MUSIC ON THE HILL
Chamber Music Series
Purely Classical. Pure Joy.
MSO’s Music on the Hill series features exquisite chamber music performed by some of the greatest musicians from around the world!
MUSIC ON THE HILL
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
New Zealand cellist RICHARD BELCHER joined the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in 2019. He was founding cellist of the Grammy-nominated Enso String Quartet with whom he toured for two decades, performing frequently in many of the great concert halls throughout the world, as well as making several highly acclaimed recordings. In addition to his quartet career, from 2008 Richard has been Principal Cello of ROCO in Houston, TX.
In 2018 the Enso Quartet disbanded, and Richard became Artistic Director of the chamber music series Music on the Hill in Mankato, MN. He continues to be a frequesnt guest at festivals throughout the USA, and is in demand as a teacher and chamber music coach.
Richard moved to the United States in 1998 to study with Aldo Parisot at Yale University, and it is there that he co-founded the Enso Quartet, He is married to Cecilia Belcher, the Assistant Principal 2nd Violin of the Minnesota Orchestra.
November 1&22
Big Sky
The season opening concert includes musical selections by Schubert, Joan Tower and Nadia Boulanger. It concludes with the powerful Mendelssohn D Minor Piano Trio, a “master trio of our age” according to Robert Schumann. Violinist Cecilia Belcher and pianist Bethel Balge will join Richard in a virtual performance. Watch this event FREE of charge on our website or our Facebook page, beginning at 2:15pm.
December 13
The Beethoven C Minor Trio
This concert falls just three days before Beethoven’s 250th birthday and showcases the Piano Trio Op. 1 No. 3, in C Minor. Come celebrate this special occasion with violinist Peter McGuire, pianist Bethel Balge, and Richard Belcher. This is a virtual concert and will air on Facebook, YouTube and on this website, beginning at 4:15pm.
January 10
Mozart & Higdon
Peter McGuire, Bethel Balge, and Richard Belcher perform Mozart's sparkling Piano Trio in C Major, K 548 and Jennifer Higdon's passionate Pale Yellow Trio. This is a virtual concert and will air on Facebook, YouTube and on this website, beginning at 4:15pm.
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February 20
Not Even Clouds
The title takes its name from the middle piece on the program, a string quartet by Gillian Whitehead. The program begins with the Haydn String Quartet in C Major, Op. 20 No. 2, and concludes with the nostalgically beautiful Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 27‘ by Edvard Grieg. Featuring SPCO musicians Maureen Nelson and Richard Belcher, both formerly of the Grammy nominated Enso String Quartet, violinist Kathryn Bennett, and violist David Auerbach. This is a virtual event and will air free of charge on Facebook, YouTube, and on this website at 7pm.
March 21
The Archduke
This concert will feature Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Trio, Op. 97, otherwise known as The Archduke Trio, due to its dedication to Archduke Rudolph of Austria. SPCO Concertmaster and violinist Steven Copes and pianist Timothy Lovelace join Richard Belcher for this performance. This virtual event is presented by Mayo Clinic Health System and KMSU and will air free of charge on Facebook, YouTube, and on this website at 4pm.
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May 27
Season Finale
The season finale concert, premiering Thursday, May 27 at 7:30pm will impress with the powerful Dumbarton Quintet by Joan Tower and the supremely romantic Piano Quintet in E Flat Major, Op. 44 by Robert Schumann. Violinists Francesca Anderegg and Peter McGuire, violist Hyobi Sim, and pianist Esther Wang will join Richard Belcher. This virtual event is presented by the Andreas Foundation and by Mayo Clinic Health System and will air free of charge on Facebook, YouTube, and on this website at 7:30pm.