Rawson Duo Home Page

Rawson Duo

Specializing in Romantic and early twentieth-century works, the Rawson Duo (Violin and Piano) has given numerous recitals on college campuses and community performing arts series across the United States and Canada. The Rawsons now reside in Chimacum where they perform throughout the year in the intimate setting of their home located on 7.5 acres, bringing to life rarely heard works celebrated with warm hospitality.

Interesting Bits

Rawson Duo Concerts Reviewed:

Article written for the February, 2009

Port Ludlow Village Voice

by Bernard Super

NEW: For a sample, here is the complete recording of a concert given at the Rawson home in April, 2008 performing Russian and Armenian music:

from Russia with Love

Mussorgsky / Rachmaninov, Hopak

Balakirev, Impromptu

Rimsky-Korsakov / Kreisler, Chanson Arabe

Rimsky-Korsakov / Kreisler, Danse Orientale

Rachmaninov, Romance Op. 6 No. 1

Komitas, Apricot Tree

Khachaturian, Lyric Poem

Khachaturian, Dance

Tchaikowsky, Russian Dance from Swan Lake

Tchaikowsky, Souvenir d'un lieu cher Op. 42, Meditation

Tchaikowsky, Souvenir d'un lieu cher Op. 42, Scherzo

Tchaikowsky, Souvenir d'un lieu cher Op. 42, Melody

Tchaikowsky, Valse-Scherzo, Op. 34

Click here for the program (opens in a new window)

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Archives: Olympic Youth Strings

and Olympic Chamber Orchestra

(a non-profit organization active 2005 -2008)

Click image for programs, press releases, and other information

Violinist Alan Rawson first pursued his music interests in his junior year in high school as a self-taught folk guitarist, recorder player, and madrigal singer. Classical Violin studies were begun at Cañada Junior College in Redwood City California, since their program did not include Country and Western fiddling. He received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees from San Francisco State University and completed his doctorate degree at the University of Colorado in Boulder in violin performance studying with Oswald Lehnert while developing a passionate interest in Rocky Mountain cycling and cross country skiing. He has served on the music faculties of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and the University of Idaho in Moscow, and has recently retired from Minnesota State University Moorhead where he directed the University Orchestra and taught upper strings. He was concertmaster of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony for twenty years and appeared as a featured orchestral soloist several times performing works by Tchaikowsky, Mozart, Sibelius, and Bruch, among others.

Alan has a passionate interest in exploring the music of past great composers, now all but lost to obscurity, and he is actively researching, locating and scanning public domain scores, making these freely available to the internet community worldwide.

A native of Fargo, ND, Sandy Rawson (pianist, organist, harpsichordist) completed her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance at the University of Minnesota and continued her studies at the Musik Akademie in Vienna, Austria. During her long tenure in the Fargo Moorhead area, she was a highly active accompanist and large ensemble pianist performing with all the major organizations including opera, symphony, choral, ballet, universities and public schools. She frequently appeared on faculty and guest artist recitals at the three local universities, NDSU, MSUM, and Concordia College. An active church organist from the age of 14, she held the post of organist at the First Congregational Church in Fargo for 25 years. She currently is the organist for Sequim Community Church and piano accompanist for Peninsula Chamber Singers.

Sandy’s love of music is equaled by her love for cooking. A professionally trained chef, having lived several years in Europe and Japan, international cuisine has been a lifelong passion.

On the music research trail in Europe, 2000

Contact the Rawsons

The Rawson Home located on 7.5 acres in Chimacum, WA / Comfortable seating for 55 guests

Map and Directions

The Rawson Duo Concert Series

Alan Rawson, violin / Sandy Rawson, piano

2011-12 Season

Upcoming events:

Rawson Duo Season Finale: Rapsódia Sul-Americana (South American Rhapsody) ~ On Friday and Sunday, June 15 & 17, 2 pm the Rawson Duo concludes their 2011-12 season with music of Brazil and Argentina featuring rare works from the early 1900s by Julian Aguirre of old-world, Argentine elegance with his sprightly Cueca and heart-felt Huella, contrasted with Brazilian, Francisco Mignone’s melancholic Valsa de Esquina No. 2. Three works by Brazil's art-music figurehead, Heitor Villa-Lobos will include an arrangement of his popular piano piece, A Lenda do Caboclo (The Legend of the Native), O Canto do Cisne Negro (Song of the Black Swan from the orchestral tone poem, Naufrágio de Kleônicos), and his Sonata-Fantasia No. 1, Désespérance.

The program's second half offers a sampling of contemporary samba music by Celso Machado followed by Astor Piazzolla's Histoire du Tango. Alberto Ginastera’s brilliant and rustic essay of the Argentinian grasslands, Pampaena No. 1 will bring this southern-music adventure to an energetic close. — and, of course, Sandy will again apply her love of gourmet preparations for a national-inspired reception to follow

Seating is limited and arranged through advanced paid reservation, $22. Reservations: contact Alan or Sandy Rawson, email rawsonduo@gmail.com or call 379-3449. Checks should be made payable to: