Program and Artist Biography

An acknowledged leader in the field of new music, the Verdehr Trio has concentrated on molding and defining the personality of the violin-clarinet-piano trio, for over 35 years. The trio has created a large repertoire by commissioning over 200 new works from some of the world's most prominent and exciting composers-known and unknown, old and young.

Walter Verdehr was born in Gottschee, Yugoslavia, and received his first violin instruction at the Conservatory of Music in Graz, Austria. The first violinist to receive a doctorate at the Juilliard School, he also studied at the Vienna Academy of Music as a Fulbright Scholar. Mr. Verdehr has made numerous appearances as soloist with orchestras and in solo and chamber music recitals in the United States and Europe. He has taught at the International Congress of Strings and at Michigan State University where he is professor of music and recently received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Arts and Letters College. Mr. Verdehr performs on the ex-Stephens-Verdehr Stradivarius of 1690.

Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr studied at the Oberlin Conservatory and at the Eastman School where she received a Performer's Certificate and the DMA degree. She has appeared frequently in the United States and abroad as a recitalist, clinician, and soloist with orchestras and as principal clarinetist of the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra. Noted for her musical tone and her elegant phrasing, she was recently recognized as a Distinguished Faculty Professor at Michigan State University and received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award and honorary membership in the International Clarinet Society for her accomplishments as a performer and teacher.

Silvia Roederer was born in Argentina, but began her musical training in the United States. After graduating with high honors from the Eastman School, she completed her doctoral degree as a student of John Perry at the University of Southern California. Her Los Angeles debut was an acclaimed recital at the prestigious Ambassador Auditorium. She recently performed in the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts in Chicago. As a chamber musician, she has appeared in mainland China and Hong Kong, in Austria, London, Paris, Warsaw, Moscow, and New York's Carnegie Hall. Currently professor of music at Western Michigan University, Ms. Roederer lives in Kalamazoo with her husband and three children.