Duo Prism, Violin

Biography

Comprised of pianist Rieko Aizawa and violinist Jesse Mills, Duo Prism is a dynamic ensemble committed to the full spectrum of works composed for this instrumentation. The metaphor of a three-sided prism represents the perfectly balanced relationship which these two artists together make with the composers of the works that they present.

Since its inception in 2005, Duo Prism has performed throughout the United States. In May of 2006, Duo Prism won 1st Prize at the Gaetano Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition in Verona, Italy, and returned the following season for a tour of Northern Italy. 

Based in New York City, the duo collaborates with contemporary composers in addition to their exploration of the vast traditional repertoire. In September of 2008, Duo Prism worked closely with composer Peter Lieberson, performing his Theme and Variations as part of a Composer Portrait performance at Columbia University’s Miller Theater in New York City. They are in the process of performing the complete sonatas by Beethoven, and they aim to commission new works in the upcoming season. In 2010, they became artistic directors of the Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival in Colorado.

Both Aizawa and Mills are graduates of the Juilliard School. Aizawa also studied at The Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where she was the last pupil of Mieczyslaw Horszowski. A native of Japan, Aizawa began her career with a US debut at the age of fourteen at the Kennedy Center and at Carnegie Hall with the New York String Orchestra conducted by Alexander Schneider.

Mills earned a Grammy nomination for his work on CDs of Arnold Schoenberg's music, released by NAXOS in 2005 and 2010. He is known as a pioneer of contemporary works, a renowned improvisational artist, and as a composer. Mills recently made his concerto debut at Chicago's Ravinia Festival. He can be heard on the Naxos, Koch, Centaur Records, Tzadik, Max Jazz and Verve labels.

Duo Prism has a passion for understanding the voice of every composer; they seek to illuminate the music as well as their own joy recreating it. Both Aizawa and Mills are on the faculty at Montclair State University in New Jersey.