Joining faculty cellist Bongshin Ko are violinists Phillip Levy and Julie Gigante, violists Simon Oswell and Brian Denbow and cellist David Low. This special sextet of musicians come together to perform “one of the biggest and most important string sextets rarely performed,” states recital coordinator and faculty cellist Bongshin Ko, “the Brahm’s String Sextet.” She continues, “it is also one of the first major masterworks written for string sextet from the Romantic era.” In addition the ensemble will also perform Bach’s “Ricercare” from Bach’s BWV 1079 arranged for string sextet.

Praised by critics for her “mastery of the instrument,” associate professor and cellist Bongshin Ko appears worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician. She’s collaborated in performance and recording with Sir George Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Günter Schuller and others. A recipient of over 30 international prizes and awards including Korea’s highest music award, the Dong-A Gold Award. She’s regularly performed and taught at music festivals and has presented numerous European and Asian premieres.

Soloist, recitalist, concertmaster and teacher, Phillip Levy returns to CSUF to perform with Ko, and regularly performs throughout Europe, Israel, Asia and the U.S. For eight years he held a senior lectureship in violin and chamber music at Stanford University and lead the Stanford String Quartet. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Levy is on the faculty at California State University, Long Beach and Santa Monica College.

Since her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1981, Julie Gigante has been in demand as a chamber musician, soloist, and recording artist. Her solo appearances include performances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Opus Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony and Fairfax symphonies in Virginia.

Violist Simon Oswell was born in Brisbane, Australia and has studied with Jan Sedivka, Janos Negyesy and Donald McInnes. He was a founding member of the Petra String Quartet, principal viola with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, and professor of viola at the University of Tasmania. Presently Oswell is principal violist at the Carmel Bach Festival.

As a soloist, David Low has captured the acclaim of critics and audiences alike. He has performed at Carnegie Recital Hall, in China with the Beijing Film Philharmonic Orchestra and in Lithuania. Legendary violinist Josef Gingold called his technique that of “a virtuoso, plus a beautiful tone, as well as a splendid musician." Low is the Kayser Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska, Omaha where he teaches cello, music history and coaches chamber ensembles.