True North

Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 3:00pm
Memorial Chapel, 221 High Street, Middletown, Connecticut

Free and open to the public.

A concert by True North--Wesleyan Cello Instructor Julie Ribchinsky, violinist Artemis Simerson, and pianist Bill Braun--will feature performances of Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 97 ("Archduke") and Rebecca Clarke's Piano Trio (1921), plus the world premiere of a new commissioned work, True North, written for the group by Darian Simerson.

Formed in 2024, the piano trio True North is passionately dedicated to presenting the best of chamber music repertoire in New England. The three Connecticut musicians had previously performed in various combinations for over 40 years.

Cellist Julie Ribchinsky teaches cello at Wesleyan University, and is a Professor Emeritus at Central Connecticut State University. A founding member of the Connecticut Trio, for many decades Ribchinsky performed with violinist Gerard Rosa and pianist Linda Laurent in yearly concerts at the New Britain Museum of American Art. Ribchinsky performs often throughout the area as a soloist and recitalist.

Violinist Artemis Simerson was the Assistant Concertmaster of the New Haven Symphony for 30 years until 2022, and she continues to teach violin at Choate Rosemary Hall. She participates in numerous musical performances in the Wall Street Chamber Players and in recordings, and she is delighted to have time to share her great love of the piano trio repertoire.

Pianist William Braun plays principal keyboards for the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and is a professor at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. He has written more than 300 articles for Opera News magazine. He has made recordings for Koch Classics and the PBS TV series American Masters.