Concert Dates
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Program Offerings
“Trio de Chats Noirs is a new and exciting ensemble featuring Elgin favorites Mark Fry on trombone and euphonium, French horn Rachel Velvikis, and pianist Liang-yu Wang. Committed to playing avant-garde and contemporary works such as Shostakovich and Wilder as well as masterpieces by Bach and Saint-Saens, this trio will expand your musical horizons! Chats Noirs, or black cats in French, perform with a lush and velvety tone, from a low purr to a joyful howl! This is a group you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears on!”
Tish Calhamer - Director of Community Engagement, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
Upcoming Performances:
Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 3pm - Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 South Ashland, Chicago, IL
Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 4pm - Saint Giles Episcopal Church, 3025 Walters Ave, Northbrook, IL
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 7:30pm - The CheckOut, 4116 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
Recent Performances:
Songs and Dances - Friday, October 17, 2025 - Noonday Concerts at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL
Songs and Dances - Sunday, October 5, 2025 - Moonlight Theatre, St. Charles, IL
Songs and Dances - Friday, October 3, 2025 - Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI
Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 1pm - NIU School of Music, Music Bldg, 550 Lucinda Ave, DeKalb, IL
Monday, September 1, 2025 - Radio Broadcast on WNIU Classical 90.5 - Encore
Songs and Dances - Friday July 25, 2025 - First Congregational UCC, Elgin, IL
Songs and Dances - Sunday, March 30, 2025 - Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church, Racine, WI
Majestic Brass and Organ - November 17, 2024 - Journey of Hope United Methodist Church in Elgin, IL
Programs:
“Songs and Dances”
This program brings together a vibrant collection of vocal-inspired works and rhythmic gems. The concert opens with the lighthearted yet ironic Waltz from Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite No. 2, setting a playful tone. Brahms’ Horn Songs (arr. Reynolds) follow, evoking themes of nature, love, and mystical celebration with lieder-like warmth. Alec Wilder’s Suite No. 1 for Horn, Bass Trombone, and Piano blends jazz idioms and classical form, moving from the stately Maestoso to the whimsical In a Jazz Manner and serene Berceuse. Adding operatic sparkle, the trio performs Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Pa-pa-pa…” (Papageno-Papagena Duet) from Die Zauberflöte, K. 620—a burst of pure theatrical joy. Gary Kulesha’s Sonata for Horn, Tuba, and Piano is a dynamic interplay of sonorous harmonies and rhythmic drive. Adding whimsy and cinematic allure, the trio performs Rossini’s Cat Duet, a nod to their feline-inspired name, and Morricone’s evocative Main Title and Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso. The concert closes with the timeless charm of Gershwin’s Someone to Watch Over Me. Join Trio de Chats Noirs for an unforgettable performance that celebrates the joy of music through song and dance.
“Resplendent Brass & Organ: From Baroque Grace to Romantic Glory”
Trio de Chats Noirs joins the Midwest’s finest organists for a radiant survey of sacred music. Bold chorales, luminous lyricism, and intricate Baroque dialogues unfold from Mueller’s variations and Liszt’s Hosannah! through the tender melodies of Saint-Saëns, Mozart’s serene simplicity, and Corelli’s elegant grace, culminating in Dykes’ gentle lament. The program’s heart turns to profound prayer: Anton Bruckner’s Ave Maria WAB 7, newly arranged for bass trombone and organ, glows with hushed reverence and velvet sonority, followed by Alan Hovhaness’s Prayer of Saint Gregory in a luminous new scoring for horn, bass trombone, and organ—an ecstatic, soaring intermezzo of mystic longing. The evening closes in triumph with Handel’s Concerto Grosso in F Major—arranged for horn, bass trombone, and organ—ablaze with brilliant dialogue, radiant counterpoint, and joyous Baroque splendor.
“Romantic and Modern Era Gems”
In this program, Trio de Chats Noirs presents a range of romanticism and modernity. Opening with Gillingham’s Divertimento for Horn, Tuba, and Piano, the concert embraces contemporary sounds and dynamic textures, setting an energizing tone.
Schubert’s Auf dem Strom, a heartfelt song of farewell originally for tenor, horn, and piano, reflects deep lyricism and emotional resonance. DiLorenzo’s Gemini offers an introspective dialogue between the instruments, contrasting with Bruch’s Eight Pieces, op. 83, which explores lush, interwoven melodies and harmonies. This program reveals the trio's expressive versatility, with a journey through heartfelt Romanticism and striking modern sounds.