The Black Orchid String Trio is comprised of Amber Rogers, Rachel Smith, and Jennifer Sternick.
“We’re new musicians,” said Smith, the group’s cellist. “We do play classical music now and again, but part of a contemporary performance, especially, is to present it in a way that classical music isn’t standardly presented.”
Rogers plays viola and is the director of the ensemble. She added that “there’s also, sort of, this implied sense that if you as an audience member don’t like the piece that you’re somehow intellectually inferior, and that really bothers us … we think it’s crap”.
The Black Orchid String Trio actively engages audiences with explanations of the pieces they play and by talking at length about the instruments they play.
“People are often too hesitant to ask (questions),” Sternick, who plays violin.
This group however actively encourages questions and audience interaction.
Because there hasn’t been much written for string trio they also actively seek new compositions often working with composers living in Pittsburgh. This is important to them, and they’re glad to be contributing to the canon of work for the string trio.
“Those pieces are still going to exist as part of the trio repertoire that is going to last forever,” Rogers said.
