Chika Nobumori, pianist, is currently in candidacy for a Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance at University of California, Santa Barbara studying with pianist Robert Koenig. She is a native of Japan where she started her piano lessons at age 4 with Miwako Shimizu. Upon moving to Ventura County at age nine, she continued her studies with Ryoko Sone and Edward Francis. In her youth, she regularly participated in festivals and competitions, and her first appearance as a concerto soloist was at age 17.

Chika holds a Bachelor in Science in applied mathematics with specialization in computing from University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated with honors. After her bachelor’s degree, she worked as a biochemistry research associate at the Department of Human Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine leading to authorships on several peer-reviewed journal articles. During this time, she studied piano privately and was featured as a concerto soloist under conductor Kevin McKeown. Chika also spent her free time teaching piano at non-profit organizations and performing as a chamber pianist in greater Los Angeles area including Pasadena, South Bay, and Ventura
County.

Following this, Chika obtained her Masters in Music in piano performance from California State University, Northridge where she studied with Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov. She was a scholarship recipient, a teaching assistant for the music and mathematics department, and graduated with recognition. She has participated in music festivals, seminars, and has had masterclasses with distinguished pianists including John Perry, Peter Takács, Timothy Ehlen, Eugene Alcalay, and Rufus Choi, among others. In 2020 and in 2023, she participated in masterclass with pianist Yefim Bronfman through UCSB Arts & Lectures. At UCSB, she has taught group and individual piano, and worked as a TA for Music Appreciation, Music Fundamentals, as well as for Japanese. In 2023, she was nominated for UCSB’s Outstanding TA Award. Outside of her school activities, she is also active as a collaborative pianist for instrumentalists and choral groups, as well as an instructor at private and non-profit organizations. She currently serves as an adjunct faculty collaborative pianist at Westmont College. Chika believes in the accessibility of music, and hopes to continue to teach and perform to bring people together and serve communities.

Mi-Young Kim is a versatile pianist and educator whose work spans collaborative piano, solo performance, and music direction. Based in Santa Barbara, California, she has built a multifaceted career in both performance and education. She currently serves as Director of Music at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara, and has also worked as a collaborative pianist with the Santa Ynez Valley Chorale, Santa Barbara Master Chorale, and Santa Barbara Choral Society. In addition, she was a faculty member at Westmont College, where she shares her passion for chamber music and collaborative artistry with the next generation of musicians.

Mi-Young is currently completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree (ABD) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, under the mentorship of Professor Robert Koenig. She also holds a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Hartford. Her training has been shaped by esteemed mentors including Dr. Colette Valentine, Prof. Rick Rowley, Dr. Miguel Campinho, and Prof. David Westfall.

Dedicated to musical excellence, Mi-Young continues to integrate performance, scholarship, and teaching in ways that enrich both her community and the broader field of collaborative piano.

Pianist Peter Wittenberg was born into a musical family of Latvian heritage. His father played viola, double bass, and guitar, and his mother was an opera singer. He began piano studies at an early age and at the age of 16, he won the Bronislaw Kaper award from the Los Angeles Philharmonic performing the Prokofiev 2nd Piano Concerto. Since then he has performed in international concert halls such as the Frankfurt Alte Oper, the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, the Grossersaal of the Mozarteum Stiftung, the Athenaeum Bucharest, the Allerheiligen Hofkirche in Munich, Carnegie Weill Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City, the Baden-Baden Philharmonie, and many others.

Björn Månsson, pianist, studied at the University of Music in Gothenburg from 1975 to 1984 under Professor Stella Tjajkovski, earning degrees (MA) in piano, music theory, music teaching, and piano teaching. He concluded his studies with a postgraduate soloist diploma and made his debut as a soloist with an orchestra in Gothenburg and Norrköping in 1982. His first solo piano recital took place in Gothenburg in 1984. Following his diploma, he continued his studies in Paris from 1987 to 1988 as a scholarship recipient under Vlado Perlemuter. During his academic journey, he also participated in master classes with prominent musicians such as Tatiana Nikolayeva, Hans Leygraf, Vlado Perlemuter, Robert Riefling, and Tibor de Machula. He currently teaches at Hvitfeldtska Musikgymnasiet in Gothenburg, though he has previously served as a university lecturer in piano, piano methodology, and music theory at the Music University of Ingesund. As a performer, Björn Månsson has appeared as both a soloist and chamber musician throughout Sweden and internationally, including on Sweden’s National Radio and in countries such as Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Malta, Poland, and Germany.

Erin Bonski, pianist, began her musical journey in Pennsylvania, where she studied with Dr. Tim Shafer at Penn State University while in high school, and became the youngest participant in the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. Erin went on to earn her B.M. and M.M. degrees from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and pursued doctoral studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

A versatile artist, Erin has served as Staff Continuo player at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, collaborative pianist at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and as Chorusmaster and Repetiteur for Toledo Opera. Since moving to Santa Barbara, she has collaborated regularly with local arts organizations, including the Santa Barbara Symphony, Opera Santa Barbara, and Ensemble Theatre Company, and has performed internationally, including appearances with the Grammy-winning ensemble Forever Tango. Her academic career includes positions at Santa Barbara City College, the University of California, Santa Barbara, Westmont College and Bowling Green State University, where she has taught piano pedagogy, opera coaching, and piano literature.

She has published works on ensemble playing and sight-reading in American Music Teacher Magazine, and she has recorded the works of Dr. Earl Louis Stewart. Erin has also worked as a church musician throughout most of her career, leading a vibrant music ministry for the last decade at First Presbyterian Church. She is eager to give back to her community as Secretary on the Board for the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation. Currently, she serves as adjunct faculty and collaborative pianist at Westmont College while maintaining a private piano studio and consulting with arts organizations across Southern California.

Donna Massello-Chiacos, pianist, presents workshops internationally and teacher training programs nationally, and has held workshops in Taiwan, Canada, and throughout the United States. She received her BA Degree from UCSB, studying with Dr. Betty Oberacker, and earned her MA in Music Education with emphasis in Orff Schulwerk from the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota), also coaching with Dusi Mura in Santa Monica and performing in solo and chamber music master classes. A certified Orff Schulwerk specialist, she established Orff Schulwerk-based music programs in the Montessori Center and San Roque Schools, assisted in creating the Music Academy of the West’s MERIT Program, and served as the Program Coordinator for six years.

Rosa LoGiudice, pianist, graduated summa cum laude from Hunter College, earning BM and MM Degrees in Piano Performance, and earned her MM Degree in Collaborative Piano from UCSB, studying with Robert Koenig. Active as soloist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician, she is a founding member and frequent performer at the Glendale Noon Concert Series, and was Staff Pianist and Assistant Director for the Newbury Park High School Choral Department from 2005-2013. Ms. LoGiudice is a member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California and has maintained a piano studio for ten years; her students have participated in and received honors in programs such as the Certificate of Merit and the Southern California Junior Bach Festival.