| Biography |
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 Described as “a consummate artist perform[ing] with convincing vigor and passion,” violinist Sarah E Geller has performed to critical acclaim in many prestigious venues as soloist and collaborative artist. Beloved by listeners from coast to coast, Geller continually draws capacity audiences with her rich sound and palette of tone colors and her innate ability to communicate musically with a compelling yet gentle touch.Geller creates one-of-a-kind programs as soloist and the founder of her ensemble, SEGUE. She often juxtaposes both the masterworks and unknown gems of the great composers with Latin and jazz-influenced works. Audiences have ascribed to Geller the ability to highlight the connections among diverse works. Performing extensively in her hometown of New York City and beyond with pianists Wenhan Anderson and Cheryl Tschanz, Geller’s 2011-2012 season includes performances on the Pensacola (FL) Junior College Lyceum series and a recital and family workshop on the Killingworth (CT) Arts Center Classical Night Out series. In a debut performance at David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, SEGUE will feature their newest and in-demand program, Sonidos y Danzas Luminosos, with tango dancers. In previous seasons Geller has appeared in recital at Pepperdine University (CA) and Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church (NYC). Kindred Spirits Arts Programs, Inc. presented SEGUE in a series of dynamic public school workshops and a culminating concert. Additional engagements have included Chipola College (FL), Gainesville Pro Musica (GA), an artist residency at Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute (NY) and six consecutive invitations to perform on the Donnell Library Series in Manhattan. Since receiving the Helen Airoff Dowling Award for “outstanding undergraduate violinist” upon graduation from the Manhattan School of Music, Geller made her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut as a winner of the Artists’ International Special Presentation Award. SEGUE debuted its Ritmo, Color y Pasión program (Latin American and flamenco music for violin, guitar and dancer) in 2009 to a standing-room-only audience at Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium. SEGUE has gone on to perform countless sold-out programs on the East Coast. Geller created the ensemble in 2005 to feature flexible configurations of award-winning artists after her stunning success premiering Jeffery Story’s Driven for solo violin and dancer at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall. Dedicated to educating the next generation, Geller first became known in her native Maine for her exceptional ability to inspire and nurture children. She now brings that ability to her Suzuki studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and to her students at The School for Strings (SFS). Geller received her Suzuki certification from SFS and served as director and head violin teacher for ten years at the SFS at PS116, an outreach Suzuki program. She furthers her own studies with Joey Corpus. Her former principal teachers include Michael Gilbert, Patinka Kopec, Gregory Fulkerson and Lawrence Golan. |
“[Geller] plays Mendelssohn’s difficult cadenzas fluently and with the brightness they require, while reserving a full, lush tone for the flowing melodies.” —Portland Press Herald “The Fauré was the highlight of the concert: Ms. Geller and her excellent pianist reveled in its sunny, carefree high spirits. She has the simple, poised, confident stage presence of a seasoned performer.” “From its enigmatic double-stopped opening, her [Geller’s] tone was rich and chocolaty, with a dark, somewhat reedy or woody quality that has a little Jascha coloring, something gypsyish, in it.” Sarah E Geller impressed the audience by delivering a wide spectrum of tone colors to the beautiful harmonies of the Brahms A Major Sonata for Violin and Piano... “Ms. Geller represents the best of this new generation of classical artists. Her mastery of her instrument, awareness of audience tastes, and ability to relate to the audience make her an extremely appealing choice for a presenter.” “Violinist Sarah E Geller has presented several extremely successful, well-attended concerts at the Donnell Library Center over the past few years. She is a gifted musician whose programs are very well thought out and executed. Ms. Geller’s professionalism and attention to detail have made it a pleasure to work with her.” “[Geller’s] outstanding abilities…are grounded in her dynamic work as a chamber musician. She has appeared twice to great acclaim on our chamber series. … Ms. Geller’s talents shine through to audiences who thrill at her abundant musicality and probing interpretations. … As a [concerto] soloist in the Bach Double…she possesse[d] an innate understanding of Baroque practice. Her interpretation of this difficult work was learned but virtuosic in the best sense.” |
