Mendelssohn’s Joyful Blue Skies
Jotaro Nakano, Music Director
Gabriela Diaz, Violin
Stacie Lin, Violin
Grażyna Bacewicz: Overture
William Grant Still: Suite for violin and orchestra
Gabriela Diaz, violin
Pablo de Sarasate: Navarra
Gabriela Diaz and Stacie Lin, violins
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4, A major “Italian”
Benefiting Care Dimensions
About the Community Partner
Since 1978, Care Dimensions has been a driving force in expanding access to hospice and palliative care in Massachusetts. In 2015, we received the prestigious Circle of Life Award from the American Hospital Association and other healthcare organizations for being a national leader in palliative and end-of-life care. Today, Care Dimensions is the largest hospice in Massachusetts and we offer a continuum of clinical care for adult and pediatric patients with advanced and life-limiting illnesses and provide support for their families and caregivers.
Care Dimensions serves people of all ages, races, faiths, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic standing and is committed to helping more individuals and families access care and receive support during one of the most challenging times in their lives.
About the Soloists
Gabriela Diaz, Violin
Georgia native Gabriela Diaz began her musical training at the age of five, studying piano with her mother, and the next year, violin with her father.
As a childhood cancer survivor, Gabriela is committed to supporting cancer research and treatment in her capacity as a musician. In 2004, Gabriela was a recipient of a grant from the Albert Schweitzer Foundation, an award that enabled Gabriela to create and direct the Boston Hope Ensemble. This program is now part of Winsor Music. A firm believer in the healing properties of music, Gabriela and her colleagues have performed in cancer units in Boston hospitals and presented benefit concerts for cancer research organizations in numerous venues throughout the United States.
A fierce champion of contemporary music, Gabriela has been fortunate to work closely with many significant composers on their own compositions, namely Pierre Boulez, Magnus Lindberg, Frederic Rzewski, Alvin Lucier, Unsuk Chin, John Zorn, Joan Tower, Jessie Montgomery, Roger Reynolds, Chaya Czernowin, Steve Reich, Tania León, Brian Ferneyhough, and Helmut Lachenmann. Gabriela plays regularly with Winsor Music, Castle of our Skins, Radius Ensemble, is concertmaster of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and is a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICEensemble), and A Far Cry.
In 2012 Gabriela joined the violin faculty of Wellesley College. She also teaches at the Longy School of Music at Bard College. Gabriela is co-artistic director of the much beloved Boston-based chamber music and outreach organization Winsor Music. Please visit winsormusic.org for more information!
Critics have acclaimed Gabriela as “a young violin master,” and “one of Boston’s most valuable players.” Lloyd Schwartz of the Boston Phoenix noted, “…Gabriela Diaz in a bewitching performance of Pierre Boulez’s 1991 Anthèmes. The come-hither meow of Diaz’s upward slides and her sustained pianissimo fade-out were miracles of color, texture, and feeling.” Others have remarked on her "indefatigably expressive" playing, “polished technique,” and “vivid and elegant playing.” Gabriela's recording of Lou Harrison's Suite for Violin and American Gamelan was highlighted in the New York Times Article "5 Minutes That Will Make You Love Classical Music."
Gabriela is proud to be a core member of the team that created Boston Hope Music, bringing music to patients and frontline workers during the pandemic. More info can be found at bostonhopemusic.org
Beginning in the summer of 2024, Gabriela became a member of the Kronos Quartet! kronosquartet.org. She plays on a Vuillaume violin and a viola made by her father, Manuel Diaz.
Stacie Lin, Violin
Stacie Lin is an MD-PhD trainee at Harvard Medical School and MIT who has been guided by the intersection of two passions: music and medicine. She has performed widely as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader, with highlights including solo appearances with the New Hampshire Philharmonic and Brookline Symphony Orchestra, chamber music collaborations under the guidance of John Harbison and the American String Quartet, and international tours with the World Doctors Orchestra. She currently serves as Concertmaster of the Longwood Symphony Orchestra and is Co-President of Harvard Medical School’s Chamber Music Society.
Stacie’s musical journey began in Taiwan and deepened during her upbringing in New Hampshire, where she studied with Elliott Markow, Concertmaster Emeritus of Symphony New Hampshire. She later earned her undergraduate degree in biology at MIT while studying the violin under Lynn Chang as an Emerson Music Scholar. Additional formative experiences include training at the Meadowmount School of Music with Sally Thomas, participating in Youth Music Culture Guangdong with Yo-Yo Ma as Artistic Director, and performing at TEDx conferences on the arts in education.
Whether in the lab, hospital or concert hall, Stacie values connecting with people through music and science. Beyond the stage, she enjoys walks around the Charles River, exploring the beauty of Boston with her friends, and traveling the world to visit family. At home, Stacie is grounded by the daily joys of her very handsome and silly cat, Louis.
Explore the Program
Exchanges and ticket donations can be made up to 24 hours in advance of the originally ticketed concert date by emailing info@longwoodsymphony.org or calling 617-987-0100. We cannot guarantee the same seats will be available for the exchanged concert. Refunds will be offered if you are unable to exchange or donate. Subject to availability.
Discounts for groups of 10 or more are available. Please contact info@longwoodsymphony.org or call 617-987-0100 to arrange.
All programs are subject to change.