Sima Trio wins 2012 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition

PanARMENIAN.Net - Sima Trio has won the first prize and the gold medal of the 2012 International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition.

Praised for their “powerful” and “heartfelt” interpretations of classical and ethnic repertoire, Sima Trio is quickly becoming one of the leading, young trios of its generation.

Connected by their Armenian heritage, the members of this NY based ensemble have studied with such teachers as Dorothy Delay, Peter Oundjian, Joaquin Soriano, Solomon Mikowksy, Timothy Eddy, and Ralph Kirshbaum at Juilliard, Yale, Real Conservatorio Superior de Madrid, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes, and the Royal Northern College of Music respectively. Winners of international competitions, violinist Sami Merdinian, cellist Ani Kalayjian, and pianist Sofya Melikyan, are highly sought after soloists and chamber musicians who have performed at such major venues as Carnegie Hall, Teatro Colon, Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Concertgebauw, Seoul Arts Center, Shanghai Theatre, Salle Cortot, La Jolla Sherwood auditorium, Orange County Performing Arts Center, and Yerevan Philharmonic Hall, among others.

Sima Trio’s group mission is to bring music to life, engage and educate communities, and create cross-cultural awareness. Performing as much as they can in diverse settings, they strive to bring music to life for people. Their musical focus is on exploring the abundant standard and forgotten repertoire, discovering new and old works from their unique cultural backgrounds and worldwide travels, and contributing to the repertoire by commissioning new trio works. As modern musicians, they each are passionate and dedicated to community engagement and education. These two are easily intertwined in the form of university or school residences, master classes, lessons, and community outreach concerts.

Sima Trio has recently won the second prize at J.C. Arriaga chamber music competition, as well as performed at Rutgers Zimmerli Arts Museum in New Brunswick, St. Gregory church in White Plains, Dweck Center in New York, Avalon Theater in Easton, Parish Hall in Wye Mills, and Ridotto series in Huntington, NY. Upcoming engagements include a South American tour in Frutillar, Chile, Cordoba & Buenos Aires, Argentina, as well as recitals at the Little Rock Chamber Music Society, Fortuna Music Club and Fort Bragg Arts Center in California, Saugerties ProMusica Series in NY, Treetops Chamber Society, Weill Recital Hall, Freeport and Huntington Libraries, Myra Hess Series in Chicago, and a tour of Florida including performances at the Broward Center.