Double Bassist Orin O'Brien was the first woman to be hired as a permanent section player by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic in 1966. She retired from the position two years ago but still teaches at the Manhattan School of Music and Mannes School of Music.

Cellist Zlatomir Fung was the youngest to receive a Gold Medal in the cello division of the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition. But he was making musical waves long before and what makes his onstage presence even more dynamic is the wide-ranging repertoire he performs.

Zachary Alaka'i Lum is a Grammy-nominated musician and haku mele or composer of traditional Hawaiian songs, of which his group Keauhou received several awards from the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts. He says, "Mele and hula have societal, historical and political functions that, in a very real way, composes who we are before, now and into the future."

Heiichiro Ohyama's storybook career as violist and conductor includes posts as Principal Violist and Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as Music Director of Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra from 1983-2017, when the group disbanded.

"Theatre provides entertainment and education. I want to continue to serve our community with quality professional theatre and continue to serve and grow our six education programs serving every demographic and age from 4 to 104," says caryn desai, Artistic Director of International City Theatre.

Camerata Pacifica is a cutting edge ensemble led by Artistic Director Adrian Spence who likes to think outside of the box. The ensemble presents diverse and relevant programs performed by world-class soloists and chamber musicians.

Did that, doing that, will be doing that is a mantra of cellist Jennifer Kloetzel, chamber musician, soloist, professor at UCSB and founding member of the Cypress String Quartet from 1996-2016.

Martin Haselbock has a whirlwind career as conductor and organist with posts as Founding Music Director of Orchester Wiener Akademie, Music Director of Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra and professor of organ at University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.

"I believe our work with the Reno Pops Orchestra has been very beneficial for the music scene in Reno and the region. It is our goal to make programs accessible and interesting for those who have little or no experience with this kind of music," says Jane Brown, Music Director of the Reno Pops Orchestra.

"When Paderewski began his career as a young pianist and budding composer in the 1880's he was clearly seen by his audiences as a Chopin disciple," says Marek Zebrowski, Artistic Director of Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles and Director of University of Southern California's Polish Music Center.

"Performing on historic instruments can bring the performer closer to the composer's world by offering a completely different palette of instrumental colors," says Valley of the Moon Music Festival Co-Directors Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian.

Californians, especially musicians and entertainers seem to have embraced the mystique of driving classic and concept cars or exploring the aesthetics of car culture at California's creme de la creme automotive museums.

"2020 was set to be a big summer for us - our 10th season. When the pandemic put all our travel plans and live concerts on hold we were quick to start online concerts," says Trinity Alps Chamber Music Festival Director Ian Scarfe.

"It is very important for me not to try to be different. I can only try to be myself but of course with the influences I receive from each orchestra, each city," says world-class flute player turned world-class conductor Jaime Martin.

"Pablo Casals was and probably is the most important musical influence in my life. One had the sense of his striving for what musical perfection and true musical realization could be," says Bonnie Hampton.

"Competitions for me are challenges that motivate me tremendously. I also think they are the most effective way to share my music with the world, thanks to live streaming technology," says Richard Lin.

Romanian-born Cristian Măcelaru is one of the most dynamic and insightful conductors of our generation. He is Music Director of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music and next year will become Chief Conductor of the WDR Sinfonieorchester Cologne.

"Sailing with its slowness has changed my way of interpreting music," says Roberto Soldatini. So he spends six months of the year in liveaboard lifestyle sailing the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas and the other half teaching cello at the Music Conservatory Domenico Cimarosa in Avellino, Italy.

"It's very important to receive objective advice from someone who knows you well enough and that you can trust, even if your career has already taken off," says Romanian cellist Andrei Ionita - who has been dazzling audiences even before his Tchaikovsky Competition win.

Only 30 years old, Francesco Lecce-Chong is a rising star and already holds posts as Music Director of the Santa Rosa Symphony and the Eugene Symphony. "I will say that I strive for my performances to have a visceral impact on the audience and encourage taking risks for greater expression," he comments.

We are currently experiencing a Golden Age of violin players and Augustin Hadelich is among the best of the best - as evidenced by his being chosen Musical America's Instrumentalist of the Year 2018 and having received a Grammy in 2016 for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.

"I think it's extremely important to be the strongest, most pure and sincere version of yourself. We all go about this in different and often weird and wonderful ways," says world-class violinist Nicola Benedetti.
 

Soon after 28-year-old Yekwon Sunwoo won the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Decca Gold released a recording of his performnces at the competition which became number one on Billboard's Traditional Classical Album charts.

Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers doesn't just set the standard; she is the standard. Her internationally acclaimed recordings and performances have a distinction that's all about interpretative sophistication, silky sounds and crystal intonation.

Nina Lee is a powerhouse cellist, chamber musician, teacher and member of the Brentano String Quartet since 1998. She is on the faculty of Yale University where the Brentano is Quartet-in-Residence.

Alexander Barantschik is an orchestras dream come true. In 2001 he became concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and brings to this position a vast experience as orchestral player, performing artist and chamber musician.

Quintessential Chamber Musicians and The Perfect Musical Couple are expressions that come to mind when describing the dynamic duo of cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han.

Antonio Lysy's career as cellist and teacher is a tale of many countries and influences, particularly Argentina, Italy, Quebec, Canada and the US. He has collaborated with renown musicians such as Charles Dutoit, Yuri Temirkanov, Yehudi Menuhin, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Pascal Roge.

Los Angeles-born Jeffrey Kahane is the quintessential in demand artist because he enjoys a successful career as pianist and conductor and possesses an innate grasp of such composers as Bach or John Adams.