Trio de Los Alamos is, from left Shanalyn Kemme. Cindy Little and Brian Newnam. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.comAt noon Wednesday May 4 at the United Church of Los Alamos, a trio of musicians will treat the community to classical chamber music.
The Los Alamos Arts Council’s Brown Bag Show will feature Trio de Los Alamos, which includes pianist Cindy Little, violinist Brian Newnam and cellist Shanalyn Kemme. Little and Newnam are both local musicians who perform regularly throughout the community and Kemme hails from Albuquerque. The Brown Bag shows are free to the public and everyone is welcomed to attend.
The trio will perform two pieces: “Piano Trio in A Minor” by Finnish composer Aarre Merikanto and “Piano Trio No. 1 in F Major, Op. 18” by French composer Camille Saint-Saeen.
Newnam explained the trio performed Saint-Saeen’s piece last year in Santa Fe and decided they were in “good shape” to perform it again at the Brown Bag show. Merikanto’s work will make its debut in Los Alamos; Newnam said it has never been played locally before and it is a “relatively unknown” piece.
Newnam said he came across the work on a CD that showcased music by Finnish composers. “I was always attracted to that piece,” he said.
In contrast, Saint-Saeen’s piece is well known, at least to chamber music aficionados, Newnam said.
The trio has a long history performing together. The group formed in 2003. Newnam said during this time they have learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses and “we obviously like each other.”
“I’m always honored and delighted to play with these people,” he said.
The group has been successful because “each person brings something special to the group.”
Newnam encourages people to come and see the trio in action during the Brown Bag Show because “they’re going to hear music that is very stimulating and beautiful … it will expand their horizons.”
