Emily Botel, violin
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, violinist Emily Botel has performed throughout North America and Europe. She earned her B.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music and her M.M. from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Emily has received many honors and awards including the Matinee Music Club of Philadelphia Instrumental Prize, the Mu Phi Epsilon Cleveland Heights Chapter Scholarship Award, the Mary W. Parks and Julius and Sophie Schmiedl Memorial Scholarship, and the William Wolski Violin Scholarship.
Emily's baroque violin mentors include Elizabeth Blumenstock and Julie Andrijeski. Emily has studied chamber music with artists such as Julie Andrijeski, Jodi Levitz, Ian Swensen, Mark Sokol, the Cavani Quartet, and Peter Salaff of the Cleveland Quartet. She has performed with chamber ensembles in master classes given by Norman Fischer, the St. Petersburg, Cavani, Mendelssohn, London Haydn, and Pacifica Quartets. Emily has appeared as soloist in master classes given by Robert Mealy, Elizabeth Blumenstock, Andres Cardenas, Hagai Shaham, Daniel Phillips, Diane Monroe, and Kay Stern. She has performed at various festivals, including the International Music Academy Pilsen, the National Orchestral Institute, the Banff Music and Sound Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival USA, and the American Bach Soloists Academy. Her principal modern violin teachers include Ian Swensen, Linda Cerone, and David Updegraff.
Emily's baroque violin mentors include Elizabeth Blumenstock and Julie Andrijeski. Emily has studied chamber music with artists such as Julie Andrijeski, Jodi Levitz, Ian Swensen, Mark Sokol, the Cavani Quartet, and Peter Salaff of the Cleveland Quartet. She has performed with chamber ensembles in master classes given by Norman Fischer, the St. Petersburg, Cavani, Mendelssohn, London Haydn, and Pacifica Quartets. Emily has appeared as soloist in master classes given by Robert Mealy, Elizabeth Blumenstock, Andres Cardenas, Hagai Shaham, Daniel Phillips, Diane Monroe, and Kay Stern. She has performed at various festivals, including the International Music Academy Pilsen, the National Orchestral Institute, the Banff Music and Sound Festival, the National Repertory Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival USA, and the American Bach Soloists Academy. Her principal modern violin teachers include Ian Swensen, Linda Cerone, and David Updegraff.
Natalie Carducci, violin
Violinist Natalie Carducci performs throughout the United States, appearing in venues ranging from Avery Fisher Hall in New York City to intimate cafes in the San Francisco Bay Area. A versatile chamber and orchestral musician with a special interest in early music, she has collaborated with such renowned artists as Steven Dann, Kenneth Slowik, James Boyd, and members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Natalie has performed in master classes with Jeanne Lamon, Robert Mealy, Stephen Shipps, David Updegraff, the Cavani String Quartet, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, and the Gryphon Trio, appearing in music festivals around the world, including the NYU String Quartet Workshop, St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar, Killington Music Festival, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, the International Music Academy Pilsen in the Czech Republic, Le Domaine Forget in Quebec, and the American Bach Soloists Academy.
In the Bay Area, she performs with The Albany Consort and the San Francisco Bach Choir. Most recently she won the Voices of Music Bach Competition, giving her the opportunity to perform in their concert series. A Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition semi-finalist, Natalie performed and coached inner-city school children through the Chamber Music Connection program in her native city of Columbus, Ohio. Natalie received her Bachelor of Music degree from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory with Ian Swensen and Elizabeth Blumenstock. Her main teachers have included Michael Davis, Laurie Smukler, and Calvin Wiersma. A certified Pilates instructor, Natalie promotes body-mind awareness for sustained physical well-being and enjoys sharing her knowledge with the music community at large.
In the Bay Area, she performs with The Albany Consort and the San Francisco Bach Choir. Most recently she won the Voices of Music Bach Competition, giving her the opportunity to perform in their concert series. A Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition semi-finalist, Natalie performed and coached inner-city school children through the Chamber Music Connection program in her native city of Columbus, Ohio. Natalie received her Bachelor of Music degree from SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music and is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory with Ian Swensen and Elizabeth Blumenstock. Her main teachers have included Michael Davis, Laurie Smukler, and Calvin Wiersma. A certified Pilates instructor, Natalie promotes body-mind awareness for sustained physical well-being and enjoys sharing her knowledge with the music community at large.
Gretchen Claassen, cello and viola da gamba
Cellist Gretchen Claassen has performed with some of the bay area's finest early music specialists including American Bach Soloists and Archetti and is currently among the first group of apprentices with Benvenue House Concerts. Her avid interest in historical performance began while pursuing graduate studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she recently was awarded an Artist Certificate in Chamber Music. While at SFCM, she was a two time winner of the Baroque Concerto Competition and she has twice participated in the American Bach Soloists Academy. Her primary teachers include Jennifer Culp and Elisabeth Reed at SFCM, and Bonnie Hampton at the Juilliard School, where she received a BM in 2008.
Gretchen's love of chamber music began early on with three summers at the prestigious Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival in Maine, and string quartet studies with Joel Smirnoff of the Juilliard String Quartet. She has had the opportunity to perform chamber music with Menahem Pressler, Robert Mann, Bonnie Hampton, Roberto Díaz, Axel Strauss, Joseph Swensen, Ian Swensen, Paul Hersh and Jodi Levitz as a participant in the Conservatory’s acclaimed Chamber Music Masters series. In May of 2011, she was invited to perform alongside SFCM and Shanghai Conservatory faculty in China as part of the Shanghai International Chamber Music Festival.
Gretchen's love of chamber music began early on with three summers at the prestigious Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival in Maine, and string quartet studies with Joel Smirnoff of the Juilliard String Quartet. She has had the opportunity to perform chamber music with Menahem Pressler, Robert Mann, Bonnie Hampton, Roberto Díaz, Axel Strauss, Joseph Swensen, Ian Swensen, Paul Hersh and Jodi Levitz as a participant in the Conservatory’s acclaimed Chamber Music Masters series. In May of 2011, she was invited to perform alongside SFCM and Shanghai Conservatory faculty in China as part of the Shanghai International Chamber Music Festival.
Laura Gaynon, cello
Laura Gaynon, a San Francisco Bay Area native, began her life with the cello at the age of five, and has since performed around the world, from San Francisco, Boston and New Haven to Prague, Budapest, Vienna, Germany and Shanghai. She feels very fortunate to have studied with great pedagogues such as Jennifer Culp, George Neikrug, Ole Akahoshi, Mikhail Gelfandbein and Irene Sharp. She has performed in numerous master classes with artists including Menahem Pressler, Matt Haimovitz, David Requiro, Nicolo Luisotti and Sir Simon Rattle.
Her true passion is chamber music, and she has participated in a number of chamber music seminars including Lyricafest in Boston, MA and the International Chamber Music Workshop and Festival in Germany, studying with Terry King, Laura Bossert, Kyoko Hashimoto, Rafael Rosenfeld, and Benzion Shamir. At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Laura has studied with Ian Swensen and Mark Sokol.
As an undergraduate at Yale University, Laura was principal cellist of the Yale Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician and member of the new music ensemble, the Bach Society, the rock cello band “Lowstrung”, the “Quartissimo!” String Quartet, and a string trio, she frequently performed both classical and contemporary music. Upon graduating, Laura moved to Boston where she had the privilege of learning from master cellist and teacher George Neikrug.
Laura recently earned her Master of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory where she will continue to study with Jennifer Culp, pursuing a Professional Studies Diploma.
Her true passion is chamber music, and she has participated in a number of chamber music seminars including Lyricafest in Boston, MA and the International Chamber Music Workshop and Festival in Germany, studying with Terry King, Laura Bossert, Kyoko Hashimoto, Rafael Rosenfeld, and Benzion Shamir. At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Laura has studied with Ian Swensen and Mark Sokol.
As an undergraduate at Yale University, Laura was principal cellist of the Yale Symphony Orchestra. An active chamber musician and member of the new music ensemble, the Bach Society, the rock cello band “Lowstrung”, the “Quartissimo!” String Quartet, and a string trio, she frequently performed both classical and contemporary music. Upon graduating, Laura moved to Boston where she had the privilege of learning from master cellist and teacher George Neikrug.
Laura recently earned her Master of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory where she will continue to study with Jennifer Culp, pursuing a Professional Studies Diploma.
Esther Ho Man Lam, harpsichord
Esther Ho Man Lam received her bachelor's in harpsichord performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is currently a master's degree candidate in harpsichord performance there. Prior to coming to the Conservatory, she studied piano in Hong Kong with Peggy Lo for ten years, under whom she completed a Grade 8 Exam in piano from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). She also studied singing in Hong Kong with Chau In Ha, under whom she completed a Grade 8 Exam in voice from the ABRSM as well. Later, she studied piano with Krill Gliadkovsky in Los Angeles at Santa Monica College, which she attended under a scholarship.
Esther has been very active in the SFCM Baroque Ensemble, both as an instrumentalist and in collaboration with singers on the operatic and song repertoires. She performed as a harpsichord soloist in a 2009 production of Handel's Rinaldo and enjoyed her first orchestra appearance in 2010, performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with the Baroque Ensemble. She has also performed in summer festivals, including the American Bach Soloists Festival.
Esther has been very active in the SFCM Baroque Ensemble, both as an instrumentalist and in collaboration with singers on the operatic and song repertoires. She performed as a harpsichord soloist in a 2009 production of Handel's Rinaldo and enjoyed her first orchestra appearance in 2010, performing Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with the Baroque Ensemble. She has also performed in summer festivals, including the American Bach Soloists Festival.
Addi Liu, violin and viola
Passionate about music both old and new, Addi Liu began studying the
violin at nine in his native Hong Kong before turning his focus to the
viola at sixteen and has participated in festivals including Aspen,
Montecito (under the Westmont Viola Fellowship), American Bach Soloist
Academy, as well as serving as a chamber music fellow and coach at the
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. He had the privilege of studying with and
performing in master classes for artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Menahem
Pressler, Robert Mann, Masao Kawasaki, Helen Callus, Robert Mealy, and
members of the Kronos, Ives, Bretano, New Esterhazy, Concord, and
Emerson Quartets. Interested in historically informed performance
practice, he plays baroque violin and viola in MUSA, a chamber
ensemble specializing in music of the 17th and 18th century in which
he is a founding member. He holds a Diploma from The Associated Board
of Royal Schools of Music and received his B.M. and M.M. in Viola
Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he is
continuing his post-graduate studies. His principal teachers are
Elizabeth Blumenstock and Jodi Levitz.
violin at nine in his native Hong Kong before turning his focus to the
viola at sixteen and has participated in festivals including Aspen,
Montecito (under the Westmont Viola Fellowship), American Bach Soloist
Academy, as well as serving as a chamber music fellow and coach at the
Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra. He had the privilege of studying with and
performing in master classes for artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Menahem
Pressler, Robert Mann, Masao Kawasaki, Helen Callus, Robert Mealy, and
members of the Kronos, Ives, Bretano, New Esterhazy, Concord, and
Emerson Quartets. Interested in historically informed performance
practice, he plays baroque violin and viola in MUSA, a chamber
ensemble specializing in music of the 17th and 18th century in which
he is a founding member. He holds a Diploma from The Associated Board
of Royal Schools of Music and received his B.M. and M.M. in Viola
Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he is
continuing his post-graduate studies. His principal teachers are
Elizabeth Blumenstock and Jodi Levitz.
Derek Tam, harpsichord and conductor
Currently based in San Francisco, Derek Tam is a harpsichordist and conductor. A recent cum laude graduate of Yale University in music and political science, Derek performs regularly with ensembles on both coasts.
As a conductor, Derek appears frequently with choral ensembles in the Bay Area. As the Assistant Conductor of the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra (BCCO) since September 2011, he works with the full chorus, directs the Chamber Singers, and leads outreach efforts at Berkeley High School. Derek also serves as a conductor at Star Valley Children's Choir (SVCC) in Millbrae, CA; is Director of Music at Bethany Presbyterian Church in San Bruno, CA; and was recently appointed Artistic Director of Opus Q, a men's vocal ensemble based in Berkeley.
In addition to his conducting career, Derek is an active performer on the harpsichord and other historical keyboards. A founding member (as a harpsichordist and conductor) of MUSA, a professional Baroque group in the Bay Area, he will perform in Seattle, Portland and New York as well this season. As a historical keyboardist, he is an Apprentice this year with the Benvenue House Concert series, led by artistic director Tanya Tomkins.
His principal teachers include Elizabeth Parisot and Jing Xu on the piano, Jeffrey Douma in conducting, and Ilya Poletaev on the harpsichord.
Derek is also a registered tax professional with the State of California and teaches piano and voice privately.
As a conductor, Derek appears frequently with choral ensembles in the Bay Area. As the Assistant Conductor of the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra (BCCO) since September 2011, he works with the full chorus, directs the Chamber Singers, and leads outreach efforts at Berkeley High School. Derek also serves as a conductor at Star Valley Children's Choir (SVCC) in Millbrae, CA; is Director of Music at Bethany Presbyterian Church in San Bruno, CA; and was recently appointed Artistic Director of Opus Q, a men's vocal ensemble based in Berkeley.
In addition to his conducting career, Derek is an active performer on the harpsichord and other historical keyboards. A founding member (as a harpsichordist and conductor) of MUSA, a professional Baroque group in the Bay Area, he will perform in Seattle, Portland and New York as well this season. As a historical keyboardist, he is an Apprentice this year with the Benvenue House Concert series, led by artistic director Tanya Tomkins.
His principal teachers include Elizabeth Parisot and Jing Xu on the piano, Jeffrey Douma in conducting, and Ilya Poletaev on the harpsichord.
Derek is also a registered tax professional with the State of California and teaches piano and voice privately.
Clio Tilton, violin and viola
Clio Tilton, recent Fulbright Scholar in Switzerland, performs across Europe, Asia and the United States. As a baroque violist she has been heard at the Boston Early Music Fringe Festival and in concerts for the Les Arts Florissants Juilliard Residency. Her recent performances include collaborations with the Albany Consort, the Wallfisch Band and the American Bach Soloists.
Ms. Tilton holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School, and has participated in master classes with Elizabeth Wallfisch and members of Les Arts Florissants. During her time in Switzerland, she studied historic performance with Florence Malgoire at the Centre de Musique Ancienne in Geneva and collaborated with musicians at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Ms. Tilton has recorded for the Warner label, and she is an alumna of the 2011 American Bach Soloists Academy.
Ms. Tilton holds degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School, and has participated in master classes with Elizabeth Wallfisch and members of Les Arts Florissants. During her time in Switzerland, she studied historic performance with Florence Malgoire at the Centre de Musique Ancienne in Geneva and collaborated with musicians at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Ms. Tilton has recorded for the Warner label, and she is an alumna of the 2011 American Bach Soloists Academy.
