NOON ConcertS presents women composers collective
Irene Sazer, violin/Composer; Jessica Ivry, cello;Rebecca Haas, pianist/Composer; Lillian Yee, Composer; D’Arcy Reynolds, Composer
Today’s Noon Concert presents a concert in honor of women’s history month. Four award winning Bay Area women composers present their globally diverse piano trios. You will travel to Argentina, Brazil, Asia, and Africa as you listen to these innovative new works by composers D’Arcy Reynolds, Lillian Yee, Rebecca Hass, and Irene Sazer, performed by a powerhouse piano trio of composer/ world music aficionados: Irene Sazer, violin; Rebecca Haas, pianist; Jessica Ivry, cello
ABOUT
Rebecca Haas is a pianist, composer, collaborative pianist, educator, and creative coach in the San Francisco Bay Area is dedicated to creative curiosity and joy. With a deep passion for Brazilian rhythms, Rebecca has been part of the Brazilian music scene in the Bay Area for the last 5+ years, and performs solo shows of her own compositions and arrangements, as well as with Melodias do Brasil and other groups. Rebecca’s debut Brazilian album, Florescer (Bloom), was described as “a delightful 43 minutes of musical sunshine, and her new album of original piano music, Bright Little Worlds, is an imaginative, heart-filled collection of 22 compositions in various styles, featuring guest musicians Debbie Gold (flute) and Brian Rice (pandeiro).
Irene Sazer Known internationally as a founding member of Turtle Island String Quartet, Sazer is an acclaimed soloist, recording artist, composer and educator. An in-demand genre-hopping violinist , she founded Real Vocal String Quartet in 2005. In 2019 Sazer was awarded a Gerbode Special Award in the Arts for cultural collaborative work and continues to create with artists around the world. She has recorded/performed with Ali Akbar Khan, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Smoky Robinson, David Grisman, Linda Rondstadt, and Bjork and performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Creating eco-art films with original soundtracks has become a passion project.
Jessica Ivry teaches orchestra and strings in Oakland Unified School District. Previously she was on faculty at Las Positas College and College of Marin, leading the string orchestra and chamber music programs. Jess is a longtime Bay Area freelance cellist, having performed in local orchestras and in productions at American Conservatory Theater (SF) and Berkeley Repertory Theater. For 10 years, she played with Real Vocal String Quartet including performances at Stern Grove and an overseas US State Department tour. She has played and/or recorded with many artists including Feist, Bauhaus, Nneena Freelon, and Sharon Jones. Jessica received a Bachelor of Arts from Skidmore College, a Masters in cello performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a Masters of Art in Teaching from Longy School of Music of Bard College.
D’Arcy Reynolds is versatile and prolific award-winning composer and pianist based in Ajijic, Mexico and the San Francisco Bay Area. Drawing upon influences from Argentinian tango, South African field recordings, Cuban and Puerto Rican montunos, jazz, and music of the Mexican diaspora, her compositions reflect her keen interest in world music. She toured South Africa on a MTC Global Connections grant which featured her music in the film ‘Inner Landscape’. D’Arcy has received commissions and awards from Meet the Composer, ASCAP, the American Composers Forum, Noe Valley Chamber Music, and the East/West Continuo. She founded the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the American Composers Forum, and curated numerous community outreach and commissioning programs.
L I L L I A N Y E E / 余慧森
Born February 18, 1991. San Francisco Bay Area, California. Since writing her first music composition for a high school English project in 2006, Lillian has written countless hours worth of music in a handful of varying genres. Having received her first commission in 2014, she continues to write classically. From 2015, Lillian ventured into pop/rock songwriting and performed in indie pop/rock bands before continuing her solo career in 2020. In addition to writing and performing, she creates in various mediums including visual art and gathers musical communities of all walks of life. Lillian is currently studying to become a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) to play therapeutic harp and vocal music at the bedside of the ill and transitioning and is also a vocalist singing jazz & Brazilian standards, favorite Japanese pop tunes and other world music favorites with many Bay Area musicians she's honored to call her friends. Lillian was formally the vocalist for the musical project Blue Hour Duo known for bringing the Brazilian music community together. She is currently performing in her vocal group with Sandy Cressman, Catia Lund, Ricardo Peixoto and Brian Rice called Garotas da Lua, a bossa nova group that features curated favorites and ORIGINALS called Melodias das Estrelas with Rebecca Hass, Laura Boytz and Mark Fishman, and also with The Brazilian Project with Rick Pollack, Jarrell Irvin, Dean Muench and Jim Thorne.
Lillian is excited to join hands with Rebecca Hass and D'Arcy Reynolds in creating a women composer's coalition which is coming soon in 2025.
SUPPORT If you would like to help us continue these important concerts and ensure they are available to everyone to enjoy please consider donating, volunteering or sponsorship. We are grateful for any help and dedicated to serving our community of audience and performers.
ABOUT NOON CONCERTS Our 2024 season of signature Noon Concerts fills the theater with the intimate warmth and beauty of superbly talented Bay Area, National and International talent. All concerts are free to the pubic, we welcome everyone through our doors. Join us to celebrate the transcendent power of live music.
CURATOR We have had the good fortune to have Beni Shinoharas our Noon Concerts Curator over the last 9 years. She is a highly respected Bay Area musician who is in demand for her talent and dedication. She has made our Noon Concerts one of the area’s sought-after engagements for many performers and we are thrilled to have her curating our Season once again.