Sarah Shafer, soprano
Hye-Jin Kim, violin
Hsin-Yun Huang, viola
Peter Stumpf, cello
Cynthia Raim, piano

Praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer for her, “crystalline sound, perfectly true intonation, glowing warmth, and total presence” and named “remarkable, artistically mature … a singer to watch” by Opera News, American soprano Sarah Shafer actively appears on the leading operatic and concert stages of the world.

The 2023-24 season sees Ms. Shafer returning to the role of Nuria in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar with Pacific Opera Victoria, and creating the role of Sophia in the world premiere of Layale Chaker’s Ruinous Gods at the Spoleto Festival, USA. She will also appear with the Florida Orchestra singing Handel’s Messiah, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra singing Faure’s Requiem. She recently created the role of the Empress in the world premiere of Jacob Bancks’ Karkinos and also portrayed Krystyna Zywulska in Jake Heggie’s Two Remain with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. Last season she made her debut with the Kalamazoo Symphony as the soprano soloist in Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem and with the Bellingham Symphony singing Mozart’s Requiem. Recent performances have included a return to Opera Philadelphia, first in a program entitled “Larry Brownlee and Friends” and then for a concert of arias hosted at the Mann Center. She also joined frequent collaborator Opera Lafayette as Jeanette in Philidor’s La maréchal ferrant, and presented a virtual recital for Friends of Chamber Music Portland (Oregon).

During the 2019-2020 season, Ms. Shafer returned to Opera Philadelphia for a comedic turn as Iris in Semele, sang Cupid in John Blow’s Venus and Adonis with Opera Lafayette, and joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in Le nozze di Figaro, covering the role of Barbarina. She presented Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Pari with the Cincinnati Symphony, a concert entitled “Emerging Voices” with the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with the Omaha Symphony. Recital appearances included a collaboration with Martin Katz and the University Musical Society at University of Michigan presenting Hugo Wolf’s Mörike Lieder. Two recordings were released: Poul Ruders’ The Thirteenth Child with Bridge Records, and with Naxos Records, Richard Danielpour’s Talking to Aphrodite.

In opera, Sarah Shafer is experiencing a burgeoning career, including a debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Azema in Semiramide, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with San Diego Opera, and her role and company debut in the title role of L’incoronazione di Poppea with Cincinnati Opera. Ms. Shafer has appeared with San Francisco Opera as Pamina in Jun Kaneko’s production of Die Zauberflöte, Mary Lennox in the world premiere of Nolan Gasser’s The Secret Garden, Zerlina in Jacopo Spirei’s new production of Don Giovanni, and the world premiere of Marco Tutino’s Two Women in the role of Rosetta, opposite Anna Caterina Antonacci and conducted by Nicola Luisotti. She had an enormous success in her return to Opera Philadelphia as Adina in Stephen Lawless’ production of L’elisir d’amore. Elsewhere, she has sung Leïla in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles at Tulsa Opera, Barbarina and the cover of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro at the Glyndebourne Festival and with the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall, and several roles for Opera Philadelphia including Nuria in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar and Voce dal Cielo in Don Carlo.

In her young career, Ms. Shafer has enjoyed notable success in concert work. She has performed Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and San Antonio Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, and Oregon Bach Festival, Bach’s St. John Passion with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Voices of Ascension in New York City, Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Bergen Symphony Orchestra and Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Les Illuminations and “L’amerò, sarò costante” from Il Rè Pastore with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, the world premiere of Richard Danielpour’s “Talking to Aphrodite” with the Sejong Soloists at Carnegie Hall, Bach’s Mass in B minor with the New York Choral Society, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Poulenc’s Gloria and Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Handel’s Messiah with the Eugene Symphony Orchestra, and Shanan Estreicher’s Songs of Emily Dickinson with the Chamber Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall.

An avid recitalist and chamber musician, Ms. Shafer enjoys an active collaboration with legendary pianist Richard Goode, having performed Schumann and Brahms lieder with him at Carnegie Hall, Spivey Hall, Chamber Music Sedona, and Chamber Music Society of Detroit as well as other venues in Palm Beach and New York. She has performed Schubert’s Der Hirt auf dem Felsen with clarinetist Anthony McGill at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and Five Borough Music Festival. She has also collaborated with such musicians as guitarist Jason Vieaux, Anna Polonsky, and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. Ms. Shafer was a resident artist at the Marlboro Music Festival for five summers, where she worked with Richard Goode, Mitsuko Uchida, Benita Valente, Sir Thomas Allen, and Martin Isepp. She actively appears with the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Mozart and Handel Académie in Aix-en-Provence, Bard Summer Music Festival, and Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary.

A native of State College, PA, Ms. Shafer holds degrees in voice and opera from the Curtis Institute of Music, and is currently based outside Philadelphia.

Violinist Hye-Jin Kim is renowned for her musical sensitivity and deeply engaging performances that transport audiences beyond technical virtuosity. Her distinguished career as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician includes winning First Prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition at age nineteen and the Concert Artists Guild International Competition.

Kim has performed as soloist with major orchestras worldwide, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, New Haven Symphony, BBC Concert Orchestra (UK), Seoul Philharmonic (Korea), Pan Asia Symphony (Hong Kong), and Hannover Chamber Orchestra (Germany). She has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, Kimmel Center Verizon Hall, the Kravis Center, Salzburg's Mirabel Schloss, and London's St. John's Smith Square and Wigmore Hall. At the invitation of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, she served as a cultural representative through concerts and outreach engagements in Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, including performances at the U.N. Headquarters in Geneva and New York.

A passionate chamber musician, Kim has appeared at renowned festivals including Marlboro, Ravinia, Four Seasons, Music from Angel Fire, Music@Menlo, Taos School of Music, Seoul Spring, Bridgehampton, Music in the Vineyards, and Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music in England. Deeply committed to nurturing young talent, she frequently presents master classes throughout the United States and founded the Summer Chamber Music Institute at East Carolina University for gifted pre-college musicians. Her debut CD, “From the Homeland,” recorded with pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute, features works by Debussy, Smetana, Sibelius, and Janacek. American Record Guide praised the recording as "superb - warm, polished, expressive.”

Born in Seoul, Korea, Kim entered the Curtis Institute of Music at age 14 and completed her master's degree at the New England Conservatory. She currently serves as Associate Professor of Violin at East Carolina University and teaches at Taos School of Music as a member of the Cooperstown Quartet. Kim is the founder and artistic director of Lullaby Dreams, a non-profit organization bringing the healing power of music to babies, families, and medical staff in NICUs and children's hospitals.

Hsin-Yun Huang has established herself as one of the foremost violists of her generation, recognized for her artistry on international stages, her commitment to commissioning and recording new works, and her dedication to mentoring young musicians. She has appeared as soloist with leading ensembles including the Berlin Radio Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Bogotá Philharmonic, NCPA Orchestra in Beijing, Zagreb Soloists, International Contemporary Ensemble, London Sinfonia, Taiwan Philharmonic, Taipei City Symphony, and Brazil Youth Orchestra. She has performed under the batons of David Robertson, Osmo Vänskä, Xian Zhang, Max Valdés, and many others, and was the first violist to appear as a concerto soloist at Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts. Her festival appearances include Marlboro, Santa Fe, Rome, Spoleto USA, Moritzburg, Music@Menlo, Chamber Music Northwest, La Jolla, and the Seoul Spring Festival. She also tours extensively with the Brentano String Quartet, most notably in performances of Mozart’s complete string quintets at Carnegie Hall.

A passionate advocate for music education, Ms. Huang founded VivaViola!, a hybrid educational platform dedicated to expanding the viola repertoire and preserving musical traditions through dialogue with distinguished artists.

Recent highlights include performances with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Tippet Rise, La Jolla Chamber Music Festival, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, and on Marlboro tours. To reimagine the stage, she has created projects such as Strings of Soul, with pipa virtuoso Wu Man; FantaC, a collaboration with Ashkenazy Ballet inspired by the viola’s C string; and the forthcoming sisila ila ila: saying goodbye, a musical poem on the environment incorporating shadow puppetry and whale song, created with composer Shih-Hui Chen and director Doug Fitch, to premiere at Taiwan’s National Theater and Concert Hall.

Her recent commissions include James MacMillan’s Viola Quintet, premiered with the Brentano String Quartet at the Amsterdam Biennale; Eric Nathan’s Double Concerto No. 2 for Two Violas, with co-soloist Misha Amory and the New York Classical Players at Jordan Hall; as well as Steven Mackey’s Groundswell, Lei Liang’s Mother Song, and Poul Ruders’s Romances.

Her recordings include Viola Viola on Bridge Records, praised by Gramophone and BBC Music Magazine. More recent releases are FantaC (2020), a collection of solo works based on the viola’s C string, and Viola Lens (2019), featuring Bach’s complete unaccompanied sonatas and partitas with Misha Amory. Her latest recording, VivaViola, presents new arrangements for viola and piano.

Born in Taiwan, Ms. Huang studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School, The Curtis Institute of Music, and The Juilliard School. She has taught masterclasses at the Guildhall School in London, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, the San Francisco Conservatory, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, and the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. She has served on the juries of the Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Tokyo International Viola Competition, the Melbourne Chamber Music Competition, and the Hindemith Competition.

She first gained international recognition in 1988 as the youngest-ever gold medalist of the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. In 1993, she won a top prize at the ARD International Competition in Munich and received the prestigious Bunkamura Orchard Hall Award. From 1994 to 2000, she was a member of the Borromeo String Quartet.

Ms. Huang currently serves on the viola faculties of The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music. Her teachers include David Takeno, Peter Norris, Yehudi Menuhin, Michael Tree, and Samuel Rhodes. She lives in New York City with her husband, violist Misha Amory of the Brentano String Quartet, and their two children, Lucas and Leah. She performs on a 1735 Testore viola.

Peter Stumpf is professor of cello at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Prior to his appointment, he was principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Stumpf's tenure in Los Angeles followed 12 years as associate principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. His professional orchestral career began at the age of 16 when he joined the cello section of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He received a bachelor's degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and an Artist's Diploma from the New England Conservatory.

A dedicated chamber music musician, he is a member of the Johannes String Quartet and has appeared on the chamber music series at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, the Boston Celebrity Series, the Da Camera Society in Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Casals Hall in Tokyo, and at the concert halls of Cologne. He has performed with the chamber music societies of Boston and Philadelphia and at the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico as well as the Festivals of Marlboro, Santa Fe, Bridgehampton, Ottawa, Great Lakes, Ojai, Spoleto, and Aspen. He has toured with Music from Marlboro, the Casals Hall Ensemble in Japan, and with pianist Mitsuko Uchida in performances of the complete Mozart Piano Trios. He has collaborated with pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Emmanuel Ax, Jorge Bolet, Yefim Bronfman, Radu Lupu, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Andras Schiff, Jean Yves Thibaudet, Mitsuko Uchida, and with the Emerson and Guarneri String Quartets. Most recently, the Johannes Quartet has collaborated with the Guarneri Quartet on tour in performances including commissions from composers William Bolcom and Esa Pekka Salonen.

Concerto appearances have been with the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony, the Vermont Symphony, the Connecticut String Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, the American Youth Symphony, and at the Aspen Music Festival. As a recitalist, he has performed at the Universities of Hartford, Syracuse, and Delaware, at Jordan Hall in Boston, and at the Philips and Corcoran Galleries in Washington, D.C. Most recently, he performed the Six Suites for Solo Cello by J. S. Bach on the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society Series and on the Chamber Music in Historic Sites Series in Los Angeles. His awards include first prize in the Washington International Competition, the Graham-Stahl Competition, and the Aspen Concerto Competition and second prize in the Evian International String Quartet Competition.

As a former member of the Boston Musica Viva, he has explored extended techniques, including microtonal compositions and numerous premieres. As a teacher, he has served on the cello faculty of the University of Southern California, Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, the New England Conservatory, and guest artist faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music as well as at the Yellow Barn Music Festival and the Musicorda Summer String Program. He has conducted master classes at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Manhattan and Mannes Schools of Music, Iowa and Pennsylvania State Universities, the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Seoul National University, Temple University, and at the Universities of Delaware and Michigan.

Cynthia Raim came to international attention when she was unanimously chosen as the First Prize Winner of the 1979 Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland, after winning First Prizes in the 1977 Three Rivers National Piano Competition in Pittsburgh and the J. S. Bach International Piano Competition in Washington DC. She has been acclaimed for her concerto, recital, and chamber music performances throughout the United States and abroad and also won the 1987 Pro Musicis Award, the Festorazzi Award at the Curtis Institute and the "Distinguished Artist Award" from The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia.

Cynthia Raim has appeared in recitals with soprano Benita Valente, cellist David Soyer, violinist Arnold Steinhardt, violist Samuel Rhodes, and the Guarneri String Quartet and has recorded for Gall, Pantheon, and Connoisseur Society, including solo albums of Ravel, Schumann, Brahms, and Schubert and two-piano recordings of Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Dvořák with David Allen Wehr.

A native of Detroit, where she studied with Mischa Kottler, Ms. Raim studied with Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she earned bachelors and masters degrees.