About the Classica Chamber Players
Thirty-five years ago, Classica Chamber Players began as the Hill House Chamber Players, performing Parlor Concerts at the James J. Hill House. We remain devoted to the charm of intimate venues, offering audiences a close encounter with the music. Through our partnership with the Schubert Club, we have access to a fortepiano, frequently utilized for Classical period trios. With an abundance of piano trios at our disposal, our repertoire boasts a plethora of ideas, choices, and opportunities for engaging conversation.
Musicians of the Classica Chamber Players
Julie Ayer, violinist and founder of the Classica Chamber Players (formerly Hill House Chamber Players), was assistant principal second violin with the Minnesota Orchestra for 36 years. She studied violin with world renowned Josef Gingold at Indiana University where she earned a master's degree. Julie is the author of More than Meets the Ear: How Symphony Musicians Made Labor History, published in 2005, and in 2023 she published her second book, Denying the Silence, A Chronicle of Resilience That Saved the World-Renowned Minnesota Orchestra.
Pianist Mary Jo Gothmann enjoys a varied career as a chamber musician, soloist, opera coach and organist. She performs frequently with the Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and has worked for the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Minnesota Opera companies. Mary Jo is a sought after chamber music partner, playing with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, Colonial Chamber Music Series, Bakken Trio, JOYA in Anoka and Lakes Area Music Festival.
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Cellist Sally Dorer is a member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and performs frequently with the Minnesota Orchestra. She has performed extensively with many chamber groups throughout the country, and has been a member of the New Mexico Symphony, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and the Florida West Coast Symphony. She has also performed at many summer music festivals, including Tanglewood, Colorado Music Festival, the Banff Centre, and Sarasota Music Festival. Sally studied at the New England Conservatory with Timothy Eddy.
Catherine Schubilske’s musical career includes performing as a member of the Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra as well as touring and recording with the Chicago Symphony. She can be heard in the TPT program “Art and Medicine”, “This is Minnesota Orchestra” youtube videos of chamber music as well as duos with her violinist daughter Clara. She recently created programs celebrating pioneering women violinists Maud Powell and Jelly d’Aranyi, and is a frequent guest artist with the Classica Chamber Players, Hill House Chamber Players, Lakeville Center for the Arts, Joya concerts and at the Cafesjian Art museum. Catherine studied with Jens Ellerman at the Aspen Festival and in Europe, and with Franco Gulli at Indiana University, earning a master’s degree in violin performance.