Ute Freund (Dec 6, 13), lyric mezzo soprano, received her undergraduate and graduate training in classical voice, opera, and voice pedagogy at the University of Hamburg, Germany. Her career as a soloist started with Hamburg State Opera and continued with German and American opera companies. Ute equally sang oratorio and solo recitals, organized concert series (“Christmas with the Classics,” Benefit Concerts) and founded “Trio Encore.” She teaches voice out of her private studio in Edmonds after spending 10 years at the University of the Arts in Berlin, Germany, as a voice instructor. She loves foreign languages and extensive travel, hiking with her dog, bicycling, and playing pickleball.
Diana Gao (Dec 8) is a concert pianist, music advocate, and former corporate marketing leader. After a successful career managing product marketing strategies at Microsoft and Dell EMC, she has fully embraced her passion for music, dedicating herself to performance and artistic advocacy. She earned her MBA from the University of Washington (UW) and continues to refine her piano skills under the tutelage of Dr. Robin McCabe from UW. She has won numerous accolades, including a Gold Medal of the Seattle International Piano Competition, and First Prize in the “Golden Classical Music Awards” International Competition. She also serves as a Board Member of Classical KING, and is a frequent guest of its Northwest Focus Live program. Since 2020, she has presented annual fundraising recitals at Microsoft, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support local non-profit organizations—reinforcing her deep belief that music has the power to inspire change and make the world a better place.
Gyeongmin Go (guest artist, Dec 16) is a software engineer and pianist based in Seattle. Born in South Korea, he moved to Seattle in 2022, where he continues to balance technology and art. He is married to the cellist Yoonjung, and together they explore the emotional depth of Romanticism, performing works such as Rachmaninoff’s cello sonata. Although his career lies in technology, Gyeongmin approaches music with the same curiosity and craftsmanship that guide his engineering work. He is drawn to music that bridges introspection and passion, viewing performance as a way to share beauty and empathy through sound, in dialogue with Yoonjung’s expressive cello voice.
Katie Hochman (Dec 13), soprano, can be heard regularly giving recitals with Ladies Musical Club of Seattle. She has also enjoyed singing opera and oratorio with Puget Sound Concert Opera (PSCO), Opera Theater Oregon, Portland Opera, Utah Opera, Columbia Chorale and Southwest Washington Symphony (SWS). Highlights include the title role of Massenet’s Cendrillon and Héro in Berlioz’s Beatrice et Bénédict performed with PSCO and Exultate, jubilate performed with SWS.
Originally from Tennessee, Michael Housley (Dec 10, 11) was inspired by his musical grandmother and started playing piano after singing “The Sound of Music” in middle school choir. He lived in Seattle from 2015-2025 and had the immense pleasure of collaborating with brilliant musicians in duet and chamber ensembles. His passion for Architecture led him to Seattle University’s Chapel of St. Ignatius where he served as the primary accompanist for the Chapel Choir. Having recently moved to upstate New York to be back on the East Coast closer to family, Michael is grateful to continue collaborating with Melet Whinston (cellist) and remain an active LMC performing member and ambassador for the organization’s important and timeless mission.
Dr. Mia HyeYeon Kim (Dec 6) is a Seattle-based pianist originally from Seoul, South Korea. She has won top prizes in the Frances Walton, Metropolitan International, and Texas State International Piano Competitions, among others. Recent highlights include performances of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the UW Wind Ensemble in Seattle and South Korea, and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the UW Symphony Orchestra. She has also been featured on Classical KING FM 98.1. A passionate collaborator, Kim has performed extensively with vocalists, instrumentalists, choirs, and opera companies. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at Wesleyan College and as a staff pianist at the University of Washington. She holds degrees from Yonsei University (BM), New England Conservatory (MM), Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (AD), and the University of Washington (DMA), studying under Victor Rosenbaum, Soyeon Kate Lee, and Craig Sheppard. A certified yoga instructor, she incorporates wellness into her musical work through workshops and outreach.
Stasia Kulsa (Dec 20), flutist, has a Master of Arts in Music from Washington State University that she completed under the guidance of Dr. Sophia Tegart. In addition, she has undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Mechanical Engineering from WSU. While at WSU, she performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, the Latin Jazz Ensemble, and the Crimson Flute Choir. Since graduating, she has been performing with the Bremerton WestSound Symphony and working as an Acoustics Engineer at Blue Origin.
Yoonjung Lee (Dec 6, 16) was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the U.S. at the age of 13. She was awarded a scholarship to study cello performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the instruction of Dmitry Kouzov. She has performed in various types of group settings covering many different genres of music. Currently, she is a cellist in the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, and has avidly performed in both the United States and South Korea as part of the Urbana Pops Orchestra, Baltimore Philharmonic Orchestra, Western Symphony Orchestra, and many others. Yoonjung’s mutual interest in science led her to pursue a doctoral degree in biological sciences from the Korea Advanced Institute for Science and Technology (KAIST), and she is currently also working as a research scientist at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB).
Joan Lundquist (Dec 8) has served as a collaborative pianist for Seattle area musicians and organizations for 30 years. Since moving to the area from Humboldt State University in northern California, where she was staff accompanist, Joan has worked with the Northwest Boychoir, Seattle Choral Company, has taught at Seattle University and Northwest University, and has worked with several area private music teachers. Ms. Lundquist is the retired Director of Music at Immanuel Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle and currently is the rehearsal accompanist for the Seattle Choral Company.
Rachel Anne Moore (Dec 20) is a Seattle-born coloratura soprano who has traveled the U.S. and Europe singing musical theater and opera professionally. She trained at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, receiving a Bachelor of Music. After undergraduate studies, she went on to pursue her Master of Music degree at the University of Tennessee Knoxville as the 2008/2009 Spivey Humanities Fellowship recipient. During her time at UTK, Ms. Moore understudied and performed roles with the Knoxville Opera. After graduating, Moore relocated to Germany, where she had a successful musical theater career performing the role of Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera and Christine in its sequel Love Never Dies. Upon returning to the U.S., she toured with Love Never Dies and eventually debuted on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera. In 2020, Moore opened her private voice studio, “Moore Than Music,” teaching budding musical and opera singers.
Gail Perstein (Dec 16) has a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College, a Bachelor of Music from P.L.U., a Master of Music from U.W. (both in oboe performance) and a Master of Arts in Historical Musicology, also from U.W. She splits her time between teaching oboe privately, performing on oboe/English horn, and performing early music. She played in both early and classical music groups at P.L.U. and U.W., and continues performing in various settings, ranging from Tacoma Opera to local church services. Ms. Perstein performed for many years with her own medieval group, Chansonnier, using period instruments. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle for 22 years and chair of the Frances Walton Competition Committee for 23 years.
Emily Riesser‘s (Dec 13) diverse experience encompasses opera, oratorio, theatre, and new works. She recently portrayed Elle in a staging of Poulenc’s one-voice opera, The Human Voice (Ladies Musical Club), sang Frasquita in Carmen (Kitsap Opera), and played a nun in Sister Act (Tacoma Musical Playhouse). In concert, Emily is known for her interpretation of Bach cantatas, including Wedding Cantata, which she sang recently in several venues. Favorite experiences include singing Iphigenie in Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride (Seattle Opera Guild), Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata (Kitsap Opera), Tamiri in Mozart’s Il re pastore (Off-Center Opera), and soprano chorus at Seattle Opera. Emily is a graduate of Goshen College (Goshen, IN) and past participant in Bel Canto Northwest (Portland State University).
Benjamin Sawrey (Dec 20) is a Seattle-based pianist and teacher who has over 15 years of musical experience in various genres, including: Classical, Jazz, and Musical Theatre. He has performed in both the U.S. and Europe and has received awards for his participation in competitions on both continents. Notable Seattle venues played include The 5th Avenue Theatre and Classical KING FM’s Northwest Focus Live. Benjamin has also participated in lessons and masterclasses with renowned instructors throughout the world, including Boris Berman, Seymour Lipkin, and Lily Dorfman. Benjamin holds a B.A. in Piano Performance.
Julie Shankland (Dec 16) has played clarinet since marching band in the Ohio snow. Since moving to Washington, Julie has played in the UW Concert Band, Eastside Symphony, West Seattle Community Orchestras, Rain City Symphony, and various chamber music camps. Julie is an adult student of Jennifer Nelson and recently learned to play bass clarinet. Julie works in the Office of General Counsel at the Washington State Bar Association.
Bernard Shapiro (Dec 16) was principal oboe of the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera from 1961-2004, participating in over 80 Seattle Symphony recordings. He appeared as soloist with the Seattle Symphony, Philadelphia Quartet, Balamian Quartet, Seoul Symphony, Korean Broadcast Symphony, and Bellevue Symphony. He was co-founder of the New York Baroque Quintet, English horn with the Royal Ballet Touring Orchestra (London), and received the Fromm foundation Fellowship for Contemporary Music Performance at Princeton University and Tanglewood (1960). Mr. Shapiro has been a member of the faculty at University of Washington, Cornish School, Pacific Lutheran University, Western Washington University, and Seattle Pacific University. At PLU, he participated in many programs as a member of the faculty wind quintet, the Camas Quintet. He graduated from the Music and Art High School of New York City, and holds both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music Education from Manhattan School of Music. In addition to oboe, he also enjoys playing cello.
Susan Strick (Dec 8), soprano, has sung and taught in Seattle for many years. She has appeared with the Seattle Opera, Tacoma Opera, Village Theater (Maria in The Sound of Music) and as a soloist with the Seattle Bach Festival, the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, and the Seattle Choral Company. Susan earned her B.A. in music from Stanford University, M.A. in music from UCLA, and an Opera Diploma from the University of Toronto’s Royal Conservatory. A regional finalist in both the Metropolitan and San Francisco Opera national auditions, she has performed leading roles with many small opera companies. Susan has been a faculty member of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where she created and taught “Opera as Theater” in the Honors seminar program as well as teaching voice and being an active performer, music director, and coach in the theater department. Currently she teaches in Seattle and at Music Works Northwest in Bellevue.
An outstanding member of the Northwest musical community for over 20 years, Regina Thomas (Dec 13) has performed with a variety of companies including Kitsap Opera, Willamette Concert Opera, Bellevue Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Seattle Opera, and the Seattle Opera Guild. Currently Artistic Director of Puget Sound Concert Opera, Regina has served as Seattle Opera Guild’s VP of Education and is a past President and trustee of concerts for LMC. Favorite operatic roles include Adriana Lecouvreur, Suor Angelica, Tosca, and Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle). Concert work includes Schumann’s Frauenleibe und-leben, Elgar’s Sea Pictures, and Wagner’s Wesendonck-Lieder; soprano solos in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Fauré Requiem, and Berio’s Folk Songs for voice and chamber ensemble.
Kathryn Vinson (Dec 20) is a mezzo-soprano known for the warmth and richness of her voice. She appears frequently in recital in Seattle in venues ranging from Town Hall to Saint Mark’s cathedral. She has an extensive repertoire of German Lieder and has appeared internationally in operas in Europe and the Middle East. Ms. Vinson is equally at home with oratorio and has been a soloist with Seattle Baroque Orchestra and Orchestra Seattle/Seattle Chamber Singers. Her voice can also be heard on the soundtracks of a number of major motion pictures. Ms. Vinson has been a featured singer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, performing in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the annual Christmas production of The Nutcracker.
Colin Ward (Dec 13) is an alumnus of Western Washington University, having performed with the WWU Concert Choir and appearing in many opera productions, including as Conte Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro. Colin has also appeared in many productions with Puget Sound Concert Opera and with the Seattle Opera Chorus, and is a regular soloist at Christian Science churches in the Seattle area.
Melet Whinston (Dec 10, 11) studied under Maria DeRungs, and was first chair in the Portland Junior Symphony and Princeton University Orchestra. She has presented school performances as a member of the Leschi Trio and as a duo with Michael Housley, pianist. She is a performing member of the Ladies Musical Club, the Music Performance Group, and the Performers Only Night—Everyone Welcome! monthly musical nights. She has many years of experience as a chamber musician and solo performer, gives recitals regularly, and performs weekly at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.
Dhanushi Wijeyakulasuriya (Dec 13, 20), originally from Sri Lanka, holds a Licentiate Diploma in Singing from Trinity College of Music, London. She started her vocal studies with Menaka Sahabandu and made her debut with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka in 2007, performing a selection of operatic arias. Dhanushi has performed extensively in Sri Lanka. Some highlights include soprano soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (CMSC) and scenes from The Marriage of Figaro (Susanna) and The Barber of Seville (Rosina) with the Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble. She most recently returned to Colombo in 2024 to sing two recitals of Schubert Lieder in collaboration with the CMSC. After moving to the U.S. in 2015 she studied voice with Timothi Williams and Dr. Rachel Copeland at Penn State. She currently continues her vocal studies with Rachel Moore and Barbara Bonney. In addition to her musical pursuits, she holds a PhD in Statistics from Penn State and is a Principal Data Scientist at Microsoft.
Sharon Wong (Dec 13, 20) started playing piano at age four, beginning her collaborative piano journey in high school serving as the organist, pianist, and choir accompanist for her church. Sharon studied with Margaret Fabrizio on an 1812 Broadwood fortepiano while earning a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. She recently retired after receiving an MBA from Stanford and many years serving as a technology executive at multiple startups and major software companies. Sharon now happily plays with multiple chamber ensembles, community theater organizations, and subs at various churches around Seattle.
The Maple Quartet (Dec 20) was formed in 2022 by Isabel Chen, Magali Pelletey, John Crowley, and Gabriel Hennebury of the Eastman School of Music, where they recently graduated from the Music Performance program. In 2024, the Maple Quartet was awarded the Eastman School’s Celentano String Quartet Award for the second time, which acknowledges an undergraduate quartet with outstanding ability. Recent performances include collaborations with Robin Scott and Chiao-Wen Cheng on Eastman’s Faculty Artist Series. Additionally, they were finalists at the 2025 Coltman Chamber Music Competition, and the 2025 Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, where they received an honorable mention. The Quartet has received guest instruction from prominent chamber musicians such as the Takács Quartet, Belcea Quartet, JACK Quartet, Peter Oundjian, Peter Salaff, Peter Slowik, Itamar Zorman, and Jesse Mills. The group’s primary coaches include members of the Ying and Verona Quartets, and professors David Bowlin, Masumi Per Rostad, and Mimi Hwang.