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Modern Minds
November 5, 2024
Modern Minds

Basma Edrees, Violin; Amelia Romano, Lever Harp; Kendra Grittani, Cello

A celebration of living female composers, Modern Minds features works originally written for solo harp and arranged for string trio for this program

Amelia Romano: New Perspectives

Tamsin Dearnley: A Voice Today

Amelia Romano: Symphonic Sketches

Lucy Hendry: Fernweh

Nadia Birkenstock: L’Esprit Vif

Amelia Romano: Time

Ailie Robertson: Grey

Amelia Romano: Legacy

Tamsin Dearnley: 16,234 (.47)

Sumaia Jackson: Smokejumpers

Basma Edrees: I Remember

Amelia Romano: Fiddle Caprice

Amelia Romano: Counterpoint

Modern Minds Program Notes

Amelia Romano

A concertizing lever harpist who programs classical reimaginations alongside original works, Amelia received her master’s in classical lever harp performance at San Francisco State University under the tutelage of Karen Gottlieb, the retired second harpist of the San Francisco Symphony.

Her latest album, “Levers Engaged: Classical Works Re-imaged for Harp,” and sheet music collection, “Classical Re-imaginations,” present the instrument as a valid voice in classical music. A composer, arranger, and trailblazer in the lever harp world, she is equally at home writing Latin America-inspired works for solo harp as she is adapting classical pieces for chamber collaborations.

Amelia offers virtual workshops and seminars centered around best lever-shifting practices and tools for adapting and performing chromatic works on the instrument.

Basma Edrees

Basma Edrees is a violinist based in the San Francisco Bay area. Basma has served as Associate Concertmaster of the Oakland Symphony and has performed with the SF Ballet Orchestra, SF Opera Orchestra, Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra, San Jose Opera, and San Jose Chamber Orchestra. Trained in the Western Classical Musical tradition and growing up in Egypt surrounded by a rich Arab musical tradition, Basma specializes in both Western and Arab styles of violin playing. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music in NY, Basma currently serves on the violin faculty at Santa Clara University.

Kendra Grittani

Described as playing with “authority, grace, and artistry…” following her most recent performance of the Haydn Cello Concerto in D with the Oakville Symphony Orchestra, Kendra Grittani is an up-and-coming young cellist performing in venues across Canada. Kendra has completed her Master’s in cello performance at McGill University with accomplished symphonic and chamber musician, and cello professor, Elizabeth Dolin. Kendra has performed with various orchestras including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, the McGill Opera Orchestra, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She currently holds a full-time position with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony cello section.