Meet The Musicians

Described by Johannes Moser as playing "beautifully" and having an "excellent approach" to the cello," Thomas is completing a dual master's degree in cello performance and music education at the Manhattan School of Music and Teachers College, Columbia University under the instruction of Marion Feldman and Wolfram Koessel.

Turkish pianist Sila Senturk is a multifaceted soloist, chamber musician and educator. Senturk was named as one of the “Women Stars of Tomorrow” by the Istanbul Foundation of Culture and Arts in and is a recent recipient of The Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation grant as well as the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation grant. As a performer, Sila has given concerts in highly acclaimed venues such as Harvard Club of New York, Steinway & Sons Hall, Blue Gallery, Arthur Zankel Hall. She is the recipient of several awards including the Steinway & Sons prize winner at the Bilkent Piano Festival.

Winner of the W. A. Mozart international competition, violinist Nini Giorgadze has been playing since age 6 in her native Georgia. She started violin lessons with Eka Giorgadze, and since 2010, she has become a member of The Art Academy in Georgia. In 2012, after winning Georgia's 5th national competition, she received a special prize from Liana Isakadze and a stipend from the Japanese Embassy. She has performed multiple times with the Georgian Chamber Orchestra in Ingolstadt, Germany, and at the Telavi International Music Festival.  She performed on a tour with the Georgian Sinfonietta Orchestra in Georgia – Kutaisi, Tbilisi, and Telavi. 

American double bassist Nina Bernat, acclaimed for her interpretive maturity, expressive depth and technical clarity, has carved out a distinctive career as a soloist, redefining the role of her instrument on the world stage. In 2023, Nina was honored as a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and the CAG Elmaleh Competition winner. Recent 1st prizes include the Barbash J.S. Bach String Competition. Nina is in demand as a passionate chamber musician. She begins her involvement with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as a member of the Bowers Program in 2024. She has spent summers at Marlboro Music Festival, Verbier Festival, Music@Menlo and Chamber Music Northwest.  

Violist Rosemary Nelis has performed as a chamber musician and soloist throughout the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. Nelis holds two Bachelor degrees from Bard College Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Steven Tenenbom and majored in Chinese Language and Literature. She was also the proud recipient of a Kovner Fellowship during her Masters studies at The Juilliard School, where she worked with Roger Tapping and Misha Amory. Nelis has spent summers performing chamber music at Yellow Barn, Bard Music Festival, and Kneisel Hall. Nelis is currently faculty at the Special Music School, the Eisman Center at Queens College, Yellow Barn Young Artist Program, and Montclair State University.

Praised for her “gorgeous, rich tone” and fresh, insightful interpretations, violinist Gabrielle Després has emerged as one of Canada’s most compelling young artists, performing across North America and Europe to critical acclaim. As winner of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the Juilliard Concerto Competition, she is also a top prize recipient at the Michael Hill, Elmar Oliveira, and Washington International Violin Competitions. She was a 2025 Sibelius International Violin Competition finalist and has garnered major honors, including the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award, the Verbier Academy’s Prix Reyl, and Juilliard’s distinguished William Schuman Prize. In 2020, CBC recognized her artistry by naming her to its list of 30 Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.