http://www.gainesville.

com/article/20090212/ARTICLES/902121003/1006/NEWS

'Seoul Sisters' return to town with

contemporary compositions
By Aaron Keebaugh

Published: Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 12:34 p.m.

In the world of classical chamber music, the Ahn Trio - with sisters Lucia on piano, Maria on
cello and Angella on violin - has smashed onto the scene like a meteor.

Earning much success after their first two recordings, featuring little-played but beautifully
crafted trios by Ravel, Villa-Lobos, Suk, Dvorak and Shostakovich, the Juilliard-trained sisters
have been on the cutting edge of contemporary music for more than a decade. The Ahn Trio has
premiered and recorded new works by a number of prominent and up-and-coming composers
from around the world. In addition, the three "Seoul Sisters" - who have appeared in "Vogue,"
"GQ," and ads for GAP - have collaborated with jazz, rock, and other popular musicians, such
as Pat Methany, Bryan Adams and Mark O'Connor. Recently, the Ahn Trio performed and
recorded an album with the Czech alternative rock band, the Tata Bojs.

"We do a lot of collaboration," says Angella Ahn, "and it is an organic process for us. ... It is
impossible not to mix different musical styles today."

The sisters' concert on Saturday night at University Auditorium will feature such collaboration.

Billed as "Lullaby for My Favorite Insomniac," the concert will feature music taken from the
trio's latest recording of the same name. The album features music by British composer, critic
and musicologist Michael Nyman, Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, and American
composer Kenji Bunch, among others. Bunch, a particular favorite of the Ahn Trio, is the
composer of three pieces on the recording: "Dies Irae," "Magic Hour" and "Lullaby for My
Favorite Insomniac," the album's namesake.

The Ahn Trio will also perform several vocal tracks from the album with special guest artists
Thorry and Isaac Koren, collectively known as the Australian folk-rock duo, The Kin. Dynamic
and versatile musicians, the two brothers are presently a part of the New York City music
scene, owing to the success of their 2007 album "Rise and Fall."

In addition, the sisters will perform two works by noted American composer, Paul Chihara. As
a professor of music at UCLA, Chihara, a former pupil of both Nadia Boulanger and Gunther
Schuller, has a number of chamber, orchestral, stage, film and television scores to his credit.
The Ahn Trio will perform the composer's "Orchids," a three-movement piano trio with
movements named for each of the sisters, and a fantasia based upon the Korean folk song,
"Ahrirang."

Performances by the Ahn Trio have been an annual event in Gainesville over the past several
years, largely due to the efforts of Michael Blachly, director of UF Performing Arts. Having
worked with the Ahn Trio while at UCLA, Blachly wanted to begin and continue the tradition
when he moved to Gainesville about a decade ago.

"He is a dream presenter and gives us an amazing amount of freedom," says Angella Ahn. "We
are given the chance to share what we believe in, and we want the audience to come because
they like what we do."

"They are three of the most gifted musicians I've ever worked with," Blachly said. "They have
very innovative ideas, a wonderful aesthetic, and I applaud everything they do to explore
musical boundaries."

Ahn Trio

What: The Ahn Trio performs with The Kin

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: University Auditorium, UF campus

Tickets: $20-$30

Info: (392-2787)

Ahn Trio

What: The Ahn Trio performs with The Kin

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: University Auditorium, UF campus

Tickets: $20-$30

Info: (392-2787)

sc12ahntrio.jpg

The Ahn Trio performs on Saturday at University Auditorium.