Fivesparks Music Festival – Fall Fundraising Concert with Judith Gordon & Rhonda Rider: “Mid-Century, Modern, and More”

Acclaimed Boston-based cellist Rhonda Rider and celebrated Albuquerque-based pianist Judith Gordon, longtime recital partners, will present a festive concert to benefit the 9th Annual Fivesparks Music Festival (June 21-27, 2026). With violinist Judith Eissenberg, Rider and Gordon were co-founders of the annual Fivesparks Music Festival, bringing the chamber music experience to the community. 

This duo program will feature the elegant Fauré D Minor Sonata, the mystical Mirror(s) in the Mirror by Arvo Pärt, Boston composer Yu-Hui Chang’s Alter Ego, an exploration of the relationship between the cellist and their cello, Germaine Tailleferre’s Partita for Piano and one of the 20th-century gems, Arthur Berger’s Duo.

Rhonda Rider
For over two decades, cellist Rhonda Rider was a member of the Naumburg Award-winning Lydian Quartet and Triple Helix Piano Trio. She has been a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, Chamber Music America and the Fischoff and Concert Artist Guild Competitions. Rider is on the faculty of Boston Conservatory at Berklee. www.rhondarider.com.

Judith Gordon
Pianist Judith Gordon explores diverse repertoire as a soloist and with a wide range of instrumentalists and singers. A featured player for ChatterABQ, she has been heard recently at Music Mountain, Apple Hill, Santa Fe Chamber Music, The Cello Seminar and Music from Salem. She was an associate professor of music at Smith College from 2006-2020.

Longtime collaborators Rider and Gordon have recorded Lee Hyla’s Dream of Innocent III and the late Cello and Piano Sonatas of Gabriel Fauré. Each summer they direct The Cello Seminar, a week long contemporary cello music intensive. 

Along with violinist Judith Eissenberg, Rider and Gordon are co-founders of the annual Fivesparks Music Festival.

ADMISSION
Suggested donation amounts:  Adults $25, teens and seniors $15.  ADVANCE TICKETS 

Proceeds from this concert benefit the annual Fivesparks Music Festival.