Eamonn O'Hara, piano
Boston pianist Eamonn O'Hara has proved himself a pianist of uncommon clarity and depth. A graduate of The Boston Conservatory, he earned magna cum laude in Piano Performance. As a student of Dr. Jonathan Bass, he was pianist with the Honors Piano Trio and participated in masterclasses with such legendary pianists as Leon Fleisher. Before college, Eamonn was a scholarship student at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School where, under Mr.Ramon Rivera's guidance, was enrolled into the Advanced Piano Seminar. Eamonn has also received scholarships to attend Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, Boston University's Tanglewood Institute, and post college studies in New York. He attributes his teaching style to the multifaceted guidance of his mentor, William Daghlian. Eamonn brings to his students not only his extensive teaching and performing experience, but also his in-depth study of the Alexander Technique in order to help them employ natural and effective movement in developing their piano playing. Eamonn is a versatile performer who has appeared as soloist and chamber musician at a wide range of venues in New England, and has also performed as symphonic pianist with the Cape Ann and Melrose Symphony Orchestras. He is currently pianist with the Prospero Trio.
Soo Choi, flute
Soo Choi has taught at the Topsfield, Marblehead, Gloucester and Beacon Hill community schools, and currently teaches in the Melrose School District. Her specialty is in guiding dedicated students toward winning Junior and Senior Districts and All-state Competitions each year. Her students are accepted into MYWE, NEC chamber music ensembles, and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra.
During high school, she studied at Interlochen Academy of Arts in Michigan. She received Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in flute performance from The Boston Conservatory. As principal flutist of the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, she played many of the major flute solos of the symphonic repertoire as well as opera productions. She has also performed in numerous masterclasses throughout the United States and Europe. Ms. Choi made her professional solo debut playing the Nielsen Concerto with the Korean National Symphony Orchestra at the Seoul Arts Center. She was then also invited to perform the concerto with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra.
Her teachers include Bonnie Lichter, Doriot Anthony Dwyer, Fenwick Smith, Jeanne Baxtresser, and Renee Krimsier.
Soo plays with the Bach Beethoven and Brahms Society Orchestra of Boston. She is a former member of Cape Ann Symphony Orchestra.
Soo Choi's debut as soloist playing the Nielsen Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
Caio Afiune, guitar
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Caio did his undergrad at Faculdade Santa Marcelina, where he was the youngest student to ever enroll in the music program, at age 16.
After graduating, Caio moved to Boston in 2011 after receiving a scholarship to attend New England Conservatory, where he studied with several of his musical idols, including Jerry Bergonzi, Brad Shepik, Frank Carlberg, Jason Moran and Miguel Zenon. At NEC, Caio was part of the NEC Jazz Orchestra and shared the stage with jazz greats Dave Holland, Bob Moses, and Fred Hersch.
Since moving to the United States, Caio has been performing extensively as a leader and a sideman not only in Boston, but also in New York, Vermont, Washington D.C, and Chicago. In 2013,he teamed up with award-winning singer Liz Tobias and Michael Mayo, currently a student at the Thelonious Monk Institute, for a tour of Brazil and Australia.
In 2014, after multiple performance and workshops at the Panama Jazz Festival, Caio was selected to be part of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program, directed by Jason Moran. That same year Caio recorded his self-titled debut album, featuring exclusively original compositions. “Prebenda”, the opening track was awarded an ASCAP Young Composer Award, and “Dido”, the closing track, was an official finalist in the 2015 Hollywood songwriting competition.
Caio Afiune holds a Master's Degree and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in jazz performance at New England Conservatory.
Stephen D'Amico, voice
Lyric baritone, Stephen D’Amico is a graduate of New England Conservatory who holds his bachelors of music in Vocal Performance with a concentration in Music in Education. An avid performer, he is well versed in both the classical and music theater genres. While at NEC, opera scene credits included Papageno (Die Zauberflote), Gugliemo (Cosi fan tutte), while fully staged credits included Candide, Die Fledermaus (Dr. Falke-cover), and Into the Woods (Rapunzel’s Prince). Outside of NEC, Stephen was cast in the chamber ensemble of Nextdoor Center of the Arts’ production of Sweeney Todd. Most recently, Stephen could be seen starring in Theater Company of Saugus’ DASH Award nominated production of [title of show] (Jeff). Other theater credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Trevor Graydon), Merrily We Roll Along (Frankling Sheppard), The History Boys (Posner), and The Comedy of Errors (Dromio of Ephesus). In 2011, Stephen placed 2nd in the Boston regional NATS singing competition that earned him a scholarship to study with the Frost School of Music in Salzurg, Austria that summer. He studies under the tutelage of Carole Haber, Wendy Shattuck Chair of Voice, at New England Conservatory.