Spotlight Artists
Carrie Rehkopf, violinist
Called a ‘first-class musician’ by Sir Georg Solti, her particular interests in building new audiences and cultivating artistry in players of all levels have led her to incorporate elements of acting, choreography and narrative into her work.
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KAIROS, piano trio ensemble +
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Kairos began in 1993 as the ensemble-in-residence at the newly founded Icicle Creek Music Center. In 1998, Kairos initiated the endowed chamber music residency at Central Washington University. Kairos has performed in Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Canada and across the United States. Committed to educating the new generations of chamber musicians, Kairos teaches at numerous summer festivals and holds a weekly chamber seminar at CWU. In April 2019, they will give concerts in Taiwan with pianist Moli Chiang. Kairos has introduced the great quartet repertoire to new listeners through a ‘Ten Quartets’ weekly series for the Douglas Honors College and many Introduction to Music classes. In addition to traditional concerts, Kairos attracts new fans of classical music through energetic live performances and juxtaposing great music with dance and visual art.
Kairos was a string quartet for 24 years and now highlights the rich piano trio and piano and strings repertoire.
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John Michel, cellist
John Michel, in his twenty-eighth year as cello professor at Central Washington University, enjoys his career as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
In addition to regularly presenting solo recital programs, he has performed a dozen concertos including the Shostakovich #1, Dvorak, Don Quixote, Herbert and the Brahms Double with his wife Carrie Rehkopf, the latter two with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. In double series concerts, Mr. Michel has performed all of the six Bach Cello Suites for memory, and regularly appears in the Seattle Bach Marathon. In 2001, he was one of seven guest artists featured at the First Kobe International Cello Festival in Japan and returned for the 1000 Cellists Concert with his students in 2015. He has published many recordings and numerous live performances that are readily available online.
Mr. Michel is a founding member of the Kairos (formerly Kairos Quartet) which holds an endowed professorship as the resident ensemble of Central Washington University and Icicle Creek. He was the founder and former director of the Internet Cello Society (cello.org).
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