Concert violinist Joshua Peckins performs masterpieces of the violin and piano repertoire in electrifying duo performances with pianist Eliko Akahori. From the most passionate and expressive sonatas, to dazzlingly virtuosic showpieces, to intimate and lyrical salon pieces written for simple pleasure – the unique programs present a wide range of experiences for listeners, all celebrating the wide artistic potential of the violin.
About the performers
Joshua Peckins, award-winning concert violinist, has performed throughout North and South America, Europe and Asia, from Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s Performing Arts Center. Having played chamber music and recitals in the United States, Vienna, Paris, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Japan, and Canada, he was also invited to give solo performances and pedagogical lectures in Japan – broadcast on national television. Today, he is most passionate and active as a recitalist, having launched his solo recital series, The Art of the Recital, in 2016, with a mission to bring the great masterpieces of the solo violin repertoire back into our regular concert-going experience.
He is an active chamber musician, having performed with the New England Bach Festival at Marlboro, A Far Cry, Camerata New England, Music at Eden’s Edge, and Manchester Summer Chamber Music. As an orchestral musician, he has served as associate concertmaster of the Cape Cod Symphony and first violinist of the Boston Philharmonic, as well as at the Monadnock Festival. First appearing as soloist with orchestra at age 11, Joshua has performed as soloist with the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic, the Bach Consort, Manchester Summer Chamber Music, the Orchestra on the Hill, and the Wakefield Choral Society, performing concerti and solo works by Brahms, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Sarasate, Mozart, Bach, Haydn, Vivaldi, and John Williams.
His teachers include some of the legendary figures of classical violin playing. He owes his greatest gratitude to Michael Frischenschlager, former concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic, European soloist, and president of the Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition, as well as Nicholas Kitchen of the Borromeo String Quartet, Marylou Churchill of the Boston Symphony, Syoko Aki of Yale University, Lynn Chang, Tymur Melnyk, Maria Benotti, and Trudy Larson.
Eliko Akahori has appeared as a chamber musician and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Recent performances include a live broadcast of Brahms' Clarinet Trio on WGBH radio, and a series of recitals with Vienna Philharmonic principal flutist, Karl-Heinz Schütz. She received the first prize, Coleman-Barstow Award in the 57th Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition. She has collaborated with members of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Chicago, Montreal, Boston and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras, and many others. She's performed in festivals in Canada, Maine and Japan. She serves on the faculty of Wellesley College, where she is also the director of the music performance program.
Sponsored by the Friends of MHL.