The Tempo Giusto Ensemble was founded in 2015 by a group of friends led by Willem van Eeghen. These friends had played string quartets together for many years and were expanding their musical activities to music for chamber orchestra. Among the pieces they played when they first got together was Handel's Concerto Grosso, op. 6 no. 6 in g minor. The second movement of that concerto is marked "Tempo Giusto," hence the name of the group.
Soon after that first session, the Boston-based violist Kim Kashkashian, Artistic Director of Music for Food, approached Willem and asked him to help Music for Food (which had then been active mostly in Boston and New York) to organize a concert in the greater Washington, DC area. They both agreed that the "Tempo" was "Giusto" to create awareness of the problem of food insecurity in the greater Washington area. Tempo Giusto's first concert was held in May 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland. It raised more than US$20,000 for Manna Food Center, which provides food to needy people in Montgomery County.
The core of Tempo Giusto consists of 16 string players and a harpsichordist. The ensemble has no conductor but is led by a professional concertmaster. Concerts by Tempo Giusto have always included award-winning soloists. Past concerts have featured violists Wenting Kang (winner of the Tokyo International Viola competition, principal viola of Madrid Symphony Orchestra and Madrid Soloists Chamber Orchestra) and Ayane Kozasa (winner of the Primrose International Viola competition, founding member of Aizuri Quartet), cellist Paul Wiancko (second prize winner in the Lutoslawski International Cello Competition, member of Kronos Quartet), flutist Emma Resmini (Performance Today Young Artist in Residence), and violinist Ji Won Song (winner of the Leopold Mozart Competition in Augsburg, Germany and the Isang Yun International Violin Competition in South Korea). The 2023 concert featured Aria Cheregosha, Kumiko Sakamoto, Lauren Spaulding and Christopher Whitley from two award-winning ensembles, Thalea Quartet and Tallā Rouge. The most recent concert featured violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo, winner of the 2022 Johansen International Competition.
Soon after that first session, the Boston-based violist Kim Kashkashian, Artistic Director of Music for Food, approached Willem and asked him to help Music for Food (which had then been active mostly in Boston and New York) to organize a concert in the greater Washington, DC area. They both agreed that the "Tempo" was "Giusto" to create awareness of the problem of food insecurity in the greater Washington area. Tempo Giusto's first concert was held in May 2015 in Bethesda, Maryland. It raised more than US$20,000 for Manna Food Center, which provides food to needy people in Montgomery County.
The core of Tempo Giusto consists of 16 string players and a harpsichordist. The ensemble has no conductor but is led by a professional concertmaster. Concerts by Tempo Giusto have always included award-winning soloists. Past concerts have featured violists Wenting Kang (winner of the Tokyo International Viola competition, principal viola of Madrid Symphony Orchestra and Madrid Soloists Chamber Orchestra) and Ayane Kozasa (winner of the Primrose International Viola competition, founding member of Aizuri Quartet), cellist Paul Wiancko (second prize winner in the Lutoslawski International Cello Competition, member of Kronos Quartet), flutist Emma Resmini (Performance Today Young Artist in Residence), and violinist Ji Won Song (winner of the Leopold Mozart Competition in Augsburg, Germany and the Isang Yun International Violin Competition in South Korea). The 2023 concert featured Aria Cheregosha, Kumiko Sakamoto, Lauren Spaulding and Christopher Whitley from two award-winning ensembles, Thalea Quartet and Tallā Rouge. The most recent concert featured violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo, winner of the 2022 Johansen International Competition.
About Music for Food
Music for Food is a Boston-based, non-profit organization that offers concerts in more than 20 cities worldwide, with all of the donated proceeds going to support local food banks. Founded in 2010 by world-renowned violist Kim Kashkashian, MFF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that has helped provide over two million meals for people in Boston, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, and other cities. Over 350 artists have performed for the organization, and 100% of the donations go to the intended food center.
For more information about Music for Food, visit their web site.
For more information about Music for Food, visit their web site.
