Shelters in the Desert— An Evening with Vu, León, Susman, Smirnóv, Hernández

Friday, June 26, 2026
7:00 PM | St. Paul’s German Church

Desert Shelter (2023) by J.E. Hernández (b. 1993)

Violin | Yuyu Ikeda, Carlos Rafael Martínez Arroyo
Viola | Alison Wang, Carlos Walker
Cello | Angela Lee, Ari Evan
Conductor | Ken-David Masur

Artwork: Audio-Visual design by Yslas, directed by J.E. Hernández and Seven Valentine

Clouds and Flames (2010)+ by William Susman (b.1960)

I. Riding Towards Oblivion
II. Floating in the Air
III. In a Zone
IV. The Alphabet of Dying
V. Collision Point
VI. Jar of Ashes
VII. The World Spins

The Lee Trio
Guest Violin | Alina Ming Kobialka
Cello | Angela Lee
Piano | Melinda Lee Masur

Artwork: Installation images, Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning, on view at the National September 11 Memorial Museum, Courtesy of Spencer Finch Studio

INTERMISSION

Water Realms for Sinfonietta (2025)* by Ania Vu (b.1994)

Impromptu (2022)* by Grigory Smirnov (b. 1982)

Violin Solo | Alina Ming Kobialka

Festival Chamber Orchestra
Violin I | Jonathan Ong, Yuyu Ikeda, Reuben Kebede
Violin II | Dorothy Ro, Tiani Butts, Carlos Rafael Martínez Arroyo, Magdalena Masur
Viola | Abigail Rojansky, Marcus Stevenson, Alison Wang, Carlos Walker
Cello | Jonathan Dormand, Pedro Sanchez, Angela Lee, Lukas Masur
Bass | Bennett Norris, Joe Weinberg
Conductor | Ken-David Masur

Artwork: Jen Hitchings, Mystery Temple (Laurel Canyon), 2025, Oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches, Image Courtesy Jen Hitchings

Esencia (2009) by Tania León (b. 1943)

I. Agua de Florida for Strings+

Festival Strings
Violin I | Jonathan Ong, Yuyu Ikeda, Reuben Kebede, Alina Ming Kobialka
Violin II | Dorothy Ro, Tiani Butts, Carlos Rafael Martínez Arroyo, Magdalena Masur
Viola | Abigail Rojansky, Marcus Stevenson, Alison Wang
Cello | Jonathan Dormand, Pedro Sanchez, Angela Lee
Bass | Bennett Norris
Conductor | Ken-David Masur

Artwork: Firelei Bàez, Zemi (A New Spelling of my Name), 2024, Oil and acrylic on archival printed canvas

*New York Premiere

Reception to follow by La Newyorkina and Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine

With gratitude to the patrons & partners whose generosity has made this evening possible:

Ari Evan, Gross Family Artist
Ivalas Quartet, Newbower Family Ensemble
Alina Ming Kobialka, Brown Family Artist
Angela Lee, Le Fonds Pierre Jetée Artist
Tania León Esencia arrangement commission, Tomoko Masur
Unbannable Library curated by Paul Collins, Hague Family Visual Artist
Verona Quartet, Viscusi Family Ensemble

St. Paul’s German Lutheran Church
Pastor Lars Reimann, Carolina Burnett
Aion Entertainment
Artist Rights Society
Boylan Bottling
Brotherhood Winery
Centanni Percussion
Firelei Bàez Studio
Gagosian Gallery
Helen Frankenthaler Foundation
La Newyorkina
Ludwig Musser
Radeberger Gruppe USA
Sennheiser
Spencer Finch Studio
Steinway & Sons
Tarisio Fine Instruments
WQXR

Click here for a full list of 2026 Sponsors and Partners

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