Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Pianist Amy I-Lin Cheng and clarinetist Chad Burrow will be featured performers during the "Romantic Concert," the third concert of Stephen F. Austin State University's Chamber Music in the Pines Festival, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 13, in Cole Concert Hall.

The husband and wife, both faculty members at Oklahoma City University, will join SFA faculty cellist Evgeni Raychev in opening the concert with Carl Frühlig's "Trio in A minor for Clarinet, Cello and Piano, Op. 40."

Performing the second number, Felix Mendelssohn's "String Quartet in D major, Op. 44 No. 1," will be Meredith Maddox, violinist with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and SFA music faculty members Jennifer Dalmas, violin; Gene H. Moon, viola; and Raychev.

To close the program, Cheng will again take the stage with Dalmas, Maddox, Moon and Raychev to perform Edward Elgar's "Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 84."

"Many of our audience members may remember Amy from her performance with the Orchestra of the Pines last October or Chad's guest artist concert in April," said John W. Goodall, artistic director of the festival. "We are delighted that they have agreed to join us as our special guests for this year's Chamber Music in the Pines Festival."

Cheng, who is head of the piano program at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University, has performed in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the National Recital Hall of Taiwan. The New York Concert Review called Cheng "a natural talent," noting "her control of the keyboard is complete, technique easy and relaxed, with a wide range of touch, color, and dynamics."

Burrow, an assistant professor, is the principal clarinetist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra and past principal clarinetist with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. He has been honored at solo and chamber music competitions around the country and was the only American clarinetist invited to participate in the 2003 Munich Competition. Burrow has appeared as soloist and recitalist across the United States, and in Germany and Taiwan.

As Duo Clarion, Cheng and Burrows have performed in the United States, Asia and Europe. The duo made its debut compact disk, "Where the Sunsets Bleed: Chamber Music of Edward Knight," on the Albany Records.

The Chamber Music in the Pines Festival, sponsored in part by Ed and Gwen Cole, will close with the "20th Century Concert" at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 15, followed by a reception sponsored by the Friends of Music.

Tickets for the either concert are $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $5 for students. For tickets or more information, please visit sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.