Variation String Trio
The Variation String Trio was founded in 2005 by violinist Jennifer Koh, violist Hsin-Yun Huang and cellist Wilhelmina Smith. The Variation Trio chose their name because the concept of variations is a key component of their musical beliefs: Commissioning new compositions to increase the variety of existing repertoire for string trio; Partnering with a variety of collaborators to create compelling thematic programs; Creating a rich musical dialogue by drawing upon each individual member’s diverse musical experiences.
The Variation String Trio has been presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, the Linton Series (CIncinnati, OH) and Santa Fe Pro Musica (Santa Fe, NM) and performs regularly at Performers of Westchester (Mamaroneck, NY), and Salt Bay Chamberfest and Classicfest Festivals. In the 2016-17 season they look forward to performing at the 92Y series in NY and the Santa Fe (NM) Chamber Music Festival. They are dedicated to expanding the string trio repertoire and their programs range from Bach to contemporary works. Premieres include works by composers David Ludwig, Tamar Muskal, Marc Neikrug, and Andrew Norman. Collaborators have included pianists Jeremy Denk, Benjamin Hochman, Ignat Solzhenitsyn, and Natalie Zhu; soprano Lucy Shelton; and flutist Marya Martin.