The Lyra Music Festival is an outstanding series of summer classical music events based in Northampton, MA. Each July Lyra Music brings together world class musicians, outstanding young string players and pianists and an exceptional faculty of professional musicians and educators for concerts, masterclasses and outreach performances. Join us in July for Concerts and Masterclasses at Sage Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MA with: AYANO NINOMIYA, Violin Saturday, July 13, 2019 1:00pm Violin Masterclass 4:00pm Ayano Ninomiya in Recital with pianist Pei-Shan Lee Praised by The New York Times as "deeply communicative and engrossing," violinist Ayano Ninomiya is committed to creating invigorating live performance experiences from concert stages to private homes and public schools. The Boston Globe wrote that, "A note from her was never just a note...Whatever project she takes on next, it is sure to be worth a listen." She has won numerous awards, including the Naumburg International Violin Competition, the Tibor Varga International Competition, Astral Artists National Auditions, and the Young Performers Career Advancement Award (APAP). As a recording artist, Ayano has released a variety of albums including a solo album of works for violin by Larry Bell and more recently, three albums as the first violinist of the Ying Quartet. THE HORSZOWSKI TRIO Jesse Mills, violin Raman Ramakrishnan, cello Rieko Aizawa, piano Thursday, July 18, 2019 1:30pm Chamber Group Masterclass 7:30pm The Horszowski Trio in Concert Hailed by The New York Times as impressive, lithe, persuasive, when the members of the Horszowski Trio (Hor-SHOV-ski) Jesse Mills, Raman Ramakrishnan, and Rieko Aizawa played together for the first time, they immediately felt the spark of a unique connection. The New Yorker has called them "the most compelling American group to come on the scene." Their debut recording, an album of works by Fauré, Saint-Saëns, and DIndy in memory of Mieczysaw Horszowski was released by Bridge Records in 2014. Gramophone called them "a highly accomplished group," and raved: "exemplary performance... I long to hear more of the Horszowski Trio." Based in New York City, the Horszowski Trio is Ensemble-in-Residence at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. FEI-FEI DONG, Piano Saturday, July 20, 2019 10:30am Piano Masterclass 4:00pm Fei-Fei Dong in Solo Recital Praised for her bountiful gifts and passionate immersion into the music she touches (The Plain Dealer), pianist Fei-Fei is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and a top finalist at the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She continues to build a reputation for her poetic interpretations, charming audiences with her passion, piquancy and tenderness and winning stage presence (Dallas Morning News), both in the US and internationally, including her native China. ASTRID SCHWEEN, cello Sunday, July 21, 2019 10:30am Cello Masterclass 4:00pm Astrid Schween in Recital New York born cellist Astrid Schween is an internationally recognized soloist, chamber artist, and teacher. In 2016, she joined the Juilliard String Quartet, succeeding her esteemed colleague Joel Krosnick, and became a member of the Juilliard Cello Faculty. In addition to her work with the JSQ, Ms. Schween remains active as a soloist, appearing this season in Boston, Oakland, Memphis, the International Cello Institute, the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, and with the Boulder Philharmonic, performing the Elgar concerto. An active juror and panelist, she has been featured in Strings and Strad magazines, on Living the Classical Life, NPR, The Violin Channel, CelloBello, and as a guest speaker at the Library of Congress. Following her solo cello album, "Rhapsody," Ms. Schween's current recording project covers the major Romantic cello sonatas with pianist Michael Gurt. A Festival opening concert of chamber music with the FACULTY ARTISTS of the Lyra Music Workshop (Thursday, July 11, 2019) and a final STUDENT GALA concert will round out the festival (Saturday, July 27, 2019). **All ticketed events will take place at Sage Hall on Smith Campus in Northampton, MA, please see our website for FREE outreach concerts with Lyra Music Student performers throughout the Pioneer Valley in July. www.lyramusic.org.