Violinist Stefan Jackiw, with pianist Kevin Ahfat will present the Prokofiev Violin Sonata in D and duos with clarinetist Yoonah Kim by Schubert and Mozart. Allison Eldredge and Kevin Ahfat will join Jackiw and Kim in the Walter Rabl Piano Quartet. This will be an intimate and powerful evening of music with world class musicians you won't want to miss!
Stefan Jackiw is one of America’s leading violinists, acclaimed for his poetic, pure tone and masterful technique. Praised by the Boston Globe for playing of “uncommon musical substance,” he has performed with top orchestras including those of Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Highlights of his 2025–26 season include returns to the Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Indianapolis symphonies, debuts with the Austin and Vancouver symphonies, and a special trio appearance with Alisa Weilerstein and Inon Barnatan at London’s Southbank Centre. A dedicated chamber musician, he tours widely with the Junction Trio and gives recitals across the U.S. His recent seasons have featured engagements with the New York and Cleveland orchestras, world premieres with the Junction Trio, and international appearances in Asia and Europe. Jackiw has recorded to critical acclaim, including Ives’ sonatas with Jeremy Denk and Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with Barnatan and Weilerstein. A Harvard and New England Conservatory graduate, he performs on a 1730 Montagnana violin and lives in New York City.
Canadian pianist Kevin Ahfat has been praised for his riveting artistry, technical finesse, and “balanced mix of expressiveness and virtuosity” (Musical America). A dynamic soloist, chamber musician, and educator, he performs worldwide and records as a core member of the three-time Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble, with albums recognized by The Boston Globe, WQXR, and nominations for Juno and OPUS Klassik Awards. A Juilliard-trained artist and two-time concerto competition winner, Ahfat has appeared at top venues including Koerner Hall, Merkin Hall, and Benaroya Hall, and collaborated with renowned artists such as Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Stefan Jackiw, and SO Percussion. He is also known for innovative multimedia projects, including cinematic performances and the short film Soirée pour Camille. Committed to education, Ahfat has worked with Juilliard Global Ventures and edX, presented masterclasses across North America, and serves as Artistic Director of OPUS Chamber Music in Toronto.
Clarinetist Yoonah Kim, praised by The New York Times for her “inexhaustible virtuosity,” is a versatile and deeply expressive artist whose career spans solo, chamber, orchestral performance, and education. She launched her solo career by winning the 2016 Concert Artists Guild International Competition—the first solo clarinetist in nearly 30 years to do so—and has since earned top prizes at the Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition, George Gershwin International Competition, and Vienna International Competition. Kim has performed recitals at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess series, and Washington Performing Arts, and appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Maui Chamber Orchestra, New England Philharmonic, and Wheeling Symphony. She is a proud Vandoren and Duo Music Artist.
Cellist Allison Eldredge, praised for her expressive artistry and fearless virtuosity, has performed worldwide as a soloist with major orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, Moscow Virtuosi, and the Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and China. She gained international recognition performing the Elgar Concerto with Daniel Barenboim and made her Carnegie Hall debut with Krzysztof Penderecki and the Warsaw Sinfonia. A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and Musical America’s “Young Artist of the Year,” Eldredge has recorded acclaimed albums on Denon, BMG, and RCA Victor. Her performances have been featured at the Kennedy Center, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and the White House. In recent seasons, she has performed concertos by Elgar and Golijov and was named the first Artist-in-Residence at the Newton Cultural Alliance, where she founded the Cherry Street Music series. A dedicated educator, she has taught at Harvard, New England Conservatory Prep, and Boston String Academy, mentoring students who have gone on to top conservatories worldwide. Eldredge studied at Juilliard and with Yo-Yo Ma, Harvey Shapiro, and others, and plays the 2015 Samuel Zygmuntowicz “Eldredge” cello.
Performances at The Allen Center are made possible by the generosity and support from our community. Your optional gift will advance our mission of bringing exceptional arts programming to Newton, MA.
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