Ahmed Alabaca, raised in San Bernardino, CA, discovered a love for music at an early age, finding comfort and escape at the piano. Despite financial hardships, his passion flourished through school bands, community programs, and his grandmother's support. In high school, he excelled in music, mastering multiple instruments and leading as drum major, paving the way for a future in composition.

After college studies in California and a transformative chapter in New York, Ahmed collaborated on plays, albums, and musical projects that deepened his artistry. His career took a pivotal turn with the premiere of Across the Calm Waters of Heaven at the Colour of Music Festival, launching opportunities with orchestras across the country.

As a member of the Composer Diversity Collective, Ahmed champions representation in classical music, blending his unique voice with a commitment to community and social change. Through his work, he continues to inspire and elevate others with the transformative power of music.

Hailed as “a lyric soprano of ravishing quality” by the Boston Globe, Laura Choi Stuart has appeared on the mainstage with Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Boston, Annapolis Opera, Lake George Opera, the In Series, and Opera North in roles including Musetta, Adina, Gilda, Pamina, and Frasquita.

Equally comfortable in recital and concert settings, Laura was honored for art song performance as 2nd prize winner at both the 2010 and 2012 National Association of Teachers of Singing Artist Awards and as one of the 2009 Art Song Discovery Series winners for the Vocal Arts Society. Based in the Washington, DC area,

Laura appears regularly with the Washington Bach Consort and the Washington Master Chorale, in addition to solo appearances with many area ensembles. Solo highlights of recent seasons include Messiah and St. Matthew Passion at the Washington National Cathedral, Brahms Requiem, a holiday celebration featuring Bach Cantata 51 and Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 with the New Orchestra of Washington, and works of Tavener and Mealor with Cantate. She received her training at The Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for Singers, Opera North, and Berkshire Opera, as well as The New England Conservatory and Dartmouth College.

Laura is Head of Vocal Studies at the Washington National Cathedral and maintains a private teaching studio, as well as sharing resources for adult recreational choral singers over at The Weekly Warm-Up. 

Akemi Takayama was raised in a musical household, born to a mother who is a professional violinist and a father who is a professional cellist. Her parents often performed and rehearsed string quartets at home -- music has always been a part of her life. A native of Japan and mother to four boys, Ms. Takayama has an accomplished career as both a performer and educator. Her professional violin career began in Japan at the age of fifteen. She studied with Toshiya Eto and Ryosaku Kubota at the Toho School of Music in Tokyo where she earned her bachelor's degree in music performance.

Ms. Takayama then traveled to the United States where she earned a professional studies degree at the University of Wyoming, studying with Brian Hanly. During her graduate studies, she became a teaching assistant to famed violinist and pedagogue Donald Weilerstein at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she earned both the Artist Diploma and a Master of Music degree. Praised by Isaac Stern as a “true musician,” she was invited to participate in the Marlboro Music Festival in 1997.

She was a member of the internationally celebrated Audubon Quartet for fourteen years, during which time the group toured regionally, nationally, and internationally and made a number of recordings on the Centaur and Composers labels. 

Ms. Takayama is currently a professor at Shenandoah Conservatory where she holds the Victor Brown Endowed Chair in Violin. Since 2004, she has held the esteemed role of concertmaster at the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and since 2008 she has been the concertmaster for Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. She has performed throughout Japan, France, China, and the U.S.; recent symphony collaborations in Virginia include the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Opera Roanoke, Shenandoah Performs, the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, and Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra.

Many of her violin students have active careers performing in chamber music, orchestras, country music, and also producing records of their own. Many have gone on to pursue Master of Music or Doctor of Musical Arts degrees as well.

 She has recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook University in New York. Akemi also has an association with The New Orchestra of Washington.

She plays on a Gennaro Gagliano violin made in 1755, kindly loaned by Japanese-American collector and philanthropist Dr. Ryuji Ueno. 

Violin I
Akemi Takayama, concertmaster
Samuel Tompson
Rachel Lee Zhao

Violin II
Patrick Shaughnessy, principal
Tong Li

Viola
Ivan Mendoza, principal
Nikki Ponticelli

Cello
Joseph Gotoff, principal
Lauren Weaver

Double Bass
Chris Chlumsky