Brought together by friendship, a shared passion for artistic integrity, and determination to fuse tradition with modern values, Merida Trio combines the bold and dynamic voices of three of Chicago’s finest chamber musicians. Combining 42 years of collective chamber music experience with groups including Fifth House Ensemble, Duo FAE, and Kontras Quartet, Katherine, Charlene and Jean have joined forces to explore the potential of their collaborative energy. With a particular interest in championing music by female composers, they infuse every performance with their celebrated craftsmanship and dramatic flair. Coming off of the success of their debut recital in the fall of 2024, Merida Trio is on track to be a cherished gem in the Chicago chamber music scene with several highly anticipated appearances scheduled for the coming season. Discover more at www.meridatrio.com.

Known for her soulful, expressive playing style, Jean Hatmaker is one of the most versatile and sought-after cellists in the Chicago area with a diverse portfolio of solo and collaborative projects, including several chamber ensembles and regional orchestras across the Midwest. Jean is a founding member of Chicago-based Kontras Quartet, a beloved ensemble known for its well-crafted performances, diverse programming, and accessible audience relations. She appears regularly on the Bach Cantata Vespers Series in River Forest, IL, is principal cellist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, and is a rostered member of Kalamazoo Symphony, Madison Symphony, and the Chicago Philharmonic. Jean received both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance from Indiana University, where she studied with Helga Winold and Janos Starker, and plays a modern cello by Lawrence Wilke, using Hill, Bearden, and Arcus bows.

From giving her debut recital of a mostly Chopin program at age twelve to performing some of George Crumb’s most monumental chamber and solo works at the Crumb Festival, a 90th birthday celebration of the famed composer, pianist Katherine Petersen embraces a wide array of piano repertoire. She has been hailed by the Chicago Tribune for having “captured the sense of wonder” and was lauded at her Carnegie Hall debut at age 17 for creating “real music-making– concentrated and deeply felt” by Edith Eisler of Strings Magazine. She is currently pianist for the Merida Trio, the Way Out Ensemble, and Duo FAE,  which is set to release its inaugural CD “Dissidents of the Gilded Age” with Albany Records in the Fall of 2025. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the New England Conservatory of Music, and her Master’s and Doctorate at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University.

Hailed for her “unsentimental verve, musical feeling and great technical skill” (New York Classical Review), Charlene Kluegel is known for a diversity that transcends traditional boundaries of classical music. An award winning violinist, her performances as a soloist and chamber musician have taken her to the Ravinia Festival’s Bennett Gordon Hall, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Kennedy Center, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. She collaborated on Patois’s explorative CD of Latin Jazz “Canto America” which was nominated for a GRAMMY – Best Latin Jazz Album. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and Cornell University, she earned her doctorate from Indiana University’ Jacobs School of Music as a recipient of the Artistic Excellence Award. She currently teaches at Carthage College and the Zodiac Music Festival and receives ongoing string sponsorship from Larsen Strings.