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Shea, Kettler to Join Langroise Trio

January 10, 2022

Brendan Shea and Philip Kettler will join Dave Johnson as members of the prestigious Langroise Trio at The College of Idaho and serve as music lecturers and Artists in Residence as Langroise Fellows.

The three will also have prominent roles with the Boise Philharmonic.

“The addition of these two distinguished performers and mentors will reshape the Langroise Trio and sustain the legacy of Gladys Langroise, whose vision and generosity ensured that world-class music and music education would be available to Idahoans in perpetuity,” said David Douglass, Provost at the College. “Brendan and Philip will join David Johnson, the Trio’s long-standing violist par excellence and faculty member at the College.  We are delighted to unite three such gifted musicians and look forward to their performances as part of the Boise Philharmonic.”

Johnson remains a Langroise Fellow at the College following recent retirements by Samuel Smith and Geoffrey Trabichoff. He serves as the Trio’s violist in performances and will be joined by Shea (violinist) and Kettler (cellist).

"I'm very excited to join the Boise Phil and College of Idaho,” Shea said. “Everyone I met when I auditioned was friendly and supportive, and I'm looking forward to joining this amazing community."

Kettler echoed Shea’s sentiments.

"I am beyond thrilled to join both the Boise Phil and College of Idaho,” he said. “The vibrant, flourishing, and inviting musical scenes at both of these institutions drew me in right away, and I could not be happier to be a part of the future of music in Idaho."

Kettler comes to the Treasure Valley from Indiana where he spent three seasons with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He was the Orchestra’s Second Cellist and its youngest member. Kettler has also performed with the Indianapolis Symphony and Sarasota Orchestra, and previously held principal positions in orchestras including the Terre Haute Symphony, Carmel Symphony, and Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, among others. In recent seasons, Philip has been featured as a soloist and chamber musician at the Chevy Chase Concert Series (Washington, DC), Blair Concert Series (Nashville, TN), Concerts at Bradley Hills (Bethesda, MD), and Chamber Music Evergreen (Evergreen, CO).

Shea is an award-winning violinist and chamber musician. His chamber music awards were won when he played with the Wasmuth Quartet and include the Bronze Medal at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition, Gold Medal and Audience Award at the Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition, and Grand Prize at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. As a founding member of the Wasmuth (now Verona) Quartet, he performed across the United States, Germany, and Japan.

Established in 1991, The College of Idaho’s Langroise Trio provides students, educators, and professional musicians with the broad education, specialized skills, and diversified experience they will need to become versatile music leaders. The Trio also provides unique chamber music experiences such as coaching sessions and weekly masterclasses, providing students the opportunity to perform with chamber groups as well as the College’s Sinfonia.

The College of Idaho has a 131-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.