Praised as a “gifted, adventuresome violinist” by the Chicago Tribune and as a “remarkable, unbelievable violinist/violist extraordinaire” by the syndicated radio program Relevant Tones, Austin has gained critical and audience attention through his “wide technical range and interpretive daring” (New Music Box) as a soloist and chamber musician. He first forged his reputation in Chicago with the collective Ensemble Dal Niente, serving as the group’s Program Director, and winning the Kranichstein Music Prize (the grand prize for interpretation) at the Darmstadt Summer Course in 2012. Austin was also a founding member of Spektral Quartet, serving as Ensemble-in-Residence (as well as Adjunct Instructor of Violin) at the University of Chicago from 2011-2016. Consistently in search of new musical pathways through ensemble work, Austin has collaborated with a wide range of musical voices, from artists like Deerhoof and Julia Holter, to Miguel Zenon and Billy Childs, or Brian Ferneyhough and Kaija Saariaho. Furthermore, he has also been a guest artist with groups such as Eighth Blackbird, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s MusicNow Ensemble. His debut solo release Diligence Is to Magic as Progress Is to Flight was released in 2014 in collaboration with bassoonist/composer Katherine Young. Austin holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Northwestern University, as well as having held fellowships at the Aspen Music Festival and Lucerne Academy. Austin serves on the faculty of the Mannes School of Music, where JACK is Quartet in Residence.
Winner of numerous prizes including the Walter Naumburg International Competition,
Tibor Varga International Competition, Astral Artists National Auditions, Young
Performers Career Advancement, and Lili Boulanger awards, Ayano has performed with
orchestras across the U.S., Switzerland, Bulgaria, and most recently in Carnegie Hall.
Praised for her “deeply communicative and engrossing” (The New York Times)
performances, she has performed at the Marlboro, Ravinia, Moab, Bowdoin, Kingston,
Adams (New Zealand), Canberra International (Australia), and Prussia Cove (England)
festivals. She has been featured on Musicians from Marlboro tours in the U.S. and
France, and gave a TEDx talk at the University of Tokyo. She was first violinist of the
Ying Quartet and was Associate Professor at the Eastman School of Music until 2015
when she joined the violin faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music. As a
recipient of the Beebe Fellowship, Ayano studied in Budapest, Hungary, at the Liszt
Academy after graduating from Harvard University and The Juilliard School. In her
spare time, she loves to paint and practice Aikido.
Upcoming performances:
Aug 24 – New Music at Red Earth
Aug 25 – American Minimalism: A Retrospective
Aug 27 – Floating Concert
Leslie was inspired by the red rocks of Moab to create the Moab Music Festival of which she is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director. Now in its 32nd year, the critically acclaimed chamber music festival is known for presenting music in concert with the landscape among the striking red rocks of southeastern Utah. Additionally, she is the Artistic Director of Summertrios (summertrios.org), an organization that offers chamber music coaching and performance opportunities to adult non-professional musicians of all levels. She is a member of the Dal Sogno chamber ensemble which is dedicated to sharing the works of under-recognized composers. Based in the Bronx, Leslie enjoys the richly diverse musical life that New York City offers, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Lincoln Center, and playing chamber music and coaching student and professional chamber ensembles. Leslie is on the Advisory Committee of the Valley of the Moon Music Festival and mentors women in leadership roles of several non-profit arts organizations. She enjoys hiking with her poodle Lulu, gyrotonics, speed skating, bungee fitness, travelling and looking at art.
Upcoming Performances:
Aug 31 – Red Cliffs I: Colorado Currents
Sep 1 – Red Cliffs II: BAILEN
Sep 7 – Robert Black: A Joyful Musical Life from the Bass Line