Robert Cassidy, Ani Aznavoorian to play at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church

Staff Report

The public is invited to attend a special Santa Ynez Valley Classical Music Series presentation featuring renowned pianist Robert Cassidy and cellist Ani Aznavoorian, a soloist with leading orchestras throughout the world and the principal cellist of the Camerata Pacifica orchestra in Santa Barbara. The concert takes place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 26, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church in Los Olivos. 

To celebrate being able to perform once again for a live audience, Cassidy and Aznavoorian have planned a concert of much beloved sonatas, including Beethoven’s Sonata in C Major, op.102 #1, Debussy’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, and the Brahms Sonata in E Minor, op. 38. This performance will be recorded and will be accessible via the St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley website beginning July 3 (smitv.org/syv-concert-series). 

This benefit concert is free but the artists hope audience members will consider making donations to support the upcoming season of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series and the world class artists who will be performing at St. Mark’s throughout the year. 

In 2018, Aznavoorian and Cassidy created and performed the two-part “The Beethoven Project” for the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series. Across those two concerts they performed all of Ludwig van Beethoven’s works for cello and piano. 

You can reserve tickets in advance online at smitv.org/syv-concert-series.

St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church is located at 2901 Nojoqui Avenue in Los Olivos, (one block west from the downtown flagpole). For patron ticket purchases and any questions, please contact SYV Concert Series Coordinator Linda Burrows at 805-705-0938 or syvconcerts@smitv.org or the St. Mark’s office at 805-688-4454 or visit www.smitv.org