Press Herald's music critic, Christopher Hyde, called Chiharu "a world-class artist who would grace any concert stage". Jim is currently the principal cellist for the Portland Symphony.Chiharu holds a Masters Degree in Music Performance and a Masters Degree in Music Instruction from the Hochschule Fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. In Berlin, Chiharu studied piano under Klaus Baessler and Lied Accompaniment under Wolfram Riegar. Chiharu has performed throughout the world in recitals and piano competitions including a piano concert to benefit Amnesty International in Germany, the Hyogo Piano Competition in Japan (silver prize), the Clara Haskil piano competition in Switzerland, the Pescara Academie Piano Competition in Italy and the International Mozart Wettbewerb in Salzburg Austria. In the spring of 2002, Chiharu moved to the United States to study under Frank Glazer. Since her arrival Chiharu has given several recitals at Bates College, played concerts with the Portland String Quartet, DaPonte String Quartet and Frank Glazer, performed Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto, Mozart Piano Concerto K466 and the Rachmaninoff Second Piano Concerto with the Augusta Symphony, performed as a featured artist at the Ocean Park Music Festival and the Franco-American Heritage Center. Chiharu has also toured extensively throughout the world playing concerts in France and Japan. In addition to maintaining a regular performance schedule Chiharu is also a well-respected music teacher, chamber music coach, music competition adjudicator and accompanist, with many of her students receiving competition prizes. Chiharu currently is a member of the applied music faculty at Bates College and University of Maine Farmington, has a teaching studio in Hallowell, Maine and is a member of the faculty at the Portland Conservatory of Music. For more information on Chiharu please visit her website at www.chiharunaruse.com.
Jim Kennedy has performed throughout the world with symphony orchestras and in recitals. He has served as Principal Cellist and been featured as soloist with symphonies in the United States , Canada , and Peru . He also has enjoyed being part of chamber music ensembles and festivals.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, Mr. Kennedy studied under Leonard Rose and did graduate studies at Indiana University with Janos Starker and Fritz Magg. Jim is currently the Principal Cellist of the Portland Symphony Orchestra. He was featured as a soloist with the Oratorio Chorale in the east coast premiere of Bryan Johanson’s Lux Aeterna, a performance that met with great acclaim.
Jim maintains a regular touring and solo performance schedule. Upcoming concert tours are planned for France and Italy with pianist Chiharu Naruse.