Trio Doyenne : Classical Concert

Trio Doyenne is an internationally formed piano trio comprised of three young emerging artists. Monika Masanauskaite (piano, Lithuania), Michelle Dierx (violin, Belgium) and Shannon Merciel (cello, USA) began their journey at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2017.

They were highly commended at the Governor’s Recital Prize for Chamber Music in February of that year. They successfully represented RCS at the Intercollegiate Piano Trio Competition in Manchester and at the Annual General Assembly of the World Federation of International Music Competitions. Since then, they have been invited to competitions and recital venues around Europe. In May of 2018, they won first prize at the 24th Josep Mirabent i Migrans Chamber Music Competition in Sitges, Spain and the Mary D Adams Prize for Chamber Music by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In the summer of 2018, they toured to different venues around Europe performing Rachmaninoff’s iconic Trio “Elegiaque” in G minor and Shostakovich’s first piano trio. They were invited to perform at Dumfries House, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Concerts aux Chateâux Series in Saint-Savin (France), Racó de la Calma Music Series in Sitges, and at the 6th Eduardo Ocón International Course for Youth in Málaga, where they also spent the week giving private lessons to students of the course.

At the end of 2018, Shannon moved back to the United States, Michelle moved to London to pursue her Master’s at the Royal Academy of Music, and Monika remained in Glasgow to continue on to her Master’s at RCS. Though the three have been separated, it is their mission to continue to work together learning new repertoire and performing recitals in as many locations as they can. The trio hopes that, while they currently reside in different countries, they can maintain their musical cohesion by meeting a few times a year to perform recitals.

In May of 2022, they are performing a new recital programme, which features the three together as well as pieces for violin/piano and cello/piano. In addition to performing at Elgin Town Hall, there will be opportunities to hear Trio Doyenne perform in Edinburgh, Perth, Glasgow, and Inverness.

PROGRAMME:

“D’un soir triste” and “D’un matin de printemps” for piano trio – Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)

Violin Sonata No. 9, Op. 47 “Kreutzer Sonata” – Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1872)

I. Adagio sostenuto – Presto

II. Andante con variazioni

III. Presto

“Trois pièces” for cello and piano – Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979)

I. Moderato

II. Sans vitesse et á l’aise

III. Vite et nerveusemente rythmé

Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 – Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

I. Allegro con brio — Tranquillo — In tempo ma sempre sostenuto

II. Scherzo: Allegro molto — Meno allegro — Tempo primo

III. Adagio

IV. Finale: Allegro