Farnsworth Concert Series: Trio Lasell

@ Trio Lasell is is an exciting new piano trio composed of talented chamber musicians Phillipp Elssner (violin), Nora Willauer (cello), and Marlene McCarthy (piano). They look forward to presenting their chamber music program titled “Echoes from France: Music in Conversation,” which explores the intersection of several 20th century works for piano trio influenced by its composer’s time in Paris. Featuring Nora & Marlene on cello and piano Featuring Phillipp on violin Philipp Elssner, Violin German-American violinist, violist, and music theorist Philipp Elssner is currently based in Northport, Maine. Philipp received his bachelor’s degree in 2021 from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where he studied violin with Jaime Laredo and Jan Sloman. In 2024 he received his master’s degree in music theory from McGill University in Montreal, where he studied violin with Jinjoo Cho. Since June of 2024 Philipp has been a violinist of the DaPonte String Quartet, a celebrated Maine-based group that makes appearances across the United States and around the world. Other recent engagements include sell-out concerts in Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina as a member of the Lake Trio. Philipp has participated in summer festivals including Encore Chamber Music, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Bowdoin International Music Festival. He is also the founder and artistic director of Belfast Chamber Music (Maine). Philipp has performed chamber music with such distinguished artists as Christopher O’Riley, Marcus Thompson, Fred Edelen, and Scott Kluksdahl. He has played in master classes for renowned artists and pedagogues such as Enrico Pace, Sung-Won Yang, Paul Kantor, and Soovin Kim, as well as for members of the Emerson and Pacifica string quartets, among others. While in high school, he won the North Carolina American String Teacher’s Association competition. As an academic, Philipp has presented research on classical and popular music at national and international conferences, including at the Society for Music Theory’s 2022 and 2023 annual meetings. His master’s thesis, “Groove in the Mix: Spatial Manipulation in Groove-Based Popular Music, 1970–Present,” focuses on the embodied effects of stereo mixing practices in funk, soul, disco, and Hip Hop. In addition, he has served as a research assistant to William Caplin, with whom he worked closely on an analysis of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas, and to Edward Klorman, whom he assisted for his book Bach: The Cello Suites (Cambridge University Press, 2025). Nora Willauer, Cello Nora Willauer is a cellist and dynamic music educator based in Cleveland, Ohio, and Midcoast Maine. She completed her doctoral studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Dr. Melissa Kraut and Mark Kosower. Nora’s culminating lecture recital explored the relationship between groove and classical cello pedagogy, and her work was awarded CIM’s Kaplow prize for uncommon creativity. Nora maintains an active performance schedule as a chamber musician both in NE Ohio and New England. Last season highlights include a professional debut at the Buffalo Chamber Music Society with Trio BKW, and a well-attended Maine tour with her duo program “Strings Attached: 20th Century Virtuosity, and the Relationships Behind the Magic.” Nora also performs with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra as well as the Canton Symphony Orchestra. As a teacher, Nora focuses on helping her students create a healthy and joyful relationship with their instruments. She focuses on balanced foundational technique that works with the natural laws of each student’s individual body, and creates a multitude of performance opportunities so that each student learns to befriend center stage. Nora served as the cello professor at the University of Akron for three years, where she grew cello-studio enrollment three-fold. She frequently serves as cello faculty at Interlochen Center for the Arts in the summers. In Cleveland, Nora maintains a private studio of 20 students. Students in her studio have won many of Cleveland’s top competitions including the Cleveland Cello Society competition, and the Sigma Alpha Iota competition. Her students have also been offered competitive scholarships to study at top universities and conservatories such as Eastman and the University of Cincinnati. In 2025, Nora started offering group classes and a chamber music program for students throughout NE Ohio. She is looking forward to growing these offerings during the 26-27’ season. She has also been able to offer monthly in-person lessons to students in Midcoast Maine, which has been a long-time dream of hers. Marlene McCarthy, Piano Pianist Marlene McCarthy has been praised for her multifaceted and individual career path, defined by a diverse range of musical interests. At 15, Marlene began her formal training under Chiharu Naruse. Through her guidance, Marlene found success in numerous local competitions, winning the A.H Chatfield Junior Piano Prize and the Ocy Downs Piano Competition. She has also had the opportunity to share her music on Maine Public Radio. Marlene moved to New York City in 2008 for her undergraduate studies with Victor Rosenbaum at Mannes College. She then furthered her musical education by pursuing a master’s degree at New York University, under the guidance of Alexander Kobrin. During her time at NYU, Marlene also had the opportunity to serve as an adjunct faculty member. Outside of her classical pursuits, Marlene collaborates with artists such as Bobby Katz in the folk-pop duo “Bobbylene,” which has garnered attention with over 8 million plays on streaming platforms and has subsequently been featured in Starbucks locations worldwide. Additionally, her “Marlene T” project, which reimagines pop songs as solo piano arrangements, has found a growing audience with over 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.Marlene recently finished her DMA at Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Christina Dahl, where she also taught as an adjunct instructor. As part of her Doctoral Studies, Marlene gave a lecture on Rzewski’s Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues and performed his complete North American Ballads as part of a recital celebrating the American Folk idiom. As an active chamber musician and collaborator, Marlene has had the opportunity to receive coaching from highly-regarded musicians, including members of the Emerson String Quartet, Gilbert Kalish, Colin Carr, Jennifer Frautschi, and Carol Wincenc. Before relocating to Maine in April 2024, Marlene enjoyed educating her private students in New York City for over a decade. Marlene is excited to continue her work as an educator, performer, and collaborator in her home state. Cost: $25; $20 for members; students 17 and over $10 ; children 16 and younger are free. Access rates are available. We also are offering a subscription rate to the entire music series; please click here to subscribe to all 8 concerts in the series for a discount. Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live