What's in their Arsenal? World-renown trio escapes to Rosemary Beach for chamber music concert

When Escape to Create presents the Arsenal Trio at Rosemary Beach Town Hall March 19 and 20, it is bringing to the area a trio of world-class musicians.

The Arsenal Trio is made up of Benjamin Sung, violin; Jihye Chang, piano; and Hrant Parsamian, cello. The three intend to take audiences on a musical journey in chamber music. From the rhythms, melodies and jazz of ragtime New Orleans to 19th century Russia, listeners will enjoy intimate, informal concerts designed to bring them closer to chamber music.

Sung, Chang and Parsamian are masters at introducing classical music to new audiences. They are founding members of the highly-successful ClefWorks Music Festival in Montgomery, Ala., and committed to inspiring a new generation of music lovers.

ClefWorks is dedicated to the education and enjoyment of chamber music in a casual setting. The trio believes if novice listeners are exposed to this type music in a non-intimidating setting they will most likely enjoy it and become future fans.

Sung, Chang and Parsamian are former fellows of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, with which they performed for two years.

Sung is now concertmaster of Fargo-Moorehead Symphony Orchestra, and a faculty member at Minnesota and North Dakota State Universities, as well as artistic director of the performing art series at MSUM. He holds a doctorate from Indiana University.

Parsamian is now based in New York, where he serves as assistant principal of Haddonfield Orchestra. He holds bachelor degrees from The Hochschulle fur Music in Wien and Juilliard, and received his masters from Yale.

Chang holds a doctor of music degree in piano performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She is a faculty member at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., and North Dakota State University. She also serves as artistic director of the Chamber Music series in Fergus Falls, Minn.

As former artistic director and founding board member of ClefWorks, Rosemary Beach homeowner Winky Dowdle said she is proud to call these world-class musicians her friends.

“They don’t just perform, they explain the music. They try to make the experience comfortable for those not used to chamber music and in a casual environment,” she said.

The performance will take place at Rosemary Beach Town Hall both nights at 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Also Friday at 10 a.m., will be a performance for students, also in the town hall.

“We want to make this an annual event,” said Escape to Create Executive Director Malayne DeMars. “We are trying to do more literary and music workshops as we feel there is a demand and a need for it here.”