we are the emil trio.
We are Nathan Meltzer, Yannick Rafalimanana, and Joshua Halpern. We formed after meeting at Krzyzowa-Musik Festival in Poland in 2021.
An immediate connection was formed at a sight-reading party one late night after a barbecue, as we played through one trio after another by composers we had never heard of. There was a natural enthusiasm, whimsy, and humor among the three of us — but underneath it all, a fierce love for and commitment to music-making.
We strive to select repertoire by under-appreciated composers and under-appreciated pieces by well-known composers to construct programs that tell compelling stories. By telling stories, we bring audiences closer to the music and make a stronger case for that which may be unfamiliar.
We debuted in the spring of 2022 — a German tour which included a performance at the Berlin Philharmonie. That tour was cut short by a positive Covid test from Josh, so in October, we returned to where we had left off — a beautiful Schloss in northern Germany owned by a wonderful woman named Barbara and her faithful dog, Emil.
To honor the beautiful place where we finally reconvened, we named ourselves after Emil the dog, who laid at our feet and groaned appreciatively throughout our rehearsals.
