Upcoming Performances at Rieth Recital Hall
Sherer Piano and Strings Competition Judges Concert — Thu, Jan 01st
The 2026 Sherer Piano & Strings Competition will present a concert by competition judges in Rieth Recital Hall. The recital is free and open to the public.
Eric Yake Kenagy Lecture: Isaac Scott, artist — Thu, Jan 01st
Rieth Recital Series: The Edvard Grieg Society of the Great Lakes - Austin Huntington, cello & Jeni Houser, soprano — Thu, Jan 01st
Austin Huntington was appointed principal cellist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2015 at age 20, making him one of the youngest principal players in a major American orchestra. He has also served as guest principal with the San Francisco, Toronto, Utah, and Florida symphonies, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. He is currently principal cellist at the Mainly Mozart Festival and Colorado Music Festival.
A winner of the Stulberg and Irving M. Klein international competitions and a top prizewinner in the Schadt Competition, Austin has appeared as soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Marin Symphony, Colburn Orchestra, and others.
Equally active as a chamber musician, he has collaborated across genres with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Hadelich, Edgar Meyer, The Eagles, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Augustana. He has served on faculty at Indiana University and the University of Indianapolis, and as Chair of the Board for the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy.
Austin holds degrees from the Colburn School and Indiana University, and studied with Ronald Leonard, Eric Kim, and other renowned teachers.
Soprano Jeni Houser has been praised by Opera News for her “commanding and duplicitous, yet also vulnerable” performances and a voice with “a bright future above the staff.” In the 2024–25 season, she returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Die Zauberflöte and its English-language The Magic Flute, reprising her signature role as the Queen of the Night. She also appears as Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance with Charlottesville Opera, makes her debut with the Utah Symphony, and returns to the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
Houser has performed the Queen of the Night with the Met, LA Opera, Dallas Opera, and across the U.S. She recently sang Cunegonde in Candide with Madison Opera and Carmina Burana with the Phoenix Symphony and Grand Teton Music Festival.
Internationally, she debuted at the Wiener Staatsoper in Staud’s Die Weiden and returned for Die Zauberflöte and Orest. Other roles include Lucia, Zerbinetta, Olympia, and Susanna. A graduate of Lawrence University and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she is an alumna of Glimmerglass, Virginia Opera, and Opera Saratoga.
Rieth Recital Hall: Norell Piano Duo - André Watts Tribute — Thu, Jan 01st
The Norell Piano Duo began performing together in 2009 at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and has continued to present repertoire for one and two pianos across North America. This winter they performed Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite for two pianos on the Ruthmere Two-Piano Concert Series, and they look forward to sharing a concert of American and patriotic music for one and two pianos at Ruthmere in July 2026 in honor of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. Other recent engagements have included performing Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra with the Maple City Community Orchestra, and duo performances at the University of Indianapolis, the University of Wisconsin, Ohio University, the Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan (MI), and the Music Archive of Sarasota (FL). Luke and Mary Rose have been featured on the “Music for Food” series at Saint Mary’s College (IN), as Guest Artists for Ravinia’s outreach program “Reach*Teach*Play”, and the American Liszt Society. The Norells performed at Edvard Grieg’s home Troldhaugen in Bergen, Norway, and are founding board members of the Edvard Grieg Society of the Great Lakes, which is holding its third conference and competition at Goshen College in May 2026.
Their collaboration together as teachers and adjudicators has included engagements with the Ohio Music Teachers Association in Summit County, the Kelowna Kiwanis Music Festival in British Columbia, and the Beardsley Prize at Ruthmere. They both teach on the faculty of the Goshen College Community School of the Arts, where Luke serves as Lead Piano Instructor and Mary Rose directs the Private Lesson program, and co-direct the Goshen College Piano Camp, which is going into its fifth year. Luke also serves as collaborative pianist for the Goshen College Music Department.
Luke received his B.M. degree from the University of Northwestern (St. Paul) where he was recently honored with the 2024 “Music & Theatre Hall of Recognition” award, one of the school’s top alumni honors. He completed his M.M. and D.M. degrees in piano performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with André Watts. Mary Rose began her studies with Marvin Blickenstaff, continued at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with Emile Naoumoff, and earned her doctorate in Piano Performance with James Giles at the Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. At home, the Norells enjoy sharing music with their three children, Lawrence, Nicholas, and Roselena.
The January 16 program is dedicated to the legendary American pianist André Watts, with whom Luke studied for 4 years at Indiana University. During that time, André coached Luke and Mary Rose in their first duo collaborations as a married couple. The repertoire for the concert includes works that are connected to their work and friendship with André and his wife, Joan Brand: the Bach chorale “Sheep may safely graze”, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. André and Joan “adopted” his students, including spouses and significant others; they generously gave–and still give!–their love and time to the musicians in their care. Luke and Mary Rose are so thankful for André’s mentorship and love, and dedicate the January 16 performance to him, as well as to his dear wife and steadfast companion, Joan.
Rieth Recital Series: Ensemble CONCEPT/21 — Thu, Jan 01st
An Evening of New Music by Midwest Composers
Come support our local and regional composers from Indiana through exciting performances by Ensemble CONCEPT/21. Maestra Casey Robards, EC/21’s Artistic and Music Director, will lead the ensemble to present six works by emerging Indiana composers Biddyclair Moore, Victor Williams, Xinyuan Deng, Michale James Fair, Bill Klemm, and the exciting new work by Jessica T. Carter, Birds of Freedom!
Rieth Recital Series: The Sherer Trio — Thu, Jan 01st
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.
CSA Student Recital — Thu, Jan 01st
Student members of the Community School of the Arts will perform in Rieth Recital Hall, presenting works they have worked on in lessons. This recital is free and the public is warmly invited.
CSA Capstone Concert — Thu, Jan 01st
Graduating members of the Community School of the Arts will perform as part of a “Capstone Concert” in Rieth Recital Hall. Admission is free.
Allegro Beginning String Ensemble & Suzuki Play-In — Thu, Jan 01st
The Community School of the Arts’ Allegro Beginning String Ensemble, directed by Jaehyuk Choi, will be joined by young Suzuki string learners for a free concert in Rieth Recital Hall. All are invited.
Rieth Recital Series: Matthew Hill, solo piano — Thu, Jan 01st
Goshen College Professor of Music and pianist Dr. Matthew Hill will present a solo piano recital in Rieth Recital Hall. This recital is presented as part of the 2025-26 Rieth Recital Series.
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.