Category: Artist Biographies

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.

Christine Bastian (Nov 18), 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.

Victoria Chaussee (Nov 13), mezzo-soprano, “sings opera favorites beautifully” – The Seattle Weekly. Ms. Chaussee has performed with Seattle Opera, Puget Sound Concert Opera, Bellevue Opera, and Kitsap Opera. Some of her roles include Azucena in Il Trovatore, Principessa in Suor Angelica, Mama Lucia in Cavelleria Rusicana, Maddelena in Rigoletto, the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, the Mother in Hansel & Gretel and Ursul in Beatrice & Benedict. She has performed in concert with many NW organizations including the Whidbey Island Bach Festival, Ladies Musical Club and as a national anthem singer for the Seattle Mariners. She holds a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Seattle Pacific University where she toured with the SPU Concert Choir. After graduation she attended the American Institute of Musical Studies. Victoria currently sings with Public Opera and assists with the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Seattle.

Lin Chen (Nov 2, 5) is a freelance vocalist, violinist and music educator in the Greater Seattle area. Growing up in Australia, she was fortunate to study music with esteemed teachers from the Griffith Conservatorium in Brisbane and the Sydney conservatorium. Her experience in vocal performance spans multiple genres including Classical, Musical theatre and Jazz. She currently studies voice with Dr Kari Ragan. Lin is also a violin coach for the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra (BYSO) and performs with a number of local ensembles including her own string quartet—Quartet Evolution. Her career highlights include performing at the Sydney Opera House, Westminster Abbey and Cologne Cathedral. She enjoys giving regular recitals in Seattle with the Ladies Musical Club.

Sophia Chou (Nov 2, 5, 6, 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 (Nov 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 (Nov 5) 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 (Nov 18) 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 (Nov 6, 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.

Kelly Hou (guest artist, Nov 18) began playing the harp when she was 13 and went on to study with Valerie Muzzolini at the University of Washington in 2020. Prior to college, Kelly played in the Seattle Youth Symphony for 4 years and placed 3rd in the WMEA State Solo and Ensemble contest in 2019. In 2022, Kelly Hou was named a winner of the Anne Adam’s Award, a national collegiate competition for solo harp. She graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Informatics and Music Performance in 2024 and performed in the University’s symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, wind ensemble, and opera. Kelly has also performed with several ensembles in Washington State including the Central Washington University Symphony Orchestra, Washington Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia Northwest, Bainbridge Symphony Orchestra, and Bremerton Westsound Symphony.

Sharon Jung (Nov 2) was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Her parents were Juilliard graduates, and she was exposed to classical music from the time she was born. She started playing the oboe when she was ten years old at the request of her father. She pursued a career in nursing but has kept playing the oboe as a passion. She has studied with LMC members Gail Perstein and Bernard Shapiro. She currently studies with Dan Williams. Along with LMC performances, she plays in small ensembles and in orchestras in several churches in Pierce County.

Maria Khavin (Nov 13) is a pianist, teacher, and music education enthusiast. Starting her formal education at age six, she subsequently earned her degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Rimsky-Korsakoff State Music College in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Since moving to Seattle in 1992, Ms. Khavin continued to be an active performer and became a passionate educator. She appeared in numerous piano solo performances, and accompanied hundreds of instrumentalists and vocalists. She made her orchestral debut performing Mozart’s G major piano concerto with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. In Seattle, she worked with Lyric Opera Northwest, NOISE (Northwest Opera in Schools, Etc.), and Mahler’s Festival, among others. Recently, she became a Ladies Musical Club performing member, presenting several concerts a year. Ms. Khavin holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Washington.

Dr. Mia HyeYeon Kim (Nov 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.

Korean-born violinist Rosie Jeongwon Kim (guest artist, Nov 6) made her debut at 13 with the Filharmonia Częstochowska in Poland. She studied with Nam-Yun Kim, Sunny Lee, and Kyung-Sun Lee, winning first prizes at the Nanpa Sungjung, Music Association of Korea, and CBS International Competitions. After moving to the U.S., she studied under Mark Kaplan at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, earning the Artistic Excellence and Graduation Tuition Scholarships, and later completed the Advanced Music Studies Diploma at Carnegie Mellon University on a full scholarship with Andrés Cárdenes. A former member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she performed alongside the Chicago Symphony and worked with conductors including Riccardo Muti and Jaap van Zweden. She has appeared at major festivals such as Texas Music Festival and Great Mountains. Now based in Seattle, Kim serves as Assistant Concertmaster of Symphony Tacoma and continues to perform and teach actively.

Joan Lundquist (Nov 13) 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.

Gail Perstein (Nov 2) 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.

Eric Shankland (Nov 2) has been playing bassoon since age 15. He played in the NCR band and the Youth Philharmonic in Dayton, Ohio. He studied with Arthur Grossman and played in the University Symphony at the University of Washington, and currently studies with Paul Rafanelli of the Seattle Symphony. He was principal bassoon in the Eastside Symphony (Redmond) for fifteen years. Eric is a research scientist at the University of Washington.

Julie Shankland (Nov 2) 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 (Nov 2) 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 (Nov 13), 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.

Allen Chang (Oct 3, 13) is a pianist originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He graduated from Yale University in 2019, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics and was co-president of the Yale Undergraduate Piano Collective. Allen has studied piano with Logan Skelton, Elizabeth Parisot, Donald Morelock, Sonoko Kambara, and Chao-Li Tsai. He also plays the clarinet and is currently the principal clarinetist of the Seattle Philharmonic. Outside of music, Allen enjoys traveling, eating, skiing, playing tennis, playing chess, and petting dogs.

Hilary Field (Oct 8) is a past winner of the Northwest Young Artist Series Competition and was the first guitarist to win the Ladies Musical Club Frances Walton Competition. She has held faculty positions as the head of the Guitar department at Seattle Pacific University and Pacific Lutheran University. In 2024, Hilary was awarded a USArtists International Grant to perform a concert tour throughout Chile with the International Guitar Festival Entrecuerdas, and has performed concerts throughout North and South America. Her latest CD, Premieres, features new works for guitar that were composed and dedicated to her. She has received grants for composing and performing new music by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, 4Culture, and Artist Trust. The Seattle Times exclaims that classical guitarist, “Hilary Field, is a dynamic player. She doesn’t just recite what can often be complex work, but imbues it with fire and grace.” www.hilaryfield.com

Katie Hochman (Oct 7), 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.

Sharon Jung (Oct 13) was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Her parents were Juilliard graduates, and she was exposed to classical music from the time she was born. She started playing the oboe when she was ten years old at the request of her father. She pursued a career in nursing but has kept playing the oboe as a passion. She has studied with LMC members Gail Perstein and Bernard Shapiro. She currently studies with Dan Williams. Along with LMC performances, she plays in small ensembles and in orchestras in several churches in Pierce County.

Hailed as “dazzling” by Peninsula Reviews, violinist Caitlin Kelley (Oct 3) enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teaching artist. Caitlin has soloed with orchestras across the country and presented recitals in both the United States and Europe. An avid chamber musician, Caitlin is a member of Wild Up, an LA-based modern music collective, and is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Nightjar, Seattle’s newest chamber music society. She has performed as Guest Concertmaster and Interim Assistant Concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra, and is the former concertmaster of the Colburn and YMF Debut Orchestras. Caitlin performs frequently with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, and North Corner Chamber Orchestra (NOCCO). Caitlin received a Bachelor of Music degree and Professional Studies Certificate from the Colburn School in Los Angeles, and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York.

Kayleigh Miller (Oct 8) was a member of the San Antonio Symphony and is a current member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. She has additionally performed with the Oregon Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, the Britt Festival, and National Arts Centre Orchestra. She holds degrees from the New England Conservatory and Eastman School of Music, and has certifications in Pilates, yoga, strength training, and Body Mapping. In her spare time, she enjoys strength training, running, hiking, and spending time with her two chihuahua mixes, Milo and Mortimer.

Rachel Anne Moore (Oct 21) 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.

Mezzo-soprano Gail Neil (Oct 7) has been a featured soloist with symphony orchestras, chorales, ballet and opera companies, in addition to her performances as a concert recitalist. Her “Opera to Broadway” and “Christmas” recitals for Columbia Artists Community Concert Association audiences have included tours in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. She sang in over 50 productions with the Seattle Opera Company as a Regular Chorister and preview artist in seasons 1999–2022. Symphony engagements include Orchestra Seattle, the Tacoma, Bremerton, Vancouver, Whatcom, Federal Way, Oregon East and Yakima Symphonies, as well as several repeat engagements with the Everett Symphony Orchestra, which included performances at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. She has been a soloist with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Choral Company, Bellevue Chamber Chorus, Seattle Bach Choir, Eugene Concert Choir and Oregon Mozart Players. Additional information, please visit: www.gailneil.com

Susan Payne O’Brien (Oct 7) is a poet, performer and opera director living in Seattle. Her writing for theater has been seen on the stages of 2nd Story Chicago, Around the Coyote, Links Hall, The Piven Theatre Workshop and The International Puppetry Festival. She is the founding artistic director of Forte, an all-female improvisational comic opera troupe. In her teaching and work with theatrical and operatic ensembles she is committed to helping students and artists of all levels access authenticity of voice. Recently, she has worked with emerging operatic performers at The Santa Fe Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, DePaul University and The Chicago College of Performing Arts. She is a frequent soloist with Seattle Pro Musica and will be featured in their Spring performances of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Sea Symphony in conjunction with The Auburn Symphony.

Gail Perstein (Oct 13) 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.

Soprano Tiina Ritalahti (Oct 7) holds degrees in music and vocal performance from the University of Washington. She has performed throughout Washington with Northwest Opera in Schools Etcetera (NOISE), Puget Sound Opera, Ladies Musical Club and Puget Sound Concert Opera, as well as being a featured soloist for the Finlandia Foundation. She has sung such roles as the First Spirit and Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Lisa in Bellini’s La sonnambula, Änchen in Der Freischütz by Weber, Cis in Britten’s Albert Herring, and Olympia in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffman. Further, she has performed in multiple operas by Menotti: Lucy in The Telephone, Monica in The Medium, and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. Her passion for singing also extends to art song repertoire, which she performs regularly in recitals around Western Washington. Tiina has created unique breathing classes for young singers that combine her knowledge and experience as a massage therapist, certified yoga teacher and singer.

Benjamin Sawrey (Oct 7) 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.

Jake Sele (guest artist, Oct 3) is a Seattle-based pianist/keyboardist who plays in a wide variety of genres. When not on stage serving as Music Director at CSL Seattle, you can catch him in local and touring groups playing anything from jazz to classical, Latin to funk, pop to experimental, rock to reggae, and more. He’s toured throughout North America and Europe, appears on over 30 albums, and is a regular keyboardist with the Seattle Symphony.

Bernard Shapiro (Oct 13) 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.

Jonathan Shih (Oct 11) began his piano studies with various Chicago-area teachers (most notably Emilio del Rosario), and continued briefly at Northwestern University under James Giles before a minor hand injury and recession-induced career introspection led him to forgo piano for an engineering degree. After a decade-long hiatus due to work travel, he resumed playing and now studies with Peter Mack. Jonathan has performed live on 98.7 WFMT (Chicago) and won first prize in the 2025 Oberlin International Adult Amateur Piano Competition. He was also a finalist in the 2024 Washington International Piano Artists Competition, where he received special awards for “Best Classical Performance” and “Most Imaginative Programming.” When not at the piano, Jonathan works as a product designer at a small startup and enjoys cooking, traveling, and collecting other hobbies.

Rob Toren (Oct 21) has been a professional singer for most of his musical life, including most recently undertaking several small roles at Seattle Opera 1998-2014. After retiring from both singing and as a non-profit executive, he has returned to his first love, the piano. Because of his background as a singer and his earlier career days in NYC, he now gravitates towards the art song literature, with programs focusing on both the French (Debussy and Faure) and German traditions (Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Strauss). He most recently studied with Joyce Gibb.

Melet Whinston (Oct 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 (Oct 21), 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.

Daisy Sánchez Zajonc (guest artist, Oct 11) began taking piano lessons when she was seven years old in Guadalajara, Mexico and has continued taking lessons throughout her life. In college she studied with Leonard Richter at Walla Walla College, John Terry Moore at University of Washington, and Donald Walker at Northern Illinois University. She began teaching piano lessons to expat children in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1989 and has been teaching private music and piano lessons ever since. Daisy has been an accompanist for church, choir, vocal and instrumental lessons and recitals, adjudications, dance, musicals, and theater productions. She played orchestral piano with the Mexico City Filharmonia starting a week before the 8.1 magnitude earthquake of 1985 and continued until the spring of 1986. She particularly enjoys playing piano duets as well as duets and trios with cellists and violinists.

These are the artists who performed on behalf of LMC for the Victory Verticals: Pianos That Went To War exhibit at The Museum of Flight, Summer 2025.

Heard on the popular radio programs Performance Today and Northwest Focus Live, saxophonist Soren Hamm (Aug 16, Sep 6) has performed repertoire spanning the Renaissance through the Avant-garde in concerts across North America. He is the only person to win both the solo and (with the Equus Saxophone Quartet) ensemble categories of the Frances Walton Competition, and was a winner of the Northwest MTNA Competitions on multiple occasions. Soren is an avid promoter of new music for saxophone. In addition to dozens of solo and chamber premieres, he has performed by invitation at the Bowling Green New Music Festival, Ball State New Music Festival, and the New Music Gathering. He is a founding member of Onomatopoeia, the world’s first flute/saxophone/horn trio, and helped commission the first original repertoire for this combination of instruments. Soren teaches on the faculty at Pierce College Puyallup and maintains a private studio in Seattle, WA. He holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (MM) and the University of Oregon (BM) – graduating from the latter with the distinction of Outstanding Undergraduate Performer in Woodwinds; he also completed music education studies at Western Washington University, and was named a winner of that school’s Concerto Competition. Soren’s teachers include John Sampen, Idit Shner, Fred Winkler, and Timothy McAllister.

Katie Hochman (Aug 16, Sep 6), 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.

Dr. Mia HyeYeon Kim (Aug 16, Sep 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.

Mezzo-soprano Gail Neil (Aug 16) has been a featured soloist with symphony orchestras, chorales, ballet and opera companies, in addition to her performances as a concert recitalist. Her “Opera to Broadway” and “Christmas” recitals for Columbia Artists Community Concert Association audiences have included tours in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California. She sang in over 50 productions with the Seattle Opera Company as a Regular Chorister and preview artist in seasons 1999–2022. Symphony engagements include Orchestra Seattle, the Tacoma, Bremerton, Vancouver, Whatcom, Federal Way, Oregon East and Yakima Symphonies, as well as several repeat engagements with the Everett Symphony Orchestra, which included performances at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. She has been a soloist with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Choral Company, Bellevue Chamber Chorus, Seattle Bach Choir, Eugene Concert Choir and Oregon Mozart Players. Additional information, please visit: www.gailneil.com

Soprano Tiina Ritalahti (Aug 16, Sep 6) holds degrees in music and vocal performance from the University of Washington. She has performed throughout Washington with Northwest Opera in Schools Etcetera (NOISE), Puget Sound Opera, Ladies Musical Club and Puget Sound Concert Opera, as well as being a featured soloist for the Finlandia Foundation. She has sung such roles as the First Spirit and Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Lisa in Bellini’s La sonnambula, Änchen in Der Freischütz by Weber, Cis in Britten’s Albert Herring, and Olympia in Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffman. Further, she has performed in multiple operas by Menotti: Lucy in The Telephone, Monica in The Medium, and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. Her passion for singing also extends to art song repertoire, which she performs regularly in recitals around Western Washington. Tiina has created unique breathing classes for young singers that combine her knowledge and experience as a massage therapist, certified yoga teacher and singer.

Colin Ward (Aug 16, Sep 6) 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.

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) was a member of the San Antonio Symphony and is a current member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. She has additionally performed with the Oregon Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, the Britt Festival, and National Arts Centre Orchestra. She holds degrees from the New England Conservatory and Eastman School of Music, and has certifications in Pilates, yoga, strength training, and Body Mapping. In her spare time, she enjoys strength training, running, hiking, and spending time with her two chihuahua mixes, Milo and Mortimer.

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.