The Sherer Trio brings together three of Goshen College’s instrumental faculty. A native of Ukraine, violinist Solomia Soroka is professor of music and teaches applied violin, music theory and chamber music. Cellist and Adjunct Professor Dato Machivariani is a native of the Republic of Georgia and teaches applied cello at Goshen College and Valparaiso Unversity. Pianist and Professor of Music Matthew Hill is chair of the music department, teaches applied piano, music history, piano pedagogy and chamber music courses.

Solomia Soroka, DMA, is professor of music at Goshen College, where she teaches violin, chamber music, and music theory courses. Born in Lviv, Ukraine, she earned her master’s degree and completed her postgraduate studies in the Kiev (Kyiv) Conservatory, and later served on its staff in the department of chamber music. She also has a DMA degree from Eastman School of Music. She studied with Hersh Heifetz, Bohodar Kotorovych, Lyudmyla Zvirko and Charles Castleman. Soroka made her solo debut at ten, playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra. She has appeared at concerts and festivals in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Taiwan and Ukraine. Since her American debut in 1997, she has performed throughout the United States as well.

During the summer, Soroka is on the faculty of Music Fest in Perugia, Italy. She also has taught at the Castleman Quartet Program, Pilsen Summer Academy, and Schlern Music Festival. Ms. Soroka is active giving masterclasses in her native Ukraine, USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, Czech Republic, and Italy.

Dato Machavariani was born in 1962 in the Republic of Georgia. His official musical training started at the age of eight in a special music school for gifted children in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. He continued his studies at the Tbilisi State Conservatory under the tutelage of Eldar Isakadze and Tamara Gabarashvili (both pupils of Mstislav Rostropovich) and earned his master’s degree with highest distinction. In 1992, by invitation of Indiana University South Bend, Machavariani came to the United States and earned his master’s degree and artist diploma. As a soloist, Machavariani has played many times with the Georgian National Symphony, Georgian Radio and TV Orchestra, IUSB Philharmonic, and Elkhart Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Georgian Chamber Orchestra under Liana Isakadze, touring in Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, West Germany, and Austria. He was principal cello in the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra and Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra in St. Joseph, Mich. Currently, he is an assistant principal in the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and Columbia (Mo.) Festival Chamber Orchestra. He is an adjunct faculty member at Goshen College, IUSB, and Valparaiso University.

Matthew Hill, DMA, pianist and Goshen College professor of music, is chair of the music department and teaches piano, chamber music, music history, and as a result of the strong influence from his wife and daughter, also teaches a general education course in Opera and Musical Theatre. He has studied with such renowned musicians as Howard Karp and Claude Frank, whose respective pedagogical genealogies include Rosina Lhévinne and Arthur Schnabel. He has had a variety of teaching and performing experiences both nationally and Internationally. Dr. Hill participated at the Schlern International Music Festival held in the Dolomites of northern Italy through invitation as a teacher, performer, and master class clinician. In China, he taught a series of master classes at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music, and presented a solo recital. Matthew received his doctorate in piano performance at University of Wisconsin- Madison. His students have gone on to further graduate study at many different graduate schools, including Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, University of Oklahoma, Westminster Choir College, and the University of South Florida.

The Goshen College Choirs will present their annual Winter Choral Concert in Sauder Concert Hall. Performing are the Goshen College Chamber Choir, conducted by Jimin Seo; Voices of the Earth, conducted by H. Roz Woll; and Vox Profundi, conducted by Jeshua Franklin.

The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is one of the best-known Estonian music ensembles in the world. Under the direction of founding director Tõnu Kaljuste, the program will feature famed Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s works alongside other ethereal melodies that can only be brought to life by the choir’s resplendent sound. Touted as one of the 10 best choirs in the world by BBC Music Magazine, the repertoire of the choir extends from Gregorian chant and Baroque to the music of the 21st century, with a special focus on the work of Estonian composers. Each season the choir gives about 60–70 concerts both in Estonia and abroad.

“When the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir comes to town, audiences answer.”
– Washington Classical Review

Student winners of the annual Goshen College Concerto-Aria Competition will perform their works with the GC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jimin Seo.