About the Episode:

In this episode, pianist and singer Megan Liu explains the unique quality of music to bridge generations, express emotions, and bring joy to others.

About the Artist:

Megan Liu, a junior at Newport High School, is a pianist and (casual) singer. She moved to WA from Beijing when she was 10 years old. She has been playing piano for 12 years and singing for 8 years. She sometimes plays the piano or ukulele to accompany her singing. She has been part of Project Andante, a student-led music performance organization, for almost 4 years. She likes to perform classical and pop music renditions. Outside of music, she enjoys exploring Indie video games, watching theories and ARGs on YouTube, running around her neighborhood, and hanging out with her little sister.

Intro/outro music: Debussy Suite bergamasque, L. 75: I. Prélude , performed by Megan Liu

About the Episode:

In this episode, violinist Mia Hong explains the unique curriculum of Juilliard Precollege, shares notable memories from summer programs, and speaks about focusing on self-growth.

About the Artist:

Mia Hong is a 16-year-old violinist from New York. She studies with Ann Setzer at Juilliard Pre-College, and has previously attended the Meadowmount School of Music.

Intro /outro music: Clara Schumann Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22 (1853) I. Andante Molto, performed by Mia Hong

About the Episode:

How do musicians overcome frustrating performances and reach the highest efficiency possible while practicing? In this episode, violinist Brandon Hu explains the importance of planning, reflecting, researching composers and music history, and building a strong and loving relationship with oneself. Listen to Brandon share notable lessons from summer programs, speak about the intersection between music and writing, and give a framework for maintaining efficient practice every day.

About the Artist:

Brandon Hu is a sophomore at the John Burroughs School. Hu started playing the violin at three and at the age of eleven, started transitioning from a music lover to a serious musician. At the age of 9, he joined the Webster Community Music School’s (CMS) string orchestra. He joined CMS’s Young People’s Concert Orchestra in 2019 and was the principal of second violins at the Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra (YPSO) during the 2022-2023 season. During that season, he and YPSO were chosen to perform at the Missouri Music Educator Association.

Hu’s first concerto debut was with the Odyssey Chamber Series alongside two violinists performing the “Bach Triple Violin Concerto” as one of the winners of the Odyssey Concerto Competition in Columbia, Missouri. In 2023, he was awarded the runner-up at the Missouri state level in the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) in the junior string division.

At John Burroughs School, Hu, along with his classmates, founded the school’s first ever chamber music ensemble, The Burrough Trio, and performed at the school and around the St. Louis Area.

Hu has studied at music festivals such as Indiana University’s Jacob School of Music Summer String Academy in 2023, Meadowmount School of Music in 2024, and University of Michigan’s MPulse Center Stage Strings in 2025. He has received guidance from pedagogues like Mr. Pasha Sabouri, Mr. I-Hao Lee, Ms. Danielle Belen, Mr. Elbert Tsai, and Mr. Simon James.

Hu would like to thank his former teacher Ms. Celina Casado for guiding him on the very start of the violin. He thanks Ms. Joo Kim who has taught over the last 9 years and has helped him to grow as a musician and as a person.

Intro/outro music: Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37, performed by Brandon Hu

About the Episode:

How do musicians manage their everyday practice and deliver their best performances onstage? In this episode, cellist Ana Chirinos explains how she began playing the cello, her experiences with orchestra and chamber music, her preparation process for the National Sphinx Competition, advice for college auditions, and strategies for balancing music with academics.

About the Artist:

Ana is a 17-year-old cellist from Columbus, Georgia. Although she began on violin like her mother and sister, she soon realized she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and picked up the cello instead. She has earned first place in the Atlanta Music Club Scholarship Competition, received honorable mention in the Sphinx Competition and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, and was a finalist in both the Samuel Fordis Young Artists Concerto Competition and the Ronald Sachs International Music Competition. She is also an awardee of a full scholarship from the International Cello Institute.

Ana enjoys learning orchestral repertoire and listens to the music so often that she memorizes not only her part, but the parts of other sections too. One of her favorite works is Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade, a piece she finds cinematic, colorful, and full of vivid storytelling.

Intro Music: Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb/1, performed by Ana Chirinos at the 2026 Sphinx Competition Semi-Finals

About the Episode:

What does it take to be the Director of Education and Community Engagement at the Seattle Chamber Music Society? What are music conservatory and doctorate programs like? Why is music education so important?

In this episode, violist, educator, and director Marta Lambert answers these questions and shares notable lessons from her music experiences. Listen to Marta explain how she began playing the viola, her incredible music education journey, how she began working with the Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS), the multifaceted value of music, and strategies for remaining resilient.

About the Artist:

Márta Hortobágyi Lambert was born in Greenville, North Carolina, and began her musical studies on piano and violin, later developing a love for viola. Márta received her Undergraduate training in Viola Performance from East Carolina University with Melissa Reardon and Ara Gregorian, later transferring to The Juilliard School where she studied with Misha Amory and Hsin Yun Huang. Márta earned her Graduate Degree from Yale University with Steve Tenenbom and Ettore Causa, and graduated from The Juilliard School with a Doctorate of Musical Arts Degree under the tutelage of Roger Tapping and Steve Tenenbom in May 2024.

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Márta currently serves as the Director of Education and Community Engagement at Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS) where she leads the Academy for Chamber Music and curates community initiatives that aim to make classical music more accessible, relevant, and engaging to all audiences.

A passionate educator and advocate for the arts, Márta is currently on faculty at the Academy for Chamber Music at SCMS where she coaches pre-college level chamber groups. She previously held positions teaching violin, viola, chamber music, and general music studies at the Eisman Center for Preparatory Studies in Music (ECPSM), Kinhaven Music School, St. Davids School, and Suzuki on the Island (SOTI) where she additionally served on the administrative team under the directorship of Ani Gregorian Resnick. Márta has also held fellowship positions at The Juilliard School for music theory and ear training while also engaging with younger students in public school classrooms through Juilliard’s Morse Fellowship and Yale University’s Music in Schools Program.

Márta’s devotion to chamber music has created opportunities to perform with members of the Cleveland, Alban Berg, Brentano, Ensō, Orion, and Daedalus String Quartets, including performances with Miriam Fried, Ida Kavafian, Colin Carr, Maria Lambros, and Michael Kannen. Márta has also performed at music festivals including Donaueschingen Musiktage, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, Prussia Cove, Portland Chamber Music Festival, Four Seasons-Winter Workshop, and Kneisel Hall, where she was a founding member of the prize-winning Blue Hill String Quartet.

Márta was awarded the Dean’s Prize at Yale University in May 2019 and the Presser Foundation Graduate Music Award from The Juilliard School in March 2021, and most recently received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The Juilliard School as a recipient of the C.V. Starr Fellowship and the Richard F. French Doctoral Prize for her dissertation The Viola as a Voice of Lamentation: The Story Behind the Sound.

Intro and outro music: Last Leaf: In Memoriam (2022), I. Mr. Behrman by Iván Enrique Rodríguez, performed by Marta Hortobágyi Lambert, Viola, and Kevin Ahfat, Piano

About the Episode:

Many young musicians don't just focus on music - academics also make up a significant portion of their lives. As these musicians approach college applications, the burden of choosing between music and academics is especially daunting.

In this episode, singer, pianist, and recent NYU graduate Angela Wan speaks about her experience balancing musical and academic passions. Listen to Angela give advice on maintaining music in college, avoiding burnout, and appreciating the power of musical education.

About the Interviewee:

Angela is a singer, pianist, and visual artist. A blend of classical and contemporary musical experiences, in both solo and group settings, has imbued her with a profound appreciation for the transformative impact music can have on young lives. She is passionate about improving the accessibility of early musical education and is excited to be part of a generation of musicians who are equally invested in mobilizing music as a vessel of positivity and empowerment.

Intro/outro music: Granados "The Maiden and the Nightingale," performed by Angela Wan

About the Episode:

What makes an amazing chamber rehearsal? How do musicians communicate their musical ideas? How do teenagers practice productively and manage their time?

In this episode, violinist Eidee Tan speaks about her beginnings with the violin, her exciting chamber music journey, tips on how to have an effective performance, a strong mindset for managing time, and much more. Listen to Eidee combine her music training with insights from professional mentors and psychology knowledge!

About the Artist:

Eidee is a Seattle-based student violinist, chamber musician, and ensemble leader who began her violin studies during the Covid-19 pandemic and quickly discovered a passion for connecting with others through music. She has been a member of the Seattle Chamber Music Society Youth Academy for the past three years, performing in winter and summer festival pre-concert recitals and presenting full chamber music programs in Tacoma and other regional venues.She serves as concertmaster and section leader in school and community orchestras, including Newport High School and Seattle Youth Symphony, and is actively involved in coaching and mentoring younger musicians. Eidee currently studies with Professor Ronald Patterson, a former student of Jascha Heifetz, and Simon James of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Intro/outro music: Kodály Serenade, Op.12 , performed by Eidee Tan, Caileen Wan, and Zachery Pun

About the Episode:

Is music the right path? When students begin their musical training very early, they often face the challenge of deciding if music is a passion or an obligation. Especially with the addition of academic work and other extracurricular commitments, navigating music studies can become incredibly overwhelming.

In this episode, singer and violinist Julia Hu shares the importance of taking a step back and reassessing one's commitment to music. Listen to hear her speak about the mutual benefits of vocal and violin training, comparisons between group and solo music making, and her perspective on what it really means to love music.

About the Artist:

Julia Hu is an 11th grader at Lakeside School in Seattle. She has been playing the violin since age 5 and singing since age 11. She has been concertmaster of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra twice, qualified for state Solo & Ensemble in violin, and accepted to the NafME NW Regional Orchestra. Additionally, she was a finalist in Solo & Ensemble for voice and accepted to WMEA All-State Choir. Outside of music, Julia likes to draw, read, and cox on her school crew team.

Intro and outro music: Lalo Symphonie espagnole, Op.21 , performed by Julia Hu