By Corey Ihler | Mill Creek View
On Saturday, March 28, the Port Gardner Bay Music Society continued its landmark 40th anniversary season with a performance that left the audience awestruck. In an
interview with the Mill Creek View, board member Sarah Swicegood described the Ch’uqi String and Piano Ensemble’s concert at Everett First Presbyterian Church, 2936
Rockefeller Avenue, as the most extraordinary she has ever witnessed.
“The actual playing of the music was absolutely incredible,” Swicegood said. At the heart of the ensemble is Peruvian American pianist and composer Hwaen Ch’uqi, an
internationally recognized artist who studied at the Eastman School of Music and received special prizes at the Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition.
Ch’uqi, who is completely blind, led the quintet with breathtaking command. “To watch his hands flying up and down that piano—the emotion you could see in his face was
very, very moving,” Swicegood recalled. He was joined by violinists Stephen Cepeda and Hyeri Choi, violist Pamela Liu, and cellist Anna Hanayova. Swicegood noted that the
two violinists drove all the way from Montana to ensure they arrived on time.
The ensemble opened with Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F Minor, a demanding 40-minute work in four movements. Between movements, Ch’uqi asked the audience not to
applaud so the emotional arc of the music could remain unbroken. “You couldn’t even hear anybody breathe,” Swicegood said. When the final note rang out, the entire
audience rose in a standing ovation that would not stop. “I think everybody knew they had just been to something very special,” she added.
After intermission, the ensemble performed an original composition by Ch’uqi about the journey of falling in love, told in three movements. According to Swicegood, Ch’uqi
introduced the piece himself, explaining that the first movement traced the uncertainty of searching for the right person, the second was a tender romance, and the third—titled
“Delirium”—captured the overwhelming gratitude of a love that only deepens with time. The Ch’uqi Ensemble’s compositions are known for blending classical Romantic styles
with motifs from traditional Inca music, and Swicegood said the audience felt every note.
Swicegood shared that the ensemble expressed the warmth of the Everett audience made them eager to return. The concert was open to the public for a suggested donation
at the door.
Up Next: The Evergreen Community Orchestra — April 26
The Port Gardner Bay Music Society closes out its 40th anniversary season on Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 PM at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 215 Mukilteo Boulevard in
Everett. The Evergreen Community Orchestra will perform in a festive afternoon featuring food, sing-alongs, and fun for the whole community. Whether you are a
lifelong classical music lover or just looking for a memorable afternoon out, this season finale is one you won’t want to miss. For more information, visit
www.portgardnermusic.org.
