In perfect harmony
Newlyweds Mei-Ting Sun and Michelle Chow join hands for the Siletz Bay Music Festival
By Eliot Sekuler
For the TODAY
His virtuoso playing never fails to dazzle. Add to that a flair for introducing his performances with a blend of humor and true musical insight and it’s no wonder that London-based pianist Mei-Ting Sun has been a favorite of Siletz Bay Music Festival audiences since his first appearance at the annual music series in 2014.
A veteran of nine Siletz Bay Music Festivals, Sun will be returning to the Oregon Coast this year on a break from his teaching post as Professor of Piano at London’s Royal Conservatory of Music. And this year, he’ll be returning as a newlywed.
Sun and another Siletz Bay Music favorite, Dutch-born pianist Michele Chow, were married four months ago in a small, socially distanced ceremony in London. The pandemic was raging in Europe and there wasn’t much opportunity for travel.
“We didn't really have a honeymoon since we couldn't go anywhere,” Sun said. “But we stayed true to the original meaning of the word and made (and drank!) mead for more than a month. It was quite strong (approximately 20 proof) and made for a very good time.”
For Sun and Chow, the music festival will be part of their extended honeymoon.
As in recent seasons, Sun will open the festival with a solo performance on Saturday, Sept. 4 and will contribute to several other concerts, including the annual feast for the ears and the palate, the much beloved “Musical Tapas” celebration on Sunday, Sept. 5, and the “Tuesday Night Soiree” on Wednesday, Sept. 8.
With his encyclopedic knowledge of every era of classical piano repertoire, Sun takes great pains in choosing each piece in his programs. In selecting material for his opening night solo performance, he considered the challenges faced by his audience, and the world at large, during these many difficult months.
“The program as a whole is meant to give comfort to everyone, myself included,” he said, “and to bring everyone together as a community again after all the imposed lockdowns. With works including pieces by Scriabin, Schumann, Hindemith and Brahms, Sun has designed a program that will capture the emotional ups and downs of the past year, while ending on an appreciation of life and community. “The program is meant to give a sense of closure to the difficult times we’ve experienced.”
At the “Musical Tapas” event, Sun will be joined by his new bride for the North American premiere of a piece composed more than 135 years ago. German Romanticist composer Richard Strauss wrote “Intermezzo in F Major” when he was 21 years old, but the piece was lost for many years.
“It was composed for four hands and it is a delightful, effervescent, happy piece full of youthful enthusiasm, playfulness and energy,” Sun said. “We think it is a perfect choice for the type of atmosphere we want to create for ‘Tapas,’ and we certainly hope it will bring joy to the listeners.”
Festival-goers will have additional opportunities to hear Chow’s piano artistry at “Songs With and Without Words” on Tuesday, Sept. 7. And she will be re-joined by Sun at the “Family Free Concert” on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 9.
Both Chow and Sun began their careers as child prodigies and have since won acclaim in concert halls around the world. Born in the Netherlands, Chow started studying piano as a six-year-old in China, and upon returning to the Netherlands, continued her studies at the Young Talent program of the Royal Conservatoire at The Hague. She has performed in many venues throughout the Netherlands, the UK and the US.
A native of Shanghai, Sun first took up piano at the age of three and made his debut concert appearance at the Spring of Shanghai Festival a mere two years later. At nine, he left Shanghai for New York and eventually received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mannes College of Music and a doctorate from the Juilliard School. His career has taken him around the world with performances at many of the world's most prestigious concert halls.
After the long absence, Sun and Chow say they are excited to return to the Central Oregon Coast.
“One of my longtime interests that I never really took on was astrophotography, and I started doing a bit of that in London,” Sun said. “So, locale-wise, I really miss the dark sky, and of course the ocean. But, more importantly, I think we all miss human contact more, and to me, my friends (and I certainly consider all the long-term attendees at the festival to be so) have been sorely missed. We really look forward to catching up with everyone, to commiserate our plights during the pandemic and the lockdowns, and to share the renewed joy of gatherings, the festival and live music.”
About the Siletz Bay Music Festival
Since its inception, the mission of Siletz Bay Music Festival has been to bring multi-genre, world-class music performed by outstanding musicians to the Central Oregon Coast; to reach across race, culture, age, social and economic barriers. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Yaacov Bergman, the festival offers exciting programming with a mix of classical favorites, jazz, eclectic, cutting-edge musical selections and family-friendly events.
For more information, go to siletzbaymusic.org.
Saturday, Sept. 4
Gala Opening
Lincoln City Cultural Center
An opening night performance from pianist Mei-Ting Sun featuring pieces from Schumann, Brahms and more. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $25, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 7:30 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101
Sunday, Sept. 5
“Bagels with Beethoven”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
The Siletz Bay Music Festival continues with a musical chat and performance moderated by Joan Behrens Bergman and accompanied by everyone’s favorite boiled bread. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Free. 11 am, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
“Musical Tapas”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
The Siletz Bay Music Festival presents music by Georgs Pelēcis, Schumann, Gliere, Dvorak, William Grant Still, Richard Strauss and more, all accompanied by tapas. $55. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $55, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 4 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
Monday, Sept. 6
“Isn’t it Romantic?”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
The Siletz Bay Music Festival continues with pieces by Korngold, Saint-Saëns and Mendelssohn on piano, cello and violin. Tickets, $25, available at siletzbaymusic.org. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Free. 7:30 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
Tuesday, Sept. 7
“A Tuesday Night Soiree”
Congregational Church of Lincoln City
The Siletz Bay Music Festival continues with a free concert featuring pieces by Prokofiev, Patrice Michaels, Schumann and more. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Free. 7:30 pm, 2435 NW Oar Place.
Wednesday, Sept. 8
“Songs With & Without Words”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
The Siletz Bay Music Festival continues with a concert including “Two Indian Dances” by Charles Sanford Skilton alongside pieces by Milhaud, Schumann and Schubert. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $25, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 7:30 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
Thursday, Sept. 9
“Mother Goose”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
The Siletz Bay Music Festival presents a free family performance of Ravel’s “Ma mère l’Oye,” narrated by Ron Spivak and featuring Mei-Ting Sun and Michelle Chow on piano. Masks and proof of vaccination required. 3:30 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
“Welcome to the Club”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
The Siletz Bay Music Festival presents a fun, informal after-dinner show featuring musicians including Ken Peplowski on clarinet and Randy Porter on piano. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $25, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 7:30 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
“On Wings of Song”
Pacific Maritime Heritage Center • Newport
The Siletz Bay Music festival fills the Doerfler Family Theater with the sounds of Mahler, Debussy, Ernest Bloch and more. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $25, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 7:30 pm, 333 SE Bay Blvd.
Friday, Sept. 10
“For the Love of it”
Lincoln City Cultural Center
A benefit concert for the Siletz Bay Music Festival, catered by the Side Door Café and featuring a performance from jazz vocalist Karla Harris, backed by a band of festival regulars. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $125, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 5:30 pm, 540 NE Hwy. 101.
Saturday, Sept. 11
Sights & Sounds
B’nai B’rith Camp • Lincoln City
A performance from the Siletz Bay Music Festival Orchestra, featuring pieces by Barber, Mozart and Beethoven. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $40, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 7:30 pm, 3509 NW East Devils Lake Road.
Sunday, Sept. 12
Pre-concert Picnic
B’nai B’rith Camp • Lincoln City
Get into a festive mood and enjoy the peaceful surroundings on the shore of beautiful Devils Lake with a choice of sandwiches (gluten free available on request) and other goodies. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $40, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 3 pm, 3509 NW East Devils Lake Road.
“Sounds of America”
B’nai B’rith Camp • Lincoln City
A performance from the Siletz Bay Music Festival Orchestra, featuring the world premiere of “N’Chewana” by Nancy Ives. Masks and proof of vaccination required. Tickets, $40, available at siletzbaymusic.org. 3 pm, 3509 NW East Devils Lake Road.