The Zodiac Trio, Trio

Biography

The Zodiac Trio enjoys an international concert schedule that spans three continents and is being recognized as a leading clarinet-violin-piano ensemble.  Protégé of the renowned Ysaÿe Quartet at the Supérieur Conservatory in Paris, the Zodiac Trio has performed at such leading venues as the Festival Radio France Montpellier, International Colmar Festival, the Oriental Performing Arts Center in Shanghai, Izumi Hall in Japan, Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium, Merkin Concert Hall and Tishman Auditorium in New York. Their performances have been broadcast by France 3 Television, Beijing’s CCTV News, Canada’s CBC Radio and Television, New York’s WXQR and WNYC, featured live on WGBH’s “Live from Frasier”  in Boston, and been recorded multiple times for Radio France in Paris. 

The Zodiac Trio was originally formed in 2006 at the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of renowned clarinetist David Krakauer and violinist Isodore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio.  Shortly after, the Zodiac Trio was first brought to the attention of the international chamber music scene in a feature by the London-based international MUSO magazine, praising the Trio for “bringing a rare combination of instruments into the spotlight by unearthing old repertoire and commissioning new music.”  The ensemble has  garnered  prizes at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (U.S.), FNAPEC International Chamber Ensemble Competition (Paris), International Chamber Music Competition of Duchi D'Acquaviva (Italy), Joyce Dutka Foundation for the Arts (New York), International Peninsula Young Artist Festival in California and the ProMusica Ensemble Competition (France), among others.

Boasting an international touring schedule, the Zodiac Trio has performed throughout Canada, United States, Japan, many parts of Europe and most of China’s main cultural metropolises. The ensemble has been critically praised for its “impeccable technique” (Ouest-France), "remarkable musicality of rare intensity" (La Tribune, France), “seemingly effortless ease” (San Angelo Standard Times), and declared by the French newspaper La Marseillaise as “one the best chamber ensembles of its generation...”

Dedicated to education, the Zodiac Trio has been invited to present master classes and clinics at such institutions as Boston University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Tufts University, Western State College of Colorado, Southeastern State University of Oklahoma, Western Michigan University, Colorado College, Ningboa University (China), and the China Conservatory of Beijing.  The trio founded the Boston New Music Project festival in partnership with Berklee College of Music. Its latest CD on the Blue Griffin label featuring trios by Bartok, Stravinsky, Galina Ustvolskaya and Nicolas Bacri was released in 2012.