR-NAME:Groupmuses near BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260421T173145Z UID:e0df8a1b-d781-45bf-b453-0e401478bb2f DTSTART:20250711T230000Z DTEND:20250712T013000Z DESCRIPTION:Hosted by Jonathan D.\nMusicians: Nina Bernat and Sahun Sam Hon g\n\n**Nina Bernat & Sam Hong**: Mendelssohn\, Chopin\, Saint-Saëns\, Pro kofiev\n\n[Gotham Arts](https://gothamarts.net) in collaboration with [Gro upmuse](https://www.groupmuse.com/) is delighted to present an intimate pr ivate performance by double bassist [Nina Bernat](https://www.ninabernat.c om/) & pianist [Sam Hong](https://www.sahunhong.com/) featuring works by M endelssohn\, Chopin\, Saint-Saëns\, Prokofiev\, & Joseph Achron that high light the bass's ability to sing.\n\nWine will be served.\n\n**Program**\n \nSAINT-SAËNS Romance in F major\, Op. 36\n\nPROKOFIEV 5 Melodies\, Op. 35\n\nJOSEPH ACHRON Hebrew Melody\, Op. 33\n\n*Intermission*\n\nMENDELSS OHN Cello Sonata No. 2 in D Major\, Op. 58\n\nCHOPIN Introduction & Polo naise Brillante Op. 3\n\n\n__________\n\n**About the Artists**\n\n[Watch N ina perform on double bass Bach's Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major](https://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=vQZdC_zW39s)\n\n**About Nina Bernat**\n\nAmerican do uble bassist **Nina Bernat**\, acclaimed for her interpretive maturity\, e xpressive depth and technical clarity\, has carved out a distinctive caree r as a soloist\, redefining the role of her instrument on the world stage. She was hailed by the Star Tribune as a "standout" for her recent concert o debut with the Minnesota Orchestra\, praising her performance as "exhila rating\, lovely and lyrical... technically precise and impressively emotiv e."\n\nIn 2023\, Nina was awarded both the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and first prize at the Concert Artists Guild Elmaleh Competition. H er recent accolades also include top prizes at the Barbash J.S. Bach Strin g Competition\, Minnesota Orchestra Young Artist Competition\, Juilliard D ouble Bass Competition\, and the International Society of Bassists Solo Co mpetition. She has given New York recital debuts at Weill Recital Hall and Merkin Hall\, and has appeared as soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra an d Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra.\n\nEngaged in all aspects of double bass pe rformance\, she has been invited to perform as guest principal bassist wit h the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Oslo Philharmonic\, serving under the batons of conductors such as András Schiff and Osmo Vänskä. She can also be heard performing with New York-based chamber orchestra Sejong Sol oists.\n\nWidely recognized for her compelling presence in chamber music s ettings\, Nina is a member of the Bowers Program of the Chamber Music Soci ety of Lincoln Center and has appeared at renowned festivals such as Marlb oro Music Festival\, Verbier Festival\, Music@Menlo\, Chamber Music Northw est\, and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival.\n\nShe is quickly beco ming a sought-after pedagogue\, having given masterclasses at the Colburn School\, Boston University Tanglewood Institute\, University of Texas at A ustin among others. She currently serves on the faculty of Stony Brook Uni versity. \n\nNina performs on an instrument passed down from her father\, Mark Bernat\, attributed to Guadagnini.\n\n**About Sam Hong**\n\nPraised a s an "artist of enormous prowess" (Verbier Festival Newsletter) with a "wi de range of rich colors" (San Diego Story) and playing that is "bold... wi th imagination and charm" (New York Classical Review)\, American pianist * *Sahun Sam Hong** brings his uniquely magnetic tone and colorful style to recital\, chamber\, and concerto stages worldwide.\n\nHong is a prizewinne r of numerous international competitions\, including the Vendome Prize at Verbier (winner)\, International Beethoven Competition Vienna (second priz e)\, and Naumburg International Piano Competition (third prize). He was al so a recipient of a 2021 American Pianists Award.\n\nDescribed as a "virtu oso\, scaling realms... [with] sheer beauty of tone" (Boston Musical Intel ligencer)\, he has appeared as soloist with orchestras including ORF-Vienn a\, Milwaukee\, Indianapolis\, Camerata New York\, Fort Worth\, Richardson \, Racine\, Waco\, Galveston\, and Brazos Valley Symphony\, and has perfor med at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall\, Lincoln C enter’s Alice Tully Hall\, the Vienna Musikverein\, Église de Verbier\, Merkin Hall\, and the Kennedy Center.\n\nHong’s solo recitals reflect a commitment to sound as architecture itself — moving beyond virtuosic di splays into inner clarity and magnetic resonance. His recital programs hav e been praised for "honesty and authenticity... and profound insight" (Syb ille Barasso)\, and his new recital project entitled Glowing in Stillness debuts in the 2025–26 season.\n\nA highly sought-after chamber musician\ , Hong appears regularly on national tours and mainstage concerts with org anizations such as Marlboro\, Music@Menlo\, Ravinia’s Steans Institute\, and Four Seasons. He is a member of the Bowers Program (2024–27) at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.\n\nIn addition to performing\, H ong is a prolific arranger of chamber and orchestral works. His innovative transcriptions are performed worldwide and featured prominently in the to uring programs of the ensemble132 collective\, which he co-directs.\n\nAt the age of 16\, Hong graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian Univer sity (TCU)\, studying with John Owings. He also studied with Leon Fleisher and Yong Hi Moon at the Peabody Institute. Hong is currently based in New York City\, and serves on the faculty of CUNY Queens College. LOCATION:Flatiron\, New York SUMMARY:Nina Bernat & Sam Hong: Mendelssohn\, Chopin\, Saint-Saëns\, Proko fiev URL:https://www.groupmuse.com/events/15503-nina-bernat-sam-hong-mendelssohn -chopin-saint-saens-prokofiev END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR