Mayfest Artistic Director and pianist Miri Yampolsky was born in Moscow and raised in Israel, where she studied with Hannah Shalgi and Michael Boguslavsky at the Tel Aviv Academy. At age 16, she was a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, and in subsequent years has performed with the Jerusalem Symphony, the Mainz Symphony, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Johannesburg, and the Xalapa Symphony in Mexico.
Mayfest Artistic Director and pianist Xak Bjerken has appeared with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto Festival Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, the Schoenberg Ensemble, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Disney Hall. He has performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Glinka Hall in St Petersburg, the Konzerthaus in Berlin, and for many years performed throughout the US as a member of the Los Angeles Piano Quartet.
Praised by the New York Times for his “crisp performance” of a “devilish showpiece” by Ukrainian composer Borys Liatoshynsky, Daniel Anastasio is a soloist and chamber musician based in San Antonio, Texas who combines an intellectual curiosity with “technical prowess and emotional sensitivity” (San Antonio Report).
Soprano Anna Bjerken is finishing her bachelor’s degree at the Eastman School of Music studying vocal performance. A passionate interpreter of both early and contemporary repertoire, Anna has performed with the Boston Early Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, and Eastman Opera Theater, singing the roles of Margarita Xirgu in Golijov’s Ainadamar, Agrippina in Handel’s Agrippina, and covering Octavia in the North American premiere of Reinhard Keiser’s Octavia.
Misha Bjerken, appointed Principal Bass of the New Haven Symphony in 2025 and Assistant Principal Bass of the Albany Symphony, has performed with major ensembles including the Louisville Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Boston Pops, and BSO. A Tanglewood fellow, he has appeared at leading festivals and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New England Conservatory.
Internationally acclaimed cellist Steven Doane is a celebrated soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and educator, trained at Oberlin and SUNY Stony Brook with further studies under renowned mentors. His award‑winning recordings with pianist Barry Snyder have earned international recognition. A respected teacher and prizewinner, Doane has appeared at major venues worldwide and serves as a visiting professor at London’s Royal Academy of Music.
Chris Grymes is a versatile clarinetist acclaimed for his eloquent, energetic playing. A tenured professor, orchestral principal, soloist, chamber musician, producer, and commissioning collaborator, he founded Open G Records and helped launch National Sawdust’s presenting programs. He has performed twice at sold‑out Madison Square Garden with Vulfpeck and is currently curating recordings of works written for him over his 30‑year career.
Korean leading violinist Kyung Sun Lee has captured numerous prizes, including the Tchaikovsky Competition (1994), the Queen Elizabeth Competition (1993), the Washington International Competition (1991), and the Montreal International Competition (1991). She plays a Joseph Guarnerius violin dating from 1723 and she is the artistic director of Seoul Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.
Oboist Kelley Osterberg is a fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony, the Shostakovich Festival Leipzig in Germany, and on tour in South Africa. As a soloist, Kelley has performed the Strauss Oboe Concerto with conductor Keith Lockhart and the Navarro “Legacy” Oboe Concerto with Dr. Mallory Thompson.
Joseph Phibbs is a leading British composer whose music has been championed by major conductors over 25 years. His acclaimed works include the opera Juliana, celebrated chamber and orchestral compositions, and award‑winning recordings. Recent premieres and commissions highlight his growing stature, across 2024 releases and milestone birthday celebrations too.
Violinist Xiao-Dong Wang was First Prize winner in the Menuhin International Violin Competition and the Wieniawski-Lipinski International Violin Competition at the ages of 13 and 15. A guest soloist of considerable experience, Wang has performed with orchestras around the world, including the Royal Philharmonic in London, the London Mozart Players, and the Adelaide, Perth, and Queensland Symphony Orchestras.
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