Elshuco Trio

The Elshuco Trio was formed in 1918 with founding members Samuel Gardner (violin), Willem Willeke (violincello), and Richard Epstein (piano). Willem Willeke was the leader and remained the only cellist throughout the groups existence. The unusual first name was derived from the first syllables of the name of their patroness, Elizabeth Shurtleff Coolidge (1864-1953), who established the Berkshire String Quartet in 1916 and started the Berkshire Chamber Music Festival at South Mountain, Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1918. The group had its first public performance at Aeolian Hall in midtown Manhattan in New York City on October 31, 1918. Aurelio Giorni joined the group in the summer of 1919 after Richard Epstein's death. Late in 1919, Reber Johnson also played with the group briefly. By 1920, Elias Breeskin had replaced Samual Gardner on violin. Elias Breeskin left in 1921 and was replaced by William Kroll the following year, who stayed with the group until 1929, when he was replaced by Karl Kraeuter. The last performance of the Elshuco Trio was their final concert of their 15th season on March 7, 1933 in the United Engineering Societies auditorium (New York)