Delphi
Delphi Trio—violinist Liana Bérubé, cellist Tanya Tomkins, and pianist Allegra Chapman—is known for its riveting, heartfelt performances that offer audiences new and engaging perspectives. With critically-acclaimed careers in diverse musical styles, the three women of Delphi combine their voices to create fresh interpretations of beloved classics, champion new and forgotten composers, and curate wide-ranging thematic programs. Founded on the principles of community, connection, and artistry, Delphi Trio believes firmly in art’s ability to make a difference in the world by forging deep connections between people. In their music-making, the Trio prioritizes vulnerability and risk-taking, creating performances that are infused with spontaneity, humor, and joy.
Delphi Trio is committed to presenting works by female composers alongside the classic piano trio repertoire. The trio spent the 2020 pandemic shutdown learning repertoire by women composers and looks forward to performing these programs for live audiences in the 2021–22 season. Additionally, the trio has commissioned a triple concerto by leading composer Clarice Assad and will be premiering the new work in March 2022 with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra alongside Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.
Since its inception in 2010, Delphi Trio has performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Highlights of the trio’s 2021–22 season include an all-women composer program at San Jose Chamber Music Society, Beethoven Triple Concerto and a new triple concerto premiere with San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and concerts in Pennsylvania and Oregon. In previous seasons, the trio has held residencies at Old First Concerts in California (2011–12), the Dakota Sky International Piano Festival in South Dakota (2011–13), Avaloch Farm in New Hampshire (2016, 2018), and the Banff Centre in Canada (2012). Concerts of note include Chamber Music Ashland, the Morrison Artists Series, the Orlando Festival in the Netherlands, Festival Terra Sem Sombras in Portugal, Dumbarton Concerts, Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Oakland Symphony, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and others.
“Spot-on ensemble playing and a beautifully blended sound.”
While Delphi Trio brings fresh interpretations to canonic repertoire, it is also committed to expanding the piano trio repertoire and celebrating composers of today. In addition to its recent commission of Clarice Assad’s triple concerto, the trio has commissioned and premiered works by William Bolcom (Piano Trio, 2014), Sahba Aminikia (Shab o Meh, 2014; Deltangi-ha, 2012), Danny Clay (Circle Dash, 2020), and Patrick Castillo (ephemera, 2020). The trio commissioned Clay’s audience-interactive Circle Dash during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a response to the distancing of the audience and performer. Circle Dash is an evolving project that the Trio will offer live as well as virtually to audiences in the 2021–22 season.
The Delphi Trio is devoted to mentoring the next generation of musicians. In addition to masterclasses and chamber music coaching, the trio offers school audiences presentations that encourage students to access their own emotional intelligence and awareness through music. Delphi enjoys teaching masterclasses as a group and has recently given classes at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Pre-College as well as St. Mary’s College of California. The Trio members are on faculty at the Crowden Center for Music in the Community, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Pre-College Division, St. Mary’s College of California, and Sonoma State University.
The Trio’s 2018 album, Triptych, is available on the MSR Classics label. Violinist Liana Bérubé, cellist Tanya Tomkins, and pianist Allegra Chapman are based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Delphi Trio is represented worldwide by Ariel Artists (www.arielartists.com).
Liana Bérubé, violin
The artistry of violinist Liana Bérubé is inextricably intertwined with self-knowledge and self-compassion. Her openly expressive aesthetic, described as “searching mastery” (Charleston Gazette-Mail), has been heard in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. She is co-founder and violinist of the Delphi Trio.
Concerto performances include appearances with Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto, Bear Valley Music Festival Orchestra, Oakland Symphony, Eureka Symphony, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. She has been heard on NPR, CBC, VH1, WFMT Chicago, and Dutch Radio 4, and has collaborated with artists such as Emmanuel Ax, Toby Appel, Anthony Marwood, Elizabeth Blumenstock, Monica Huggett, and the Alexander String Quartet. Concert appearances include Chamber Music Concerts Ashland, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Orlando Festival, Artist Series of Sarasota, Kronos Festival, Morrison Artist Series, Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society, Valley of the Moon Music Festival, the Verbier Festival, and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. Liana strongly believes in listening to intuition, subconscious, and instinct, in order to express the innate knowledge of personal truth through art.When not playing the violin or thinking about art in general, Liana is an enthusiastic cook who loves food and annoying her two sassy cats. Learn more at www.lianaberube.com.
Tanya Tomkins, cello
Cellist Tanya Tomkins is equally at home on Baroque and modern instruments. She is renowned in particular for her interpretation of the Bach Cello Suites, having recorded them for the Avie label and performed them many times at venues such as New York’s Le Poisson Rouge, Seattle Early Music Guild, Vancouver Early Music Society, and The Library of Congress.
Tanya is one of the principal cellists in San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Portland Baroque Orchestra. On modern cello, she is a long-time participant at the Moab Music Festival in Utah, Music in the Vineyards in Napa, and a member of the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble.
As an educator, Tanya has given master classes at Yale, Juilliard, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. With co-Director and life partner, the pianist, Eric Zivian, she is Artistic Director and co-Founder of Valley of the Moon Music Festival in Sonoma. Learn more at www.tanyatomkins.com.
Allegra Chapman, piano
San Francisco-based pianist Allegra Chapman is an omnivorous soloist and chamber musician, adventurous curator, and passionate educator. Her performances have been described as “fervid but impeccably controlled” by the San Francisco Chronicle and “brilliant” by the San Francisco Classical Voice. She is the pianist of the Delphi Trio with violinist Liana Bérubé and cellist Tanya Tomkins, Chordless duo with soprano Sara LeMesh, and a member of Left Coast Chamber Ensemble. As a presenter, Allegra is the founding co-artistic director and executive director of the critically acclaimed festival Bard Music West, a San Francisco-based branch of the Bard Music Festival. She is on faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Pre-College division.
Allegra has performed internationally as soloist and chamber musician at venues including Alice Tully Hall, San Francisco Jazz Center, and Xi’an Concert Hall. She particularly enjoys collaborating in multidisciplinary projects and has worked with renowned choreographer Pam Tanowitz and soloed with the Garrett + Moulton Dance Company. Her music video with Chordless, The Night in Silence, won the “Best Music Video” award at the 2020 Tokyo International Short Film Festival and screened at four other film festivals in 2020. Allegra studied with Jeremy Denk and Peter Serkin at the Bard College Conservatory, and with Seymour Lipkin and Julian Martin at The Juilliard School. Learn more at www.allegrachapman.com.