MYAC's Music at the Fort series is proud to present a special performance by the Black Oak Ensemble. The free concert will be livestreamed from MYAC's new event tent, and in-person attendance will be limited to the first 25 guests to reserve tickets. Masks are required and chairs will be provided.

The livestream can be viewed at: youtube.com/MidwestYoungArtists.

This performance is part of an Artist Residency of Black Oak Ensemble and the Lincoln Trio, made possible by the Illinois Arts Council. 

Praised for their “insightful, committed and masterful performances 10/10 ” (July 2019, Classics Today) and their “fierce eloquence”(September 2019, The Times), the Black Oak Ensemble is establishing itself as one of the premier chamber ensembles in the United States.

The Black Oak Ensemble comprises of Grammy-nominated violinist Desirée Ruhstrat, cellist David Cunliffe of the acclaimed Lincoln Trio, and violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli, a founding member of the groundbreaking Grammy-nominated Spektral Quartet.

The project-based Black Oak Ensemble presents exciting programs from Bach to the music of today and has collaborated with musicians such as bandoneon player Evan Orman, guitarists Goran Ivanovic and José Ferreira, harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, members of Eighth Blackbird, and the Cavatina Duo. As passionate advocate of new works, they have commissioned and premiered string trios from renowned composers such as Michael Nyman, David Ludwig, Misha Zupko, and Conrad Tao, and discovered works by Dick Kattenburg and Geza Fríd.

This season, the ensemble’s debut album, Silenced Voices―a deeply personal program dedicated to mid-20th Century Jewish composers, most of whom lost their lives during the Holocaust―was released on Cedille Records; it went on to be featured by Gramophone Magazine, Strings Magazine, and BBC Radio 3. The ensemble was recently featured live from New York by The Violin Channel, and had an appearance on Sirius XM.