Bill and Linda Poplin Contributor
The third concert in the 2024-25 Friends of Music Concert Series will present the Astralis Chamber Ensemble (flute, violin, piano) on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Covenant First Presbyterian Church, located at 421 White Ave., in Live Oak. Admission is free, and a reception will follow.
The Astralis Chamber Ensemble is an innovative and dynamic ensemble performing with much acclaim across the globe. Through creative programming and presentations on the works performed, Astralis aims to make classical music more accessible and help audiences make a lasting connection to the music. These award-winning musicians represent decades of experience across many of the world's major venues and notable concert series. Another focus of the ensemble is to support the development of the arts through new compositions and reach communities of all backgrounds through music.
Angela Massey has performed in the United States, England, France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Switzerland. As Artistic Director and flutist of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble, she manages and performs over 60 recitals each year. She holds flute/piccolo positions with the Southwest Florida Symphony and Venice Symphony, performs regularly with the Sarasota Orchestra, and is the flute instructor at Florida Gulf Coast University. She received degrees in flute performance from Carnegie Mellon University, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Originally from Holiday Hills, Ill., Rachel Aguilar (Stenzel) grew up in a very musical family, beginning her formal training on the piano at age five and the violin at age seven. Currently residing in Houston, Texas, she completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees in violin performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Although she loves both solo and orchestral playing, Aguilar's true passion is for chamber music. She is also committed to performing at her church and is passionate about teaching music.
Atlanta native Caroline Owen has played in venues across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Among other awards, Owen won the 2018 ProMozart Society of Atlanta Competition, from which she received a scholarship to study at the Salzburg Mozarteum. She is committed to promoting new music. Her background in dance has fostered unique multidisciplinary collaborations with composer Badie Khaleghian. Owen earned her Doctorate of Music in piano performance from Florida State University and is now based in Atlanta, where she serves as an Artist Affiliate at Emory University and CoDirector of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy.
The final concert of the Friends of Music 2024-25 Concert Season will be on Saturday, April 5, featuring Silviu Ciulei, classical guitarist, and his wife, Dr. Tania Moldovan, violinist.