Douglas DeVries & Yvonne Chen

The American classical music scene is so flush with young and exciting new composers that it is often a daunting task to know where to begin your listening. Flutist Douglas DeVries and pianist Yvonne Chen have programmed an evening of music that will present a sample from many of today’s brightest and best. Drawn from their mutual appreciation of the great number of new works available today, they have chosen to present diverse works by five composers: Seattle native and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music alum Alexandra T Bryant, an alumnus of The Juilliard School, Evan Fein, and two colleagues from Rice University, Daniel Knaggs and Alishan Gezgin (both have been commissioned for original works to be premiered at this performance). The duo will be joined by Seattle based soprano Shellie Traverse for a performance of Jake Heggie’s lauded song cycle, The Deepest Desire.

DeVries and Chen met as freshman at The Juilliard School in 2008 and became fast friends. Now, almost seven years later, the two continue their studies at Rice University’s esteemed Shepherd School of Music. It has long been a dream of theirs to present a duo recital program specifically in Seattle, and they are pleased to be presenting this exciting program of new American works on the Wayward Music Series.