Staley Clark, mezzo-soprano, is in her second year as a graduate student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where she is completing her Master of Music degree in vocal performance. During her time at UT, Clark has performed many stage roles including Baba in Gian-Carlo Menotti's The Medium, La Zia Principessa in Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica, Hänsel in Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, and Praskovia in Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow. Ms. Clark will be performing her first French title of Madame de la Halitère in Jules Massenet's Cendrillon this Spring. This past summer, Ms. Clark was one of the youngest participants of the 2023 Aria Bootcamp, which took place at The Sarasota Opera. Ms. Clark received her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Murray State University in 2022. She has participated in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Collegiate Competition in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Other mainstage roles performed at Murray State include Kate in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, La Messaggera in Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, Gertrude in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel (canceled due to COVID-19), and Mother in Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood. Ms. Clark has also performed several opera scenes from Carmen, H.M.S Penafore, and Le Nozze di Figaro, along with The Paducah Symphony Orchestra and Murray State University Concert Choir.

Staley Clark is a student of Professor Renée Tatum.

Mason Crowder is a senior violin performance major at the University of Tennessee College of Music. Since beginning his studies at the age of 15, he has won multiple local and state competitions — most notably the Scruffy City Orchestra and University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra concerto competitions. Mason spends his summers attending a variety of music festivals, having attended the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Varna International Opera Festival, and others.

In addition to performing in several chamber music ensembles, Mason is an active member of the UTSO, and throughout the duration of his studies, he has had the privilege to perform with both the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Brevard Philharmonic. He has also participated in masterclasses taught by some of the nation’s leading violinists, including Frank Huang, Alexander Kerr, Juliana Athayde, Moni Simeonov, and William Shaub.

Outside of his musical endeavors, Mason enjoys reading, video games, and spending time with his family, friends, and pets.

Mason Crowder is a student of Professor Evie Chen.

Cameron Mckenzie is a Bachelor of Music student in Tuba Performance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has performed with multiple ensembles like the Chattanooga Symphony and the Appalachia Wind Symphony. Cameron has also been awarded third place in the Tuba Artist division at the Midwest Tuba/ Euphonium Conference, A finalists in the Student Artist Division at the Southeast Tuba/Euphonium Conference, and most recently winner of the 2024 University of Tennessee Concerto Competition. He has also been able to perform in masterclasses with Daniel Perantoni, Professor of Tuba at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, David Saltzman,Tuba and Euphonium Instructor at Bowling Green State University, and Denise Tryon, the Associate Professor of Horn at University of Cincinnati (CCM).

Cameron Mckenzie is a student of Professor Alex Lapins.

Eric Xie is a freshman performance major in piano at the University of Tennessee. Recently, he has won the Memphis Youth Symphony Concerto competition, the Germantown Symphony Orchestra concerto competition, and placed second in the Knoxville International Piano Festival. He has previously studied with Lisa Ramirez since the age of 5.

Additionally, Eric is also a trumpet performance major at UT, studying under Arthur Zanin. He is also a part of the UT symphony orchestra, the UT wind ensemble, the UT trumpet ensemble, and the Volunteer Brass Quintet.

Eric Xie is a student of Professor Katherine Benson.