Kneisel Hall enjoys a rich history of music, and a vast community of alumni. We’re excited to connect with you!
Class Notes
Native Mainer, Sophie Davis (Violin, Program for Maine Students, Young Artist 2015) is a violinist, climate change artist, and the Artistic Director of the Maine-based string quartet and artist collective, Halcyon.
Sophie and her sister Josie (YA ‘14 &’15) formed Halcyon in 2019, inspired by their love of chamber music and a desire to combine music with other art forms to tell stories. Both sisters attended Oberlin College and Conservatory where they studied with David Bowlin.
Growing up in Maine, Sophie and Josie participated in the MYMP before attending Kneisel Hall as Young Artists. “Since I was 10 years old, I’ve associated Kneisel Hall with music-making, friendship, and collaboration – the coachings, performances, and masterclasses transformed the way I think about playing with others and inspired the formation of Halcyon years later,” says Sophie.
Halcyon will perform throughout Maine at the end of March when they will be joined by cellist and Kneisel alum Ju Young Lee.
Published 3.21.25
Maude Cloutier (YA 2023, 2024) and fellow 2024 YA participants Ari Peraza-Webb and Jude Giddens met at Kneisel Hall this past summer as mentors for the Program for Maine Students.
They went on to play together for seven weeks in the Young Artist program.
In January, they reunited in Ohio for six concerts, including private and public performances in the Cleveland area.
Published 2.13.25
Former Executive Director Ellen Werner recently met up with cellist Chris Gross (YA 2002-2004) and pianist Steve Beck (YA 1996 & 2001) of the Da Capo Chamber Players at Bard College.
Da Capo Chamber Players is in residence twice a year at Bard, working with young composers.
The week culminates in a concert featuring their works.
Published 1.22.25
As members of the Poiesis Quartet, Sarah Ma (Violin, Young Artist, 2022), Jasper de Boor (Viola, Young Artist, 2020-2022), and Drew Dansby (Cello, Young Artist, 2020) received Gold Medal, Grand Prize, and the Lift Every Voice Prize at the 2023 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. This year, they were named winners of the 2024 Concert Artists Guild Louis & Susan Meisel Competition, receiving North American management through CAG. Important concerts have included a tour in Uruguay, a tour/residency at Italy’s Emilia Romagna Festival as part of the Fischoff Grand Prize, and a recording at Chicago’s Guarneri Hall. Their debut album, ‘as we are’ with label Bright Shiny Things is now available on all platforms and features world premiere recordings.
They are currently Graduate Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, where they recently gave world premieres of works by Kitty Brazelton and Brian Raphael Nabors. With values of commissioning new works and providing accessible music education, Poiesis has also organized numerous cost-free interdisciplinary music and art workshops for children across Cincinnati.
Published 12.13.24
Alex Hersh (YA, cello 2012- 2014) was a recent finalist in the Naumberg Competition. Of his time at Kneisel Hall, Alex says, “I had three of the best summers of my life there. I made lifelong friends and got to study some greatest pieces ever written with my heroes. I remember vividly coaching Berg Lyric suite and the Op. 3 string quartet with Joel Krosnick and Schubert “Death and the Maiden” and the G major quartet with Laurie Smukler.”
Alex is staying busy playing solo and chamber music concerts. He also co-runs a summer chamber music festival in Chicago each year called NEXUS Chamber Music with Kneisel Hall viola faculty member, Brian Hong.
Published 12.13.24
Congratulations to 2023 Young Artist, Wilhelm Magner, who was just appointed to the viola faculty at the University of Texas at Austin. Of his time at Kneisel Hall, Wilhelm said, “Spending a summer at Kneisel Hall was transformative for my musical and personal growth. I gained invaluable insights from both my peers and the exceptional faculty. The nurturing musical environment was ideal for developing my skills as a chamber musician and, in turn, as a person. I am deeply grateful to Kneisel for fostering such a special atmosphere, which has led to lasting memories and friendships.”
Published 10.10.24
Arnaud Sussmann (Young Artist 2000) provided an update on his career. “I am extremely fortunate to enjoy a varied musical life. Besides playing chamber music and solo concerts, I teach at Stony Brook University, I am the co-director of Music@Menlo‘s International program, and I am the artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach in Florida. My position as artistic director in Palm Beach has opened up an entirely new facet of my musical life. I love being able to craft and design special programs, invite great musicians to perform on the series, and enhance the cultural life of our community. The latest project we are about to announce, the Rising Artists of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, will provide intensive performance, career, and education/community engagement development opportunities to exceptionally talented emerging professional and conservatory level musicians.”
Published 10.10.24
Russell Houston (Cello, Young Artist, 2014-2015), as a member of the Balourdet Quartet, is an Avery Fisher Prize recipient for 2024 and winner of the 2024 Cleveland Quartet Award from Chamber Music America. The Balourdet Quartet has also premiered Karim Al-Zand’s String Quartet No. 4, “Strange Machines,” commissioned through a grant from Chamber Music America, in Wigmore Hall, and we invite you to enjoy a video of their performance. Russell’s quartet is currently the graduate quartet in residence at the University of Indiana and has graduated from the New England Conservatory’s Professional String Quartet Program. In Russell’s own words:
“I just wanted to share my gratitude for Kneisel for sharing the joy and spirit of chamber music with me. I’d never really been able to experience delving into the repertoire prior to my summers at Kneisel, and being able to share in the fun of music making really gave me ‘the bug.’ I think every day about the coachings and lessons I had at Kneisel and I wouldn’t be here without those experiences. Kneisel really meant a lot to me and completely changed how I think about music to this day!”
Published 4.11.24
Hannah Collins (Cello, Young Artist, 2005-2007), a professor at the University of Kansas and, as a member of duo New Morse Code, grand prize winner of the Ariel Avant Impact Performance Prize for advancement of social justice through music and art collaborations, has released a solo album, Resonance Lines. Accompanying video features with Strings Magazine and The Strad include Benjamin Britten Suite for Solo Cello, Op. 72, and in manus tuas by Caroline Shaw, also an alum.
Additionally, Hannah collaborates frequently with fellow alum Clara Lyon on projects such as Correspondence, a multimedia installation with Antonia Contro exhibited at the Carrie Secrist Gallery in Chicago. Hannah and Clara will be performing works by Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn on April 27 & 28 in Muskegon and Grand Rapids, MI.
Published 4.11.24
Larry Stomberg (Cello, Young Artist Program 1989 & 1990). “I’ve been on the faculty at the University of Delaware School of Music since 2004, and am currently Professor of Cello and Associate Director for Performance Studies.
After 13 seasons as cellist of the Serafin String Quartet, I am now a member of the Philadelphia-based Halcyon Consort. I am a founding member of the Techne Music Festival in Pennsylvania and was named the 2018 Delaware Division of the Arts Established Artist.
I remain active as a recitalist and have recently commissioned and premiered works by composers Ketty Nez, David Osbon, Richard Prior, Mazz Swift, and Alisa Rose.
Published 4.11.24
Mary Grace Johnson (Violin, Young Artist Program 2017 & 2018) has been appointed Assistant Professor of Violin at West Virginia University.
Published 3.1.2024
Julio Elizalde (Piano, Young Artist, 2004-2006) was recently appointed Associate Chair of Strings & Piano Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Published 3.1.2024
The Formosa Quartet, (with Kneisel Hall alumni, Wayne Lee, Violin, Young Artist 2006-2009) is honored to be named Eastern Michigan University’s 2023-2024 M. Thelma McAndless Distinguished Professors in the Humanities where they will be presenting their American Mirror Project.
The American Mirror Project is a collaborative initiative that holds up mirrors to America and highlights personal reflections of what America means. Centered around dynamic musical performances with the potential for cross-disciplinary collaboration, the project seeks to mirror diverse points of view and investigate complex socio-cultural issues in a thought-provoking exploration of American music.
“From January 14-20, we will be exploring themes of our American Mirror Project with the EMU and Southeastern Michigan community by presenting a series of free open rehearsals, conversations, and lecture presentations, culminating in a concert on Saturday, January 20, “The American Mirror Project | An Ypsilanti Mirror.”
This specially curated concert will mirror the history and present of the city of Ypsilanti and Eastern Michigan University including a short film and World Premiere of Dana Wilson’s “Mirror” for String Quartet and Narration incorporating personal Mirror statements contributed and performed by EMU students and faculty.
In addition to two residencies at EMU, the quartet is looking forward to a busy spring including returning to the University of Houston (where they are ensemble in residence) and tours in Chicago, Maui, Malaysia, and Taiwan, as well as an upcoming CD release of the complete works of George McKay.
Published 1.14.2024
Abi Fayette (Violin, Young Artist Program 2013 & 2014) has been appointed as the Artistic Director of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. The ensemble, largely self-governed, consistently selects artistic directors from within its ranks.
As the youngest of four musical siblings, Abi Fayette entered The Juilliard School’s pre-college program early in her studies and received guidance from Shirley Givens. She further honed her skills alongside notable mentors such as Ann Setzer, Kyung-Wha Chung, and Joseph Silverstein. Abi continued her education at the Curtis Institute of Music under the tutelage of Ida Kavafian and later at the New England Conservatory with Soovin Kim. In addition to her role in the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Abi is a dedicated member of the Catalyst Quartet.
Published 10.21.23
Technical Sgt. Ethan Hoppe (Violin, Young Artist Program, 2013 & 2014) has just been elected the concertmaster of United States Air Force Strings.
“The Air Force strings is a much smaller group than a typical symphony orchestra. We’re actually more analogous to a group of chamber players as we most frequently perform in string quartets, trios, and a mixed ensemble with accordion and bass that we call strolling strings. We also give public concerts as a string orchestra and as a symphony orchestra when we join our colleagues in the concert band. Our most common performances are at ceremonies and events for military and political leaders in the DC area.Playing so much chamber music for my job makes me think of my summers at Kneisel a lot. We wear a black shirt under our performance uniform, and I often wear the Kneisel summer t-shirt. Actually, on multiple occasions, a colleague of mine who is also a Kneisel alum (Atticus Mellor-Goldman) was wearing his T-shirt on the same days that I had mine on. We were there in different summers but connected over many nostalgic memories of the coaches and experiences.”
Wayne Lee (Violin, Young Artist, 2006-2009), currently in his 12th season with the Formosa Quartet, is performing at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society on December 3, in a program that culminates in Dvorak’s String Sextet with violist Hsin-Yun Huang and cellist Peter Wiley.
Published 10.21.23