In 2012, Duo FAE was co-founded by violinist Charlene Kluegel and pianist Katherine Petersen who had met at the Aspen Music Festival several years prior. The duo takes its name from the motto of virtuoso violinist Joseph Joachim and composer Johannes Brahms “Frei Aber Einsam” meaning “Free but Alone.” The duo brought new meaning to this motto, doing all of their rehearsing and concertizing while living in Canada and the U.S. respectively at the inception of the ensemble. Duo FAE has performed extensively across Canada and the U.S. and their combined forces as a duo have been described as having “tackled all with unsentimental verve, musical feeling and great technical skill.” (George Grella, New York Classical Review)  The duo seeks to present concerts that feature chamber music in its rawest form by joining two voices into one.

Hailed as a chamber musician and soloist “with aplomb” by the Chicago Classical Review, violinist Charlene Kluegel is known for her versatile artistry in historical performance practice and cutting edge new music. As a GRAMMY-nominated artist, Kluegel’s career centers around chamber music in all collaborative facets including as former core violinist of Fifth House Ensemble and with Jason Vieaux,  members of the New York Philharmonic and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and the Cuarteto Casals. After a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, she received her Master’s degree from the Peabody Institute, and her Doctorate from Indiana University under teachers Pamela Frank, Jorja Fleezanis, and Monika Urbaniak-Lisik. She currently serves on faculty at Carthage College and the Zodiac Music Festival and Academy in Southern France. Charlene has an ongoing string sponsorship with Larsen Strings and plays a 1780 Antonio Gragnani violin.

From giving her debut solo recital at age twelve to performing some of George Crumb’s most monumental chamber and solo works at the Crumb Festival, a 90th birthday celebration of the famed composer, pianist Katherine Petersen embraces a wide array of piano repertoire. She has been hailed by the Chicago Tribune for having “captured the sense of wonder” and was lauded at her Carnegie Hall debut for creating “real music-making– concentrated and deeply felt” by Edith Eisler of Strings Magazine. Petersen has nurtured a strong career in chamber music, as she believes in its ability to foster more meaningful performances by reflecting the intricacies of human interaction. In the past, Petersen has served as core pianist for Fifth House Ensemble and currently plays with Trio des Elements and the Way Out Quintet in addition to appearances with Duo FAE. She is currently a full time faculty member teaching piano and chamber music at the Music Institute of Chicago. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the New England Conservatory of Music, and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University with principal teachers Jonathan Bass, Vivian Weilerstein and Sara Laimon.