Symphonic stars will shine bright in concert

The concert will boast the talents of a trio of bright lights of the classical music scene in Oregon

As part of the celebration of its 10th anniversary season, Vashon Chamber Music will present “Stars of the Oregon Symphony” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 25, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

The concert will boast the talents of a trio of bright lights of the classical music scene in Oregon. Sarah Swak, who is concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony; Vali Phillips, a violinist and violist for the Oregon Symphony; and Cary Lewis, a Portland pianist, will join VCM’s founder, cellist Rowena Hammill, for the concert. The musicians — all with a wealth of professional accomplishments and honors, will present a program that includes the Brahms Piano Quartet in A major.

Vashon Chamber Music was founded in 2009, a year after Hammill and her husband, Douglas Davis (also an accomplished cellist) moved to Vashon. The group has since played in locations including the Blue Heron, the Vashon Methodist Church, and the Havurah Building. The ensemble twice did an all-day marathon of Beethoven quartets at various island churches and have had guest performers from Seattle, Victoria, B.C., Los Angeles and Portland.

“We must have performed over 200 pieces of chamber music over the years, with very few repeats,” Hammill said.

“Stars of the Oregon Symphony” is part of an ongoing series of classical music concerts and events at Vashon Center for the Arts. Upcoming programs in the series include two Music History Talks by Michael Tracy. The first talk, on March 31, will be about the composer Claude Debussy; the second, on June 9, will cover the life and music of Maurice Ravel.

Tickets to “Stars of the Oregon Symphony” range in price from $10 to $25 and can be purchased at vashoncenterforthearts.org, where more information on the entire series can also be found.