Cellist James Baik has been described as an artist with “an undeniable authority,” and one possessing “a real warmth emerging in lyricism” by Belgian newspaper Le Soir, after his astounding performance at the 2021 Queen Elisabeth competition. First prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize, James is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and is managed worldwide by Young Concert Artists.

James was also a finalist at the 2019 Stulberg International String Competition and would go on to receive the first prize at the prestigious Irving M. Klein International Competition. He made his debut solo appearance in 2015 with the Houston Civic Symphony Orchestra and the Clear Lake Symphony in Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No. 1. In 2018, James won the DePaul Concerto Competition, reached the finals at the Johansen International Competition in Washington D.C., and rounded the year by being named a YoungArts finalist. James was also awarded the grand prize at the Walgreens National Competition, resulting in a performance of the Schumann Cello Concerto with conductor Dr. Allen Dennis at Northwestern University.

Highlights from recent and upcoming performances include the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Colburn Orchestra, under the baton of Sir Andrew Davies at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major with the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie with conductor Vahan Mardirossian, a performance of Brahms’ Double Concerto alongside violinist Gabrielle Després and the Peninsula Symphony under the baton of Mitchell Sardou Klein, and chamber music performances at the Ravinia Festival, the Music in the Vineyards Festival in Napa Valley, and Nevada Chamber Music Festival, where he was invited as a guest artist. In 2021, James, alongside his colleagues violinist Ray Ushikubo and pianist HyeJin Kim, performed the Beethoven Triple Concerto with the Pasadena Symphony under the baton of David Lockington, where he also performed a new work for two celli with the conductor as composer and cellist.

An active chamber musician, James has worked with many notable musicians such as Noah Bendix-Balgley, David Finckel, Wu Han, Emanuel Ax, Arnaud Sussmann, Dmitri Murrath, Miriam Fried, Gary Hoffman, Tessa Lark, Gilbert Kalish, Bob McDonald, David McCarroll, members of the Tokyo String Quartet, the American String Quartet, the Pacifica String Quartet, and the Escher String Quartet. James attended the Meadowmount School of Music and the Aspen Music Festival, where he participated in the Finckel Wu Han Chamber Music Program, and was invited as a guest artist for the Music of the Vineyards Festival. Recently, James was a fellow at the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, where he gave widely praised performances of Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata and the Franck Sonata in A Major.

Raised in Houston, Texas, James’ early education included tutelage from Houston Symphony Associate Principal Christopher French and with esteemed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen in Chicago. James is currently a Bachelor of Music candidate at the Colburn Conservatory of Music where he studies with Clive Greensmith.

The instrument being used by Baik is a cello made by J.B Vuillaume and is on generous loan from the Ravinia Institute of Music.

Luiz Fernando Venturelli is a Brazilian cellist who is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most promising young musicians in the country. Born and raised in a musical family, Luiz began his musical studies at the age of three and took up the cello at the age of eight at the Instituto Baccarelli, a non-profit social organization based in São Paulo’s Heliópolis, which provides free music education to children. Luiz subsequently pursued his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Northwestern University, graduating with Honors Distinction under the acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen.

Luiz’s performances have spanned North and South America, Europe, and Asia, encompassing recital programs, chamber collaborations, solo concertos, and international competitions. In 2023, Luiz was awarded the second annual $50,000 Gurrena Fellowship from the Meadowmount School of Music and was the winner of the Astral Artists National Competition. He was also recognized as a prize winner of the 24th annual Sphinx Competition, the Paulo Bosisio, and the Samuel and Eleanor Thaviu Strings competitions, as well as the concerto competitions of the Goiás Philharmonic and the Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo.

As a soloist, Luiz made his performance debut at the age of nine at Sala São Paulo, the largest hall in Latin America, and has since been regularly invited to solo with several international orchestras. In 2023, Luiz premiered a concerto composed by Jorge Grossmann, commissioned by and performed with the Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo. He has also appeared as a featured soloist with the Peninsula Music Festival, the Bahia Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, the Espírito Santo Symphony, the Campinas Symphony, the Piracicaba Symphony, the Heliópolis Symphony, the São Paulo University Symphony, and the SESI Chamber Orchestra.

An avid chamber musician, Luiz is a founding member of the Galvin Cello Quartet, an ensemble rapidly gaining attention since their silver medal win in the 2021 Fischoff Competition, and as the winner of the 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition, success which led to exclusive professional management by Concert Artist’s Guild.

Luiz plays on an 1850 Giovanni Dollenz cello generously loaned by several anonymous donors. His primary teachers include André Micheletti and Hans Jørgen Jensen.

During his free time, Luiz is an enthusiast of other musical genres, having led a rock band and performed and recorded alongside multiple artists in Brazil.

Cellist Sydney Lee has established herself as a compelling voice in today’s musical landscape, recognized for interpretations of remarkable nuance and a poised, communicative presence. Her artistry reflects both a deep commitment to musical integrity and an ever-evolving curiosity.

A native of New York City, Sydney began her cello studies at the age of six. Two years later, she was accepted into The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division, and at thirteen, she made her orchestral debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Sydney’s career gained early momentum when she swept 2nd Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition, followed that same month with 1st Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition. Months later, she became the inaugural recipient of the $50,000 Gurrena Fellowship at the Meadowmount School of Music. Most recently, she was named the 2026 recipient of the American Recital Debut Award.

She has since graced stages around the world, including performances at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Music Hall in Dubai, Konzerthaus Berlin, Shanghai Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center, Merkin Hall, the Sinebrychoff Art Museum in Helsinki, Finland, Classical Music Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess concert series, and Carriage House Violins. Beyond the concert hall, her artistry has reached audiences worldwide through a series of viral videos, most notably her performances of Wieniawski’s Scherzo-Tarantelle and her own arrangement of the Bach Chaconne.

An avid chamber musician, Sydney is the founder of the Galvin Cello Quartet. Shortly after its formation, the ensemble earned 2nd Prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. The following season, they were welcomed onto the roster of Concert Artists Guild as winners of the Victor Elmaleh Competition. The quartet is currently represented by Dinin Arts.

Deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of cellists, Sydney maintains an active presence as a pedagogue. She previously served as Adjunct Cello Professor at the McDuffie Center for Strings and as Teaching Assistant to Hans Jensen at Northwestern University. Sydney currently teaches each summer as Adjunct Cello Professor for Hans Jensen’s studio at the Meadowmount School of Music. She has been invited to give masterclasses at institutions and festivals including the Tennessee Cello Workshop, CelloFest at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival, the Ascent International Music Festival, and DePaul University School of Music.

Sydney received her Bachelor’s Degree at the Curtis Institute of Music with Carter Brey and Peter Wiley. She continued her studies with Hans Jensen at Northwestern University, where she first completed her Master of Music degree and is now pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts. She is also grateful for the guidance and mentorship of Sophie Shao, Richard Aaron, Julie Albers, Jens Peter Maintz, and the late Lynn Harrell.

In addition to her performing career, Sydney maintains an active digital presence, engaging a broad audience across platforms, and is a Partner with Johnson String Instrument.

Born in 1999, Chinese-American cellist Haddon Kay is one of the rising stars of his generation, recognized for the genuine expressivity and musical eloquence. Haddon is a top prize winner at the 2024 George Enescu International Cello Competition held in Bucharest, Romania and he was ranked among the top seven at the 2025 Budapest International Cello Competition. Additionally, Haddon competed in the 2nd Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium and was a winner of Northwestern University’s Concerto/Aria competition, after which he performed the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Victor Yampolsky. He was selected as the 2024 Luminarts Fellow in Classical Strings and was awarded the 2023 American Opera Society of Chicago Scholarship Award.

A dedicated chamber musician, Haddon is a newly named member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program for the 2027-2030 seasons. Haddon is also a founding member of the Galvin Cello Quartet, formed in 2021 at the Bienen School of Music, which recently won Concert Artists Guild’s 2022 Victor Elmaleh Competition and the silver medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition. The Galvin Quartet continues to regularly tour in concerts around the United States managed by DininArts.

Haddon has appeared at Music@Menlo, Bravo!Vail, Rockport Music Festival in addition to many other notable festivals. He has worked with many distinguished musicians such as David Finckel, Wu Han, Gilbert Kalish, Arnaud Sussman, Shmuel Ashkenazi, and the Dover Quartet. Haddon also performs regularly with members of the Lyric Opera of Chicago through the Rembrandt Chamber Musicians. He has also won 1st prizes at the Rembrandt and Discover Chamber Music Competitions with various groups.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Haddon is a graduate of Northwestern University, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in 2022 and his Master’s Degree in 2024. Haddon is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Northwestern, continuing his studies under the tutelage of Hans Jorgen Jensen. Haddon has also studied with Jens Peter Maintz, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt, and Clive Greensmith through the Kronberg Masterclasses and the Vivace Music Foundation. In addition to playing the cello, Haddon is an avid volleyball player and was on Northwestern University’s men’s club volleyball team.