Jennifer Koh: Bach and Beyond

Renowned violinist and Music Institute of Chicago alumna Jennifer Koh returns to Nichols Concert Hall for a program featuring music from her “Bach and Beyond” recording series, released by Cedille Records in three installments (2012, 2015, and 2020). The series explores the history of the solo violin repertoire from Bach’s Six Sonatas and Partitas to the music of 20th and 21st century composers. The “Bach and Beyond” recordings have received widespread critical acclaim, with the Chicago Tribune describing them as an “epic traversal of solo violin repertoire” and “a monumental achievement.”

In addition, Koh’s Nichols Concert Hall program includes works from her Grammy Award-winning album Alone Together, a series of commissioned and donated new works inspired by the hardship in the arts community caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 release includes works by Vijay Iyer, Tania Leon, Missy Mazzoli, and more. The New York Times called Alone Together “a marvel for a time of crisis” and the lineup of composers “more inclusive than anything in mainstream classical music.”

Master Class with Jennifer Koh 
Friday, October 20, 7-8:30 PM | Nichols Concert Hall
Free and open to the public
Koh will conduct a master class on Friday, October 20,  working with three students from the Music Institute's Academy for gifted pre-college musicians.

More about Jennifer Koh
Recognized for intense, commanding performances, delivered with dazzling virtuosity and technical assurance, Koh is a forward-thinking artist dedicated to exploring a broad and eclectic repertoire, while promoting equity and inclusivity in classical music. She has expanded the contemporary violin repertoire through a wide range of commissioning projects and has premiered more than 100 works written especially for her. Her quest for the new and unusual, sense of endless curiosity, and ability to lead and inspire a host of multidisciplinary collaborators truly set her apart.