SB Music Club Free Concert Saturday Mar 14, 2026

The Santa Barbara Music Club celebrates its fifty-sixth season of serving the greater Santa Barbara community with free monthly concerts.

A Quintet of Trios, a program of five charming trios featuring piano with a combination of flute, clarinet and viola, will be presented on Saturday, March 14, at 3:00 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 4575 Auhay Drive, Santa Barbara (enter parking lot from Arroyo).

Trios by Maurice Duruflé, Hugh Cole, Ernest Bloch, Max Bruch, & Florent Schmitt will be performed by Jane Hahn, Nancy Mathison, Tom Turner, Mi Young Kim, & Pascal Salomon.

Admission is free and parking is ample.

The program begins with Sonatine en trio, Op. 85, by Florent Schmitt, who was part of the French group Les Apaches, a society of musicians, writers and artists, formed in Paris in 1903.

Schmitt’s own style, recognizably impressionistic, owed something to the example of Debussy, though it had distinct traces of Wagner and Richard Strauss also.

In Sonatine en trio, Op. 85, Schmitt showcases a blend of lyrical melodies and intricate harmonies.

Structured in three movements, each with distinct character and mood, the work reflects early twentieth-century French musical influences, combining impressionism with traditional forms.

Schmitt’s use of rhythm adds a dynamic quality, making it engaging for performers and listeners alike.

Overall, Sonatine is a compelling addition to chamber music repertoire, highlighting Schmitt’s compositional skill.

 

Next we hear Trio for Flute, Clarinet and Piano, by Hugo Cole, a twentieth-century English composer, cellist, critic and author on musical subjects.

The piece exhibits a harmonious blend of the three instruments, highlighting their unique timbres.

Cole employs intricate melodies that weave seamlessly between the flute and clarinet, while the piano provides a rich harmonic foundation, enhancing the overall texture of the trio.

Rhythmic complexity adds depth, engaging the listener throughout the performance.

The work balances lyrical passages with lively, energetic sections, creating dynamic contrasts.

Then we hear Prelude, recitatif and variations.

Op.3, by the celebrated twentieth-century French organist-composer Maurice Duruflé, best known for his Requiem, short organ and chorale pieces.

Duruflé composed this piece in 1926 while still a student at the Paris Conservatory, winning the first prize in that year’s competition.

His personal musical style, influenced by the organ, Bach and Faure, is reflected in this work, his only chamber work.

The opening prélude sets a contemplative mood, leading into the expressive récitatif.

Each variation presents unique thematic development, displaying technical and lyrical contrasts rich harmonic language.

Next we hear Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, Op. 83, by German Romantic Max Bruch, who composed this work in 1910 for his son, Max Felix, who was just beginning his career as a professional clarinetist.

The movements evoke reflections of Brahms, Schumann, Schubert and Dvořák, each a miniature masterpiece.

The work showcases a rich blend of lyrical melodies and intricate harmonies, each piece highlighting the unique timbres of the clarinet and viola, creating a beautiful dialogue.

The piano accompaniment provides a solid foundation while allowing for expressive interplay.

Bruch’s use of contrasting moods keeps the listener engaged throughout the collection.

Finally, we hear Concertino for Flute, Clarinet and Piano, by the early twentieth-century Swiss-born American composer Ernest Bloch.

The piece showcases a rich blend of textures and timbres among the three instruments, using lyrical melodies to create an emotional depth throughout the work.

The interplay between flute and clarinet highlights their contrasting yet complementary qualities.

Rhythmic complexity adds an engaging dynamic to the overall performance while the piano provides a robust harmonic foundation, enhancing the duet’s expressiveness.

Concertino is a captivating exploration of chamber music that reflects Bloch’s unique style.

 

THE PERFORMERS:

Jane Hahn, singer and flutist, grew up in Santa Barbara and has studied and performed as a singer and a flutist her whole life.

Her modest singing career includes several comprimario roles with Opera Santa Barbara, and she has been the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Santa Maria.

Ms. Hahn has directed the women’s vocal ensemble LUX as well as choirs at St. Michael’s and Trinity Episcopal churches.

Hahn studied flute at the University of California, Santa Barbara and continues to perform as a freelance musician today, lately branching out into the jazz genre.

Hahn is a retired software engineer and project manager.

She and her husband are very proud of their two married sons and their precious granddaughter.

Her hobbies include yoga, pottery, and housebuilding with her husband.

 

Mi-Young Kim is a versatile pianist and educator whose work spans collaborative piano, solo performance, and music direction. Based in Santa Barbara, California, she has built a multifaceted career in both performance and education.

She currently serves as Director of Music at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara and has also worked as a collaborative pianist with the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale, Santa Barbara Master Chorale, and Santa Barbara Choral Society.

In addition, she was a faculty member at Westmont College, where she shares her passion for chamber music and collaborative artistry with the next generation of musicians.

She is currently completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree (ABD) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, under the mentorship of Professor Robert Koenig.

She also holds a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Hartford.

Her training has been shaped by esteemed mentors including Dr. Colette Valentine, Prof. Rick Rowley, Dr. Miguel Campinho, and Prof. David Westfall.

Dedicated to musical excellence, Ms. Kim continues to integrate performance, scholarship, and teaching in ways that enrich both her community and the broader field of collaborative piano.

Nancy Mathison grew up in Southern California and is a member of the New West Symphony, Santa Barbara Chamber Players, Santa Maria Philharmonic, Symphony of the Vines, and the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale Orchestra.

She has performed with the Chicago Symphony, the Santa Barbara Symphony, Orchestra Novo, and the San Luis Obispo Symphony.

She has also had the privilege of performing with Leonard Bernstein, the Houston Opera, American Ballet Theatre, Rudolf Nureyev Ballet, Andrea Bocelli, the Temptations, was a member of the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, and played principal clarinet and reeds with the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera for its twenty-year tenure.

She attended the Music Academy of the West and received her degrees in clarinet performance from the University of Southern California (BA) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (MA). She studied with Gary Foster, James Kanter, and Mitchell Lurie.

 

Pascal Salomon, pianist, was born in Israel, reared in France, and has concertized as recitalist, concerto soloist, and chamber music pianist in Europe, Israel, China, and the U.S.

He has been featured soloist with prominent European orchestras and has recorded three solo and chamber music CD’s.

A dedicated teacher, Dr. Salomon taught piano for nine years at the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, Switzerland, and has served as collaborative piano faculty member at Westmont College.

 

Violist Tom Turner has performed throughout Santa Barbara, Santa Luis Obispo and Los Angeles Counties for many years.

He has appeared as soloist with The Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra and Moorpark Symphony, and as Principal Viola.

Additionally, he has served as Principal Viola for the Santa Maria Philharmonic and has been a member for over 25 years.

He is a founding Member of the Santa Barbara Chamber Players.

Now retired, Turner is enjoying seeing his wife Dorothy, traveling, learning Italian, spending more time with his five grandchildren, and playing as much chamber music as possible.

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This and all concerts offered by the Santa Barbara Music Club are open to the public with free admission.

For more information about this concert as well as future and past concerts, see our website www.SBMusicClub.org

The mission of the Santa Barbara Music Club is to contribute to the musical life of our community through the following:

1. Presentation of an annual series of concerts, free to the public, featuring outstanding performances by Performing Members and invited guests;
2. Presentation of community outreach activities, including bringing great music to residents of area retirement homes;
3. Aiding and encouraging musical education by the disbursement of scholarships to talented music students whose permanent address is in Santa Barbara County.

For more information about programs, to join or to donate, please visit our website, http://sbmusicclub.org.