Equally at home in the solo, chamber, and orchestral stages, Sarah Frisof is a passionate flutist and educator.  As a soloist, Dr. Frisof was the second-prize winner of both the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition and the Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition, and she was a semi-finalist in the 2009 Kobe International Flute Competition. Dr. Frisof has concertized throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.As a committed proponent of contemporary music, Dr. Frisof frequently premieres major works.  Recent premieres include Ingrid Stölzel’s work The Voice of the Rain, Damian Montano’s Concerto for Flute and Harp with the Dallas Winds and Joel Puckett’s Knells for Bonnie for flute and wind ensemble. The Puckett Concerto was released on the Klavier Label in February of 2017.  In June of 2016, Dr. Frisof released her first solo CD, The Flute Music of Joseph Schwantner, an authoritative recording of all of Schwantner’s major works for flute.  This recording, which was released on the Centaur Label, includes the world premiere recording of Taking Charge, a new chamber work for flute, piano, and percussion.

In addition to Dr. Frisof’s work as a solo artist, she is an active orchestral musician, having worked with major symphony orchestras across the country, including the Baltimore Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Kansas City Symphony and many others.  Dr. Frisof also serves as the principal flute of the Dallas Winds, the premier wind band in the United States.  In the summers, Ms. Frisof plays with several festival orchestras including the Sunflower Festival (Topeka, KS), and Music in the Mountains (Durango, CO).  An enthusiastic educator, Dr. Frisof has taught in a variety of diverse settings, including as a faculty member at the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Music in the Mountains Conservatory, and the Blanche Bryden Summer Institute. She has taken her passion for education to global audiences, including working with young students in Zimbabwe and Brazil, and she frequently gives masterclasses at universities across the United States.  A graduate of the Eastman School, The Juilliard School, and the University of Michigan, she was formerly the Professor of Flute at University of Kansas and the University of Texas at Arlington. Ms. Frisof is currently the Associate Professor of Flute at the University of Maryland. www.sarahfrisof.com

Rudolf Ozolins was born into a family of musicians in Riga, Latvia.  He began his music studies at the age of five at E. Darzins Music School for gifted children. Soon after starting his music education, Mr. Ozolins began to perform publicly. At the age of twelve he had his first appearance with the National Symphony Orchestra of Latvia. Mr. Ozolins’ musical education continued at Jazeps Medins Riga Music College and the Latvian Music Academy. During these years he studied with professors L. Sarkisjana, J. Kalnciems, and T. Bikis.

Since 2001, Rudolf Ozolins has been studying music in the United States. He has received his Bachelor and Masters degrees in piano performance from Indiana University.  In 2013 he completed a Doctoral degree in piano performance at Michigan State University. During these years he was under the tutelage of world renowned pianists M. Zeltser , A. Toradze, G. Vatchnadze, and M. Sohn.

Mr. Ozolins has been among winners in several international piano competitions, including the Concours Musical de France, Grand Prix Darius Milhaud and the Beethoven Piano Sonata Competition.  He has continuously and substantially enriched his accompanying and teaching knowledge through collaboration with various ensembles and artists including Metropolitan Opera soloist Maija Kovalevska, Latvian National Opera soloist Viesturs Jansons, Detroit Symphony musicians Sharon Sparrow, Jeffery Zook, Amanda Blakie, Una O’Riordan, Ralph Skiano, Avalon String quartet violist Tony Devroye, Yury Gandelsman and many others. He has also performed as a soloist with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra in Latvia. He actively concertizes in the US as a chamber musician and a soloist.

Works to be performed: 

Joan Tower: Valentine Trills

Yusef Lateef: Tunis

Lili Boulanger: Nocturne

Henri Dutilleux: Sonatine

Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre: Sonata in d minor

Clémance de Grandval: Suite for Flute and Piano (two movements)