THE ARTISTS
"Staunton Music Festival recruits musicians from around the world and attracts audiences from up and down the eastern seaboard and beyond."
- The New Criterion
Airi Yoshioka
Violin, Baroque Violin
Hailed by the Gramophone Magazine as “intrepid and brilliant”, violinist Airi Yoshioka has concertized throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada as a soloist, recitalist and chamber ...
Alek Fester
Oboe, Baroque Oboe, Recorder
Oboist Alek Fester specializes in performing music from the Baroque through Romantic eras on historical instruments. Alek is much sought after for his interpretations of Bach and ...
Amy Nicole Broadbent
Soprano
“With consummate poise, limpid clarity, and faultless intonation” (Washington Classical Review), soprano Amy Nicole Broadbent has garnered recognition as a dynamic and versatile musical force ...
Andrew Willis
Fortepiano
For several decades Andrew Willis has explored the historical development of keyboard instruments and their performance practice while maintaining a commitment to the study, performance ...
Anna Steinhoff
Cello, Viola da gamba
Based in Chicago, Anna Steinhoff specializes in the baroque cello and viola da gamba. She is a member of Third Coast Baroque, the Haymarket Opera Company, Bella Voce Sinfonia and ...
Antti Tikkanen
Violin, Baroque Violin
Violinist Antti Tikkanen is a versatile musician whose dynamic career spans solo, chamber, as well as baroque performance. Antti was born in Oulainen, Finland, and he began to study the ...
Ben David Aronson
Period Trombones
Active throughout the United States, Ben David Aronson is based in Rochester, New York. A founding member of Incantare, his engagements as a historical trombonist include ...
Benjamin Gilmore
Violin
Benjamin Gilmore studied with Natalia Boyarskaya at the Yehudi Menuhin School and with Pavel Vernikov in Vienna, and later with Julian Rachlin and Miriam Fried. During this time he won prizes ...
Brian Smith
Percussion
Praised for his feline-like grace as a percussionist, Brian Smith delivers “committed and energetic” performances with a versatile repertoire including historical, contemporary, and ...
Bruno Lourensetto
Trumpet, Baroque Trumpet
Described as “impressively confident” by the New York Times and “simply stupendous” by the British Art Desk, Bruno Lourensetto acts as guest principal trumpet of the Miami Symphony ...
Cameron Welke
Lute
Cameron Welke brings a passionate curiosity and a deep creative drive to all manner of historical plucked instruments, which he plays with “expert technical dexterity, consummate phrasing ...
Carl Donakowski
Cello
Carl Donakowski was a finalist in the 1989 Mendelssohn Competition in Berlin. His recital performances have aired on WQXR New York and Südwestfunk Baden-Baden. As a chamber musician ...
Carsten Schmidt
Artistic Director
Harpsichord, Piano, Conductor
SMF Artistic Director Carsten Schmidt enjoys a flourishing career as a pianist, harpsichordist, and conductor, and has performed widely throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. He has been ...
Chen Yi
Composer
As a Distinguished Endowed Professor at the UMKC Conservatory, a prolific composer, recipient of the Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, Dr. Chen Yi blends ...
Chester Biscardi
Composer
Chester Biscardi’s music has been performed throughout Asia, Europe, and North and South America. His catalog includes At the Still Point, for orchestra, Sailors & Dreamers, for voice and ...
Clare McNamara
Mezzo-Soprano
“Otherworldly” mezzo-soprano Clare McNamara brings her versatility to a wide variety of repertoire throughout the U.S. and abroad. A 2018 recipient of the prestigious St. Botolph Emerging ...
Clifton Massey
Countertenor
Frequently sought as a soloist and collaborative musician, countertenor Clifton Massey has participated in the Ojai Festival, Tanglewood, Oregon Bach Festival, and Early-Music Festivals of ...
Corey Shotwell
Tenor
Corey Shotwell is a tenor specializing in the performance of music from the 14th-18th centuries. Recent favorite engagements include a world premiere of David Lang’s writings at Carnegie Hall ...
Derek Chester
Tenor
Derek Chester has quickly established himself as a preeminent interpreter of early music and oratorio repertoire. Chester holds voice degrees from University of Georgia and the Yale ...
Ed Matthew
Clarinets
Ed Matthew has served as guest-principal clarinetist with Tafelmusik, Philharmonia Baroque, American Classical Orchestra, Pacific MusicWorks, Clarion Music Society, ARTEK, Grand ...
Edward Vogel
Baritone
Described by Opera News as “accomplished, stylistically informed,” and “sonorous”, baritone Edward Vogel possesses a diverse repertoire spanning over ten centuries. He has appeared as ...
Emily Becher-McKeever
Lighting designer
Emily E. Becher, Associate Professor of Lighting Design at James Madison University, received her MFA in Lighting Design from the University Arizona Tucson and holds a BA in Theatrical ...
Eric Guinivan
Percussion, Composer
Eric Guinivan’s music has been performed across the United States, Europe, and Asia and has received notable honors from BMI, ASCAP, Chamber Music America, the ...
Erik Higgins
Double Bass, Violone
Erik Higgins, double bass, is a musician known for his versatility and fluency in many different styles and musical languages. After graduating from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in ...
Ethan McSweeny
Stage Director (Through Roses)
Award-winning director Ethan McSweeny was named Artistic Director of the American Shakespeare Center in June 2018. His acclaimed work has been distinguished by its remarkable ...
Gene Stenger
Tenor
Hailed as an “impressive tenor” (The New York Times) who sings with “sweet vibrancy” (The Cleveland Plain Dealer), Gene Stenger is one of the country’s most called upon Bach specialists who is ...
Geoffrey Burgess
Oboe, Baroque Oboe
Since his student days in Sydney Australia, Geoffrey Burgess has had a passion for all things to do with the oboe. He has worked over the course of his career with leading ensembles in ...
Gesa Kordes
Viola, Baroque Violin
Gesa Kordes performs with numerous chamber ensembles and Baroque orchestras including Ensemble PeriHIPsous, Baroque and Beyond, Muses’ Delight, Baroque at ...
Hannah Shaw
Viola
Violist Hannah Shaw is a member of the London-based Eusebius Quartet and has recently appeared at such festivals as Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove, Wye Valley Chamber Music Festival ...
Heather Miller Lardin
Double Bass, Violone
Early bass specialist Heather Miller Lardin is principal bassist of the Handel and Haydn Society and director of the Temple University Early Music Ensemble. Ms. Lardin is a regular member of the ...
Heini Kärkkäinen
Piano
Heini Kärkkäinen studied piano at the Sibelius-Academy under Liisa Pohjola and continued her studies with Ralf Gothóni and Jacques Rouvier, among others. She won the Ilmari ...
I-Jen Fang
Percussion
Described as an “intrepid percussionist” by Fanfare Magazine, I-Jen Fang has a career as a solo performer, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teacher. She joined the faculty of the McIntire ...
Ian Zook
Horn
Ian Zook, horn, is an active orchestral and solo performer and has appeared in concerts throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He is Associate Professor of Horn at James Madison ...
Igor Begelman
Clarinet
Clarinetist Igor Begelman’s virtuosity and imagination have been praised by critics as “remarkable display of music making” and have earned him an impressive list of prizes, engagements and honors ...
Immanuel Davis
Flute, Baroque Flute
Immanuel Davis is one of the most versatile flutists of his generation. Equally at home on modern and baroque flutes, Immanuel has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the ...
Ingrid Matthews
Violin, Baroque Violin
Violinist Ingrid Matthews is co-founder and Music Director Emeritus of Seattle Baroque Orchestra (1994-2013). Since winning first prize in the Bodky International Competition for ...
Jacob Ashworth
Violin, Baroque Violin
Jacob Ashworth is the “impressive Artistic Director” (New York Times) of the baroque and modern “crack ensemble” (New Yorker) Cantata Profana, and Co-Music Director of the “categorically ...
James Wilson
Cello, Baroque Cello
Cellist James Wilson has performed throughout the world on Baroque and modern cello, appearing at famous venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Vienna’s ...
Jan Mueller-Szeraws
Cello
Cellist and Artist-in-Residence at the College of the Holy Cross, Jan Müller-Szeraws' solo-engagements have included performances with the New England Philharmonic, Boston ...
Jason Fisher
Viola, Baroque Viola
Principal violist of Boston Baroque, Jason is a frequent guest with the Handel & Haydn Society, the Seattle and Portland Baroque Orchestras, Byron Schenkman & Friends, Gut Reaction, Oregon Bach ...
Jeanette Zyko
Oboe
Oboist Jeanette Zyko, praised by Fanfare Magazine and ArtsNash for her “refined playing” and “achingly beautiful lines,” enjoys an active career as a chamber and orchestra musician. A versatile ...
Jeremy Loudon
Trombone
Jeremy Loudon is currently an active orchestral and chamber musician in central Virginia. After earning his Masters degree from The Boston Conservatory, Jeremy was a freelance musician in ...
Jonathan Woody
Bass-Baritone
Called "charismatic" and "riveting" by the New York Times, bass-baritone Jonathan Woody is a sought-after performer of early and new music across North America, making his debut in Staunton ...
Joseph Gascho
Organ, Harpsichord
Harpsichordist and conductor Joseph Gascho has performed across the world, from Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center to Paris, Tokyo and Taipei. Recent highlights include performances with ...
José Luiz Martins
Jazz Pianist
José Luiz Martins is a Brazilian pianist and composer from São Paulo, Brazil currently residing in the Washington DC area. He has been recording and performing as a leader and as a ...
Keith Collins
Bassoon, Contrabassoon
C. Keith Collins plays curtal, baroque and classical bassoon, shawm, recorder, and harp. He is faculty at the IU Jacobs School of Music’s Historical Performance Institute and at the University of ...
Kevin Stees
Tuba
Kevin Stees, now in his 37th year as Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at James Madison University, leads an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, conductor and music educator.
Kiri Tollaksen
Cornetto
Kiri Tollaksen (cornetto) enjoys a varied career as a performer and teacher. Praised for her "stunning technique, and extreme musicality," (Journal of the International Trumpet Guild), and called ...
Kris Kwapis
Trumpet, Baroque Trumpet
Kris Kwapis appears regularly as soloist and principal trumpet with period-instrument ensembles across North America, including Portland Baroque Orchestra, Early Music Vancouver ...
Liza Malamut
Period Trombones
Liza Malamut, trombone, is an active performer throughout the United States and abroad. She has appeared with groups such as Dark Horse Consort, Boston Camerata, Tafelmusik ...
Luke Balslov
Baroque Trumpet
Luke Balslov, a native of Long Island, New York, regularly performs around the country on both modern and baroque trumpets. In New York, Luke received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in ...
Mack Ramsey
Period Trombones
Mack Ramsey has been a lifelong specialist in performance on early instruments, playing sackbut, recorder, Renaissance flute and classical era trombones. He is a member of ...
Maia Cabeza
Violin, Baroque Violin
Canadian-American violinist Maia Cabeza enjoys a multi-faceted performing career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral leader. She has been successful in several ...
Margaret Owens
Oboe, Baroque Oboe
In demand throughout North America as a performer and teacher on historical oboes, Margaret Owens is a founding member of the chamber music group Kleine Kammermusik, whose 2017 ...
Mari Lee
Violin
Mari Lee is a violinist and producer dedicated to engaging her audience by instilling curiosity for music. Mari has performed internationally at the South Bank Centre, Wigmore Hall, Le Festival ...
Mark Shuldiner
Harpsichord
Hailed as a “splendid harpsichordist” (Chicago Tribune) and praised for his “supportive style” and “breathtaking, rapid-fire passagework” (Chicago Classical Review), Mark Shuldiner ...
Martin Davids
Violin, Baroque violin
Martin Davids founded and directs the Callipygian Players in Chicago, and is concertmaster of Brandywine Baroque, Third Coast Baroque, and Bella Voce Sinfonia. He is principal second violin ...
Mary Boodell
Flute, Baroque Flute
Mary Boodell is the Principal Flutist of the Richmond Symphony in Virginia. Praised as one of the city’s “most versatile and venturesome musicians,” she has won acclaim not only for her orchestral ...
Matthew Hill
Tenor
Praised for "clarion high notes placed with unfailing precision," (Washington Classical Review) tenor Matthew Hill is a versatile performer who excels in opera, oratorio, art song, and musical theatre.
Megan Chartrand
Soprano
Praised for her “light, fleet soprano” and “soaring, diamantine high notes” (Opera News), Megan Chartrand feels equally at home singing early music, art song, chamber music and concert repertoire.
Michael Unterman
Cello, Baroque Cello
Michael Unterman enjoys a busy performing career on both modern and baroque cellos, primarily as a member of the self-directed string chamber orchestra A Far Cry and as principal ...
Minna Pensola
Violin, Baroque Violin
Minna Pensola performs as a chamber musician, soloist and leader. She is a founding member of Meta4 string quartet which is the first prize winner of the 2004 Dimitri Shostakovich String Quartet ...
Molly Morkoski
Piano
Pianist Molly Morkoski has performed as soloist and collaborative artist throughout the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean, and Japan. In 2007, she made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall and has appeared ...
Molly Netter
Soprano
Canadian-American soprano Molly Netter enlivens complex and beautiful music, both old and new, with “a natural warmth” (LA Times) and “clear, beautiful tone and vivacious personality" (NY Times) ...
Molly Quinn
Soprano
Soprano Molly Quinn captivates audiences in a diverse repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to the Rolling Stones. Praised by The New York Times for her “arresting sweetness and simplicity”...
Natalie Rose Kress
Violin, Baroque Violin
Praised by the New York Times for her “splendid playing,” Natalie Rose Kress is a modern and Baroque violinist based in Washington, D.C. Following three summers as a Tanglewood Fellow, she ...
Nathanael Udell
Horn, Natural Horn
Nathanael Udell is a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, earning his Doctor of Music under the tutelage of the former principal horn of the Chicago Symphony, Dale ...
Nathaniel Lee
Trombone
Nathaniel Lee is the Lecturer of Trombone at the University of Virginia and serves as Principal Trombone of the Charlottesville Symphony. In addition to his duties at UVa and the Charlottesville Symphony, ...
Nicholas DiEugenio
Violin, Baroque Violin
Praised as an “excellent” and “evocative” violinist (New York Times), Nicholas DiEugenio leads a versatile performing life as a chamber musician, leader, and soloist in music ranging from early ...
Nina Stern
Clarinets, Recorder
Nina Stern has carved a unique and extraordinarily diverse career for herself as a world-class recorder player and classical clarinetist. Ms. Stern performs widely as a soloist and with orchestras ...
Paul Holmes Morton
Lute
Over the past decade, Paul Holmes has become a plucked instrument specialist practicing disciplines from the European Renaissance to modern Americana. Perpetually inspired by music as a ...
Paul Max Tipton
Bass-Baritone
Described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a dignified and beautiful singer, Paul Max Tipton, bass-baritone, performs nationally to acclaim in repertoire ranging from Schütz and ...
Peter Walker
Bass
Described as a “commanding” singer by a recent Boston Globe review, Peter Walker enjoys a varied career as a singer of early and classical music. Recent performances include bass solos in ...
Roger Roe
Oboe
An active chamber musician and recitalist, Roger Roe has played oboe and English horn with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1995 and has served on the faculty of Indiana ...
Sara Couden
Contralto
Sara Couden, contralto, praised for her "unusually rich and resonant voice" (Opera News), recently debuted with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in Judas Maccabeus and the ...
Shannon Vandzura
Flute
Shannon Vandzura enjoys a vibrant freelance career in the Northeast region. She frequently performs with the New York Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Albany Symphony, Williamsburg ...
Sheila Dietrich
Soprano
Canadian soprano Sheila Dietrich is a versatile and in-demand performer whose style and vocal technique shine in both concert and operatic roles. Ms. Dietrich received her Bachelor of ...
Sivan Magen
Harp
Praised as “a magician” (New York’s WQXR) whose "brilliant sound and remarkable technical acumen shatter any stereotype of his instrument" (NY Times), Sivan Magen transforms the ...
Stefan Heucke
Composer
The catalog of works by Stefan Heucke comprises more than 100 works in all genres: operas, oratorios, symphonies, concertos, sacred music, chamber music and songs. His works are performed ...
Stephanie Corwin
Bassoon, Baroque Bassoon
Based in New York City, Stephanie Corwin enjoys performing and teaching music of the past four centuries on modern and historical bassoons. Her vocation has taken her throughout the US and ...
Stephen Goist
Viola
Stephen Goist enjoys a multifaceted career as an orchestral player, chamber musician, and historical performance specialist based in New York City. A graduate of The Juilliard School and ...
Sun Li
Pipa
Sun Li graduated from the Shenyang Music Conservatory where she studied pipa and was a member of the Central Song and Dance Ensemble in Beijing. Performing with Music From China ...
Tim Carter
Music Historian
Musicologist Tim Carter's diverse interests include everything from Renaissance Italy to Mozart’s operas to American musical theater in the mid-20th century. He is particularly concerned with developing ...
Todd Williams
Horn, Natural Horn
Hailed by Gramophone for his “impressive horn playing,” Todd Williams is an active performer and educator based in Philadelphia. A leading exponent of the Natural Horn in America, he serves as ...
Virginia Bolena
Organ
Virginia Bolena serves as Organist and Choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Church, a post held since 2013. She is also Director of the Girl Chorister Course at St. Thomas Choir School in New York City ...
Wang Guowei
Erhu
Wang Guowei is both performer on the Chinese two-string fiddle erhu and composer. He studied at Shanghai Conservatory and was concertmaster and soloist with Shanghai Traditional ...
Zachary Wadsworth
Composer, Piano
Zachary Wadsworth is a composer of “fresh, deeply felt and strikingly original” music (Washington Post) whose works have been heard around the world. In 2020, the premiere recording of ...