Lincoln Trio journeys to Yuba City

The internationally acclaimed Lincoln Trio — Marta Aznavoorian on piano; David Cunliffe on cello; and Desirée Ruhstrat on violin — will play at 7:30 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Yuba City as part of Tri-County Concert Association's 2011-2012 season.

"There is lots of exciting news about the Lincoln Trio," said Joaquina Johnson, publicity chair for TCCA. "Their new CD, 'Notable Women,' has been receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews in the international music press in the past couple of months."

"Notable Women: Trios By Today's Female Composers" also is nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award in Producer Of The Year, Classical, for its producer, Judith Sherman.

In 2011, the group — which is based out of Chicago and takes its name from Illinois' "land of Lincoln" — toured throughout the United States and Germany, as well as Vietnam, Singapore and Hong Kong.

"It is just amazing that we get to bring this first-class, international group of people on our series. We have four concerts this season, and it all has been so well received," Johnson said.

"There will be one more concert this season on April 22 by the Euclid Quartet. People can still join the TCCA, and they should. We need their support if we are going to keep this going," she said.

"We want people to buy season tickets, and we want them to realize that we are planning a wonderful season for next year," Johnson said.

The Lincoln Trio will also do an outreach program in Yuba City for local elementary schools, Johnson said. "They are really players, and they're attractive and they're fun and young — and they talk to the audience," Johnson said.

"Community concerts are so important. The arts council is struggling again with its membership, and money — and we need people to join. We just need them to join the arts council and to come to the events," she said.

"In our Yuba City program, the trio is going to feature highlights from their new CD, as well as works by familiar composers — Beethoven and Dvorák," Johnson said. "I love their program."

Monday's concert will include Beethoven's "Piano Trio Op. 11"; "Silver Dagger," written for the Lincoln Trio by Stacy Garrop; Frank Martin's "Piano Trio on Irish Folk Tunes"; Jennifer Higdon's "Fiery Red"; and Dvorák's "Piano Trio Op. 90, 'Dumky'."

"The TCCA music committee listened to the Lincoln Trio last year, and we just thought they were terrific. I am really excited for the community to come hear them," Johnson said.

"The arts are so important," she said.

CONTACT Susan Benitez at sbenitez@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4773. Find her on Facebook at /ADFeatures or on Twitter at @adfeatures.