OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Governor’s Mansion Foundation (GMF) will host its next Governor’s Chamber Music Series, “Small Plates: Tasty Musical Tapas from Around the World” on Monday, May 15, 2023 at the Mansion in Olympia. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the concert beginning at 6:45 pm (PDT). Light appetizers and Washington wines will be served before the concert.

For more information on “Small Plates: Tasty Musical Tapas from Around the World” or to make a reservation go to https://wagovmansion.org/product/spring-concert/.  Deadline for tickets is Saturday, May 6, 2023. Seats are limited to 50 guests with tickets costing  $45 for GMF Friends and $60 for non-GMF Friends (to save money and be invited to “Friends” only events, become a Friend at https://wagovmansion.org/how-to-become-or-renew-as-a-friend-or-renew-as-a-trustee/ ).

Steinway Artist Judith Cohen will be featured in the concert along with Hal Grossman, violin and David Burgess, guitar.

Cohen made her European recital debut in 2002, performing two solo recitals in Budapest, Hungary, and since then has returned three times for concert tours of Hungary. She has performed solo recitals in Mexico, under the sponsorship of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. Critic Robert Somerlott of the Mexico City News hailed her as “an artist of unusual talent who captivated the audience with both her musicianship and stage presence.” She has performed solo and chamber music recitals throughout the Pacific Northwest, in Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Kentucky and Texas. She has also been presented in solo recitals by the Dame Myra Hess Recital  Series in both Chicago and Los Angeles, and by the Florence Conservatory of Music in Italy.

Violinist Hal Grossman has been hailed by critics for his “tremendous virtuosic technique” and “outstanding artistic sense”. As concerto soloist, he has appeared with American, European, and Canadian orchestras including the Rochester Phil Harmonica, the North Carolina Symphony, Polish Symphonette, the Illinois Lima, Guelph, and Battle Creek Symphonies. He was the Grand Award Winner of the Lima Young Artist Competition and Silver Medalist of the International Stulberg Competition.  Mr. Grossman also received First Prize Awards at the prestigious International Cleveland Quartet Competition and the National Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. He has performed for the Royal Highnesses, Prince Charles and Princess Diana in his New York debut at Carnegie Hall.

Classical guitarist David Burgess studied music at Mexico City’s Estudio de Arte Guitarrìstico under the noted Argentine guitarist Manuel López Ramos, subsequently landing a full scholarship to study in Italy with Oscar Ghiglia. An occasional pupil of Andrés Segovia throughout the mid-’80s, Burgess also took top honors in the Andrés Segovia Fellowship Competition in New York City, and placed first in the Mexico City’s Ponce International Competition, Toronto’s Guitar ’81 competition and Munich’s 31st International Music Competition. A onetime instructor at the University of Washington and the Cornish Institute of the Arts, in time Burgess settled in New York City, releasing his solo debut Silver Nuggets and Fool’s Gold.

The Governor’s Mansion Foundation, with more than 200 members, is an all-volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan organization, that honors the historical and cultural importance of the Washington State Governor’s Mansion by maintaining and enhancing furnishings and art for the public rooms of the Mansion, educating the public about the Mansion and its history, and advocating on its behalf.  GMF is not affiliated with the Governor or the Governor’s office. For more information on  GMF go to www.wagovmansion.org.