Violinist Otis Harriel and pianist and composer Monica Chew team up for a program approachable classics and new music, featuring "Through the Rapids" by Adam Zolty, "Suite Italienne" by Igor Stravinsky, "Ice Calf" and "Pitter Patter" by Monica Chew, and more!

Monica Chew is an Oakland pianist and composer. In 2017 she released her first solo album, Tender and Strange, featuring works by Bartók, Janáček, Messiaen, Takemitsu, and Scriabin. A “gifted player with an affinity for deeply sensitive expression” (Whole Note), she has been featured on radio stations worldwide. She started composing in 2017 and couldn’t be happier about it. Prior to 2015, she worked nearly a decade as a principal software engineer on security and privacy at Mozilla and Google. She lives in Oakland with her husband, an 1899 Steinway B, a clavichord, and a disused violin.

Violinist Otis Harriel began his violin training in his hometown of Arcata, CA. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He studied with Wei He and developed his love of chamber music through the guidance of Mark Sokol, Jennifer Culp, Jean-Michel Fonteneau and Jodi Levitz.

Since 2012 he has been a violinist with Friction Quartet. With the quartet he has performed in many diverse venues around the world, from Carnegie Hall to SFJAZZ, and collaborated with artists such as Andy Akiho, Paul Watkins, Fabian Almazan, and the Le Bouef Brothers. Friction Quartet has commissioned over 40 works for string quartet and has been mentored by members of the Miró Quartet, Emerson Quartet, Brentano Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Kronos Quartet and Belcea Quartet.

Outside of his work with Friction Quartet he has a passion for museums, a love of Haydn, an enjoyment for rock climbing and deep delight for everything culinary.

Tickets at Classical Sound Room