-
Ticket PriceFree
-
Duration1hr
- Sunday, August 9, 2020 7:00PM — Online
Live with Quartet 515
Join us for a livestreamed recital this Sunday, August 9 featuring Quartet 515! Joyce Beyer, Robert Espe, Paul Virgilio, and Hanna Wolle will perform a wide ranging program from Debussy to Piazzolla, featuring pieces from Florence Price and Scott Joplin.
Five Folksongs in Counterpoint, also known as Negro Folksongs in Counterpoint, is one of two string quartets composed by Florence Price. It features a handful of African-American spirituals played in contrapuntal textures: 'Calvary', 'Clementine', 'Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes', 'Shortnin' Bread' and 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'. Black American composer and pianist Scott Joplin was known for composing in the style of Ragtime; hear his pieces The Entertainer, Solace, and Easy Winners.
Clair de Lune is one of the most beloved pieces by French composer Claude Debussy; the original tune for piano has been arranged for string quartet by William Beyer. Finally, the Quartet plays Oblivion and Libertango by Astor Piazzolla, an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player who revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music.
The concert will be streamed live on the Symphony's Facebook and YouTube pages. RSVP for the Facebook event to get a reminder when the concert is live! You can also watch on YouTube, click through to the video on Facebook, or tune in right on our website.
Robert Espe Violin
Robert grew up in Independence, IA and began his violin studies at the age of three with the UNI Suzuki School in Cedar Falls, IA. He was briefly concertmaster of the UNI Symphony Orchestra during his undergraduate studies, before earning a B.S. in Bioinformatics, Minor in Music in 2011.
In addition to his work as a violinist, he is also a professional freelance saxophonist, regularly appearing with Turner Center Jazz Ensemble and the Des Moines Big Band, and is an on-call sideman for local and visiting artists at Des Moines’ jazz cabaret, Noce. He is also a semi-regular horn section member of the Colorado-based, modern funk, roots, and vintage soul band Euforquestra. He has also performed with numerous musical icons including pop superstar Katy Perry and Motown legends The Temptations. As a mandolinist, he is a founding member of Choro Moingona, Des Moines’ premier choro ensemble.
Joyce Beyer Viola
Joyce Beyer is violist with Quartet 515 and an active community member. Since graduating Cum Laude from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor of Music in Education on piano and viola, Joyce has served as head of the Northside Orchestra Program for Des Moines Public Schools. Joyce performs regularly with the Des Moines Symphony and the Simpson Community Orchestra, and various community outreach programs with the Sigma Alpha Iota Alumnae. While at UNI, she met her husband, William Beyer, while learning to play the school’s carillon, the bells atop the school’s campanile tower.
Hanna Wolle Violin
A native of Des Moines, violinist Hanna Wolle has quickly established herself as a dynamic performer, chamber musician, and orchestral player in the Des Moines area.
After beginning her musical studies at age four, Hanna quickly emerged as a talented violinist, winning several competitions in the Midwest. In 2005, she won a First Violin spot with the Des Moines Symphony as a junior in high school and rejoined the Symphony and the First Violin section in 2017 after moving back to Des Moines. In addition to performing with the Symphony, Hanna performs with her string quartet, Quartet 515, and the Dueling Fiddles with fellow Violinist Geneviève Salamone. Through various musical engagements, Hanna enjoys maintaining an active performing career in the area.
Hanna graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in Economics and Chinese, and currently works at the Principal. In 2017, Hanna was recognized as a finalist for the Juice YP Creative of the Year award and was honored as a 2017 Business Record Forty Under 40 recipient.
Paul Virgilio Cello
Hailing from New York, Paul Virgilio moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 2009 to study cello with Dr. Ashley Sandor-Sidon at Drake University. In that time, Paul has grown his career in the Greater Des Moines area through various orchestral engagements, work with Quartet 515 (of which he is a founding member), and solo/chamber projects.
