Praised for her “gorgeous, rich tone” and fresh, insightful interpretations, Canadian violinist Gabrielle Després has emerged as a compelling young artist, enjoying a diverse career as a soloist and chamber musician. As a recent finalist of the 2025 Sibelius International Violin Competition, she was also first-prize winner of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the Juilliard Concerto Competition, and a top prize recipient at the Michael Hill, Elmar Oliveira, and Washington International Violin Competitions.

As a soloist, Gabrielle has appeared with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Juilliard Orchestra, Spokane Symphony, and Peninsula Symphony, among others. A passionate chamber musician, she has performed at the Marlboro Music Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, Music in the Vineyards, IMS Prussia Cove, and the Edmonton Summer Solstice Music Festival. Committed to using music as a force for connection, Gabrielle has also worked with Project: Music Heals Us, teaching and performing in carceral facilities across California. Alongside her dear friend Coco Mi, she is the co-founder of the NYC-based concert series, Lyrical Libations, which features pairings of chamber music and cocktails in intimate bars.

Gabrielle earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, as well as her Artist Diploma, at the Juilliard School as a proud recipient of the Kovner Fellowship. She will be serving as a Teaching Assistant at Juilliard for Catherine Cho beginning in the fall of 2026. Her formative mentors include Catherine Cho, Donald Weilerstein, Joseph Lin, Masao Kawasaki, Robert Uchida, and James Keene.

Gabrielle performs on a violin of Zosimo Bergonzi and a bow of Étienne Pajeot, graciously provided to her by CANIMEX INC., from Drummondville, Quebec, Canada.

Umi Garrett is a highly accomplished solo and chamber pianist, having performed numerous recitals in the United States and internationally. Most recently, she performed Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time with principal members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra including Danny Jin, John Sharp, and Stephen Williamson at the University of Chicago, and performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall in collaboration with double bassist Nina Bernat. She was also recently featured on Interlochen Public Radio as part of a chamber music residency with Viridian Strings. She has performed regularly through presenters such as the Clark Art Institute, the Dame Myra Hess Series, Bay Chamber Concerts, and the Chopin Foundation of the United States.

Umi was awarded first prize at The Juilliard School’s Concerto Competition, fourth prize at the 2020 National Chopin Piano Competition, and awarded the John Newmark Prize for Best Collaborative Pianist for her performances with finalist Nathan Meltzer at the 2023 Montreal International Violin Competition. During the summers, Umi is a Staff Collaborative Pianist for the Program for Piano and Strings at the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, under the leadership of Artistic Director Midori. Umi has released three solo albums and released her debut chamber album in 2024 of the complete Beethoven Cello Sonatas under PARMA Recordings. Umi has received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance at the Juilliard School where she was a recipient of the Kovner Fellowship, and previously served as a Collaborative Piano Fellow at the Yale School of Music. She is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at The Juilliard School with Hung-Kuan Chen and Shai Wosner. Umi is a Young Steinway Artist.