Horszowski Trio Announces 
Cellist Ole Akahoshi to Join Ensemble

New Configuration to Debut on Dreamstage Livestream, August 26

Akahoshi to Succeed Founding Cellist, Raman Ramakrishnan

New York— August 5, 2020 — The Horszowski Trio, founded in 2011, has announced that cellist Ole Akahoshi is joining the ensemble, effective immediately. Mr. Akahoshi succeeds founding cellist, Raman Ramakrishnan, and joins founding members pianist Rieko Aizawa and violinist Jesse Mills. Their first public performance will be as part of the new Dreamstage livestream concert platform, on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 at 8:00 PM EDT, from Rare Violins in New York City. The program will comprise Mozart’s Trio in B-flat major, K. 502, and Smetana’s Trio in G minor, Op. 15.

“We are thrilled to share this exciting news,” said Rieko Aizawa. “The Horszowski Trio is entering a new chapter as we welcome cellist Ole Akahoshi. Ole is a beautiful musician, and a friend. He was one of the last students of the legendary cellist, Pierre Fournier, and we are great admirers of his glorious artistry and impeccable technique.” Jesse Mills added, “We are delighted to soon share our music in a livestream from Rare Violins in New York City, produced by Dreamstage, on August 26. We also look forward to a fall video stream from the stage of Merkin Concert Hall, presented by the Kaufman Music Center, and of course, returning to live concerts on stage as soon as that is possible.” Ms. Aizawa further commented, “We thank our founding cellist, Raman Ramakrishnan, for nine wonderful years together, in which we shared so many great moments, on and off stage. We grew together and have accomplished so much artistically and professionally. We look forward to continuing our path as always inspired by
Maestro Mieczyslaw Horszowski.”

According to Raman Ramakrishnan, “To share the stage with Jesse and Rieko for the last nine years, as founding cellist of the Horszowski Trio, has been nothing short of inspirational. Words cannot express how grateful I am to them for sharing their artistry and their friendship with me. It is with sadness that I say goodbye to the group to embark on a new path for myself. However, I take great comfort knowing that Ole Akahoshi will be joining the trio in my place. I have known Ole for two decades and have the deepest respect for him as a musician, a cellist, and a human being. I wish the Horszowski Trio well as they begin this new, exciting chapter.”

Ole Akahoshi commented, “I am deeply excited and honored to be joining the Horszowski Trio, and my esteemed colleagues and friends Rieko Aizawa and Jesse Mills. It has been a secret long-time dream of mine to play in a piano trio, and I have been admiring the Horszowski Trio for many years. I have had the pleasure of performing with Rieko and Jesse separately on numerous occasions; being on stage with them has always been a tremendously invigorating, inspiring, and highly gratifying experience for me. So, when they asked me whether I would consider joining their trio – it was an offer I couldn’t refuse! At the same time, I have the highest respect for Raman Ramakrishnan, who has been such a beautiful musical foundation for this trio for the last nine years. Raman and I have played together with the Sejong Soloists many, many years ago, and I have always admired his pure-hearted yet warm and expressive cello playing. I hope to continue Raman’s inspiring tradition while bringing my own personal story to the group. I look forward to our upcoming musical journeys and discoveries.”

Born and raised in Berlin, Germany, Ole Akahoshi is known for the rare combination of musical sensitivity and technical mastery, which has earned the admiration of musicians and critics across the globe. As a soloist he has performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin, Symphonisches Orchester Berlin, and the Czechoslovakian Radio Orchestra, among others. The Los Angeles Times praised his performance of the Haydn Concerto for its “technical solidity, fluent passage work and perfect intonation,” continuing, “Akahoshi made a large and edgeless tone of a buttered-rum quality, and conquered all the many hurdles of his assignment with panache.” He has collaborated with such esteemed musicians as Sarah Chang, Leon Fleisher, Ani Kavafian, Karl Leister, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Garrick Ohlsson, Gil Shaham, David Shifrin, the Tokyo String Quartet, the Michelangelo Quartet, and the Keller Quartet. He has also performed and served on the faculties at numerous festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Banff Centre for the Arts, and Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. He was the youngest cellist to be accepted as a student of the legendary Pierre Fournier at the age of eleven. Later, he continued his studies with Aldo Parisot at the Juilliard School and at the Yale School of Music, and with Janos Starker at Indiana University. Mr. Akahoshi performs on a Matteo Goffriller cello (Venice, c.1707), ex-Lorne Monroe, which is on loan to him through the Stradivari Society of Chicago and Sejong Soloists, of which he is the leader and concertmaster. He is the director of the Yale Cellos, a Grammy-nominated ensemble, and is Assistant Professor of Cello at the Yale School of Music.

Giving performances that are “lithe, persuasive” (The New York Times), “eloquent and enthralling” (The Boston Globe), and described as “the most compelling American group to come on the scene” (The New Yorker), the Horszowski Trio has quickly become a vital force in the international chamber music world. Since their debut performance in New York City in 2011, they have toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, the Far East, and India, traversing the extensive oeuvre of traditional piano trio repertoire and introducing audiences to new music that they have commissioned and premiered.

Further information
Robert Besen
201-399-7425
Robert@BesenArts.com
horszowskitrio.com

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