MC Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Bonham will lead Trillium trio at Sept. 28 concert
Sept. 10, 2024
Maryville College will welcome the musical trio Trillium to campus at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in the Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall in the Clayton Center for the Arts. Admission to this event is free and open to the public.
Led by Maryville College Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert Bonham, Trillium is a trio (piano, violin, cello) that has performed piano literature throughout the country for 10 years. The theme behind this concert is “Tapas,” a Spanish cuisine that consists of small plates of snacks or appetizers.
“We have taken that as a model in planning this program,” Bonham said, “selecting favorites of ours from the 10 years that Trillium has been sharing music.”
This program of old favorites features 11 compositions from a variety of musical eras. Composers include Mendelssohn, Arensky, Dvorak, Haydn, Sowash, Piazzolla, and Schoenfield.
According to Bonham, there is sure to be something for every listener to enjoy.
“Mendelssohn’s ‘Scherzo’ reflects the frisky quality of his ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream,’” and “Arensky’s ‘Allegro’ moderato hints at a deep sadness and suggests an elegy,” Bonham said.
These compositions also borrow from a variety of musical styles. According to Bonham, listeners will hear the influence of Hungarian Romani music in Haydn’s works; a bit of Gershwin, polka, and blues by Sowash; some jazz and tango by Piazzola; and Hassidic and folk influence in works by Schoenfield.
Over the years, Trillium has enjoyed performing these songs for audiences from Maryland to North Dakota, Virginia, and North Carolina, as well as throughout Tennessee in Blount, Knox, and Anderson counties. The group has been celebrated for its expressiveness and ability to engage and inspire audiences through live chamber music.
As individuals, the members of Trillium have played for even wider audiences, including international performances.
Soyeon Rachel Soe, a violinist originally from Seoul, South Korea, holds a doctorate in violin performance from Louisiana State University. Since moving to the U.S., she has performed with various symphonies throughout the Southeast and won several prizes at solo performance competitions, including The American Protege International Music Competition, which gave her the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Alicia Randisi-Hooker, cellist, has been performing and teaching cello for over 30 years and holds a master’s degree in cello performance from Temple University. She has performed with several orchestras and ensembles in the Philadelphia and Knoxville areas. In addition, she studied with the Alban Berg Quartet and has performed extensively throughout Europe. She is a dedicated advocate for music education, and her students have won prizes, competitions, and scholarships both within the U.S. and internationally.
Bonham, the trio’s pianist, is a recipient of the Maryville College Outstanding Teacher Award. He spent more than four decades as a professor of music in the MC Division of Fine Arts, during which time he taught piano, world music, art history and experiential courses focused on enhancing creativity and wellness. He now enjoys traveling and performing chamber music throughout the U.S. with Trillium, as well as with Soiree Winds, a woodwind quintet.
Written by Julia Jeffress ’25