Classical trio to perform at Museum Sunday ETA3 will perform in the Museum Concert Series at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Museum galleries. Their program will include works by Claude Debussy, Bela Bartok, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Aram Khachaturian, Ian Clarke, and their own work. The Museum Concert Series, founded in 1990, is a celebration of classical music that brings performers of international repute to the Museum. It is the oldest chamber concert series in the region and draws a mixed audience of all ages. Mayville State University shares the series with the Museum, hosting their performance on Monday evenings. Named after a luminous and spectacular star-forming Nebula in our galaxy, ETA3 is a classical trio comprising American flutist Emily Thomas, Japanese pianist Tomoko Nakayama and Russian clarinetist Alexey Gorokholinsky. ETA also initializes the first letter of each musician’s first name. Formed at The Juilliard School during spring of 2006, ETA3 strives to communicate the intellectual and emotional elements of life by broadening the audience's perspective through a varied range of repertoire. The trio was recognized by Juilliard as one of three prominent emerging chamber music groups of 2006 leading to their Alice Tully Hall debut. Alexey Gorokholinsky is the first prize winner of Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, Jefferson Symphony Young Artist Competition and Juilliard Clarinet Concerto Competition. He began studying the piano at age four before switching to clarinet at seven. Currently working toward earning his master’s degree from Juilliard, Alexey is a pupil of world renowned clarinetist, Charles Neidich. Tomoko Nakayama was born in Tokyo and began private piano lessons at the age of five. Because of her unique ability, she was soon accepted to study at the Children’s Toho Music School (Japan) and gave her first solo recital at age 11 at the Japanese Embassy. She pursued her early music education at the United World College of South East Asia (Singapore). She earned her Bachelor of Music in harpsichord performance at the Juilliard School, and is presently working on her master's degree from Juilliard in the Collaborative Piano Department. She is also the official pianist for the Chamber Orchestra of New York. Emily Thomas is pursuing her master's at the Juilliard School. She has been awarded the New Horizons Fellowship and Academy of American conductors’ fellowship to the Aspen Music Festival where she also won second prize in woodwind concerto competition (2005). Born in Huntsville, Ala., Thomas attended the Interlochen Arts Academy and was a member of the Interlochen Ensemble, touring throughout Michigan. She is second runner up in the Blount Concerto Competition in Montgomery, Ala., and a semifinalist at the National Flute Association's High School Soloist Competition, where she was awarded the best performance of the contemporary piece. She is also the newly appointed flutist in the Chamber Orchestra of New York and also regularly appears in ABC’s daytime soap Opera “All my Children.” Upcoming concerts include Stefan Hussong, accordian, Jan. 25, and vocal ensemble, Tapestry, March 22. Order your tickets today by sending a check or calling 777-4195. The North Dakota Museum of Art is located on Centennial Drive on the University of North Dakota campus. Museum hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum shop is open during Museum hours. The Museum Café is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- Brian Lofthus, Assistant to the Director, North Dakota Museum of Art, blofthus@ndmoa.com, 701-777-4195