Program

Full Program (PDF)

About the Artists

Julia Yang

Praised for “her sense of joyful virtuosity” as concerto soloist (South Florida Classical Review), Julia Yang is a courageous and soulful cellist, multi-faceted performer, and founding member of the “riveting” (Reading Eagle) and “impeccably elegant” Merz Trio (All About the Arts).

As chamber musician, Yang has been called the “stunning find of the evening” (New York Classical Review), has been noted for her “deep tone” and “precision,” and has performed throughout the United States and internationally in Europe, Mexico, Australia and Canada (South Florida Classical Review). Festival performances include the Marlboro Music Festival, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, Yellow Barn, Perlman Chamber Music Program, the Taos School of Music, Britten-Pears’ Young Artist Program, and Poland’s Krzyzowa-Music. Her chamber performances have been broadcast on national radio throughout the United States as well as in the UK, Germany and Poland, and she can be heard on CD with the Merz Trio’s 2021 release of INK (hailed as “entrancing” by the BBC) as well as with the Aldeburgh Strings (Linn Records).

Yang has toured as principal cellist of the New World Symphony where she was a fellow for two seasons. She has extensive experience as principal cellist under conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Susanna Malkki, James Gaffigan, John Adams, Leonard Slatkin and Nicholas McGegan in venues including Carnegie Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, the Kennedy Center and Miami’s New World Center and Arsht Center.

As educator and pedagogue, Yang teaches a small number of private students, has given masterclasses at MIT, Iowa State University and the University of Tennessee, the New England Conservatory’s Prep Division and as artist faculty at C’est Bon Chamber Music Camp. In addition, Yang has worked as a Mentor at the Four Seasons Chamber Music Institute and as an Interactive Performance Coach at Carnegie Hall’s Audience Engagement Intensive. As an alum of Ensemble Connect, Yang has held educational residencies at Skidmore College, and has created and performed dozens of interactive performances for diverse audiences across NYC. Yang is an alum of Northwestern University, studying with Hans Jørgen Jensen, and the New England Conservatory, studying with Laurence Lesser and Yeesun Kim.

Jung-A Bang

Praised for her “charming and uncompromised virtuosic playing” by the Calgary Herald, pianist Jung-A Bang has appeared in prestigious concert halls across the world as a soloist and collaborative artist. Ms. Bang has performed in venues including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall; Merkin Hall in New York City; Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center; Jordan Hall in Boston; Chicago’s Cultural Center (live-streamed by WFMT;) and IBK Hall at Korea Arts Center and Ewon Arts Center, both in Seoul, Korea.

In high demand as a collaborative pianist, Ms.Bang has served on the staff of Banff International Music Program and Aspen Music Festival, as well as at major music schools, including The Juilliard School and New England Conservatory.

A native of South Korea, Ms. Bang holds a Bachelor of Piano degree from New England Conservatory, a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from The Juilliard School, and a Doctorate degree in Collaborative Piano from New England Conservatory. Ms. Bang is currently a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Walnut Hill School for the Arts.