Angela Massey’s debut album has been described as “beautiful and enchanting, the performances on this CD are magical!” by Jeanne Baxtresser, former principal flute of the New York Philharmonic. As a soloist, she has been a featured guest artist with the Tryon Concert Association, Kosciuszko Foundation in New York City, National Flute Association Convention, and invited to perform a Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto with the Southwest Florida Symphony. Outside of the United States, she has performed in England, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Switzerland. In regard to chamber music, she serves as Artistic Director and founder of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble arranging and performing over 60 recitals each year. She holds flute positions with the Southwest Florida Symphony, Venice Symphony, and performs with the Sarasota Orchestra. She was awarded prizes in the Alexander and Buono Competition, Frank Bowen Competition, Myrna Brown Competition, and certificate in the Gheorghe Dima International Competition in Romania. Her instructors have been Alberto Almarza, Jeanne Baxtresser, Martha Kitterman, Jack Wellbaum, and Brooks de Wetter-Smith. She received degrees in flute performance from Carnegie Mellon University, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more information, visit www.angelamasseyflute.com.
Jane Yoo is an internationally recognized harpist and prize-winner, known for her performances around the globe. She has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including the USA International Harp Competition, 1st Prize at the Korean International Harp Competition, and the Special Prize at the Szeged International Harp Competition in Hungary. In 2022, she earned an Honorable Mention at the Lyon & Healy Awards. Most recently, she was named a Young Artist in Residence on Minnesota Public Radio’s Performance Today in 2024. Jane has been featured as a soloist at the World Harp Congress’s “Focus on Youth” event in Hong Kong in 2017 and was selected twice as a Kumho Young Concert Artist (2014, 2017). She has performed with the Yale Philharmonia under Peter Oundjian and serves as associate principal harpist with both the New World Symphony and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Jane holds a Bachelor of Music from Seoul National University and a Master of Music from the Yale School of Music. She is the only musician to be admitted to the Artist Diploma program at Peabody Institute, where she is currently pursuing a DMA program under Dr. June Han.
Venezuelan-American violinist and violist Paul Aguilar joined the Houston Symphony viola section in 2024. He has won top prizes at the Banff, Bordeaux, Fischoff, Melbourne, Wigmore Hall, and Manhattan International chamber music competitions as well as the Grand Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. He has appeared in concert across North America and Europe, some highlights including Carnegie Hall, the Ravinia Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, La Jolla Summerfest, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, the Heidelberg String Quartet Festival, and the Emilia-Romagna Festival. His chamber music collaborators include artists such as James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Lawrence Power, Paul Watkins, and Jon Kimura Parker. He has studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Rice University, the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía School in Madrid, and the University of Music and Performing Arts, in Vienna. His primary influences have been Jaime Laredo, Si-Yan Li, Gunter Pichler, and Gerhard Schulz. In addition to traveling and performing, Paul enjoys sharing music with his family, at his church, and throughout his community. Paul plays on a very fine violin and viola that were commissioned from master luthier Kevin Lee.
Originally from Holiday Hills, IL, Rachel Aguilar (Stenzel) grew up in a very musical family, beginning her formal training on the piano at age five and the violin at age nine. Currently residing in Houston, TX, she completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in violin performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), in addition to participating in residencies at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia (Madrid), and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Although she loves both solo and orchestral playing, Rachel’s true passion is for chamber music. As a founding member of the Callisto Quartet, Rachel has won top prizes in nearly every major chamber music competition, including the Banff International String Quartet Competition, Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition, and Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
Taiwanese violinist Yu-Ming (Andrew) Ma began his musical studies at the age of five. As a soloist, he has been selected to perform concerti with orchestras, including the SiungSong Orchestra in Taiwan and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra. His chamber music experience includes performing at the Kneisel Hall chamber music festival, Taos School of Music, and Music@Menlo as an international performer. In February 2020, Andrew performed at Tongyeong International Music Festival in Tongyeong Korea as a guest artist, invited by noted violinist Jinjoo Cho. During the course of his musical training, Yu-Ming’s teachers have included Todor Pelev, Ivan Zenaty, Jinjoo Cho, Jan Sloman, and Jaime Laredo. Currently, Andrew holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Rice University studying under the tutelage of Paul Kantor.
Laura Usiskin enjoys a versatile career as a cellist and educator. Her playing has taken her to concert halls throughout the United States and Europe, including the Kennedy Center, Palazzo Chigi Saracini, Symphony Hall (Boston), Alice Tully Hall, Weill Hall, Zankel Hall, Merkin Hall, Miller Theatre, Barge Music, Steinway Hall, and Klavierhaus. While completing an Artist-In-Residency with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Usiskin founded and served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Montgomery Music Project, an El Sistema strings program in Montgomery, Alabama. The program, now more than 10 years old, has given intensive string instruction to hundreds of low-income children across three counties. Usiskin is a member of the Bayberry String Quartet as well as the Atlanta-based new music group ensemble vim. She has served on the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, through which she founded the chamber series Chamber Music @ AEIVA, as well as Birmingham-Southern College. Usiskin graduated from Columbia University cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior, The Juilliard School with a Master of Music, and Yale University with a Doctor of Musical Arts. For more information, visit www.laurausiskin.com.
Dr. Alexandra Snyder Dunbar is an award-winning harpsichordist, pianist, and pedagogue. At Juilliard, she received a full scholarship as a resident in the prestigious C. V. Starr Fellowship in the Doctoral program. Dr. Dunbar received a Masters of Music in Harpsichord Performance at Juilliard and a Bachelor of Music in Piano from Manhattan School of Music. Solo performances with orchestra include with Orchestra 54, Dorian Baroque Orchestra, The Memphis Chamber Music Society, The Symphony of Westchester, and The Chamber Orchestra of New York. Dr. Dunbar performed with The Dryden Ensemble, the Foundlings Ensemble, The New York Philharmonic, and the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra. Dr. Dunbar is on the music faculty at the University of North Georgia, Interlochen Arts Camp, and maintains a private teaching studio and busy performance calendar. Currently, she serves as organist at Madison First United Methodist Church in Athens, Georgia and is co-artistic director for Amethyst Baroque Ensemble.
Atlanta native, Caroline Owen has played in venues across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including the DiMenna Center for Classical Music (New York) and the Wiener Saal and Solitär at the Mozarteum (Salzburg, Austria). Owen was the winner of the Florida MTNA Young Artist Competition and a semifinalist in the 14th International Mozart Competition Salzburg and International Keyboard Odyssiad. She also won the 2018 Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta Competition, from which she received a scholarship to study at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Owen has performed at festivals including PianoFest in the Hamptons, PianoTexas, Atlantic Music Festival, and the Prague Piano Festival, and she has worked with distinguished artists such as Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Richard Goode, Ursula Oppens, and Pascal Rogé. Owen is also committed to promoting new music. She performed as soloist with the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra in its 2021 and 2023 seasons, and her background in dance has fostered unique multidisciplinary collaborations with composer, Badie Khaleghian. Owen earned her Doctorate of Music in piano performance from Florida State University and is now based in Atlanta where she serves as an Artist Affiliate at Emory University and Co-Director of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy. For more information, visit www.carolineowenpiano.com.
Kris Marshall is principal trumpet with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Venice Symphony, and has built an active career performing with multiple orchestras across the state of Florida, including the Jacksonville Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and regular performances with The Florida Orchestra. Marshall has been a featured soloist with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra on many occasions and with the Fifth Avenue Chamber Orchestra in Naples, Florida. As a founding member of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble, he presents several chamber recital tours each year and participates in commission projects to increase the chamber repertoire for trumpet. He won first prize in the Florida Orchestra Young Artist Competition and was later selected to attend the Chautauqua Institution Summer Music Festival where he studied with Chuck Berginc, principal trumpet with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Other significant instructors include Robert Smith and Ed Cord. Marshall pursued degrees in trumpet performance at Florida State University, Indiana University, and the University of South Florida.