Grass Valley, CA — Frisson, named for the French word meaning “spine-tingling chills,” is an electrifying chamber ensemble of rising classical stars performing on Sunday, March 15 at 2pm.
Frisson is an ensemble of ten rising classical music stars —award-winning graduates of leading conservatories including Juilliard, Curtis, and Yale. Under the leadership of artistic director and virtuoso oboist Thomas Gallant, these exceptional musicians were selected through auditions in New York City and now tour throughout the United States.
Frisson is known for showcasing rarely performed masterworks and the core group of musicians expands and contracts into a variety of ensembles featuring violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn.
The Sunday program spans operatic brilliance with Rossini’s Overture from “The Italian Girl in Algiers,” storytelling charm in Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” combined with eclectic elegance in Gershwin’s “Three Preludes,” and three rarely performed Romantic nonets by Onslow, Lachner, and Rheinberger. The nonets offer a special twist with music more expansive than a string quartet and more intimate than a symphony, rich in color, texture, and interplay. The entire program is versatile, virtuosic, and designed to leave a lasting impression.
The ensemble will present two educational performances on Monday, March 16, for over 600 local third-grade students. The highlight of the students’ program is “Peter and the Wolf,”specially arranged for Frisson. The narrator will be Micah Cone, InConcert Sierra’s Artistic Director Assistant and Production Manager who was named Best Local Performing Artist in The Union’s 2024 “Best of Nevada County.” Cone will narrate both the Sunday evening performance and Monday’s student concerts, bringing the story vividly to life for audiences of all ages.
“We’ve had Frisson here twice in the past few years, and they brought the house down both times,” said Ken Hardin, Artistic Director. “When I heard about their special arrangement of “Peter and the Wolf,” I knew we had to include it in both the main concert program and the student shows. I think everyone either loves “Peter and the Wolf,”or secretly does.”
“And who better to narrate than our own Micah Cone, a favorite local actor,” Hardin added. “He perfectly matches the youthful exuberance of this ensemble.”
There will be a 1:15 pre-concert forum prior to the 2pm concert to enrich the concert experience and give attendees an inside look at the music and composers, with performer insights and a chance to ask questions.
Since 1946, InConcert Sierra has brought world-class classical music to the Sierra Nevada region. The organization offers educational programs, outreach, and collaborations to inspire a love of classical music. ICS is currently building Crown Point Venues, featuring a new acoustic concert hall, conference center, and black box theater.
WHAT: Frisson
WHEN: Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 2pm
WHERE: 12889 Osborne Hill Road, Grass Valley (GV Seventh-day Adventist Church)
TICKETS: $50 general admission, $5 youth 18 and under
Phone: 530-273-3990; online: https://www.simpletix.com/e/frisson-tickets-215190; or in person