Thomas DeFisher, Tennor
Wheaton College Conservatory of Music

Thomas DeFisher, tenor, is a student from Williamson, New York pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music where he studies with Sarah Holman. Recent performances include Nemorino in Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore, and the Baker and Wolf/Cinderella's Prince in Sondheim’s Into the Woods in the Wheaton College Opera Mainstage program. This summer, Thomas will be returning to the Bay View Music Festival singing the role of Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni as well as Jacey Squires in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man. An active church musician, Thomas is currently a staff singer at Saint Procopius Abbey in Lisle, Illinois. In the Fall, Thomas will be continuing his education at The Eastman School of Music, pursuing a master’s degree in Vocal Performance and Literature, studying with Anthony Griffey. In addition to his singing, his collaborative piano work includes accompanying the Wheaton College Opera Scenes productions, summer festivals, solo singers and instrumentalists.

Rayna Mia Campbell, Soprano
San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Japanese–African American soprano Rayna Mia Campbell blends classical tradition with personal and cultural storytelling. Praised for her “radiant soprano” and “expressive depth,” she performs across opera, art song, and contemporary repertoire. 

Recent highlights include Nurse Graves and Ida Muntz (The Road to Wellville), Lavinia Williams (Madame Theremin), Silvia (Zanetto), Drusilla (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Magda Sorel (The Consul), Vitellia (La clemenza di Tito), and Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring). In 2024, Campbell performed the West Coast premiere of Death of a Little Girl with Doves by Jeremy Beck with the SFCM Orchestra and San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.

Campbell was a semifinalist for the Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition (2025) and was a recipient of an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition (2024, 2026)

A passionate educator, Rayna has taught with Reaching for the Arts in NYC and Little Mission Studio in San Francisco, encouraging students to explore voice as a space for creativity, health, and joy. She is a co-founder of Teens for Opera at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and an advocate for access and equity in classical music.

Campbell holds a Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Music and Professional Studies Certificate from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she was a recipient of the Carol and Dixon Doll scholarship.

Caitlin Towell, Soprano
Okalahoma City University

Soprano Caitlin Towell is an emerging artist known for her bright, agile voice and a
flair for character-driven storytelling. Currently completing her Master of Music in
Opera Performance at Oklahoma City University under the guidance of Dr. Kelly
Holst and Jan McDaniel, she began shaping her artistic identity at the University of
Illinois, where she earned her BMA in Lyric Theatre under the mentorship of Dawn
Harris, Sarah Wigley, and Michael Tilley.
Caitlin has been recognized nationally for her artistry. She was awarded first place
in The American Prize in Vocal Performance for Art Song and second place in both
the Opera division and the Ernst Bacon Memorial Awards. Her growing list of
honors includes second place with the Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization,
a Farwell Award from the Musicians Club of Women, Encouragement Awards from
the National Society of Arts & Letters Winston Scholarship and the Orpheus
National Music Competition, and semifinalist recognition from James Toland Vocal
Arts.
Onstage, Caitlin brings a magnetic presence to roles ranging from comedic
firecrackers to heartfelt heroines. She has brought to life an array of vivid characters,
including Nella (Gianni Schicchi), Despina (Così fan tutte), Anne (A Little Night
Music), Phyllis (Iolanthe), Sally (Die Fledermaus), Phoebe (A Gentleman’s Guide
to Love and Murder), Babette (Beauty and the Beast), Cosette (Les Misérables), and
Sandra (Big Fish). She is equally at home on the concert and recital stage and brings
her love of storytelling to her work as a music director and as a dedicated piano and
voice teacher.
Beyond the stage lights, Caitlin can usually be found tending to her ever-growing
plant collection, checking out an alarming number of books from the library, or
doting on her cat, Fitzgerald—who is convinced he is the true star of the household.

Juchan Lee, Piano
Missouri State University

Silver Medalist of the IPPA International Piano Competition, Juchan Lee has received top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Music Education Newspaper Competition, the Korean Piano Pedagogy Association Competition, the MMTA Collegiate Piano Duet Competition, the Memphis International Piano Competition, the Future Stars International Piano Competition, and the SIYAO Senior Instrumental Competition. He has also been named a finalist in the Spotlight International Piano Competition and the Chicago International Music Competition. Most recently, he appeared as a soloist with the Missouri State University Symphony Orchestra after winning the 2025–26 Missouri State University Concerto/Aria Competition. An accomplished and versatile collaborator, Lee is highly sought after as both an accompanist and chamber musician. He has served as accompanist for the Hellam Young Artists’ International Competition (26th and 28th editions), the Ozark NATS Competition, the Galloway Chamber
Orchestra, the Missouri State University Orchestra, the National Federation of Music Clubs Festival (2024,2026), the Youth Talent Concerto Competition in Monett (2024–2025), the MSHSAA Music Festival (2024–2026), the Ozark Festival Orchestra, the Springfield Youth Symphony, and the 2025 Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church. His collaborative work includes performances with saxophonist Dr. Matthew Tracy, chamber recitals at Hanyang
University in Seoul, and appearances with Piano Trio Yeowoon at the Seocho Art Center. He was also invited by the National Cancer Center of Korea to present a duo recital with his sister, flutist Cha-hye Lee. He was invited to participate in the ASIA International Piano Academy and Festival and appeared as a soloist in the IPPA Conero International Piano Festival in Recanati, Italy

Lee served as a counselor at the 2024 and 2025 Young Artists Keyboard Academy at Missouri State University and presented at the 2025 MTNA National Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He currently serves as Vice President of the Missouri State University MTNA Collegiate Chapter. He has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Boris Slutsky, Spencer Myer, Choong-Mo Kang, Marina Lomazov, Sofya Gulyak, Mi-Joo Lee, Sungeun Kim, Jason Kwak, Artina McCain, Tae-Hyung Kim, Eric Zuber, Xiting Yang, Jonathan Tsay, the Opus 76 Quartet, and the Nexus Chamber Music. Lee completed his studies at Chung-Buk Arts High School and Chugye University for the Arts in
South Korea. After receiving a graduate assistantship at Hanyang University, he is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in piano performance at Missouri State University, where he holds a graduate assistantship under the guidance of Dr. Hye-Jung Hong. His previous teachers include In-Mee Park, So Yong Choi, Ko-Wooni Yang, Jae-Weon Huh, and Dasul Jung.

Kevin André Zerrate Arias, Violin
Universityof Southern Mississippi

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, he began his musical studies at the age of five, thanks to the influence of his parents, who were also musicians. From his early years until 2013, he studied under the tutelage of Ibagué-born teacher Amparo Botero within the Children's and Youth Program at Javeriana University. In 2011, he won the Young Soloists Competition organized by the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2013, he secured first prize in the soloists' competition held by Javeriana University's Children's and Youth Program. 

Over the following years, after leaving Javeriana University, he continued his studies in the Basic Music Studies Program at the National University of Colombia under the mentorship of Maestros Juan Carlos Higuita and José Luis Benavides. In 2017, he played for a brief period with the Bogotá Pre-Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and was selected to represent Colombia during the Colombia-France Year, joining the Colombia-France Binational Orchestra; with this ensemble, he had the opportunity to travel to Paris and perform a repertoire featuring music from both countries at the Philharmonie de Paris. He began his studies at the National University of Colombia in mid-2017 under the guidance of Maestros Leonardo Federico Hoyos and Liz Ángela García, while also studying outside the curriculum with Leónidas Cáceres, concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. 

In early 2018, he attended the Santa Catarina Music Festival (FEMUSC) in Brazil, where he had the opportunity to take master classes with Léon Spierer, Charles Stegeman, and Richard Roberts. In 2020, he joined the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Colombia, of which he remains a member to this day, having had the opportunity to tour throughout Colombia and Europe under the baton of Andrés Orozco-Estrada. During his tenure with the orchestra, he has had the opportunity to perform works such as “Petrushka”, “Symphonie fantastique”, and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, as well as to accompany soloists of the caliber of Katia and Marielle Labèque and Hilary Hahn. In late 2021, he was invited by Iberacademy, an orchestral foundation located in Medellín, Colombia, to perform “Scheherazade” by the Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov under the baton of the Spanish conductor Roberto Gonzáles-Monjas, with whom he also took a master class. His passion for composition led him to enroll in a series of workshops in late 2022, directed by the Argentine-Spanish maestro Fabián Panisello, head of the Composition Chair at the Reina Sofía School of Music. There, his skills flourished and he further developed his compositional techniques, creating a miniature for solo violin, a work he would later use for his graduation recital. In late 2022, he won the Soloists Competition at the Conservatory of the National University of Colombia, performing Édouard Lalo’s “Symphonie espagnole” alongside the Conservatory Orchestra. He subsequently graduated from the National University with a varied repertoire comprising works by Beethoven, Lalo, Bach, and his own original compositions.

In early 2023, he was once again invited by Iberacademy, this time to travel to the United States and participate for a week in a concert with the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami. There, he received a masterclass from the young violinist Randall Goosby. Also during the early part of the year, he assisted the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Colombia with the preparation of the “Symphonie Espagnole”, having been invited to perform it during rehearsals; all of this took place in the company of Maestro Massimo Spadano, Concertmaster of the Galicia Symphony Orchestra, and during this production, he received the honor of holding the position of Concertmaster for the concerts alongside the Spanish violinist Leticia Moreno.

Over the past few years until the beginning of his Master Studies, he served as a recurring guest musician with the Colombian National Symphony Orchestra, performing various orchestral programs alongside them. He was a member of the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra for a brief period in 2023 before stepping down to pursue further studies. That same year, he won the annual competition organized by the Banco de la República de Colombia as part of its “Young Performers” series, subsequently performing a solo repertoire at the Luis Ángel Arango Concert Hall the following year (2024). In 2023, he pursued his Master's degree in Performance under the tutelage of Elisabeth Adkins at the School of Music at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, where, during his time there, he served as concertmaster of the university orchestra on several occasions. In early 2024, he composed a string quartet for his chamber ensemble, which premiered in 2025 at the auditorium of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. In 2025, he completed his Master's studies and immediately entered the Doctoral program at The University of Southern Mississippi under the mentorship of Borislava Iltcheva. In early 2026, he secured a one-year contract as Assistant Principal of the Second Violin section with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. He also took second place in the Instrumental Senior Division of a competition organized by SIYAO (Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization). Currently, he continues his Doctoral studies, conducting research on the synthesis of Colombian folklore and 20th-century European compositional techniques. 

Jacob Bickham, Saxophone
University of Missouri Kansas City

Jacob Bickham is a saxophonist and composer recognized for bold

performances and his original works for saxophone. His artistry can be

most easily described as “Third-Stream” (As coined by Gunther

Schuller) . He carries Southern American musical traditions, and his

performances span orchestral collaborations, Gala Performances,

interdisciplinary events, and national competition stages. Bickham’s

work is supported by commissioning consortiums, institutional grants

and performances, and international performances of his

compositions.

Andrew Su, Cello

Andrew Su, age 16, is a sophomore at Clayton High School. He started cello when he was 9 years old under the mentorship of James Czyzewski. Andrew won gold in the 2024 SLAMTA Young Artist Competition, and first place in the 2025 Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization Competition Junior Division II.

​

Andrew is in his fourth season with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and is currently co-principal of the cello section. He has also played chamber music in the CMS Preparatory program and the St. Louis Chamber Music Society. He was a member of the 2024 Missouri All-State Orchestra and principal cellist in the 2025 Missouri All-State Orchestra. More recently, his string quartet has qualified for Fischoff quarterfinals this year.

​

Andrew has enriched his cello skills and experience through various programs at the Community Music School of Webster University, including the String Orchestra, Young People’s Concert Orchestra, Young People’s Symphonic Orchestra, and the Preparatory program. He also participates in the Tri-M Honors Music Society.

Outside of playing the cello, Andrew enjoys playing tennis and drawing.
He is deeply grateful for the guidance and mentorship he has received from his teacher James Czyzewski over the years, and he also extends his heartfelt appreciation to all those who have supported and guided him on his musical journey.

Estelle Limbach, Piano

Estelle Limbach, 17, is a high school senior at Classical Conversations homeschool co-op in Maryville, Illinois. Estelle has been studying piano since the age of five with Sharon Voss, and participated in both the MTNA and ISMTA competitions.

In addition to piano, she also studies viola with the SIUE Suzuki program under Mikaila Seo, and formerly under Vicki Lottes until her retirement in 2024. Estelle participates in the Suzuki Tour Group, which performs free concerts both locally and internationally, and accompanied the group on their 2023 tour to the Czech Republic and Poland and later on their 2025 tour to Germany and Austria. Additionally, she has participated as a violist in both the ILMEA District orchestra and ILMEA State orchestra. In her free time, Estelle enjoys taking commissions as a freelance digital visual artist, reading classic literature, and participating in youth fellowship and service at her local church.

Zooe Chen, Piano

Zooey is a 13-year-old pianist from Champaign, IL. She is a 9th grader at University Laboratory High School in Urbana. She began learning piano at the age of five and is currently studying with Dr. Chi-Chen Wu from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Zooey enjoys performing at local and state-wide musical events. She is a Grand Prize winner of Music-Fest Rising Talents, a second-place winner of the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music, and a first-place winner of the Val Tidone International Young Talent Competition. Besides piano, Zooey enjoys judo, fencing, and reading in her spare time.

Aaron Hong, Piano

Aaron Hong, age 14, has been studying piano starting at the age of 5.  He has developed his musicianship through years of dedicated practice and performance.

Aaron has participated in the Illinois Music Teacher’s AIM exams in both theory and performance with consistently high scores for the past 8 years. He is also a 2-time participant in the Illinois State Music Teacher’s Association competitions and festivals and won honorable mention in 2024.  

Under the instruction of Robert Raymond, Aaron has performed in both Missouri and Illinois.  
Aaron is very grateful to his instructor and family for their continued guidance and support as he continues to develop his musicianship and skills.

Jemima Tzeng, Violin

...

Caroline Zhao, Violin

Caroline Zhao is thirteen years old and an eighth grader at Liberty Middle School. She began studying violin in the SIUE Suzuki Program at age four with Elizabeth Karako and has studied with Erika Lord-Castillo for the past eight years. Caroline is a member of the SIUE Suzuki Tour Group and the Advanced Chamber Ensemble, and she traveled with the Tour Group to Germany and Austria in the summer of 2025.

Caroline earned second place in the 2022 John and Kay Kendall Concerto Competition (Intermediate Division) and served as concertmaster for the 2024 ILMEA Junior Division. In addition to violin, she plays double bass in her school orchestra and enjoys volleyball and tennis. She is deeply grateful for the guidance and unwavering support of her teachers and family in her musical journey.