The Artist
Rockport Music
BIOS

A Far Cry is a GRAMMY®-nominated, conductorless chamber orchestra known for its innovative programming and democratic artistic process. Founded in 2007, the ensemble curates dynamic programs inspired by individual curiosities and global issues. They have collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Simone Dinnerstein, and Vijay Iyer and have commissioned works by Philip Glass and Jungyoon Wie. Based in Boston, they maintain strong educational partnerships and continue to push boundaries in classical music.

Cellist James Baik has been praised for his “undeniable authority” and “warmth emerging in lyricism” (Le Soir) following his appearance at the Queen Elisabeth Competition. A First Prize winner of the 2023 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, he has appeared at the Kennedy Center and with orchestras including the Kansas City Symphony. A member of the Galvin Cello Quartet, he studies at the Colburn Conservatory and performs on a J.B. Guadagnini cello.

The Balourdet Quartet is acclaimed for its vibrant energy, technical precision, and fresh perspective on classical and contemporary repertoire. Recipients of a 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant and Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award, they perform seventy concerts annually and have appeared at Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall. Committed to new music, they premiere works supported by Chamber Music America and Barlow Foundation. Founded in 2018, they are Quartet-in-Residence at the Seattle Chamber Music Society.

Benjamin Beilman has earned international acclaim for his passionate performances and distinctive tone, described by The New York Times as “muscular with a glint of violence.” He appears with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and London Philharmonic, and is a committed advocate for contemporary music. A faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music, he plays the 1740 “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.

GRAMMY® Award–winning violinist Joshua Bell CBE is among the most celebrated artists of his generation, performing with major orchestras worldwide. Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields since 2011, he was named an honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2025. A prolific Sony Classical recording artist, his releases include GRAMMY®-winning, chart-topping albums. He tours internationally, collaborates in chamber music, and champions new works by leading contemporary composers today.

Jonathan Biss is an internationally acclaimed pianist known for his profound musicianship and deeply communicative performances. A frequent soloist with major orchestras worldwide, he is especially admired for his interpretations of Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, and Brahms. His nine-volume recording of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas has received widespread critical praise. Biss is also the author of Exploring Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas and serves on the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music.

Violinist Aaron Boyd enjoys a versatile international career as a soloist and chamber musician. A former member of the Escher String Quartet, he is a recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Martin E. Segal Award from Lincoln Center. A dedicated advocate for new music, he has collaborated with composers including Milton Babbitt and Elliott Carter. Boyd is Director of Chamber Music and Professor of Practice in Violin at Southern Methodist University.

With a career spanning more than three decades, the Brentano Quartet has earned worldwide acclaim for its “luxuriously warm sound” (The New York Times) and “wonderful, selfless music-making” (The Times, London). Known for probing interpretations and imaginative programming, the ensemble performs internationally and serves as Artists-in-Residence at the Yale School of Music. Formed in 1992, the Quartet has received the Naumburg and Cleveland Quartet Awards and collaborates with leading artists and composers.

Composer and pianist Michael Stephen Brown has been hailed by The New York Times as “one of the leading figures in the current renaissance of performer-composers.” A recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and Lincoln Center’s Emerging Artist Award, he performs internationally and receives commissions from major orchestras and festivals. Recent highlights include a recital at Alice Tully Hall and collaborations with leading instrumentalists. He lives in New York City.

Cellist Nicholas Canellakis is a dynamic and sought-after performer who appears internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. A longtime artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, he tours widely with pianist-composer Michael Stephen Brown and serves as Artistic Director of Chamber Music Sedona. He recently joined the cello faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music. His album
(b)romance was released in 2023, and he performs on an 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume cello.

Cellist Colin Carr enjoys an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing with leading orchestras across Europe, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. A distinguished recitalist and longtime member of the Golub–Kaplan–Carr Trio, he appears frequently at major chamber music festivals worldwide. Carr is Professor of Cello at the Royal Academy of Music and Stony Brook University.

Award-winning jazz performer Matt Catingub is a saxophonist, vocalist, pianist, arranger, composer, and renowned pops conductor. The son of legendary vocalist Mavis Rivers, he is a proud Pacific Islander and was given the Samoan chief title La‘auli. At 17, he debuted original big band works at the Monterey Jazz Festival and later toured Japan with Dizzy Gillespie, Thad Jones, and Ruth Brown. He has performed worldwide, including at the 1983 Royal Variety Performance.

Violinist Ray Chen is redefining the 21st-century classical musician, combining exceptional artistry with a global digital presence. Winner of the Yehudi Menuhin and Queen Elisabeth Competitions, he has performed with leading orchestras including the London Philharmonic and New York Philharmonic. An exclusive Decca Classics artist, his recordings have earned major accolades. Committed to innovation and education, he co-founded the practice app Tonic and engages new audiences worldwide through performance and technology. 

Violinist Stella Chen rose to international prominence as winner of the 2019 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition. Praised by The Strad for her “silken grace” and “brilliant command,” her debut album Stella x Schubert earned the Gramophone Award for Young Artist of the Year. She performs worldwide as a soloist and chamber musician with leading orchestras, serves on the Juilliard faculty, and performs on the 1720 “General Kyd” Stradivarius. 

Cellist Brannon Cho has been praised for his “burnished tone, spellbinding technique, and probing musical mind” (Boston Classical Review). A First Prize winner of the International Paulo Cello Competition and laureate of the Queen Elisabeth and Naumburg competitions, he has appeared with orchestras including the Helsinki Philharmonic and Minnesota Orchestra. An avid chamber musician, he co-founded Trio Seoul and performs regularly at major venues such as Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall. 

Pianist Jeanie Chung is an accomplished soloist, chamber musician, and educator known for her refined artistry and collaborative versatility. She has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall and appears widely as a chamber musician. Chung serves on the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, where she is Chair of Keyboard Studies, mentoring young artists and shaping the school’s piano program.

Founded in 2018 by violinist Etienne Gara, Delirium Musicum is a Los Angeles–based string ensemble known for electrifying performances and bold, genre-spanning programs. Praised as “ferocious and rhythmically mesmerizing” (San Francisco Classical Voice) and “virtuosic and versatile” (Los Angeles Times), the group draws inspiration from the city’s diversity. Its Warner Classics debut album, Seasons, received international acclaim. Committed to community engagement, Delirium Musicum presents outreach initiatives including its MusiKaravan project and Baby Concerts.

Jeremy Denk is one of America’s foremost pianists, hailed by The New York Times as “a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs.” A MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, Avery Fisher Prize recipient, bestselling author, and member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he balances performance and writing with rare distinction. He appears frequently at Carnegie Hall and with leading orchestras worldwide, and is especially celebrated for his interpretations of Bach and Charles Ives. His acclaimed recordings include Mozart concertos and the Goldberg Variations.

Simone Dinnerstein is an American pianist celebrated for her distinctive musical voice and deeply personal artistry. The Washington Post has called her “an artist of strikingly original ideas and irrefutable integrity.” She rose to prominence with her acclaimed recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations and has since performed with major orchestras worldwide while releasing fifteen Billboard-charting albums spanning repertoire from Bach to contemporary composers. A dedicated educator, she serves on the piano faculty of the Mannes School of Music.

Pianist Peter Dugan’s debut with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony was hailed as “stunning” (Los Angeles Times). Heard nationwide as host of NPR’s From the Top, he appears internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, performing in major venues across North America and abroad. 
A versatile artist equally at home in classical, 
jazz, and pop, Dugan serves on the piano faculty of the Juilliard School Evening Division and is a 
Yamaha Artist.

Irène Duval, praised for her expressive phrasing and virtuosity, is an award-winning violinist active in concerto, recital, and chamber performances. She has appeared with the Dresdner Philharmonie, Sinfonia Varsovia, and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and has collaborated with Gidon Kremer and Christian Tetzlaff. Highlights include performances at Wigmore Hall, Festival de Música de Canarias, and her 2024 recital recording of Fauré with Angus Webster. She plays a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume violin on loan from Beare’s International Violin Society.

Blythe Teh Engstroem is an American violist and passionate chamber musician who has collaborated with artists such as Joshua Bell, Yuja Wang, Pinchas Zukerman, and the Quatuor Ébène. A regular at the Verbier Festival, she is a founding member of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, where she leads the viola section. A former member of Quatuor Terpsycordes, she has performed extensively across Europe and Asia. She plays a Maggini viola on generous loan from a private benefactor.

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han are internationally recognized as two of the most influential figures in chamber music. Named Musical America’s Musicians of the Year, they are acclaimed performers, recording artists, and visionary artistic leaders. Since 2004, they have served as Artistic Directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, expanding its global reach through performances, education, and recordings. They are also founders and Artistic Directors of Music@Menlo and co-founders of the artist-led recording label ArtistLed.

Two-time GRAMMY® nominee and Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient Jennifer Frautschi has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. An artist-member of the Boston Chamber Music Society, she performs regularly at major chamber music festivals nationwide. Her recordings include Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto and Prokofiev’s concerti. She teaches at Stony Brook University and performs on a 1722 Stradivarius violin, the “ex-Cadiz.”

Cellist Adrian Fung is a versatile performer, educator, and arts leader, best known as founding cellist of the Afiara Quartet. With the ensemble, he won the Concert Artists Guild Competition and prizes at the ARD and Banff competitions. A JUNO-nominated artist, he has performed over 600 concerts worldwide at venues including Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall, and appears as soloist and collaborator with leading artists and ensembles.

The Galvin Cello Quartet is an innovative ensemble redefining the expressive possibilities of the cello through dynamic performances and imaginative programming. Comprised of four accomplished cellists and founded at Northwestern University’s Beinen School of Music, the Quartet is known for its rich, orchestral sound and versatility. Its repertoire spans classical masterworks, contemporary works, and original arrangements, often pairing familiar pieces with lesser-known gems. Dedicated to audience engagement and education, the ensemble performs widely and fosters community connections. The Galvin Cello Quartet’s week-long residency is generously sponsored by Mollie Byrnes.

Proclaimed “a phenomenon” by the Los Angeles Times and “one of the best pianists of his generation” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Stewart Goodyear is an acclaimed pianist, improviser, and composer. He has performed with major orchestras worldwide and received commissions from ensembles including the Chineke! Orchestra. His recordings include the complete Beethoven sonatas and concertos, works by Rachmaninov and Ravel, and his own compositions. His Nutcracker recording was named a top classical album of 2015 by The New York Times.

Augustin Hadelich is widely regarded as one of the great violinists of our time, known for his exceptional technique, musicianship, and tone. He performs with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. A GRAMMY® Award winner, he records for Warner Classics, with acclaimed releases spanning Bach to Ligeti. Gold Medalist of the 2006 Indianapolis Competition, he serves on the Yale School of Music faculty and performs on a 1744 Guarneri del Gesù.

Marc-André Hamelin is celebrated worldwide for his profound musicianship and dazzling technique, hailed by The New York Times for his “near-superhuman technical prowess.” Renowned for both core repertoire and lesser-known works, he performs with leading orchestras and in major recital halls worldwide. An exclusive Hyperion artist, he has released more than 90 acclaimed recordings, earning multiple Grammy nominations and JUNO Awards. An accomplished composer, his works are performed internationally; he is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Charles Richard-Hamelin, Silver Medalist and winner of the Krystian Zimerman Prize at the 2015 Chopin Competition, is one of today’s leading pianists. The youngest recipient of the Prix Denise-Pelletier, he has appeared at major festivals and with orchestras including the Warsaw Philharmonic. An Analekta recording artist, his Chopin albums have earned multiple Félix Awards and a JUNO Award. He studied at McGill, Yale, and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. 

Dr. Matthew Heck is Director of The Conservatory Program at The Rivers School and Musicologist in Residence for Radius Ensemble. He earned his PhD at Brandeis University, specializing in Shostakovich and Russian music. His research has been supported by major fellowships and conducted in St. Petersburg and Moscow. His broader interests include popular music, and his teaching has received university honors.

Hsin-Yun Huang is recognized as one of the foremost violists of her generation, admired for her expressive artistry and advocacy for new music. She has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Berlin Radio Orchestra and Tokyo Philharmonic, and was the first violist to perform a concerto at Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts. A frequent festival artist and founder of VivaViola!, she serves on the faculties of Juilliard and Curtis and performs on a 1735 Testore viola.

Cellist Steven Isserlis is one of the most distinctive musicians of his generation, known for his profound musicianship and expressive range. He appears with leading orchestras including the Berlin, Vienna, and London Philharmonics, and performs widely as a recitalist and chamber musician. A champion of both historically informed performance and contemporary music, he has premiered major works and recorded acclaimed core repertoire. He is also a writer and Artistic Director of the International Musicians’ Seminar at Prussia Cove and performs on the 1726 “Marquis de Corberon” Stradivarius.

Cellist Mira Kardan is an emerging artist recognized for her expressive musicianship as a soloist and chamber musician. A student at the Glenn Gould School, she studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz. A Gold Medalist at the 2022 Fischoff Competition, she has earned multiple first prizes and will appear with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. She has twice been featured on NPR’s From the Top.

Chee-Yun Kim is an internationally acclaimed violinist, winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant. She has performed with leading orchestras worldwide, including the San Francisco Symphony, NHK Symphony Orchestra, and Seoul Philharmonic. A champion of contemporary and chamber music, she appears regularly at major festivals and venues including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and has recorded extensively for Naxos, Denon, Decca, and Satirino Records.

Bassist David Landoni is a versatile performer known for his rich tone, rhythmic precision, and stylistic range across classical, jazz, and contemporary music. A sought-after collaborator, he has appeared with leading orchestras, chamber ensembles, and jazz artists in venues across the United States and abroad. Committed to both performance and education, Landoni is an engaging teacher and mentor, dedicated to fostering the next generation of musicians while continuing to explore diverse and innovative musical projects.

London-based Australian pianist Piers Lane enjoys an international reputation as a versatile and compelling performer. A five-time soloist at the BBC Proms, he has appeared in over forty countries with many of the world’s leading orchestras and at major venues including Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall. He is Artistic Director of the Sydney International Piano Competition and has an extensive discography for Hyperion. Lane is an Officer of the Order of Australia and an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music.

Violinist and violist Yura Lee is renowned for her rare virtuosity on both instruments and a career spanning three decades worldwide. She has appeared with major orchestras including those of New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, and performed at leading venues such as Wigmore Hall and the Concertgebouw. A recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and top international prizes, she is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Professor at USC’s Thornton School of Music.

As the first classical brass soloist to receive the Order of Canada, trumpeter Jens Lindemann is among the most celebrated artists of his instrument. Named International Brass Personality of the Year by Brass Herald, he has performed in major venues worldwide, from Carnegie Hall to the Berlin Philharmonie. Praised by The New York Times for his “golden timbre and virtuosic flair,” he bridges classical and jazz. He is Professor with High Distinction at UCLA and a Yamaha Artist.

American violist Matthew Lipman has been praised by The New York Times for his “rich tone and elegant phrasing.”  He performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician with orchestras including the Chicago Symphony and Chamber Orchestra of Europe. A champion of contemporary music, he has premiered works by leading composers and records for major labels. He is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and serves on the faculty of Stony Brook University. 

Internationally acclaimed soprano Larisa Martínez is recognized for her warm lyric coloratura voice and captivating stage presence. Opera News praised her “elegant” portrayal of Rossini’s Corinna. She has appeared in leading roles including Violetta (La Traviata) and Sophie (Werther), and performed major works at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Martínez tours with Andrea Bocelli and collaborates with violinist Joshua Bell. A native of Puerto Rico, she is a Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions winner.

Emily Marvosh is acclaimed for her expressive artistry, “plum-wine voice,” and graceful stage presence. She has appeared as a soloist with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and orchestras across the United States. An award winner of the American Prize and the Carmel Bach Festival Adams Fellowship, she was the inaugural Resident Artist with the Lexington Symphony. She also performs widely in recital, championing art song and early music repertoire.

Anthony McGill is one of classical music’s most distinctive artists, praised by The New York Times for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character.” He is Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic, the first African-American principal player in the orchestra’s history, and appears regularly as a soloist with leading ensembles worldwide. A dedicated educator and advocate, he serves on the faculties of The Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music.

Tenor Daniel McGrew, praised for his “lovely, nuanced tenor” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), performs repertoire spanning opera, musical theatre, early music, and contemporary works. A dedicated recitalist, he has appeared with Brooklyn Art Song Society, New York Festival of Song, and Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. His debuts in New York and Washington, D.C. were presented by Young Concert Artists. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Marlboro, and Tanglewood, and appears regularly with leading orchestras nationwide.

Jon Kimura Parker is celebrated for his charisma, enthusiasm, and dynamic performances. He has appeared at major venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, and the Sydney Opera House. A Creative Partner of the Minnesota Orchestra, he is also Artistic Director 
of the Honens International Piano Competition. 
A founding member of the Montrose Trio, Parker is Professor of Piano at Rice University’s 
Shepherd School of Music and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Baritone Joseph Parrish, winner of the 2022 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, is a recipient of a 2024 Sullivan Grant and prizewinner in the Opera Index Voice Competition. He has performed with MasterVoices, Musica Sacra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the Richmond Symphony, and made his European debut at the Salzburg Festival. An active concert artist, he appears widely across the U.S. and Europe in recital and orchestral performances.

Adrianne Pieczonka is an internationally acclaimed soprano renowned for her commanding performances in opera and concert repertoire. Celebrated for her interpretations of Wagner, Strauss, Beethoven, and Mozart, she has appeared at leading opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. A frequent collaborator with major orchestras worldwide, she is also a dedicated educator and serves on the vocal faculty of the University of Toronto.

Praised by The New York Times for their “multifaceted artistry” and “brilliantly idiomatic” programming, the Poiesis Quartet is one of today’s most compelling young ensembles. Winners of the 2026 Cleveland Quartet Award and First Prize at the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition, they champion new music through collaborations with living composers. Their debut album, as we are, was widely acclaimed. They are currently Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Dr. Andrew Shryock is an associate professor of core studies at Boston Conservatory, specializing in music history and writing. He teaches courses on 18th-century music, academic writing, and professional communication. A public speaker and writer, he gives pre-concert talks and writes program notes for organizations including Rockport Music and Emmanuel Music. His research on music, literature, and aesthetics has appeared in Notes and the American Handel Society Newsletter. He holds a Ph.D. in musicology from Boston University.

Violinist Mark Steinberg enjoys a distinguished international career as a chamber musician and recitalist and is a longtime member of the Brentano Quartet. He has appeared at major festivals throughout Europe and the United States, including Marlboro and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and has collaborated frequently with pianist Mitsuko Uchida. An advocate for contemporary music, he serves on the violin faculty of the Mannes School of Music.

Nineteen-year-old Latvian violinist Anna Štube has captivated audiences with her expressive depth and distinctive musical voice. A featured artist on CBC Music’s 2022 “30 Under 30,” she made her orchestral debut at 13 with the Calgary Philharmonic. She is a prizewinner of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Manulife Competition and the Canadian Music Competition and studies at the Glenn Gould School. She performs on a 1667 Andrea Guarneri violin.

Hailed by the International Trumpet Guild for her “sweet, singing sound” and “shimmering vibrato”, Dr. Chloe Swindler is a Boston-based musician, educator, and DEI professional. Her recent work includes performances with Harry Styles at Coachella, Lizzo at the BET Awards, and Vanessa Williams. As a collaborative artist whose work is built on inclusive practices, she is devoted to diversifying curriculum, creating space for community conversations, and inspiring artists to tap into their entrepreneurial potential.

Winners of the 2025 Naumburg Chamber Music Competition and prizewinners at the Bordeaux and Wigmore Hall competitions, the Terra String Quartet is a dynamic New York–based ensemble. Formed by graduates of Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Harvard, and Curtis, they are known for sincere storytelling and artistic rigor. They are the 2024–26 Fellowship Ensemble-in-Residence at the Yale School of Music and have held residencies at Caramoor, continuing to build a strong presence in today’s chamber music landscape.

Jean-Yves Thibaudet is one of the world’s leading pianists, admired for his elegant musicality and insightful interpretations of both contemporary and core repertoire. He performs internationally with major orchestras in works ranging from Gershwin to Messiaen and champions Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto. A prolific recording artist with more than 70 albums, he has received multiple Grammy nominations and international awards. He is also Artist-in-Residence at the Colburn School and collaborates across film and the visual arts. 

Praised by The Strad as “utterly dazzling,” violinist Danbi Um captivates audiences with her virtuosity and interpretive sensitivity. A Silver Medalist at the Menuhin International Violin Competition and winner of the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, she appears internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. A recording artist for Avie Records, her debut album Much Ado was released in 2023. She performs on a 1683 Nicolo Amati violin.

Mezzo-soprano Erin Wagner, praised for her “versatility and musical curiosity” (Opera News), is an alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Butler Studio, where she appeared in productions including Salome and Le nozze di Figaro. She has performed with Wolf Trap Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, and leading orchestras. A prizewinner in the Naumburg and George London competitions, she is an acclaimed recitalist and a graduate of Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music.

Drummer, composer and educator Mark Walker has been one of the most respected names on the jazz scene for four decades. He has performed on five continents with some of the best musicians in the world and appears on over 75 recordings, including two GRAMMY® Award-winning albums, four Latin GRAMMY®-winning albums, seven GRAMMY®-nominated albums and one Latin GRAMMY®-nominated album.

Praised by The New York Times as an “excellent young pianist,” Chelsea Wang has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across North America, Europe, and Asia, with appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. A prizewinner in international competitions, she has appeared with orchestras including the Fort Worth and Des Moines Symphonies. A Curtis Institute graduate, she is currently pursuing a doctorate at Northwestern University.

Pianist Yuja Wang is celebrated for her charismatic artistry, emotional honesty, and electrifying stage presence. Renowned for her virtuosity and individuality, she performs with leading orchestras and conductors worldwide. Born in Beijing, she studied in Canada and at the Curtis Institute before her 2007 breakthrough with the Boston Symphony. An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, she has released numerous acclaimed recordings and continues to redefine the modern concert experience through bold, imaginative programming.

Thomas Wolf is an acclaimed author, narrator, and cultural commentator known for his insightful writing on music and the arts. He is the author of The Nightingale Sonata, which forms the basis of this program. An expressive and sought-after narrator, he collaborates with musicians and cultural institutions on performances that integrate spoken word and music. Wolf is also an educator and speaker, leading workshops and discussions on writing and the creative process.

Pianist Shai Wosner is internationally recognized for his exceptional artistry and intellectual insight. Praised by NPR for his “keen musical mind and deep musical soul,” he performs repertoire ranging from Beethoven and Schubert to contemporary composers. A committed advocate for new music, he premiered Vijay Iyer’s Piano Concerto: Handmade Universe. An active soloist and chamber musician, Wosner appears regularly at major venues worldwide and serves on the piano faculty of The Juilliard School. 

Canadian pianist Micah Yui enjoys an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing across three continents. Her recording of Bloch’s Concerto Symphonique with the London Symphony Orchestra was named Record of the Year by Stereophile. A prizewinner and recipient of multiple Canada Council Grants, she has collaborated with leading artists and teaches at the Colburn School.