Rieth Recital Series: Trio Caspar (with special guest Mary Catherine Levri, organ)

Trio Caspar is named as the Colburn Conservatory’s inaugural Honors Chamber Music Ensemble, and is mentored by Colburn faculty members Jonathan Brown, Yehuda Gilad, Fabio Bidini, and Martin Beaver. Trio Caspar was awarded the Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice Prize and Horszowski Trio Prize for Piano Ensemble at the 2026 Fischoff Competition in the Senior String Division, as well as the Audience Award and 2nd Prize at the 2026 Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition. The ensemble is an innovative union of three individual voices. Founded in 2024 by clarinetist Andrea Caputo, violinist Jason Moon, and pianist Bogang Hwang, Trio Caspar aims to bring a fresh perspective of the highest standard to chamber works that are less frequently performed. The name pays homage to the German painter Caspar David Friedrich, whose exploration of the complexity of individualism inspires the trio’s distinctive sound. 2025-26 season highlights include a debut recital at the Colburn Conservatory and a performance of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time alongside cellist Gary Hoffman. Trio Caspar has just recorded their debut album featuring works of Igor Stravinsky, Paul Schoenfeld, Libby Larsen and Robert Schumann, and will be released on the Delos recording label in the 26/27 season. Mary Catherine Levri is an associate professor of organ and church music in the Sacred Music program at the University of Notre Dame, where she has been on faculty since July 2025. She served as the director of music at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati from 2016-2025. Dr. Levri has published a number of essays and articles on Catholic sacred music in the Humanum Review, the Adoremus Bulletin, and the Communio International Catholic Review. She served as the President of the Society for Catholic Liturgy from 2022-2024, and has worked as a musician in Catholic churches in Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Organ prelude will begin at 7:15 pm.