Chinese-born pianist Chen Liang is a recording artist for KNS Classical in Spain and a performing artist for Chengdu City Concert Hall in China. He has played with Chong Qing Philharmonic in China, the Greece Symphony Orchestra in New York and Lynn Philharmonic in Florida.

Chen is the winner of the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition, the Manhattan International Music Competition, the Lira International Piano Competition, the Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship Competition, and the Lynn Concerto Competition. He also won top prizes in many other competitions including ArsClassica International Piano Competition in Italy, Piano Texas Music Festival Concerto Competition and the Chautauqua Music Festival Piano Competition.

Currently, Chen serves as Vice President of South King County Music Teachers' Association in Seattle and Artistic Board for the Seattle International Piano Competition. He is also on the piano faculty at the Chopin Academy of Music. Chen performs as a Collaborative Pianist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Choral Company. Before moving to Seattle, Chen was a former Piano Faculty at Eastman Community Music School in New York and an Adjunct Lecturer at the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo). Back in China, Chen co-founded the Beyond Clouds summer piano festival in Chengdu and has been serving as the Artistic Director since 2018. Chen holds his degrees from Lynn University Conservatory of Music (BM) with Dr. Roberta Rust and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA), with Ms. Natalya Antonova.

Dr. Yi-Yang Chen shot onto the international stage with back-to-back victories in the 2018 Sussex International Piano Competition, 2017 Washington International Competition, and the Warning International Piano Competition. The Worthing Herald music critic Richard Amey praised his recent performance "flair for the unusual and his technical and artistic capacity to deliver," as well as his "musical and emotional intelligence, dexterity and virtuosity," listening to Chen as soloist in Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No.5 "Egyptian" with the Worthing Symphony Orchestra. His vibrant playing at the Pacific International Piano Competition (Canada) was recognized by the judges, who selected him for the first prize ("…Yi-Yang showed an impressive breadth of emotional investment and natural affinity for the music he played. The informed individuality and command of his performance was immediately compelling to the judges. We feel this young man has a fine future as an artist. He seems to 'own' the piano as he plays, and this makes his performance extremely powerful" - Dr. Robin McCabe).

Yi-Yang Chen is an assistant professor of piano at the University of Kansas and the Artist Director of the Orbifold Music Festival in California. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chen has been playing the piano since the age of 8. Yi-Yang completed his Doctor of Musical Arts And Bachelor's of Music at the Eastman School of Music with Douglas Humpherys, and his Master's degree at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald and Jerome Lowenthal. He also has solo/chamber masterclasses with Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Daniel Pollack, Joseph Kalichstein.

Yi-Yang Chen is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, College Music Society, and Mu Phi Epsilon. He enjoys swimming, biking, traveling, and composing. Yi-Yang is currently working on a recording project with Champs Hill label (UK); the release is scheduled for 2025. Before joining KU (University of Kansas), Yi-Yang served on the faculty at East Tennessee State University as a tenure-track professor.

Dr. Chen is a Steinway Artist.

Christina Wu, a Chinese-born violinist, is a versatile, charismatic, and passionate soloist, chamber musician. Prize winner of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell International Young Artist Competition, she has given numerous performances across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Currently serving as concertmaster in Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Christina also appears frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, played as principal second violin with the Seattle Chamber Orchestra, and Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, her recent chamber music engagement includes playing in the Classical KING FM 98.1 Northwest Focus LIVE, and performing in the concert series at Cascadia Art Museum.

Her past affiliations include playing first violin with Washington Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she was a selected member of the Youth Orchestra of the World, performing at the Youth Olympics Games Opening Ceremony and Gala Concert. Her notable collaborations feature legends such as Leon Fleisher, Kiri Te Kanawa, the Vienna Boys' Choir, Jose Carreras, Joseph Silverstein, Lang Lang, Ray Chen, Midori Gotto.

Dr. Huixian Wu has performed widely as a solo and chamber musician at the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Italy, the Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain, Carnegie Hall in USA, Suiyuan Music Hall in China, and at numerous academic institutions as a guest artist. Her artistic mission centers on expression, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Through her performances, Dr. Wu seeks to rejuvenate existing musical expressions and foster connections beyond traditional music boundaries.

As a pianist, Dr. Wu has been recognized with numerous awards, including first prizes in the Charleston International Music Competition and the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition. Her research and performance work continue to shape the evolving landscape of music, drawing on both Western Classical traditions and contemporary innovations.

She has presented at College Music Society (CMS) conferences and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) conferences at state and national levels.

Dr. Wu is an accomplished pianist and educator, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Music/Keyboard at Talladega College. She earned her Doctor of Music in Piano Performance from Florida State University and holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance, along with a Post-Bachelor Certification in Historical Keyboard Performance, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Jianan Xu, a Chinese pianist, is earning praise from famous musician Solomon Mikowsky for his incredible technique and musical sensitivity.

Jianan completed his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance at the University of Kansas, where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Mannes School of Music, where he studied under professors Vladimir Feltsman, Alvin Chow, Alan Chow, and Angela Cheng. He also received specialized training in fortepiano with American keyboardist David Breitman. His foundational piano education began at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China, where he studied with Professors Shao Dan, Wu Ying, and Zhou Ting.

His vibrant performance at the Third Beethoven Festival Young Pianists Piano Competition was recognized by the judges, who selected him for the first prize and invited him to perform at a special concert during the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany. Jianan also has amassed numerous awards, including first prize at the Charleston International Piano Competition, first prize at the Four Cities Piano Competition, second prize at the University of Kansas Piano Concerto Competition, semifinalist at the London International Concerto Competition, the Suzana Szorenyi International Duo Piano Competition in Bucharest, Romania, and the Wideman International Piano Competition. At the age of 12, he gave his first solo recital at the Shanghai Concert Hall. His performance career spans solo recitals and chamber music concerts across Spain, Germany, France, China, the United States, and Romania. As an advocate for piano duos and chamber music, he has consistently dedicated himself to various charitable performances. He has participated in numerous chamber music and piano duos concerts across China. In 2019, he organized and directed China's first multi-piano concert in Hangzhou. The concert caused a sensation and garnered significant attention across China, introducing audiences to diverse forms of piano performance.

Beyond his performance, Jianan is an accomplished piano teacher. He received a piano pedagogy cognate from the University of Kansas. He has taught at the Shanghai Experimental School and the University of Kansas School of Music. His students have gained admission to conservatories worldwide, including Michigan State University, Mannes School of Music, Lynn University, Xi'an Conservatory, and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. As an active jury member, Jianan has served in renowned competitions such as the Shanghai International Piano Competition and the Liszt International Youth Piano Competition. He is an honorary member of both the Shanghai Musicians Association and the Piano Committee of the Shanghai Musicians Association. Jianan is currently working on a recording project with the Blue Griffin label; the release is scheduled for the end of 2025.

Dr. Barr earned degrees in church music and choral conducting from Westminster Choir College (B.M.), Southern Methodist University (M.M., M.S.M.), and the University of Michigan (D.M.A.). He has served as organist and choir director at churches in Alabama, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas.

Under Dr. Barr's direction, the Tuskegee Choir has toured the Midwestern and East Coast regions of the United States, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Choir has also presented numerous concerts throughout the Southeast.

As an organ recitalist, Dr. Barr has twice been a featured organist at the Colour of Music Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. He is also a music workshop clinician.

Dr. Barr is co-director of the Italian Opera Study Abroad Program, which offers students of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) a four-week study of Italian opera with a renowned coach in Italy.

Dr. Barr is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association of Negro Musicians, and the American Guild of Organists. He is also actively involved in the Tuskegee community through the Optimist Club, an organization that supports children and youth, and through the Tuskegee Repertory Theatre.

Chinese-born pianist Chen Liang is a recording artist for KNS Classical in Spain and a performing artist for Chengdu City Concert Hall in China. He has played with Chong Qing Philharmonic in China, the Greece Symphony Orchestra in New York and Lynn Philharmonic in Florida.

Chen is the winner of the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition, the Manhattan International Music Competition, the Lira International Piano Competition, the Big Arts Classical Music Scholarship Competition, and the Lynn Concerto Competition. He also won top prizes in many other competitions including ArsClassica International Piano Competition in Italy, Piano Texas Music Festival Concerto Competition and the Chautauqua Music Festival Piano Competition.

Currently, Chen serves as Vice President of South King County Music Teachers' Association in Seattle and Artistic Board for the Seattle International Piano Competition. He is also on the piano faculty at the Chopin Academy of Music. Chen performs as a Collaborative Pianist for the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Choral Company. Before moving to Seattle, Chen was a former Piano Faculty at Eastman Community Music School in New York and an Adjunct Lecturer at the State University of New York at Geneseo (SUNY Geneseo). Back in China, Chen co-founded the Beyond Clouds summer piano festival in Chengdu and has been serving as the Artistic Director since 2018. Chen holds his degrees from Lynn University Conservatory of Music (BM) with Dr. Roberta Rust and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA), with Ms. Natalya Antonova.

Christina Wu, a Chinese-born violinist, is a versatile, charismatic, and passionate soloist, chamber musician. Prize winner of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell International Young Artist Competition, she has given numerous performances across Asia, North America, and Europe.

Currently serving as concertmaster in Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Christina also appears frequently with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, played as principal second violin with the Seattle Chamber Orchestra, and Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. As an active chamber musician, her recent chamber music engagement includes playing in the Classical KING FM 98.1 Northwest Focus LIVE, and performing in the concert series at Cascadia Art Museum.

Her past affiliations include playing first violin with Washington Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she was a selected member of the Youth Orchestra of the World, performing at the Youth Olympics Games Opening Ceremony and Gala Concert. Her notable collaborations feature legends such as Leon Fleisher, Kiri Te Kanawa, the Vienna Boys' Choir, Jose Carreras, Joseph Silverstein, Lang Lang, Ray Chen, Midori Gotto.

Mr. Yuan Fang, professor of violin, founder and head of the Orchestral Instruments Department of China Conservatory of Music, Beijing, and Deputy Director of China Youth Philharmonic.

Visiting Professor of University of Washington and Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Western Michigan University, Faculty member of Midwest University Graduate School of Music.

As a jury member of the China National Violin and Piano Competition, the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Violin Competition, the Shlomo-Mint International Violin Competition, the Singapore International Music Competition, Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges International Violin Competition, and the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside (PAFE).

Praised for her beautiful singing by The Stratford Herald for her performance in England, international mezzo-soprano Katie H. Stevenson has enjoyed an operatic career that spanned Germany, Ireland, Canada, and across the U.S.

Prior to her time abroad, she lived in NYC where her career blossomed and she performed numerous opera roles along the East Coast such as Carmen and Mercedes in Carmen, Romeo in I Capuleti e I Montecchi, Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte, and Emilia in Otello, along with concert appearances at DiCapo Opera, Opera Collective, and Opera on Tap NYC.

During her years in Anchorage Alaska, Katie performed with the Anchorage Opera as well as the Anchorage Concert Choir Association. As a Young Artist she performed the role of The Secretary in The Consul and Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte in Young Artist programs in Canada and North Carolina.

Since moving to Seattle in 2015 she has performed roles and concerts with Pacific Northwest Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Northwest Opera In Schools Etc., Seattle Modern Opera Company, Bellevue Festival of the Nativity, and the Ladies' Musical Club.

In addition to performing, Katie teaches voice and piano to young students and is active on the board for the Puget Sound Chapter of NATS.

Pianist Yalan Piao, originally from China, is an active soloist and collaborative pianist who has performed extensively in concert halls and churches across the United States, Italy, and China.

As a soloist, Dr. Piao has earned top prizes in the Marquette Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition and the American Protégé Competition. She has given solo recitals at renowned venues including the Shanghai Concert Hall, He Luting Concert Hall, Kresge Hall at Madonna University, and numerous churches throughout the Metro Detroit area. Her recent performances include a recital tour in Alaska, where she was featured as soloist. She has also participated in esteemed music festivals such as the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, BIMFA on the Road International Music Festival, and Walnut Hill Music Festival.

As a collaborative pianist, Dr. Piao has worked with a wide range of instrumentalists and orchestras in both China and the United States. Her performances have taken place at prominent venues such as Shanghai Concert Hall and Chongqing Symphony Orchestra Hall, as well as in Michigan at Jackson College's Potter Center, Chelsea High School with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Dawson Auditorium with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, and the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts with the Michigan Philharmonic. She has also performed in Italy with vocalists and cellists as part of the Centro Studi Della Giacoma program. In addition, she has served as a staff pianist at the Interlochen Arts Camp, the Stulberg International String Competition, Collabfest, and the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference.

Beyond the stage, Dr. Piao is a passionate educator. She has served as a mentor at Celebrating the Spectrum: A Festival for Music and Life, a program for young pianists with autism at Michigan State University. She is a sought-after adjudicator for piano competitions and has successfully guided her students through programs such as RCM, MMTA's Student Achievement Testing, and the American Guild of Music. She currently serves on the Member at Large for the Livonia Area Piano Teachers Forum (LAPTF), and will serve as the Michigan Regional Director for the 2026 Orbifold Competition.

Jinhyun Kim is a celebrated cellist from South Korea, renowned for her exceptional artistry and dynamic performances. Currently, she holds the prestigious role of Principal Cellist with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and serves as the Assistant Principal Cellist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her regular positions, Jinhyun is a substitute musician with both the Detroit Opera and Detroit Symphony Orchestra, showcasing her versatility and adaptability across diverse musical settings. She also collaborates with the Jackson Symphony and Flint Symphony and is a core member of ConTempus Initiative, a prominent new music ensemble based in mid-Michigan.

Beyond her performance career, Jinhyun is deeply committed to music education. She serves as an Adjunct Professor of Cello at Albion College, Oakland University and Spring Arbor University, and is also a dedicated cello faculty member at the Flint School of Performing Arts. Jinhyun holds certification from the Suzuki Association of the Americas as a registered Suzuki teacher and is a member of the American String Teachers Association. Her extensive experience includes serving on audition and competition panels for both student and professional orchestras, where she offers valuable insights to nurture emerging talent.

Jinhyun's musical journey began at the age of eight, laying the foundation for a remarkable career. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Ewha Womans University in South Korea, where she took her initial steps in the world of music. Her quest for excellence led her to Michigan State University, where she achieved both her Masters of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. During her time at MSU, she contributed as a graduate teaching assistant, all while earning recognition through esteemed awards and grants.

Jinhyun's recent performance highlights include a celebrated solo appearance with the Livingston Symphony Orchestra, where she performed as a concerto soloist to great acclaim. Her talent has graced renowned stages and garnered acclaim. She marked her musical journey with a debut concert at Kumho Art Hall in Seoul, Korea in 2011. Notably, she had the privilege of participating in a master class with celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the Fairchild Theater at MSU in November 2013. Her musical prowess was further showcased when she triumphed in the Michigan State University honors competition, leading to a stellar performance as a concerto soloist with the MSU Symphony Orchestra at the Wharton Center in March 2014. This performance was even broadcast multiple times on 90.5 WKAR.

Jinhyun's musical journey has also taken her to Carnegie Hall in New York, where she performed twice, for the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition 2016 Winners Recital and for the first prize winner concert of the 2019 Golden Classical Music Awards.

A remarkable chapter in Jinhyun's career unfolded at the National Orchestral Institute Festival 2016 at the University of Maryland. There, she had the privilege of collaborating with distinguished conductors such as James Ross, Teddy Abrams, and Osmo Vänskä. Her contributions to the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic's recordings, including Thompson: Symphony No. 2, were celebrated by Naxos Records.

Jinhyun's artistry extends beyond traditional orchestral settings. She has been a pivotal figure as the Principal Cellist with Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, contributing to a performance of Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light at the Detroit Institute of Arts in March 2018. Furthermore, she showcased her soloist abilities as a cellist in the Michigan Opera Theatre's fall 2020 production, Twilight: Gods. Her performance garnered rave reviews in prominent publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Opera News, and The New Yorker.

Jinhyun Kim's dedication to her craft and her significant contributions to the world of classical music are a testament to her unwavering commitment and exceptional talent. Her continued journey promises to be a source of inspiration to musicians and music enthusiasts alike.

Barbara Wiltsie, mezzo-soprano, has soloed with numerous symphonies, chorale groups and opera companies throughout the Midwest; including the DSO, Southwestern Michigan Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Bach Festival of Kalamazoo, Mendelssohn Chorale of Pittsburgh, The Singers Club of Cleveland, Opera!Lenawee, Michigan Opera Theater, Des Moines Metro Opera, Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera, and Toledo Opera. A former long-time Michigan Opera Theatre Touring Artist, she has garnered many awards, such as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions as a two-time Regional finalist, winner of the Friedrich Schorr Memorial Performance Prize and a winner in the NOA Artist Awards.

Her operatic roles with noted opera companies include Carmen, Cherubino, Hansel, Dido, Mercedes, Dorabella, Dinah, Prince Orlofsky, Kate Pinkerton, Giovanna, and La Ciesca. Orchestral works as soloist include Mozart's C Minor Mass, Bach's St. Matthew Passion, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Requiem Mass, and Stravinski's Oedipus Rex.

Wiltsie's directed shows over the past 20 years with Lyric Theatre include The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, Godspell, Urinetown, Brigadoon, Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Carol, Little Shop of Horrors, Gianni Schicchi, The Magic Flute, Brundibar, and The Pirates of Penzance. She has also produced shows which she was the playwright utilizing operatic or musical theatre selections: Opéra en Seville, Vienna to the Theresienstadt Ghettos, and Here's A How-de-do (Gilbert & Sullivan music).

A recipient of the Madonna University 2004 Teaching of Excellence Adjunct Faculty award, her full-time duties since 2006 include Director and 2003 founder of Lyric Theatre, vocal related courses and additional courses related to theatre and music business management. In 2017 she became Chair of the Music Department, now titled Program Director-Music as part of the Department of Art, Music, and Dance.

In addition to her university duties, Wiltsie was the Founder and Managing Director/Vocal instructor for the Madonna University Summer Music Theater Intensive for high school students, and is a sought-after adjudicator for MSVMA, NATS and other musical organizations. She is Co-Director of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Auditions - Michigan Committee, and Board Member for the Livonia Symphony Orchestra.

A “thoughtful musician well beyond his years” (The Republic), pianist Sean Chen shares his “alluring, colorfully shaded renditions” (The New York Times) and “genuinely sensitive” (Los Angeles Times) playing with audiences around the world in solo and chamber recitals, concerto performances, and masterclasses, after having won the 2013 American Piano Awards, placing third at the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, and being named a 2015 Annenberg Fellow. Mr. Chen is the Jack Strandberg/Missouri Endowed Chair Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory.

Mr. Chen has performed with many prominent orchestras, including the Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Diego, Knoxville, Hartford, Louisiana Philharmonic, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Pasadena, Phoenix, Santa Fe, and New West Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Chamber Orchestras of Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and South Bay. He has collaborated with such esteemed conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Michael Stern, Gerard Schwarz, Nicholas McGegan, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Marcelo Lehninger, and James Judd. Solo recitals have brought him to major venues worldwide, including Jordan Hall in Boston, Subculture in New York City, the American Art Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and the Salle Cortot in Paris.

Mr. Chen has served on the juries of notable piano competitions, including PianoArts, American Piano Awards, Cliburn Junior, Thailand International Piano Competition, West Virginia International Piano Competition, Cleveland International Piano Competition for Young Artists, and Steinway competitions around the country. Given his natural inclination for teaching and approachable personality, Mr. Chen is particularly in demand for residencies that combine performances with master classes, school concerts, and artist conversations, which have brought him to such institutions as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, University of British Columbia, University of Houston Moores School, Spotlight Awards at the Los Angeles Music Center, Young Artist World Piano Festival, and several Music Teachers’ Associations throughout the country.

Mr. Chen has been featured in both live and recorded performances on WQXR (New York), WFMT (Chicago), WGBH (Boston), WFYI (Indianapolis), KCUR (Kansas City), KPR (Kansas), NPR’s From the Top, and American Public Media’s Performance Today. Additional media coverage includes a profile featured on the cover of Clavier Companion in May 2015, recognition as “One to Watch” by International Piano Magazine in March 2014, and inclusion in WFMT’s “30 Under 30.” He is the host of the show Sounds Like with Sean Chen on Classical KC.

His CD releases include the 2021 all-Ravel digital album on the Steinway & Sons label, featuring Sonatine and Le Tombeau de Couperin; La Valse, another solo recording on the Steinway label, featuring Mr. Chen's own arrangement of La Valse and hailed for “penetrating artistic intellect” (Audiophile Audition); a live recording from the Cliburn Competition released by harmonia mundi, praised for his “ravishing tone and cogently contoured lines” (Gramophone); an album of Michael Williams’s solo piano works on the Parma label; and an album of flute, oboe, and piano repertoire titled KaleidosCoping with colleagues Michael Gordon and Celeste Johnson. Mr. Chen has also contributed to the catalog of Steinway’s Spirio system.

A multifaceted musician, Mr. Chen also transcribes, composes, and improvises. He has completed a transcription of Ysaÿe's Violin Sonata No. 3 for two pianos, commissioned by 88Squared duo. His composition Daydream No. 1 - Steps (2021) was commissioned as a gift for the retirement of American Piano Awards’ former President/CEO. His transcriptions of such orchestral works as Ravel’s La Valse, Dukas’s L'apprenti sorcier, Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, and the Adagio from Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 have been received with glowing acclaim and enthusiasm, and his encore improvisations are lauded as “genuinely brilliant” (Dallas Morning News). An advocate of new music, Mr. Chen has also collaborated with several composers and performed works by Lisa Bielawa, Jennifer Higdon, Michael Williams, Nicco Athens, Michael Gilbertson, and Reinaldo Moya.

Born in Florida, Mr. Chen grew up in Oak Park, California. His achievements before college include the NFAA ARTSweek, Los Angeles Music Center’s Spotlight, and 2006 Presidential Scholars awards. Choosing to study music, Mr. Chen earned his Bachelor and Master of Music from Juilliard and later received his Artist Diploma in 2014 at the Yale School of Music as a George W. Miles Fellow. His teachers include Hung-Kuan Chen, Edward Francis, Jerome Lowenthal, and Matti Raekallio.

Mr. Chen resides in the suburbs of Kansas City with his wife, Betty, a violinist in the Kansas City Symphony, and their daughters Ella and Maeve. When not at the piano, he enjoys tinkering with computers and exploring math, science, and programming. Mr. Chen is a Steinway Artist and is managed by Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd.

Dr. Sun-Young Gemma Shin is a sought-after performer on baroque and modern violin as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader, having performed throughout the United States and Asia at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center in Chicago, and the Getty Center.

An active collaborator, Dr. Shin has performed with the Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet and the Martha Graham Dance Company and has appeared with leading ensembles such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Joffrey Ballet, the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Naples Philharmonic. She is also co-founder of DeSota Baroque, a historically informed ensemble.

Dr. Shin currently serves on the faculty at the University of Kansas. Previously, she held teaching positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesleyan University, and the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. Her students have gone on to study at institutions including Northwestern University and the Peabody Institute of Music, and many hold professional orchestral positions across the United States and Korea. Her recording of Czerny Piano Trios on Naxos was broadcast on the BBC and is available on major streaming platforms.

She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music, Master's degree and Performance Certificate from Northwestern University, and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her principal teachers include Gregory Fulkerson, Almita and Roland Vamos, and Simin Ganatra of the Pacifica Quartet.

Dr. Shin frequently performs with her husband, trumpeter Dr. Aaron Romm, and her mother-in-law, Steinway Artist Avis Romm.

Hailed as “exquisite” by Gramophone, Greek-American soprano Stella Markou has performed internationally as a soloist in oratorio, opera, and on the concert stage. She has been a featured guest artist with the Edinburgh Contemporary Musical Ensemble, The Consulate General of Greece, Union Avenue Opera, Masterworks Chorale, Nassau Music Society, Dance New Amsterdam Company, American Chamber Chorale, University of Nevada Las Vegas Concert Series, Ambassadors of Harmony, and the Nashville Ballet.

A passionate performer of contemporary music, her festival work includes the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Heidelberg New Music Festival, International Computer Music Conference, Paros Parks Festival, Naxos Music Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, Xortos Music Festival, and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music (SEAMUS).

Her stage performances include roles in Pique Dame, Die Zauberflöte, The Turn of the Screw, The Mikado, The Telephone, and The Songstress, among others. She has also been a featured soloist in several masterworks, including Orff's Carmina Burana, Fauré's Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Poulenc’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, Rutter’s Gloria, and Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in allen landen.

Dr. Markou’s previous appointments were as Director of Vocal Studies and Opera Theatre at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and teaching artist for Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ Artist in Training Program. During her tenure at the University of Missouri-St. Louis she built an opera program from the ground up, producing, directing, and designing fifteen years of opera scenes and fully staged productions. Her productions of The Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret and The Pirates of Penzance won first prize in the National Opera Association’s opera production competition, and her production of The Medium won first prize in The American Prize opera production competition.

Szu-Chia Lin is a Taiwanese pianist and collaborative pianist with an established international performance profile spanning Asia, Europe, and the United States. She has appeared in both solo and chamber settings at notable venues, including the National Central Military Club in Bulgaria, Castello dei Brancaleoni in Italy, and the I.J. Paderewski Concert Hall in Tarnów, Poland, and in 2024 was featured as piano soloist in a concerto performance with the Tarnów Chamber Orchestra in Poland.

Recognized for her versatility and distinctive musical voice, Lin has collaborated with instrumentalists in recital and concert performances across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her artistic development includes masterclasses with internationally acclaimed musicians, including Gary Graffman, Alexander Kobrin, Alexander Korsantia, Mario Häring, Tatiana Brizhanova, and Jennifer Hayghe.

Lin holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music degree from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Taipei.

A graduate of Yale University School of Music, Anton Smirnov began his piano studies at the age of seven in Novosibirsk, Russia. He has made more than 1,500 public performances worldwide at venues that include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Avery Fischer Hall, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Upon his graduation from Novosibirsk Conservatory, he moved to the US and graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with an Artist Diploma in 2010.

Anton is a dedicated and gifted teacher: his students have won numerous prizes at national and international competitions. Besides teaching piano, Mr. Smirnov enjoys teaching chamber groups and conducting string orchestras.

As a soloist, Anton is a prizewinner of several international piano competitions including the Moscow International Competition for Young Musicians, International Russian Music Piano Competition in San Jose, CA, Oberlin Concerto Competition, Corpus Christi International Concerto Competition, Louisiana International Piano Competition, the NTD International Piano Competition in New York, and others. He has performed as a soloist with various orchestras including the Tomsk Philharmonic Orchestra, Omsk Philarmonic Orchestra, San Jose Symphony and the Oberlin Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Anton collaborated with the members of Quatuor Ebene; double bass players Edgar Meyer and Eugene Levinson, violinists Simone Perter, Mark Kaplan and Grigory Sokolovsky, violist Barbara Westphal, Antonio Lysy, and many others.

Anton has participated in many international music festivals including International Program New Names, Casalmaggiore International Music Festival, Banff International Master Classes, and Sarasota International Music Festival. Anton is a member of the collaborative faculty at The Heifetz International Music Institute. He participates in the Heifetz on Tour music series, performing chamber music with finest young string players.

As of now, Anton is Head of Piano Department at Russian School of Music in Irvine, CA.

Kookhee Hong, a native of South Korea, began piano lessons at age four and won first prizes in numerous Korean national competitions. She continued her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia under tutelage of Elenor Sokoloff. She appeared in master classes by Emanuel Ax, Gary Graffman, Claude Frank, Sergio Perticaroli, Lev Natocheny and Peter Eicher.

As a full scholarship student of Solomon Mikowsky, Dr. Hong completed Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees, Professional Studies Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the Manhattan School of Music. She won first prize at the Carlet International Competition in Valencia, second prize at the Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona, the audience prize and Alicia de Larrocha Spanish prize at the Andorra International Competition, and was also a prize winner at the Panama International Competition.

Frequently in demand as a recitalist abroad, she also appeared as a soloist with the Tenerife Symphony, the Manhattan Symphony, the Carlet Sinfonia, the Gran Canaria Philharmonic and the Panama National Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Hong currently teaches as an adjunct professor at Hope International University and Irvine Valley College. Her students have been accepted to prestigious music schools such as California State University, Fullerton, University of California Los Angeles and Eastman School of Music.

Ariana Solotoff, originally from New York, lives and works in Los Angeles as a performer and teacher of violin and viola.

Ms. Solotoff earned her Bachelor's degree from The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Michael Tree and Masao Kawasaki, and her Masters from the Haute École de Musique de Genève in Switzerland where she studied with Miguel Da Silva. While in Geneva, she was a recipient of the prestigious Hans Wilsdorf Foundation Scholarship Award.

Ariana has performed with many chamber and symphonic orchestras across the US and Europe including Los Angeles Philharmonic, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Venia, Hulencourt Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Regală and Orchestra Națională Radio România.

She has made appearances on the Grammy Awards, Video Game Music Awards and Disney Channel, and recorded in several film soundtracks, pop and rock albums for artists such as Beyoncé, Yendry, Mergui and others. She has also performed live with Kelly Clarkson, Sheléa, Twenty One Pilots and joined the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for their Hidden In Pieces tour in 2025.

As an educator, Ariana runs the Pascale Music Program where she teaches violin, viola and piano. She is also on faculty at Montecito International Music Festival, Idyllwild Arts Intensive Summer Music Program and Cremona International Music Academy in Italy.

Ariana is the creator and director of Popsical Music, an initiative driven by her passion for making classical music accessible to all. She is dedicated to encouraging newcomers to explore and engage with the genre in a welcoming and inspiring way. Ariana's mission is to introduce as many young children and families as possible to the beauty and richness of classical music.

Boryana Popova is a Los Angeles-based concert violinist, session player, and violin teacher. Born in Bulgaria, Boryana arrived in Los Angeles in 2007 where she completed both her Masters and Doctorate degrees in violin performance at UCLA. She has performed as a soloist, chamber, and orchestra musician throughout Europe and The United States.