Author: Franklin Pond

2022 Summer Retreat Highlights

We had a great time at this year’s retreat at University of Georgia in Dahlonega. The students are a tremendous group of musicians, and they worked so hard.

Ronda Respess retires from Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra honored Franklin Pond Founder & Artistic Director, Ronda Respess, along with other retirees during a concert in May. “The end of the 2021/22 ASO season gives us the opportunity to thank six long-time musicians for their combined 281 years of bringing joy to Atlanta, and indeed the world, through their music. We…
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6th Annual Chamber Music Competition Winners

Out of the 13 groups who competed in the 6th Annual Chamber Music Competition, six won awards. Grand Prize Winners The judges—The Dali Quartet—gave inspiring performances of Piazzolla “Tango Ballet” and Mendelssohn Quartet in F Minor, Op. 80. Sycamore Trio, High School Division Grand Prize winner, performed Shostakovich Piano Trio in E Minor, Op. 67.…
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Franklin Pond student featured in Marietta Daily Journal

Eugenie Lim, the youngest member of the Franklin Pond Orchestra, was recently featured in Marietta Daily Journal. “Inspired by her brother’s talent for the cello, at the age of 6 Lim was not yet aware of the skill she would cultivate as a violinist. Although she practiced piano throughout her childhood, there was something about…
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Sycamore Trio wins big in Young Chamber Musicians Competition

The Sycamore Trio—Tobias Liu (violin), Brandon Leonard (cello), and Grace Peng (piano)—won both 1st place in the Junior Division and the People’s Choice Award in the Young Chamber Musicians Competition on Sunday, April 24.

Quartet le Petit wins first prize in Georgia Kiwanis State Competition

Quartet le Petit won the Georgia Kiwanis State Competition on Saturday, April 23. They played La Cumparsita arranged by Mathew Naughtin. This year, 11 contestants from 11 different Kiwanis clubs in Georgia competed in the Music Showcase. The first prize is $3,500 in college scholarships.

“Atlanta is United for Ukraine” Benefit Concert

Organized by Franklin Pond Program Coordinator Ginny Fairchild, this event includes performances by members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Opera, the Atlanta Chamber Players, the Atlanta Pipe Band, the Choral Guild of Atlanta, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Franklin Pond’s own Ludimus Trio! The event will be live-streamed on the church website,…
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Emerson String Quartet

Countdown to Emerson Quartet Masterclass

The Emerson Quartet Masterclass is less than one week away! In cooperation with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, Franklin Pond is delighted to present a masterclass with one of the world’s most famous string quartets: the Emerson Quartet. Ensembles from Franklin Pond’s Fall Into Spring program and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Chamber Players will…
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The Sycamore Trio is a finalist group in the WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition

The Sycamore Trio—Toby Liu, Brandon Leonard, and Grace Peng—is one of the 4 finalist groups in the WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition! This prestigious competition is open to young artists from the whole country, and is “widely recognized as one of the top post-graduate, collegiate, and high school chamber competitions in the U.S. Read more

Judges are announced for the 2022 Chamber Music Competition!

Judges for the 2022 Chamber Music Competition will be members of the Dalí Quartet. The Dalí Quartet is acclaimed for bringing Latin American quartet repertoire to an equal standing alongside the Classical and Romantic canon. Its fresh approach has been sought out by distinguished series in New York, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San…
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