Arturo Ziraldo and Friends, classical chamber

West Michigan Symphony’s Principal Violist will assemble a musical cast of friends—from our community and beyond—to perform the greatest hits of the string quartet! Enjoy favorite and rarely performed movements from the last 400 years of this extraordinary musical genre.

Jasmine Lin violin
Maya Shiraishi violin
Arturo Ziraldo viola
Igor Cetkovic cello

PROGRAM
Mozart: String Quartet No. 19 Op. 10 in C major, K. 465 “Dissonance,” Mvt. 1
Haydn: String Quartet No. 3 Op. 76 in C major, “Emperor,” Mvt. 2
Schumann: String Quartet No. 1 Op. 41 in A minor, Mvt. 2 Scherzo
Bartok: String Quartet No. 5, Sz. 102, Mvt. 1
Dvòřak: String Quartet No. 12 Op. 96 in F major, “American,” Mvt. 1
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 13 Op. 130 in B-flat major, Mvt. 5 “Cavatina”
Hindemith: String Quartet No. 4 Op. 22, Mvt. 4 Massig Schelle
Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 Op. 13 in A minor, Mvt. 1 Adagio-Allegro
Walton: String Quartet in A minor, Mvt. 3 (slow)
Ravel: String Quartet in F major, Mvt. 2
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 9 Op. 117 in E-flat major, Mvt. 5 Allegro

“Safe Nights at the Symphony” Protocol – Updated May 6, 2022
In an effort to create the safest environment possible while attending WMS/The Block performances, the Symphony’s “Safe Nights” protocol remains in effect. Patrons of all ages will be asked to provide proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test (taken within 72 hours of the concert) for entry into the concert halls. WMS recommends but no longer requires the wearing of masks at concerts and events. Those under the minimum age for vaccination are welcome with proof of a negative test.

Click here for details of the full Safe Nights at the Symphony health protocol for indoor gatherings.

Jasmine Lin is a magnificent player with superb tone and strong interpretive powers” and “a violinist of remarkable intensity”, maintains American Record Guide and Chicago Tribune. As a member of Formosa Quartet and Trio Voce; faculty member at Roosevelt University and Music Institute of Chicago; Curtis Institute of Music alumna; confidante to a Cremonese violin; arranger of Grappelli tunes; prizewinner in the Naumburg and Paganini competitions; Grammy nominee; and recording artist on Con Brio, EMI, and New World Records, Jasmine likes to solicit magnificence and intensity while leaving raindrops on her nose un-wiped-off. Her biography contains precisely one hundred words.

Maya Shiraishi began violin studies at age four in her native Hiroshima. After completing high school and undergraduate studies at Tokyo College of Music, she moved to Chicago to attend Roosevelt University’s College of Performing Arts. While studying at Roosevelt, Maya performed with the Chicago Civic Orchestra, the nation’s premier training program for young professional musicians. Since then, she has been an active musician holding positions with West Michigan Symphony and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra and performing with the Chicago Philharmonic, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Iowa, and South Bend Symphony Orchestra. She is featured in the premiere recording of new work by Grammy-nominated composer Gaurav Mazumdar. Under the auspices of the nonprofit Crossing Borders Music, the recording is scheduled for release in autumn 2022. Her primary teachers are Hideo Kojima, Seiji Kageyama, and Jasmin Lin. She currently lives in Chicago where she enjoys access to great arts—and pours out love to her numerous houseplants.

Arturo Ziraldo is an engaging performer who believes deeply in the power of art to change the world for the better. Mr. Ziraldo has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader. He has performed with orchestras such as the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Seattle Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco, and the Mainzer Virtuosi with whom he recorded the Four Seasons of Vivaldi and Piazzolla as Principal Violist. In addition, Mr. Ziraldo is an avid chamber musician who has performed in the Saugatuck, Kent/Blossom, Spoleto USA, Casalmaggiore, Nancy (France), and Deer Valley festivals. He is the founder of the Heartside Harmony Chamber Music Society which presents world-class chamber music performances featuring local artists while serving the community through diverse, inclusive concerts.

Mr. Ziraldo is the Principal Violist of the Kalamazoo and West Michigan Symphony Orchestras and has played as a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and Baroque on Beaver festival. In addition, Mr. Ziraldo enjoys teaching and maintains a private studio as well as giving masterclasses and clinics and is a regular judge of the semi-final round of the Stulberg Competition.

Mr. Ziraldo’s principal teachers were Roger Chase, Marcus Thompson, and Igor Fedotov. He began his music studies on the cello at the age of ten and began studying viola in 1997. He performs on a viola by Scott Tribby in Kalamazoo, MI, 2005 and a bow by D. William Halsey, 2012.

Igor Cetkovic, a native of Belgrade, Serbia, enjoys a career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra member, and educator. Igor has served with orchestras across Europe and the United States, including the Bergen Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, and as principal cellist of the Serbian chamber orchestra and The St. George Strings.  Igor has appeared as a guest soloist with the Yugoslav Army Orchestra, the St. George Strings, Kalamazoo Symphony, Saginaw Bay Symphony, Albion Symphony, and in solo and chamber music recitals all over the world. Igor’s performance career has allowed him to play in many of Europe’s greatest halls, including Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Barbican Center in London, and KKL-Luzern Concert Hall.  Igor finished his doctoral studies at Michigan State University under the renowned Suren Bagratuni. He also holds degrees from Stavanger University, University of Belgrade, and Central Michigan University.  Igor’s other principal teachers include his father Relja Cetkovic, Sandra Belic, Liv Opdal, and Jamie Fiste.

Currently, Igor is an artist-in-residence and principal cellist of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, principal cello of the Saginaw Bay Symphony, assistant principal cello of the West Michigan Symphony, and the cellist for the Burdick-Thorne String Quartet. Igor is also co-founder and artistic director of the Michigan Princess Classical Concert Series in Grand Ledge, Mi, inviting musicians from all over the world to perform little-known chamber works. Igor served on the faculty at Albion College and has given masterclasses at the Flint Institute of Music, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, and for MASTA (Michigan chapter of the American String Teachers Association).