Monday, April 14, 2025
12 PM
Seaside Quartet is a virtuoso ensemble comprised of pianist Brenda Martin, violinist Philip Tyler, violinist/violist Päivikki Nykter and cellist Cecilia Kim. They are friends on and off stage, which is apparent in their seamless and graceful ensemble playing. Their deep love and desire to play chamber music was the main reason to form this quartet and take time from their busy schedules to make beautiful music together. Their collaboration and exquisite musical taste has produced highly acclaimed performances in San Diego area. Brenda and Phil serve as professors at the Point Loma University Music Department and Päivikki and Cecilia and freelance musicians.
Brenda Martin holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Trevecca Nazarene University, a Master of Music Education from Austin Peay State University, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she also did extensive doctoral studies towards a DMA in piano performance. Martin has also pursued extensive studies in both the Alexander Technique and in jazz. A member of the music department of Point Loma Nazarene University since 1998, she has taught piano at the university level since 1982. She enjoys both solo and collaborative performing, and has done many of her own hymn arrangements and original jazz compositions.
Philip Tyler, tenured violin professor and orchestra director at Point Loma Nazarene University, earned a Doctorate in Violin Performance and a Master's degree in Orchestral Conducting, both in 1996 from The Florida State University. In addition to numerous solo recital appearances, Dr. Tyler has performed as soloist with orchestras in Oklahoma, Florida, Louisiana, and California. He frequently performs as an orchestral section player and appears in a variety of chamber ensembles. Dr. Tyler has conducted a number of orchestras in several states, including a variety of honors orchestras. To train string teachers and to create new string players, Dr. Tyler directs the Point Loma String Project (member, National String Project Consortium), a lab school he founded in 2003 for classroom strings instruction.
A versatile recitalist and chamber musician, violinist/violist Päivikki Nykter, is equally at home with standard repertoire as well as contemporary music. A native of Finland, she is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Ms. Nykter served as an Artist-in-Residence at the University of California San Diego Music Department from 1994 to 2006. She is now a freelance violinist maintaining a busy concert schedule as well as teaching the Alexander Technique both in the US and Europe. Ms. Nykter is an artistic director of a Chamber Music Concert Series in Lappeenranta, Finland. She has recorded on Neuma, Aucourant Records, CRI, Old King Cole, Omega Editions and mode labels.
Cecilia Kim, cellist and a native of South Korea, received Bachelor and Master degrees at Daegu Catholic University before earning a faculty position. After making highly acclaimed solo appearances with numerous symphonies and orchestras, she moved to the US and received another master's degree from San Diego State University as well as acquiring a faculty position at the University of San Diego. Specializing as a chamber musician, she has emphasized her career in performances near the Southern California region.
Free concerts at noon every Monday year-round . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk, and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour.
The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.