Opus Two has been internationally recognized for its “divine phrases, impelling rhythm, elastic ensemble and stunning sounds,” as well as its commitment to expanding the violin – piano duo repertoire. Comprised of award- winning musicians violinist William Terwilliger and pianist Andrew Cooperstock, the duo is hailed for its “unanimity of style and spirit, exemplary balance and close rapport.” Highlights for the 2011-2012 season include a residency in Ghana, marking the duo’s first visit to Africa, and the sixth continent on which they have performed. The residency included recitals, master classes, and an appearance with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ghana. The duo also performed on Hong Kong's Hell Hot! New Music Festival, featuring premieres by Bright Sheng, Paul Schoenfield, and Leonard Bernstein. Opus Two’s recently released debut Naxos recording Leonard Bernstein: Violin Sonata; Piano Trio; New Transcriptions features the world premiere of Four Moments from Candide, by veteran Broadway conductor/arranger Eric Stern, dedicated to Opus Two. Hailed as “an excellent recording, performed splendidly throughout” the disc includes two additional Stern arrangements: “My House” from Peter Pan, and “Take Care of this House” from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, recorded with Tony-nominated actress-singer Marin Mazzie, as well as the duo’s own transcription, for violin and piano, of Bernstein’s Clarinet Sonata.
Champions of American music, Opus Two has recorded works by Paul Schoenfield, Aaron Copland and Lowell
Liebermann. A major grant from the American Music Center’s Aaron Copland Recording Fund in 2007 made
possible Opus Two’s world-premiere recording, Souvenirs: Music of Paul Schoenfield (Azica Records), which
American Record Guide hailed as “accomplished, sophisticated, and filled with the sheer joy of music-making.” The
duo has performed Aaron Copland’s complete works for violin and piano extensively across the United States and
abroad, and their recording of this music (Azica Records) features works never before recorded, including two
early, unpublished preludes. The ensemble’s recording of chamber music of Lowell Liebermann (Albany Records)
features performances with cellist Andres Diaz and the Ying Quartet, and was praised as “splendid” by Strings
magazine. John Fitz Rogers composed Sonata Lunaris for Opus Two, whose discography also includes two discs
of works by Robert Starer, featuring the world premiere recordings of Duo for Violin and Piano, as well as
Dispositions, written for the duo and clarinetist Martha MacDonald.  In addition to their concerts as Opus Two, William Terwilliger and Andrew Cooperstock frequently join forces with Martha MacDonald as members of Trio Contraste. The trio has been honored with the Centennial Chamber Music Award for Outstanding Promotion of American Music from the National Federation of Music Clubs. Additionally, William Terwilliger and Andrew Cooperstock have collaborated together or individually with members of the Takács, Emerson and Juilliard String Quartets, and the Dorian Wind Quintet, violinists Oleh Krysa and James Buswell, and cellists Lynn Harrell, Allison Eldredge and Yehuda Hanani. Opus Two’s radio and television credits include appearances on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today”, Chicago’s WFMT, Colorado’s KVOD, the BBC, Radio France, Radio Latvia and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Their South American tours have also included appearances on television in the Dominican Republic and Bolivia. Prizewinner in the National Federation of Music Clubs Artist Competition and the New Orleans International Competition, Andrew Cooperstock has performed as soloist or chamber player in most of the fifty states. He has also given lectures and recitals at the Hochschule für Musik Hans Eisler in Berlin, Germany, the Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia, and the Universities of Bordeaux and Nice in France, among others. Currently he is a senior member of the keyboard faculty at the University of Colorado at Boulder. William Terwilliger has performed as a soloist with orchestras in the US, Europe and Asia, and is currently professor of violin at the University of South Carolina and concertmaster of the Long Bay Symphony. His major teachers include Donald Weilerstein and Zvi Zeitlin, and he has coached with the Cleveland, Tokyo and Emerson Quartets. An avid teacher, he has given master classes throughout the US, and in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia.Both musicians regularly present and serve as jurors for such organizations as the American String Teachers Association, the College Music Society, the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Music Teachers National Association. The list of awards to their credit includes grants from the American Music Center, Chamber Music America, the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Arts International Fund, to name a few.William Terwilliger received his doctorate from the Eastman School of Music. Andrew Cooperstock is a graduate of The Juilliard School, and the Cincinnati and Peabody Conservatories.William Terwilliger and Andrew Cooperstock also have the distinction of being published authors, and have written articles for Strings, American String Teacher, and Keyboard Companion, among others. |
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Biography |
Opus Two first came to international attention as winners of the United States Information Agency’s Artistic Ambassador Auditions in 1993, leading to a 30-concert tour of Latin America and the Caribbean, and performances, radio broadcasts and master classes throughout Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. Further international engagements have included performances in France, Belgium, Holland, England, Scotland, Sweden, Germany, Latvia, Ukraine, Canada and Australia. Opus Two has also concertized across the United States, including recitals in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Detroit, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis and Baltimore.