People >> Bach Duo
The Bach Duo is comprised of Nella Hunkins, violoncello and Micaela Schmitz, harpsichord; both Americans who spent much of their lives in Europe. They offer many programmes, including Bach viola da gamba sonatas, suites for solo cello or harpsichord, and duos by other baroque composers.
The duo can be contacted via email or by ringing 01386 859648.
Nella Hunkins is from New York and comes from a family of professional musicians (all Juilliard School of Music graduates). She began her studies at an early age with her cellist father, whose cello she has inherited and plays since 1969. At 14 she enrolled at Juilliard and studied with Leonard Rose, ultimately finishing two degrees at Indiana University under Janos Starker. In 1968 she received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the Paris Conservatory. Her first major appointment was Associate Principal Cellist with Cleveland Orchestra in 1973. Family and musical activities brought her to Berlin where she played with the Berlin Philharmonic Ensemble, including their DENON recording of Boccherini Quintets. She performed at the Casals Festival 1974-78, Salzburg Festivals 1984-90, and as a soloist with orchestras in New York, Berlin, and Singapore as well chamber music tours.
For eight years she served as principal cellist for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. She has taught at the Cleveland Institute, Oberlin Conservatory (1971-78), Berlin Hochschule der Kunste (1980-86), the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore (NUS, 2001- 2009), and as coach to the youth orchestra of the Jeunesse Musicale. Ms. Hunkins has since chosen to make her home in the Cotswolds where she has made it her mission to share her love of chamber music, especially that of J.S. Bach, and seeks the further opportunities to teach, welcoming all levels.
Micaela Schmitz (originally from the U.S.) specialises in early keyboard instruments, including harpsichord, fortepiano and clavichord. She earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts under Arthur Haas at the Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, New York. This was pre-ceded by a first degree in Music at U.C. Berkeley, and a Masters in Choral Conducting. She spent two years studying with Jacques Ogg and Bart van Oort at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. As a soloist she has received acclaim for her performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which features an entertaining pre-concert talk.
She has performed with Laurence Cummings, Paul Simmonds (duo keyboard repertoire); gambist Jacqui Robertson-Wade, and with Cathryn Dew, recorders. Her ensemble Lady Georgianna offers costumed 18th-century presentations. She delivers arts workshops with Early Music in the Vale, is Education Officer for the Chipping Campden Music Festival, and co-runs the Worcestershire Waits, an early music ensemble for young people aged 8-16. She edits the magazine Harpsichord & Fortepiano, and received a Finzi Trust Scholarship in 2008-9 to research and edit 18th-century songs.
See us in the Gloucestershire Echo.
And the Evesham Observer.
Music of Peace for All Time (lunchtime version)
Sharing a title with their CD, this programme features the timeless music of Bach including viola da gamba sonatas, works by Vivaldi, and works by Bach based on models of Vivaldi.
This programme includes works by Bach and Vivaldi
passages for two instruments where there is a certain degree of improvisation alongside ones where every note is written out (except for a few embellishments), and works for solo instruments that show simplicity in a single voice next to works where one instrument stands in for an entire orchestra. Vivaldi was much admired by Bach so we have included his work as well.
QUOTES
"I thought the interchange [in the Vivaldi Four Seasons] between soloist Lin and concertmaster Alexander Souptel couldn’t be beat until I heard his interplay with magnificent principal cellist Nella Hunkins in the other three concertos.”
(Gil French, American Record Guide)