Scotland’s best-loved classical violinist, Nicola Benedetti, joins Scotland’s National Orchestra for Elgar’s lyrical Violin Concerto. Her performance is the big, passionate heart of a concert that begins with a garland of musical fairy tales from Azerbaijan (a special favourite of conductor Kirill Karabits) and ends amid the dark magic and glittering romance of Stravinsky’s great ballet The Firebird. Music doesn’t get more colourful.

Nicola Benedetti Plays Elgar

Usher Hall

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Caird Hall

Usher Hall, Edinburgh

At once a bass-forward string quartet and at times a downtown band, Owls challenge the way that meaningful concert experiences are conceived. Weaving new works together with original arrangements of music from the 1600s to the present, their PCMS debut program covers a vast timeline that spans from Chick Corea to François Couperin. With their distinctive instrumentation and collective creativity, the ensemble of violinist Alexi Kenney, violist Ayane Kozasa, and cellists Gabriel Cabezas and Paul Wiancko channels beautiful and exhilarating new sounds from over 300 years of music history.

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Owls

 Benjamin Franklin Hall

Get ready to string together some serious musical discoveries at Recital 2 with the Atlantic String Quartet.

This bold, boundary-pushing program kicks off with String Quartet No. 2 by Charlotte Sohy—lush, lyrical, and long-overdue for the spotlight. From there, things take a rhythmic twist with Franghiz Ali-Zadeh’s
Rǝqs (Dance), a spellbinding fusion of Azerbaijani folk vibes and avant-garde flair that’ll have your ears dancing. The night closes with Ethel Smyth’s passionate String Quartet in E minor—stormy, soulful, and brimming with dramatic flair.

Recital 2

Memorial University School of Music

Experience the innovative sounds of the Owls string quartet at Cal Performances during the 2024-25 season. This unique ensemble, featuring the creative talents of Alexi Kenney (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), Gabriel Cabezas (cello), and Paul Wiancko (cello), is set to captivate audiences with their original arrangements and deep investment in each piece they perform. The concert will take place on April 13, 2025, at 3pm in the acoustically renowned Hertz Hall.

The Owls' repertoire for this performance includes a diverse mix of compositions, showcasing works by cellist Paul Wiancko, Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, minimalism pioneer Terry Riley, jazz legend Chick Corea, indie rock duo Trollstilt, and French Baroque composer François Couperin. Highlights of the program include Corea's "Children’s Song No. 12," Wiancko's "Vox Petra" and "When the Night," Ali-Zadeh's "Rəqs," Couperin's "Les Barricades Mystérieuses," Trollstilt's "Ricercar," and Riley's "Good Medicine from Salome Dances for Peace."

Tickets for this one-of-a-kind performance start at $74, with season subscriptions available now and single tickets going on sale on August 6 at noon. Don't miss this opportunity to witness the Owls quartet redefine chamber music with their innovative arrangements and captivating performances.

University of California, Berkeley

This recital is given in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Music. Eamon Luca Riley is a student of Norman Fischer.

Eamon Luca Riley, Cello

Alice Pratt Brown Hall

Owls flips the script on the classic string quartet as a double-cello ensemble with an edge, featuring violinist Alexi Kenney, violist Ayane Kozasa, and cellists Gabriel Cabezas and Paul Wiancko of Kronos Quartet fame. In a single performance, they fuse new works with original arrangements of music from the 1600s to the present, covering a vast timeline that includes Chick Corea to François Couperin. With their distinctive instrumentation and collective creativity, they access beautiful and exhilarating new sounds in a diverse program that spans over 300 years of music history.

Logan Center

Taking place outdoors beneath the Domo, the quartet collective Owls will be joined by flutist Claire Chase for a performance like no other. Each an artistic force in their own right, Owls is comprised of violinist Alexi Kenney, violist Ayane Kozasa, cellist Gabriel Cabezas, and cellist-composer Paul Wiancko. All share an uncommonly fierce creative spirit which drives the quartet to challenge the way meaningful concert experiences are conceived. Claire Chase, described by The New York Times as “the most important flutist of our time,” is a musician, interdisciplinary artist, and educator. She is a MacArthur Fellow, a Professor of the Practice at Harvard University, and was the Debs Creative Chair at Carnegie Hall in the 2022-23 season.

Owls, Claire Chase, flute

Tippet Rise Art Center

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music with the Owls quartet at Caramoor on July 11, 2024, in Katonah, NY. This dynamic new quartet, featuring violinist Alexi Kenney, violist Ayane Kozasa, cellist Gabriel Cabezas, and cellist-composer Paul Wiancko, promises to deliver a performance that defies expectations and transcends traditional labels. Described by The New York Times as a "dream group," the Owls will enchant you with their original compositions and arrangements spanning from the 1600s to the present day. Their unique instrumentation and innovative sounds guarantee a concert experience that is both unparalleled and unforgettable.

The evening's program includes an eclectic mix of works by Chick Corea, Paul Wiancko, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, François Couperin, and more, showcasing the quartet's versatility and commitment to exploring new sonic landscapes. The concert will take place in the New Music Spanish Courtyard at 7:00pm, offering a perfect setting for the Owls' lively and deeply personal performances.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the Owls quartet, a group that continues to impress audiences and critics alike with their boundless energy and creative spirit. Secure your tickets now for a night of exceptional music at Caramoor.

The Rosen House at Caramoor

This concert features Fanny Mendelssohn’s reclaimed ‘Easter Sonata’. Previously lost for over 150 years, and then misattributed to her brother Felix upon its discovery, Fanny was not credited for the Easter Sonata until 2010, nearly 200 years after its composition.

FestivALL: Evensong

Royal College of Music

The first weekend of our festival ends with a bang with an hour long concert featuring some of the most exciting works from our first week. Join us in the Shepherdstown Opera House for a vast array of repertoire, featuring our string and wind artists. A great way to end a weekend with a shorter performance that’s sure to pack a punch. 

Festival Favorites: Encore Concert featuring Stravinsky's "Dumbarton Oaks"

Shepherdstown Opera House

We’ve all heard the saying “Behind every great man is a great woman” but we are now in a time where we can flip this, and explore works by incredible women in the past 100 years, who were all no doubt inspired as all classical musicians are by the music of Mozart.


In this enchanting program, we feature works mostly written by women around the world in the past 100 years, with fascinating stories to tell. This program journeys from Azerbaijan across Europe and the British Isles before finishing in Washington D.C. with Caroline Shaw’s captivating “Plan and Elevation” inspired by the historic Dumbarton Oaks home in Georgetown.

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh

Events

Past events

May 15, 2026

Nicola Benedetti Plays Elgar · Usher Hall

14 - 16 May, 2026

Nicola Benedetti Plays Elgar · Royal Scottish National Orchestra

About

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