SHOW INFO:

The Bechtler Ensemble (Charlotte, NC) is a flexible chamber group known for their spirited performances in intimate settings.  From art museums to classrooms, the Bechtler Ensemble offers colorful, entertaining, and thought-provoking concerts for audiences of all ages.  Treefalls is pleased to present members of the ensemble performing seven string quartets by critically acclaimed American composers:

Originally from Rochester, New York, violinist Lenora Cox Leggatt began studying at age 7 and made her solo debut with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at age 16. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music studying with Catherine Tait and Zvi Zeitlin, and Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music with Donald Weilerstein.

Lenora served as concertmaster for The Cleveland Opera Orchestra for eight years, and for the former Ohio Chamber Orchestra and Cleveland San Jose Ballet. Among her many accolades, she has appeared as concertmaster under conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Andre Previn, and as soloist under Peter Bay and Leslie Dunner.

Fabrice Bouquery Dharamraj holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, (UNCSA) where he studied with Elaine Richey. He continued his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) receiving a Master of Music degree studying with Linda Cerone.  Mr. Dharamraj holds positions as Associate Concertmaster of the Greensboro Symphony and Principal 2nd Violin of the Winston-Salem Symphony. He also frequently performs with many other ensembles in the region including the North Carolina Symphony.

The Classical Voice of North Carolina described violist Kirsten Swanson as a “stunning musician with flawless technique combined with that unique ‘viola’ sound that can melt your soul.” Feeling equally at ease with “new” and “old” music, in an orchestra or solo, Ms. Swanson enjoys a diverse career that takes her all over the world.  Ms. Swanson holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the Longy School, and a graduate certificate in Suzuki Pedagogy from ECU.  She is currently completing her DMA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is the adjunct Viola Professor at UNCC and Elon University.

Cellist Tanja Bechtler is the Artistic Director of the Bechtler Ensemble, currently in residency at Queens University.  Mrs. Bechtler, a native of Switzerland, earned scholarships to the North Carolina School of the Arts for her Bachelor Degree in Music and also to the Manhattan School of Music for her Masters Degree in Music Performance.  For twelve years she was a member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra where she also participated in numerous of their educational residencies throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.

Her CD’s include “Shadegrown”, with her husband, guitarist Bob Teixeira, “Passage” Without Borders, featuring composer David Crowe and “Reflections on the Firebird” showcasing our North Carolina based composers. The Bechtler Ensemble can be heard on several documentary films, composed and recorded by Emmy award winning film composer, Fred Story, at Concentrix Music and Sound Design.