In her free time from teaching studio piano at Penn State, distinguished professor Marylène Dosse has performed on five continents as a soloist and as a member of the Castalia Trio.
But tonight, students can bid farewell to Dosse in her final performance with the Castalia Trio.
The Castalia Trio unites three musicians: pianist Dosse, violinist James Lyon and cellist Kim Cook. The trio has performed in France, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, China and throughout the United States.
"We've done a lot of performances including ones at Carnegie Hall and tours of Europe and China. We were also asked to record a CD," Cook said.
She said that following a highly successful performance in Prague, the trio was invited to record a CD and received the Sound Stage Award for Best Classical Release.
Dosse said the group is enjoyable because the trio gets along well and has the same goals for its music.
"Every group is unique because every person is unique in some way. You never sound like other people. We also get along in a friendly way and a musical way. We feel so good playing together and we've traveled together," Dosse said.
The trio will be playing "Trio in B flat major" by Franz Schubert, "Trio in A minor" by Ravel and a world premiere of "Laments, or songs of nightingales" by a former student of Dosse, Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum.
Dosse said this concert will be a good example of a typical concert for the trio.
"This concert will show what we usually do. We're premiering a new work, which is very standard for us; we do lots of commissioning," Dosse said, "and the Schubert is one of the big pieces for trios and a new work for us, so we love it."
Composer Kroll-Rosenbaum has written music for film, theatrical stages and concert halls internationally.
She recently completed a commission for the 40th Anniversary of the London Symphony Chorus, set to premiere with the London Symphony this season in New York and London, as well as pieces for the Seattle Symphony, Detroit Symphony and San Francisco Symphony.
Dosse said she loves having the opportunity to play chamber music instead of just solo pieces.
"I love [chamber music] especially for pianists. I'm always pretty lonely playing by myself. It's a privilege to play chamber music. It's a great musical experience," she said.
Dosse added that she always had a natural affinity for playing chamber music.
"When I first started playing, I wasn't attracted to solo music," Dosse said. "Chamber [music] is what I like the most."
Cook said there is nothing else she'd rather do than music.
"I love what I do. I love listening to music. I love playing music. And I love teaching music. I can't imagine myself doing something else that I would feel more committed to," she said.
Cook said the ensemble derives its name from a mythical fountain on Mount Parnassus, which was sacred to the Muses and considered a source of poetic inspiration.
In the spirit of rekindled creativity, the Castalia Trio is dedicated to bringing fresh perspectives to the standard repertoire, as well as commissioning new works.
She also said the trio is the only resident trio in the State College area, and that it gives locals the opportunity to get to hear this type of music in this location.
"You have to go to a larger city to hear this kind of music. Combining violin, cello and piano is a wonderful setup. We get to work together and do soloistic stuff, so it's great repertoire for the whole group," Cook said.
Dosse said concerts are different experiences for each person, but everyone will be able to get something out of the performance.
"The Schubert trio is very accessible to anyone," she said.
Dosse added that Schubert's humanity is what makes his music connect with the audience.
"I think he is the most human composer, so you can always find something in your own personality that clicks with what you hear," she said.
