The Premiere Trio features CSUF faculty violinist Ernest Salem, cellist Bongshin Ko and pianist Eduardo Delgado. Formed in 2000, The Premiere Trio has electrified audiences throughout Southern California with their brilliant music-making. A recipient of the 2002/03 President’s Initiative Grant, the trio has just returned from a tour which included a series of recitals and master classes in the mid-west and Arizona in early 2003.

Violinist Ernest Salem has performed in concerts and recitals across the United States. As an active freelance musician in the Los Angeles area, he has performed with the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, Long Beach Symphony, Asian American Orchestra and South Coast Symphony. Formerly he was concertmaster of the Wichita and Las Cruces Symphony, principal second of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and assistant concertmaster of the Texas Chamber and Texas Opera Theater Orchestras. As a chamber musician, Salem’s experience is extensive, performing from Kansas to Minnesota and New Mexico. Included among his teachers are Yfrah Neaman, Fredell Lack and members of the Juilliard Quartet.

Bongshin Ko, cellist, has appeared worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician collaborating with Sir George Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Rands and others. Her performances with Television-Radio Symphony of Moscow were praised and hailed her “mastery of the instrument.” Other international engagements include performances with the Korean Broadcasting Symphony and the German Chamber Orchestra. She has performed at music festivals from Germany to Japan, and received over 30 international competition prizes. She can be heard on several international recording labels, and was chosen to perform the European and Asian premieres of works especially composed to celebrate the 70th birthday of cellist/conductor Mstislav Rostropovich.

Pianist Eduardo Delgado has consistently been recognized by audiences and critics alike for the fiery intensity he projects from the stage. Hailed as a “rare musical personality” his appearances have extended across the world, appearing as soloist with orchestras and in recital, including a performance with Madame de Larrocha at the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. He has recorded solo piano music of Albert Ginastera for MA Records in Tokyo, and a set of Argentine Songs with Argentine tenor José Cura for ERATO Records. His numerous awards and prizes include the Vladimir Horowitz Award, the Martha Baird Rockefeller Prize, and in 1999 he was recognized for his service and talent in the world of music and awarded a medal by UNESCO in Buenos Aires.