The Nordica Trio

Graybert Beacham, Violin; Karen Beacham, Clarinet; and Martin Perry, piano. Suggested price is $20 for Adults (more if you can, less if you can't– everyone welcome, nobody turned away), UMF students and youth 18 and under free.

The Nordica Trio brings together three outstanding musicians who have performed internationally. Since its debut in 1993, the trio has been enthusiastically received by audiences in Maine and beyond. Grants received by the trio include those from the Maine Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Following a performance at the University of Southern Maine, the Portland Press Herald wrote in its review: "Both the individual playing and the total ensemble were virtually flawless in every work, no matter how difficult. Better still, the musical character of each was shaped with taste and imagination."

In addition to performing, the members have all been active as educators in the state of Maine. The Nordica Trio has performed numerous concerts for students across the state and sponsored a student composer’s competition in 2004. Recordings of live performances have been broadcast by Maine Public Radio. The trio takes its name from the American operatic soprano, Lillian Nordica. Born Lillian Norton in Farmington, Maine, Madame Nordica made her operatic debut in Brescia in 1879. Her fame quickly spread, and she made appearances in all the principal capitals in Europe and America. She was known in Europe as the Yankee Diva. The recital hall at the University of Maine at Farmington is named Nordica Auditorium in her honor. This was the venue where the members of the trio first met to rehearse and discuss the idea of forming a chamber music ensemble, whose mission includes introducing audiences to the many wonderful compositions for this somewhat unique combination of instruments (violin or viola, clarinet and piano). It was therefore fitting for the ensemble to adopt the name Nordica Trio

and thus carry on the name of one of Farmington's most famous natives.

Most recently, the Managing Director of Somm Recordings in the United Kingdom, after hearing a live recording of the Nordica Trio’s performance of Bela Bartok’s “Contrasts”, approached the trio to record a CD for its label. The CD will include works by Armenian composers and the Bartok “Contrasts”. Recording sessions are planned for August, 2023.

Martin Perry has distinguished himself as a consummate interpreter of contemporary classical piano music, with appearances across the United States and abroad from the Boston Pops to the Moscow Philharmonic. His three recent CDs on Bridge Records featuring the works of Carter, Bartók, Ives and Hindemith have drawn raves from the critics, calling his playing “supremely assured” (International Piano), “commanding and virtuosic” (Clavier) and “quite dazzling!” (American Record Guide). In a lighter vein, as musical director and pianist for Stephen Sondheim’s musical Marry Me A Little, he can be heard on the best-selling RCA Red Seal cast recording. Closer to home, Mr. Perry has appeared as concerto soloist with the Portland Symphony Orchestra on many occasions, served on the piano faculties of Bowdoin and Bates Colleges, and enjoyed numerous collaborations with the DaPonte String Quartet and the Nordica Trio (member since 2008). A native Californian and proud Armenian American, Martin Perry is a graduate of the Juilliard School, where he studied with the renowned pedagogue Adele Marcus.

Karen Beacham has been active as a performer across the United States and internationally. She has held the position of Principal Clarinet with the Mexico City Philharmonic, Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico City, and the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra.  She has appeared as soloist with Mel Tormé and the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, Maine Chamber Ensemble, Colby Symphony Orchestra, University of Maine at Farmington Orchestra and Mid-Coast Symphony. Chamber music collaborations include both the Portland and DaPonte String Quartets. Karen has participated in numerous festivals, including the Sunriver Music Festival in Oregon, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Sebago-Long Lake Region Chamber Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, New College Music Festival, and Norfolk Chamber Music Festival/Yale School of Music. She has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, performs regularly with the Portland Symphony Orchestra and serves as Principal Clarinet for the Maine State Ballet Orchestra. Faculty affiliations include Colby College, the University of Maine at Farmington, and most recently at the University of New Hampshire for the 2022-23 fall semester. Karen received her Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts as a student of Donald Montanaro, and a Master of Music Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music as a student of Harold Wright, Principal Clarinetist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Other major teachers include Peter Hadcock, William Wrzesien, and George Silfies. She is a founding member of the Nordica Trio.

Graybert Beacham has been an active performer and teacher throughout the United States and internationally. He was the recipient of the Dr. Jerome Gross Prize in Violin at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he received both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Violin Performance as student of David Cerone. Other teachers include Bernhard Goldschmidt (Principal Second Violin, Cleveland Orchestra), and Emanuel Borok (Concertmaster, Dallas Symphony). Graybert has been a member of the Mexico City Philharmonic, Tulsa Philharmonic (Principal Second Violin), Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería, and Kansas City Philharmonic. He has also served as Acting Concertmaster of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jaime Laredo, and as Concertmaster and soloist for the Cascade Festival of Music in Oregon. Graybert was violin soloist with the New Sousa Band during their tour of China. Mr. Beacham has collaborated with the Portland String Quartet as both a violist and guest first violinist. He serves as Concertmaster for the Maine State Ballet Orchestra and has performed as both violinist and violist in various capacities with the Portland Symphony Orchestra over the past thirty years. Recorded performances have been broadcast over public radio stations across the United States and Mexico. Mr. Beacham has been a member of the violin/viola faculty of the University of Southern Maine and Colby College. Graybert has recorded for Albany Records where he can be heard on a disc of compositions by Maine composer Peter Ré. He is a founding member of the Nordica Trio.