Tessa Lark, violin on May 20, 2025 | UCSB Arts & Lectures

Program
Bartók: Romanian Folk Dances
Ysaÿe: Sonata No. 4
Tessa Lark: Ysaÿe Shuffle
Tessa Lark: Jig and Pop
Kreisler: Chanson Louis XIII et Pavane
Kreisler: Syncopation
John Corigliano: Sonata for Violin and Piano

“Tessa Lark embodies joy in music making.” – John Corigliano, composer

Born and raised in Kentucky, versatile violinist Tessa Lark’s earliest musical influences were bluegrass and Appalachian folk. Her passion for fiddling led her well beyond these original interests, until in 2012 she won the Naumburg International Violin Competition, one of classical music’s highest honors. Since then she has pursued all facets of her wide-ranging musical talent, leading her to a Grammy nomination in 2020 for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and to her innovative 2023 release, The Stradgrass Sessions, featuring Jon Batiste, Edgar Meyer and Sierra Hull. Lark will perform a program exploring all sides of her prolific career, from Bartók to bluegrass and beyond.