Chicago native Katia Sofia Waxman is a clarinetist and educator based in northern Michigan, where she maintains a studio of talented young players at Interlochen Arts Academy, the nation’s premier arts high school. An avid chamber musician, Katia has appeared with the Newport String Project, members of Decoda, and the Green Room Ensemble. She has also deepened her love for small ensemble playing through annual studies at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music (NH). Recent festival appearances include fellowships at Music Academy of the West and Bowdoin International Music Festival. Additionally, Katia has appeared at the Chautauqua Institution, Brevard Music Center, and the Decoda Chamber Music Festival.

Committed to shaping a more diverse and equitable classical music landscape, Katia was selected to participate in the pilot class of Oberlin Conservatory’s Music Leadership Career Community. She also held a teaching fellowship with Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program, a tuition-free pre-college program for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Katia holds degrees in music and economics from Oberlin and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School.

Ya-Ju Chuang is an active performer and educator, appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, and collaborative pianist. She has received numerous awards and scholarships in both Taiwan and the United States, including First Prize at the Charleston International Music Competition, Golden Classical Music Awards, Brussels Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, American Protégé International Competition, Michigan State University Concerto Competition, and the Tuesday Musical Association Scholarship Competition. She was also a National Finalist in The American Prize in Piano Performance (Concerto) – The Lorin Hollander Award and a top-prize winner at the National Taiwan Piano Competition.

As a collaborative pianist, Chuang has performed with distinguished artists such as Robert Chen, Martin Chalifour, Elaine Douvas, Santino Fontana, Leelanee Sterrett, Jim Walker, Yevgeny Kutik, Susan Babini, and Patrick Williams. Her performances have been featured on NPR’s “From the Top”, WKAR Public Media, and Interlochen Public Radio, as well as in the Traverse Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Series, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra’s Sunday Series, and Alluvion Concert Series. Chuang holds a D.M.A. in Piano Performance and M.M. in Piano Pedagogy from Michigan State University, M. M. in Piano Performance from Kent State University, and currently serves as Collaborative Pianist at Interlochen Arts Academy and Piano Instructor at the Traverse City Philharmonic Community Music School.