Violinist Sarah Chang & Pianist Andrew Von Oeyen Perform at Markham Theatre 2/24

Violin superstar Sarah Chang, with pianist Andrew Von Oeyen, is making theIr only Canadian recital appearance at Markham Theatre on February 24 at 8 PM.

They kick off the International Series, which is part of Markham Theatre's 25th anniversary season. The other concerts featured in this series are Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba (Tuesday, March 16 at 8 PM) and Anoushka Shankar (Monday, April 12 at 8 PM).

Sarah Chang is a star violinist who's "got it all" - she is already a veteran performer at age thirty with a brilliant technique, strong stage personality, and performances marked by sheer gusto. As a recitalist, Sarah has toured Europe and the US, and she likes to programme something contemporary along with the warhorse favourites. In this recital at Markham Theatre, Sarah Chang will perform the Sonatensatz and Sonata No. 3 both by Johannes Brahms; Fantasy by Christopher Theofanidis, and César Franck's popular Sonata in A Major. Theofanidis is a Grammy-nominated American composer who has composed for the American Ballet Theatre, the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, and several American orchestras.

As a soloist with orchestra, Sarah Chang already blazed a trail performing with all the top orchestras in the world, with great maestri like Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Charles Dutoit, Marriss Jansons, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Barnard Haitink, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Muti, André Previn, Michael Tilson Thomas, and David Zinman.

Sarah Chang began her musical life as a child prodigy of the first order: she began the violin at age four (with a 1/16-sized violin) and, astoundingly, was playing the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor by age six - her audition piece for the Juilliard School of Music. She was immediately accepted and taught by the legendary Dorothy DeLay. Like most successful musicians, Sarah's parents were very supportive and commuted from Philadelphia, where Sara lived, and New York City for her Saturday lessons. By eight she earned engagements with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta and the Philadelphia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti.

Sarah is now a beautiful, fashion-savvy woman whose PR stills have a glamorous, editorial look. The Press page on her website features an article about the double-edged sword young female classical musicians face in modern times: being photogenic and stylish is an asset - or is it? Sarah takes it all in stride, keeping her outfits repertoire-appropriate - and, bottom line, focusing on the music.

With over 18 recordings to her name (her debut album was released at age ten), Sarah's latest is 2009's Max Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 and Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto, both conducted by Kurt Masur with the Dresdner Philharmonie on the EMI Classics label.
For more information on Sarah Chang, please visit www.sarahchang.com.

Tickets: $49, $59, $69. International Series subscription: $109. Box office, Mon-Sat, 11-6. Phone: 905 305 SHOW (7469).

For more information: please visit www.markhamtheatre.ca. Box office: 905 305 SHOW (7469). Mon - Sat, 11-6. Markham Theatre is located at 171 Town Centre Boulevard (Warden & Hwy #7). It's 20 minutes by car from downtown Toronto with plenty of free parking. Coming by Go Train or subway, you can connect via public transit. For transit information, please visit www.yorkregiontransit.com. Online: www.markhamtheatre.com.

The Markham Theatre is located at 171 Town Centre Boulevard (Warden & Hwy #7) / Wednesday, February 24 at 8 PM