Program and Artist Biography

Pianist Artur Aksenov was born into a family of musicians in Chisinau, Moldova, where he made his orchestral debut with the Moldavan Philharmonic at age 16. He studied with Boris Berlin at Moscow's Gnessins' Institute, where he is now on the faculty. He has performed in many cities of the former Soviet Union, as well as in Belgium, Austria, and South Korea. Aksenov specializes in performing the works of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, and Rachmaninoff. A critic writing about a recent Aksenov recital in Washington, D.C., called him "a concert pianist of spectacular talents".

Amy Frost Baumgarten has been principal cellist of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra since 2000. Prior to that, she was an active chamber musician as well as assistant principal of Orchestra New England, New Haven Symphony, and California Symphony. Baumgarten, who holds a Master of Music degree from Yale University, has taught at Wesleyan University, Hartt School, Yale University, and Eastern Music Festival. She has performed with the San Francisco Opera and at the festivals of Banff, Grand Tetons, Spoleto, Italy, and San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Flutist Jonathan Baumgarten teaches at American University and has been soloist with orchestras in Philadelphia, Detroit, New England, San Francisco, and London. Formerly principal flutist with Mexico City Philharmonic, he has served as co-principal of Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia in Spain, and performed regularly with chamber ensembles and orchestras in the San Francisco Bay area. Mr. Baumgarten earned a Master of Music degree at Juilliard, following studies in Paris and Philadelphia, where he was an NEA Fellow.

Stephen Bates recently completed a career of 36 years with the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra playing clarinet and bass clarinet. While a member of the orchestra, Mr. Bates played for all the major ballet companies of the world and performed in 70 different operas with the Washington National Opera. He studied with Leon Russianoff, Harold Wright, and Loren Kitt, and he holds a doctorate from Catholic University, Washington, D.C. Bates is also a visual artist who is interested in the connection between music and painting. His work has been shown at the Watergate Gallery and the Parish Gallery in Washington, D.C. He is particularly pleased to be participating in this recital at The Phillips Collection, an artistic and spiritual anchor for him in his years in Washington.