"In forming this trio, Ines, Erin and Rob bring the highest level of instrumental perfection, intensity, passion, and expression to this perfect combination of instruments. Each one, an individual performer of the highest caliber, manages to bring out the best in each other… shining on their instruments while blending and harmonizing to deliver the most pleasing results." Harvey Levine, Artistic Director, Rancho Bernardo Chamber Music Series
Sheer passion for chamber music drives Aviara Trio. Comprised of Pianist Ines Irawati, Violinist Robert Schumitzky, and Cellist Erin Breene, this exciting ensemble is making an indelible impression on the musical landscape of Southern California. This season, the trio has performed at Point Loma Nazarene University's Crill Hall, Rancho Bernardo Chamber Music Series, Concerts at the Merc in Temecula, Encinitas By-the-Sea Soirée, and the San Diego City Library Series. All members of the group are frequent performers with the renowned San Diego-based Art of Élan, as well as Camarada and La Jolla's Athenaeum series. With performance degrees from the Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Yale University and Rice University, Ms. Irawati, Ms. Breene, and Mr. Schumitzky have studied and performed with some of the world's finest musical pedagogues including Paul Katz, Claude Frank, Timothy Eddy, Fred Sherry, Joseph Silverstein, Jacques Israelievitch, Sally Thomas, Miriam Fried, Kim Kashkashian, Peter Oundjian, and the Juilliard, Miró, American, Tokyo, Cleveland, Borromeo, and Alexander Quartets.
Members of the trio have been Grand Prize Winners in the Coleman National Chamber Music Competition, Finalists in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and Concert Artist's Guild Auditions, winners of the D'angelo International Piano Competition, and the La Jolla Young Artists Competition. They have soloed with orchestras such as the Tokyo Symphony, Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, Orchestra Nova, St Louis Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and La Jolla Symphony. Pianist, Ines Irawati serves as a vocal and chamber music coach at Point Loma Nazarene University. Violinist, Robert Schumitzky, and cellist, Erin Breene perform with Pacific Symphony and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Ms. Breene performs on a modern cello made by Los Angeles-based Michael Fischer, and Mr. Schumitzky performs on the "Ex-Halir" Stradivarius violin made in 1694.