Cello Heaven with Nina Shekhar: World Premiere Performance & Discussion

Left Coast Chamber Ensemble’s (LCCE) season of virtual concerts continues with Cello Heaven with Nina Shekhar: World Premiere Performance & Discussion, featuring a new work for two cellos written for Left Coast’s cellists, along with a talk with the composer and the musicians. The program includes a performance of Shekhar’s cello solo Cajón and an excerpt from Clarice Assad’s Lemuria for cellos, percussion and cello choir. Left Coast Chamber Ensemble premieres Nina Shekhar’s if these walls, a newly commissioned cello duo written for LCCE cellists Leighton Fong and Tanya Tomkins. The cellists will talk with the composer about the interpretation of if these walls, and discuss writing for the cello. Fong and Tomkins will perform if these walls two times during the program, each time exploring a different interpretation. Nina Shekhar is a composer whose work explores the intersection of identity, vulnerability, love, and laughter. Described as “vivid” (Washington Post) and “surprises and delights aplenty” (LA Times), her music has been commissioned and performed by a long list of leading artists. The Kurt Rohde Commission Fund commissioned the piece for this concert. “I am looking forward to the premiere of Nina’s cello duo,” said Anna Presler, LCCE’s Artistic Director. “Even though I'm a violinist, I readily admit that cello offers the most possibilities and would be the best instrument to keep if we had to head to a desert island with just one string player.” The evening includes a performance of Shekhar’s cello solo Cajón and an excerpt from an archival recording of Fong and Tomkins’s previous cello duo commissioning collaboration, Clarice Assad’s Lemuria for cellos, percussion and cello choir. The audience is invited to join after the concert for a live Q&A with the players and composer.