James Tocco, Artistic Director and piano Sponsored by Rayna & Natalio Kogan
In frequent demand worldwide as a recitalist, orchestral soloist, chamber music collaborator and pedagogue, Tocco is Eminent Scholar/Artist-in-Residence at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has been Artistic Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival since its birth.
Jeremy Denk, piano Sponsored by Gail & Ira Mondry
Known as one of today’s most compelling young artists, Denk has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the St. Louis, Houston and San Francisco symphonies, among others. He recently made his debut at the DSO and is currently collaborating with violinist Joshua Bell.
Pei-Shan Lee, piano Ruth Laredo Piano Chair
In high demand as a duo partner, Lee has toured the world in recitals with artists from America’s leading artist management companies. Her home is Boston, where she appears regularly in recital with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and teaches and performs as a collaborative pianist at the New England Conservatory.
Lisa Kaplan, piano Eugene Istomin Endowed Piano Chair
As a founding member of eighth blackbird, Kaplan has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Naumburg award. She has performed across the United States as both soloist and chamber musician and has been featured with orchestras in Ohio, Arkansas and Texas.
Ani Kavafian, violin Sponsored by Helen Rowin
Enjoying a prolific career as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician, Kavafian has performed with virtually all of America’s leading orchestras. Her numerous solo recital engagements include performances at New York’s Carnegie and Alice Tully Halls, as well as in major venues across the country.
Yehonatan Berick, violin Henry Meyer Endowed Violin Chair
A prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg Competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus, Berick is in high demand internationally as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician (on violin as well as viola) and pedagogue. He is Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Michigan.
Ida Kavafian, violin
A versatile violinist/violist, Kavafian is an Artist-Member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, former violinist of the Beaux Arts Trio and co-founder of Opus One. She has premiered numerous new works and currently serves as a faculty member at the Curtis Institute and the Bard College Conservatory.
Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, violin
Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, Associate Concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, began her study of the violin at age five in Dayton, Ohio. Kaloyanides Kennedy, who became a member of the Detroit Symphony in 1998 at the age of 22, has been featured as soloist with many orchestras and has won many prestigious competitions around the nation.
Kim Kashkashian, viola
Established as one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, Kashkashian has extensively enlarged the repertoire for the viola through her intense and continuous work with such composers as Gubaidulina, Kancheli, Kurtág, Mansurian and Penderecki.
James VanValkenburg, viola
James VanValkenburg, Assistant Principal Violist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, came to orchestral playing after a satisfying career in chamber music. As a founding member of the International String Quartet, he toured the world with concerts in Europe, the Far East, South America, and the United States. The Quartet won several notable prizes, including the Munich Competition, East & West Artists of New York, and First Prize in the Premier Grand Prix at the International Chamber Music Competition in Evian, France.
Paul Katz, cello Sandra & Claude Reitelman and Marguerite Munson Lentz & David Lentz
Known to concertgoers around the world as cellist of the Cleveland Quartet, Katz has also formally served on the faculty of both Rice University and the Eastman School of Music. He is the Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival’s Shouse Institute.
Yehuda Hanani, cello Paul Katz Cello Chair in Memory of Morris D. Baker
Receiving acclaim and reengagements throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia and his native Israel for his charismatic playing and profound interpretations, Hanani is an extraordinary recitalist and is equally renowned for his performances with orchestras. He is Professor of Cello at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Robert deMaine, cello Sponsored by Cecilia Benner
Praised by The New York Times as an artist who makes one hang on every note ,deMaine has distinguished himself as one of the finest musicians of his generation, having performed to critical acclaim as soloist, recitalist, recording artist and chamber musician throughout the world. He was appointed Principal Cellist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2002.
Debra Fayroian, cello
Fayroian captivates audiences with her musical insight and beauty of tone. She served as a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1976 to 2006 and as a soloist with Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings and many Michigan orchestras. Now retired from the DSO, Fayroian founded and is Director of Chamber Music North and Northern Cello Retreat.
Philip Dikeman, flute
Assistant Principal Flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Philip Dikeman began playing with the DSO in 1992. A native of Ann Arbor, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in 1985 and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music in 1987, where he was named the George Wellington Memorial Scholar for his outstanding musical and academic excellence. Additionally, Dikeman has an active teaching studio and is an accomplished pianist with extensive accompanying experience.
Lisa Stidham, voice
Lisa Stidham is a member of the voice faculty at California State University, Los Angeles. She holds a DMA in Vocal Performance from the University of Southern California, MM in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and BA and MA degrees in musicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Stidham has sung in opera, concerts and recitals throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and South America. Her performance on New World Records of Stephen Hartkes Sons of Noah was hailed by New York Times critic Anthony Tomassini as a brilliantly performed tour-de-force. She is Past President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and maintains a private voice studio in Glendale, California.
Gwendolyn Burgett Thrasher, percussion
Gwendolyn Burgett Thrasher is currently Assistant Professor of Percussion at the Michigan State University College of Music. She began her musical career very early, studying piano and violin at the age of two. As a percussionist, Thrasher has maintained a career as an active solo, chamber, and orchestra musician. She has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, the Solists New York Orchestra, the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Lansing Symphony. Thrasher has also performed numerous solo recitals throughout the United States, Japan and China.
Biava Quartet Beverly Baker Young Artist Chair
The Biava Quartet is recognized as one of today’s most exciting young American string quartets. Winner of the Naumburg Chamber Music Award and numerous top prizes, the Quartet has established an enthusiastic following. The Biava Quartet made appearances at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival as a Shouse Institute ensemble in 2002 and again in 2003.
eighth blackbird
eighth blackbird is widely lauded for its unusual performing style - often playing from memory with virtuosic and theatrical flair - and its efforts to make new music accessible to wider audiences. The group is in residence at the University of Richmond and the University of Chicago. eighth blackbird appeared at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival as a Shouse Institute ensemble in 1997.
Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings
Establishing an international reputation through performances, touring and recording, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival’s host ensemble is committed to bringing to life the wonderful body of repertoire that utilizes between 6 and 20 musicians.
