Hat Trick Trio will perform classical music in Milford this Saturday

Hat Trick Trio, featuring three of New York City's top musicians on flute, viola, and harp, will perform classical masterpieces in the hall of the Church of Saint Patrick on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7:30 p.m.

They will perform works by Debussy and 20th- and 21st-century music by the likes of Astor Piazzolla, Grammy-nominated composer Miguel del Aguila, and Sofia Gubaidulina. Some of the pieces will be from the trio's most recent album, "Garden of Joys and Sorrows."

The members of the Hat Trick Trio have performed together since 2013, but each has a successful career as a soloist as well. April Clayton, a leading flutist of her generation, made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall under the auspices of Artists International. The National Flute Association has given her two Best Performance awards, and her CD of flute concertos features two pieces composed especially for her. Clayton has performed around the world and, in addition to playing with the Hat Trick Trio, is a member of the Orpheus Wind Quintet and principal flute with the Utah Chamber Artists.

Meet the trio

Dr. David Wallace is an eclectic violist, award-winning composer, and chair of the Berklee College of Music's String Department. He has performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, but he is so eclectic that he's also the leader of the Doc Wallace Trio, a Texas swing band, and plays rock and free jazz as well.

As an equally eclectic harpist, Kristi Shade plays classical, jazz, pop, Broadway, contemporary, and electronic music. She's the principal harpist for the Chamber Orchestra of New York, with whom she has recorded three albums on the Naxos label. Her 2012 album with Duo Scorpio, which Kindred Spirits has also brought to northeastern Pennsylvania, was on the Grammy nomination ballot in three categories.

Put the three together, and "All the sound colors are vivid and practically too good to be true," says Todd Gorman in American Record Guide. Or, as Roger Knox put it in The Whole Note, they "make every shot count."

Kindred Spirits Arts Programs is a not-for-profit organization of volunteers led by internationally known cello soloist Yosif Feigelson. In addition to bringing world-class artists to northeastern Pennsylvania, the organization arranges educational enrichment workshops for local high school students. To that end, Hat Trick Trio is also offering presentations and a workshop at the Delaware Valley School District on Friday, Oct. 4, open only to students.