Prism Piano Trio

Piano Trio

Sunday Concert

November 8, 2026, 4-6 PM

Program

Arvo Pärt (b. 1935): Mozart-Adagio

Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune

Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962): Pale Yellow

Oliver Caplan (b. 1982): Illuminated by the Light of Two Ships Passing in the Night

Intermission

Mel Bonis (1858-1937): Soir, Op. 76

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Introduction and Allegro

Frank Bridge (1879-1941): Phantasie

The Washington, DC-based Prism Piano Trio makes its Phillips Music debut with a wide-ranging program inspired by the exhibition Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea that highlights the group’s gift for bringing fresh perspectives to music across genres and styles. The trio, composed of longtime friends violinist Jane Bowyer Stewart, cellist Kerry Van Laanen, and pianist Kathryn Brake, present works by Claude Debussy and Benjamin Britten, alongside lesser-known contemporaries like Mel Bonis and Frank Bridge, as well as contemporary voices Jennifer Higdon, Oliver Caplan, and Arvo Pärt.

Performers
Jane Bowyer Stewart, violin
Kerry Van Laanen, cello
Kathryn Brake, piano

The Prism Piano Trio, composed of three accomplished women—cellist Kerry Van Laanen, violinist Jane Bowyer Stewart, and pianist Kathryn Brake—brings together a wealth of experience as soloists and chamber musicians. Collectively, the trio has performed in prestigious venues across the United States and Europe, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the National Gallery of Art, and the Phillips Collection, as well as in Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Italy, Spain, and France.

After years of performing together in various combinations, the musicians decided to formalize their collaboration and focus on the rich and diverse repertoire for piano trio. As the Prism Piano Trio, their mission is to illuminate both well-known masterpieces and lesser-known works that have been unjustly overlooked. They are passionate about bringing these musical treasures to life through thoughtful, detailed interpretations that allow the music to shine in all its brilliance.