Ravinia 2024 Issue 1

THE KNIGHTS The Knights are a collective of adventurous musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral expe- rience and eliminating barriers between audiences and music. Driven by an open-minded spirit of ca- maraderie and exploration, they inspire listeners with vibrant programs rooted in the classical tradition and passion for artistic discovery. The Knights evolved from late-night chamber music reading parties with friends at the home of violinist Colin Jacobsen and cellist Eric Jacobsen. The Jacobsen brothers together serve as artistic directors of The Knights, with Eric Jacobsen as conductor. The orchestra has toured extensively across the United States and Europe since their founding in 2007. The Knights are celebrated globally, appearing across the world’s most prestigious stages, including those at Tangle- wood Music Center, Ravinia Festival, the Kennedy Center, the Vienna Musikverein, and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie. The orchestra has collaborated with many renowned soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, and Gil Shaham. The Knights kick off the 2024 summer season with a return to the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts in Central Park, followed by performances at Ravinia and Caramoor with Aaron Diehl and Tanglewood with Emanuel Ax. The Knights’ 2024–25 season at Carnegie Hall will feature new works commissioned as part of the Rhapsody project, a multi-year initiative inspired by the 2024 centennial of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue . The ensemble will be joined by Aaron Diehl, Aoife O’Donovan, and Reena Esmail, among other esteemed collaborators. The Knights made their Ravinia debut in 2010, and in 2012 performed three concerts later broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today . This is the ensemble’s 10th season at the festival. VIOLINS Colin Jacobsen # Fatima Aaziza Christina Courtin Isabelle Ai Durrenberger Alex Fortes Nanae Iwata Ariana Kim # Yaira Matyakubova George Meyer Chelsea Starbuck Smith James Thompson VIOLAS Kyle Armbrust # Mario Gotoh Caitlin Lynch Jessica Thompson CELLOS Jane Cords-O’Hara Alex Greenbaum Caitlin Sullivan BASSES Lizzie Burns Zach Cohen FLUTES Christopher Johnson Alex Sopp OBOES Gustav Highstein Tanavi Prabhu CLARINET Alicia Lee Agnes Marchione BASSOON Edward Burns Alexander Davis HORNS Michael P. Atkinson Karl Kramer-Johansen TRUMPETS C.J. Camerieri Sycil Mathai TROMBONES Nate Mayland Dave Nelson PERCUSSION Joseph Gramley # Ravinia Steans Music Institute alum ERIC JACOBSEN, conductor, artistic director Already well-established as one of classical mu- sic’s most exciting and innovative conductors, Eric Jacobsen combines fresh interpretations of the traditional canon with cutting-edge collab- orations across musical genres. Hailed by the New York Times as “an interpretive dynamo,” Jacobsen, as both a conductor and a cellist, has built a reputation for engaging audiences with creative and collaborative programming. Jacob- sen is artistic director and co-founder of The Knights, the uniquely adventurous NYC-based chamber orchestra. The ensemble, founded with his brother, violinist Colin Jacobsen, grew out of late-night music reading parties with friends, good food and drink, and conversation. Current projects include a multi-year Rhapsody project as well as a residency at Carnegie Hall. Eric also currently serves as Music Director of the Vir- ginia Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, as he continues to pioneer both orchestras’ program- ming and community engagement in new and exciting directions. A frequent guest conductor, Jacobsen has established continuing relation- ships with the Colorado Symphony, the Detroit Symphony, the Oregon Bach Festival, and the Dresden Musikfestspiele. Recent engagements also include concerts with the Omaha Sympho- ny, New Jersey Symphony, and Grant Park Festi- val. Jacobsen brings joy, storytelling, and a touch of humor to what he describes as “musical con- versations” that delight audiences around the world, including those who do not traditionally attend classical music concerts. RAVINIA.ORG  • RAVINIAMAGAZINE 81