JONAH KIM, CELLO

Critically acclaimed cellist Jonah Kim made his solo debut with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2003. The same year, he also appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra in DC where the Washington Post called him simply, "the next Yo-Yo Ma." Mr. Kim graduated from the Juilliard School then the prestigious Curtis Institute in spring of 2006 while still only 17 years old, and has soloed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia, Symphony of the Americas, Orquestra Sinfônica Nacional and many others. He has performed recitals at the prestigious Phillips Collection, Kimmel Center, Kravis Center and the Kennedy Center where Anne Midgette of the Washington Post wrote, "Kim can do pretty much what he wants on a cello... He flirted with the line, shaped it, wrapped it around his fingers, pulled it out in a new dimension, all with practiced ease."

Born in Seoul, Korea, Mr. Kim immigrated to the United States at the age of seven. His father, a pastor at a Korean Presbyterian Church in New York, introduced him to the cello. Despite having no formal musical training, he possessed a keen ear for music. By playing with VHS tapes of Pablo Casals play the Bach's Solo Cello Suites, young Jonah learned strictly by imitation. Within the year, the seven year old was invited to the Juilliard School with full scholarship. He began his professional training at Juilliard, and learned to read music, but it was not until he played for Janos Starker the next summer that he became sure music was his calling. He was attending a New York City public school, learning to speak English, and adjusting to life in the United States. He and his father wrote to Janos Starker for advice. Starker's invitation to play at his masterclass at Indiana University was pivotal, inspiring the young cellist to continue with renewed motivation. Starker later remarked, "Jonah is an exceptional talent. He is at the top of his generation.”

Mr. Kim's recordings and live performances can be heard on national and local radio and TV networks. He also records for popular artists and has collaborated live in concert with Andrea Bocelli, Mariah Carey, Cristian Castro, Vic Damone and Kenny Rogers to name a few. He plays a Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume made in 1845 as well as a 2015 Haide Lin. His bow is by Jules Fétique from the workshop of Eugène Sartory in Paris circa 1904.

Jonah is an exceptional talent. He is at the top of his generation. - Janos Starker

Think Lang Lang, think Yuja Wang. Jonah Kim, the 22-year-old cellist who gave a recital at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater on Sunday afternoon, is cut from the same cloth... Kim can do pretty much what he wants on a cello. He played with a lot of finesse and a lot of intensity... He flirted with the line, shaped it, wrapped it around his fingers, pulled it out in a new dimension, all with practiced ease... Kim showed that he has all the goods to excel and to entertain. - Anne Midgette, Washington Post

MINJIA LIU, OBOE

Mingjia Liu joined the San Francisco Opera as Principal Oboe in 2010. Recognized for his charismatic performing skill and “singing ability” on the instrument, he is currently the youngest Principal Oboist of all professional orchestras in the United States. He was selected out of nearly 180 applicants for his outstanding playing and musicianship.

Since joining the orchestra, Mr. Liu has received many favorable reviews from critics: “…The standout was Principal Oboist, Mingjia Liu, who played his solos exceptionally well. This however comes as no surprise as Liu’s technique is always clean and flawless in the pit…” by GB Opera Magazine, and from Nicola Luisotti, Music Director of the San Francisco Opera as “having his sound come from God”.

In 2009, at the age of 21, he won the position of Principal Oboe at the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra under the directorship of Michael Stern. During that time, he collaborated with such artists as Gil Shaham and Emmanuel Pahud among others. In his short tenure with that orchestra before coming to the San Francisco Opera in 2010, he received many favorable reviews among the local critics:

The Kansas City Journal of Performing Arts wrote “Principal Oboist Mingjia Liu displayed especially brilliant and eager playing in his featured melodies.”

The Kansas City Star wrote “Principal Oboist Mingjia Liu was notable for his wonderful solo lines…”

In addition to playing with The San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Mr. Liu has also appeared as a guest on stage with the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the China National Symphony Orchestra. In 2011, he made his debut as a soloist with the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra and was especially lauded by Chinese critics. On his most recent tour of China, he was seen as an emerging star of western classical music. Recognized not only for his outstanding performing skills, Mingjia Liu is gaining considerable recognition as a teacher both in the United States and abroad. He continues to show his enthusiasm for education through this genre as can be attested by his recent invitation from the Central Conservatory of Music to give both recitals and master classes at the First Beijing International Oboe Festival. Future teaching engagements include a teaching appearance at his Alma Mater, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

RUFUS OLIVER, BASSOON

Rufus David Olivier studied music at Azusa Pacific University, where his teachers were David Breidenthal, Principal Bassoonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, ret., and his father, Rufus Olivier Jr, Principal bassoonist of the SF Opera and the SF Ballet. He has performed in some of the most renowned venues in the world, including the Musikverein of Vienna, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr. Olivier performs regularly with the SF Opera, the SF Ballet, and the Berkeley Symphony. Mr. Olivier enjoys performing chamber music, teaching, and promoting musical appreciation to young people in his community.

MONI SIMEONOV, VIOLIN

A native of Bulgaria, Simeon Simeonov began playing the violin at age 5, and came to the United States in 1997 on a full scholarship to the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. He is currently a student in the doctoral program at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he studies with Midori Goto. An active member of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra, Mr. Simeonov is also assistant concertmaster of the Sacramento Philharmonic and has served as a guest musician with the LA Chamber Orchestra under Jeffrey Kahane. Additionally, he has been involved in recording numerous soundtracks. Recent performance highlights include Memphis and Mobile in the Southern U.S., Connecticut, Los Angeles and New York City. On tour and at USC, Mr. Simeonov dedicates considerable time and energy to community engagement work and to musical activities and presentations for young people.

Mr. Simeonov served as concertmaster of Idyllwild’s International Chamber Orchestra, and his prize-winning performance at the Academy’s concerto competition was recorded and distributed on CD. Upon graduation from Idyllwild, Mr. Simeonov was named “Most Outstanding Musician” of his class. He continued his education at the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Zvi Zeitlin on full scholarship, earned first prize at the school’s concerto competition, and was awarded a Performer’s Certificate. Having earned his Artist Diploma from Yale University, Mr. Simeonov completed his Masters in Music there with Ani Kavafian and was concertmaster for the Yale Philharmonia Orchestra and New Music Ensemble. Following Yale, Mr. Simeonov earned his Graduate Certificate Degree from USC’s Thornton School of Music, where he studied with Midori Goto and was given the Outstanding Student Award in May 2009. To supplement and enhance his collegiate experiences, Mr. Simeonov has attended several summer performance festivals, including Tanglewood, the Music Academy of the West, Pacific Music Festival and the New York String Orchestra Seminar.

While at Yale, Mr. Simeonov was a violinist in the New Haven Symphony, and he has served as concertmaster for the NY-based Bulgarian Virtuosi and Young Soloists of New York chamber orchestras. In 2008, Mr. Simeonov performed as concertmaster in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade with the SoliAll Orchestra in Seoul, Korea; he was the concertmaster of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra under James Levine in 2009. Past chamber music collaborations have involved members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Tokyo and Ying String Quartets, as well as Jerome Lowenthal, Giora Schmidt, Joseph Silverstein and Zvi Zeitlin.

ROMAN FUKSHANSKY, CLARINET

Roman Fukshansky serves as principal clarinet with the Berkeley Symphony, Symphony Napa Valley, and as acting principal clarinet with the Modesto Symphony. He appears regularly as a guest musician with the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Opera, as well as with virtually all San Francisco Bay Area orchestras. Roman has performed on several concert tours with the San Francisco Symphony under the direction of MTT, appeared as principal clarinet with the Verbier Chamber Orchestra, and participated in the festivals of Sun Valley in Idaho, Sarasota, Idyllwild, AIMS in Graz, and at the White Night Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. As an educator, Roman is on faculty at San Francisco Conservatory’s Pre-College Division, UC Santa Cruz, and at CSU Stanislaus, and maintains a highly esteemed private studio in Mountain View, California.

An avid chamber musician, Roman is co-founder of the exciting new chamber music consortium Ensemble San Francisco, and performs regularly as a chamber musician and recitalist with many of the Bay Area institutions. Roman received his education from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and the Manhattan School of Music. His principal teachers include David Neuman, Luis Baez, Yehuda Gilad, and Mark Nuccio.

CHRISTINE MCLEAVEY PAYNE, PIANO

A prizewinner at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition, Christine McLeavey Payne was featured on Radio France and France TV. Ms. Payne has performed in such venues as Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, the Kingston Chamber Music Festival with Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster David Kim, the Banff International Keyboard Festival, and the Tanglewood Music Festival. She has also worked as a rehearsal pianist for the New York Philharmonic. She resides now in Portola Valley, CA with her husband and two sons. Ms. Payne completed her masters in the spring of 2004 at the Juilliard School of Music. Prior to that, she graduated as valedictorian of Princeton University, with a degree in Physics.

KEVIN RIVARD, HORN

Known for his “delicious quality of tone,” Kevin Rivard is currently Co-Principal Horn of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Principal Horn of the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed with the New Century Chamber Orchestra, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Winner of numerous solo competitions, he was awarded the grand prize at the 2008 Concours International d’Interprétation Musicale in Paris, the 2007 International Horn Competition of America, and the 2003 Farkas horn competition. Mr. Rivard’s career has climbed in spectacular fashion. He served as guest principal horn with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra & the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and was a featured soloist with the Houston Symphony. Previous positions also include the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Florida Orchestra.

A Juilliard graduate, Mr. Rivard has performed with the Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Music Festival, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and the Verbier Festival.