Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh Presents A Special Premiere
The Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, with guest violist Tatjana Mead Chamis, will perform the world premiere of Yvar Mikhashoff’s Concerto for Viola on April 4, 2026, 7:00pm, at Levy Hall of Rodef Shalom. The program also includes two recognized masterpieces, Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and Mahler’s Adagietto for Strings, as well as Khachaturian’s Gayane’s Adagio and Gymnopedie No. 1 by Peggy Glanville-Hicks.
Tatjana Mead Chamis has served as both Principal and Associate Principal Viola with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, having initially joined the orchestra in 1993. In 2015, Tatjana founded the Clarion Quartet, dedicated to bringing to light the works of composers silenced by oppression, and their debut album, Breaking the Silence, was released in 2018 on the TYE/Naxos label. Nominated in 2017 for a Latin Grammy for her performance of the Sonata for Viola and Piano, dedicated to her by the Brazilian composer/pianist, André Mehmari, Tatjana released an album of Brazilian music, titled Viola Brasil, in 2023. Her extensive performances as a recitalist and chamber musician have been broadcast on NPR and WQED in Pittsburgh.
“It is an absolute privilege to perform with Tatjana,” says Artistic Director and Conductor Edward Leonard. “She has devoted so much of her career to bringing attention to under-represented composers, and she will bring so much artistry to this first-ever performance of Mikhashoff’s work.”
Yvar Emilian Mikhashoff (1941–1993) was an American virtuoso pianist and composer best known for his performance of contemporary classical music. He performed as a soloist at many of the world's leading music festivals and with orchestras around the world including the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta filarmonica de Buenos Aires, Orchestra sinfonia di Roma, Norwegian Radio Orkestra, and many others. The Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music, which is making this premiere possible, continues to support the performance of his work and the work of other contemporary composers.
Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for students for single-concert admission, and they are available online at www.copgh.org.
The performance is supported by the Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music, and the season has been made possible in part through the generous support of the Heinz Endowments, The Opportunity Fund, the Pittsburgh Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.
Reception to follow.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3553201-0
