• Merling Trio – Monday, November 26, 2012 at 7:00pm – The Merling Trio is widely recognized as one of today’s premier ensembles. Their fusion of violin, cello, and piano has led them to be hailed as a brilliantly distinguished group endowed with remarkable gifts of communication, magnificent precision, and an impeccable blend of sound. A truly international trio, it brings together musicians from Polish, Japanese, and Dutch backgrounds. Following its New York debut in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and named finalist for the Naumburg Foundation Chamber Music Award, the group has maintained an active tour schedule throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
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Thomas Pandolfi – Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 7:00pm – Young American pianist Thomas Pandolfi is an exciting virtuoso who, with each passing season, is becoming more and more sought after by audiences worldwide. He is repeatedly showered with superlatives by critics for his passionate artistry and amazing technique. His orchestral appearances often feature beloved masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Liszt. Thomas Pandolfi’s career has already included performances with such European orchestras as the George Enescu Philharmonic and the Cluj Philharmonic of the Republic of Moldova. He has also performed with American Symphony Orchestras throughout the country. Thomas Pandolfi is a graduate of The Julliard School, where he earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as a scholarship student. The Washington Post acclaimed Thomas Pandolfi as “an artist who is a master of both the grand gesture and finesse.”
• Amernet String Quartet – Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 7:00pm – Lauded for their “intelligence” and “immensely satisfying” playing by the New York Times, the Amernet String Quartet has garnered worldwide praise and recognition as one of today’s exceptional string quartets. The founding members were students at The Julliard School and are currently the Ensemble-in-Residence at Florida International University. Amernet rose to international attention after their first season, winning the Gold Medal at the Tokyo International Music Competition in 1992. In 1995, the group won first place at the prestigious Banff International String Quartet competition. Amernet has since maintained a busy performance schedule, which has taken them across the United States, as well as to Japan, Canada, Mexico, and throughout Europe.
• Douglas Renfroe, Bass Baritone and LaVon Mattson, Pianist – Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 7:00pm – Douglas Renfroe is a nationally acclaimed bass baritone who made his Lincoln Center debut in Schumann’s Paradise and Peri and his Carnegie Hall debut in Orff’s Carmina Burana. He has specialized in oratorio works and has performed throughout the United States and Europe. His concerts have included Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Braham’s Requiem, Medelssohn’s Elijah, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. Douglas Renfroe has appeared with the Washington Opera and Boston Opera, and has been a concert recitalist under Columbia Artist management. Pianist LaVon Mattson is an accomplished solo performer and teacher of piano and organ. A native of North Dakota, LaVon Mattson was a voice and piano major at Bethel College in Minnesota with advanced studies at Viterbo University in Wisconsin.
“The Concerts and Conversation Series is different from other concerts because it allows the guests the exclusive opportunity to mingle with the artist following the performance,” said Boren. “Attendees for this concert series are able to enjoy an hour of classical music in a small intimate setting since we only offer a select number of tickets for each performance. In the last few years, we decided to open ticket sales to the general public, and it has been a great success.”
Space is very limited, so tickets and reservations are required to attend any of the concerts in this series, which will be held in the Grand Cypress Room of the Woodlands. Tickets for each concert are $25, or all four concerts can be purchased for a series price of $80. To purchase tickets, or receive more information, please visit www.shellpoint.org/concerts or call (239) 454-2067.
Shell Point Retirement Community is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers just off Summerlin Road and McGregor Boulevard, two miles before the Sanibel causeway. Shell Point has received national accreditation from CARF-CCAC, and is a nationally recognized leader in the retirement industry. The community offers retirement living in a resort-style environment with an 18-hole championship golf course, deep water boating access, and recreational and fitness facilities. To learn more about Shell Point, visit us at www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131
