CMB is excited to welcome back Zenas Hsu, Alex Shiozaki, Jessica Chang, and Tobin Low in 2013!

ZENAS HSU >> violin

Zenas Hsu, a native of San Jose and a 2006 graduate of Lynbrook High School, has performed as soloist with the California Youth Symphony, the Prometheus Symphony, and the Diablo Valley College Philharmonic, among others. He has participated in the Taos School of Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Hotchkiss Summer Portals, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. Zenas is a graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Preparatory Division, where he studied with violinist Wei He. Zenas also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Ida Kavafian. He is currently a Master of Music candidate at the New England Conservatory, where he studies with Donald Weilerstein and Nicholas Kitchen.

ALEX SHIOZAKI >> violin

An alumnus of Saratoga High School, violinist Alex Shiozaki is a teacher, student, and performer in New York City. Since graduating from Harvard in 2009, he has been privileged with a summer residency at Tanglewood as a New Fromm Player, a tour to Japan with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and his Carnegie Hall debut with the Saratoga Strings. Described by conductor David Effron as “a natural leader”, Alex has led as concertmaster the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, the Juilliard Chamber Orchestra, the New Juilliard Ensemble, Ensemble 212, the Harvard Bach Society Orchestra, the California All-State Honor Orchestra, and the Saratoga High Symphony Orchestra. Alex’s love of chamber music began in high school, with a piano trio that he formed with cellist Tobin Low and pianist Stephanie Ou. In their two years together, the trio performed in various venues throughout the Bay Area and won a prize in the VOCE competition in Los Angeles. More recently, Alex’s many chamber groups have been featured on the Wednesdays At One concert series at Alice Tully Hall in NYC, in the Focus! new music festival at the Juilliard School, and with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. With his frequent collaborator pianist Nana Shi, Alex has given recitals all over the country. Currently a doctoral candidate and recipient of the C.V. Starr Doctoral Fellowship at The Juilliard School, Alex continues to refine his musicality under the tutelage of Ronald Copes and Joseph Lin, both of the Juilliard String Quartet. In the little free time he keeps for himself, Alex enjoys sight-reading chamber music with his friends. www.alexshiozaki.com

JESSICA T. CHANG >> viola

Taiwanese-American violist Jessica T. Chang, an alumnus of Saratoga High School, is dedicated to sharing her love for music through expanding educational opportunities in the arts, and by presenting chamber music in accessible ways. As the director of CMB, Jessica is excited to bring educational chamber music programs to public schools, libraries, and hospitals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Her recent performance highlights include a European concert tour with Curtis on Tour alongside Roberto Díaz, Pamela Frank, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic; and collaborations with Itzhak Perlman, Joseph Silverstein, Soovin Kim, Anthony McGill, Peter Wiley, Daniel Philips, and Toby Appel.  Jessica has presented concerts at Music from Angel Fire, International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, Perlman Chamber Music Workshop, and the festivals at Taos, Verbier, Aspen, and Tanglewood. Aside from her musical endeavors, she has maintained commitments toward improving youth access to quality arts education through the School District of Philadelphia’s ArtsRising initiative. Jessica is a graduate of Yale College and the Curtis Institute of Music. She is currently pursuing graduate studies at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Heidi Castleman and Steve Tenenbom, with gracious support from the Satterthwaite Scholarship Fund and the Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship. www.jessicatchang.com

TOBIN LOW >> cello

Blending his commitment to chamber music and community, cellist Tobin Low has worked to mix these two interests to engage new audiences. As a chamber musician, he has performed a wide range of repertoire with the New Juilliard Ensemble, the Noname ensemble as part of Youtube Play at the Guggenheim Museum, and appeared as part of the 2010 ChamberFest at The Juilliard School. He has concertized at summer festivals in Taos, New Mexico, as well as the Moritzburg Festival Academy, where his octet won the Moritzburg Prize for their performance of the Shostakovich Octet. As a fellow of the Gluck Community Service Fellowship Program at The Juilliard School, Tobin had the opportunity to perform in hospitals and rehabilitation units around New York City as part of a cello duo. He continues to seek out opportunities to use the intimacy of chamber music to help new audiences connect with great music.  After graduating from Monta Vista High School in 2005, Tobin received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree from The Juilliard School, and recently completed a Professional Studies degree at the Manhattan School of Music.  His previous teachers include Richard Aaron, Timothy Eddy, David Soyer, and Alan Stepansky.