Christine Bastian (Sep 4), viola, has performed as a chamber and orchestral musician across the Midwest. As a member of the Contempus Initiative, she focuses on community engagement and new music, performing in venues as diverse as the Detroit Institute of the Arts, Spring Arbor University, and SUNY Stonybrook. Other recent chamber collaborations include recital performances at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Flint Institute of Music, and the Lansing Symphony Chamber Series. Christine has served as associate principal violist with the Flint Symphony, section violist with the Lansing Symphony and substitute with the Grand Rapids, Toledo, and Detroit Symphony. In addition to her work as a violist, Christine is Assistant Director of Student Services and Academic Programs at UW in the Department of Global Health. She was previously Assistant Dean of Operations for the Michigan State University College of Music. She holds degrees in music performance from University of Michigan and Indiana University.
Sophia Chou (Jul 15), born and raised in Taiwan, began studying piano at age five, later refining her artistry under Professor Chien-Ying Yang. Throughout her youth, she earned accolades in Taiwan’s music scene, excelling in solo, choral, and chamber music. In 2022, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Now based in Seattle as a research scientist specializing in AI, she continues to blend her analytical work with a deep passion for music. Sophia has collaborated with the Skagit Symphony and performed alongside soloists such as Noémie Raymond. As a dedicated collaborative pianist with the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle, she regularly performs and connects with audiences through recitals, sharing her love of classical music.
Diana Gao (Jul 15) 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.
Joyce Gibb (Jul 3) was born in Sri Lanka and started her early piano studies with the admired, but feared music critic Elmer DeHaan. After surviving his rigorous training, she moved to London for further studies with Swiss pianist Albert Ferber, whose teachers included Rachmaninoff. Studying both piano and cello, she was awarded a gold medal for performance by the Royal Schools of Music. Joyce teaches and performs regularly and has been the concerto soloist with the Cascade Symphony, Seattle Philharmonic, Rainier Symphony, Port Angeles, Thalia, and Philharmonia Northwest Orchestras. Her performances have included concertos by Beethoven, Poulenc, Grieg, Addinsell, and Chopin, and the 1st and 2nd piano concertos by Rachmaninoff. Currently Joyce teaches private piano lessons and provides the music for St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle.
Joanna Goldstein (Sep 4) is an active flutist who recently relocated to Seattle, Washington from Ann Arbor, MI. While in Michigan she was the piccolo player for the Toledo Symphony and performed regularly with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Grand Rapids Symphony. She was also the Manager of Student Development and programs for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Youth Ensembles from 2021 until relocating to Seattle in 2024. Chamber music has also been a prominent part of Joanna’s musical background. She was the founding flutist of the Vento Chiaro Woodwind Quintet which was Ensemble in Residence at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA for many years. As a member of Vento Chiaro, Joanna was an Artist-Faculty in Residence at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Joanna holds degrees from Peabody Conservatory and Boston University, and an Artist Diploma from the Longy School of Music.
Brittany Harrington (Jul 15) is a dynamic bassoonist, educator, and performer, celebrated for her expressive artistry and innovative contributions to the classical music world. The Dallas Morning News lauded her playing, stating, “Special praise goes to Brittany Harrington’s gorgeously intoned, eloquently shaped bassoon solos.” She currently serves as Affiliate Artist/Faculty at the University of Puget Sound, and is an active freelancer in the Seattle area – performing with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Seattle Music recording orchestra, among others in the area. As a founding member of The Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet, she blends classical training with creativity and humor, bringing engaging and genre-defying performances to audiences worldwide. A Fox Sponsored Artist, Brittany is committed to expanding the reach of classical music, championing underrepresented composers, and making music accessible, engaging, and transformative.
Dr. Mia HyeYeon Kim (Sep 4) 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 (Jul 3), 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.
Kayleigh Miller (Aug 19) – bio to come
Known for her expressive and passionate performances, Jensina Oliver (Aug 19) has delighted audiences as soloist and chamber musician in the United States, China, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and throughout Europe. Her performances with orchestra include appearances with the Hubei Provincial Orchestra of Wuhan, China, and the Utah Philharmonia. She was a national finalist of the MTNA Chamber Music Competition, a resident artist at the Banff Chamber Music Festival, and has won several solo and concerto competitions throughout the United States. Dr. Oliver is in high demand as guest performer, clinician, and adjudicator at events, conferences, and competitions throughout the Pacific Northwest. She has taught at Shoreline Community College since 1998 and has a thriving piano studio with students of all ages. Dr. Oliver currently resides with her family in Shoreline, WA, where she loves to enjoy all of the beautiful outdoor opportunities that the Pacific Northwest provides.