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A season of gratitude, growth, and ensemble spirit. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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A season of gratitude, growth, and ensemble spirit. |
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A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Supportive Parents
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We’re deeply grateful for the generous donations we’ve received from JCM families this season. Your contributions directly support coaching stipends, venue rentals, and performance opportunities that elevate our students’ chamber music experience. Every gift, large or small, helps us nurture young musicians and build a vibrant, collaborative community. Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the future of ensemble music.
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Rehearsals and Coaching Are Underway
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By now, JCM ensembles should have met for several rehearsals and begun coaching sessions with our extraordinary faculty. These early meetings are crucial for building ensemble chemistry, refining interpretation, and preparing for upcoming performances. If your group hasn’t yet scheduled coaching, please reach out to your branch director ASAP. Let’s keep the momentum going!
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Why Chamber Music Matters
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Chamber music offers unique benefits that shape musicians both artistically and personally:
- Deep listening and communication: Players must respond in real time to each other’s phrasing, dynamics, and timing.
- Leadership and collaboration: Each member carries equal responsibility, fostering confidence and mutual respect.
- Musical independence: Chamber ensembles demand individual initiative and interpretive input.
- Emotional connection: The intimacy of small-group playing often leads to more expressive, heartfelt performances.
- Lifelong friendships: Many JCM alumni reflect on chamber music as the foundation of enduring musical relationships.
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Antonín Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, known as the “Dumky” Trio, is a masterwork of emotional contrast and Slavic folk influence. Composed in 1891, it breaks from traditional trio form by presenting six movements, each a “dumka” - a Slavic lament alternating between introspective melancholy and spirited joy.
Structure: Each movement is a standalone emotional journey, blending lyrical introspection with rhythmic vitality.
Cultural roots: “Dumky” derives from Ukrainian ballads, reflecting Dvořák’s nationalistic pride and storytelling through music.
Interpretive challenge: The piece demands nuanced phrasing, dynamic control, and ensemble sensitivity, perfect for advanced JCM groups.
Watch JCM students perform this piece:
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2024-2025 JCM OC Debut Artists
Anna B’far - piano, Maiya Kothari - violin, Zara B’far - cello
Coaches: Svetlana Smolina, David Lisker, Joon Sung Jun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWzoc-js6jk&list=RDoWzoc-js6jk&start_radio=1 |
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Honors
Simply Triplets: Alexis Lee - piano, Victoria Shung - violin, Kaitlyn Lee - cello Coaches: Judy Huang, Luke Santonastaso, Joon Sung Jun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgBtrDNXNpk&list=RDCgBtrDNXNpk&start_radio=1 |
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Luke Santonastaso
Born in Los Angeles, Luke Santonastaso is a versatile musician, instructor, and mentor active across the United States, presently based in Orange County, CA. He currently serves as the principal 2nd violin for the Santa Cruz Symphony as well as tenured member of the New West Symphony and the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. His musical collaborations extend to various orchestras on the west coast, including the Long Beach Symphony, Santa Barbara Opera, San Bernardino Symphony, and Redlands Symphony, among others. Luke has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned artists such as Midori Goto, Maxim Vengerov, Osmo Vänskä, Lynn Harrell, Gilbert Kalish, Kim Kashkashian, and Augustine Hadelich.
He has been a fellow at prestigious institutions including the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, and Incontri in Terra di Siena music festivals. Beyond his performance commitments, Luke is dedicated to nurturing emerging talents in his private studio along with serving as coach and instructor with institutions such as Junior Chamber Music and previous positions with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and the Crowden School in Berkeley, CA. Luke holds degrees from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where he studied with Movses Pogossian and Guillaume Sutre, member of Quatuor Ysaÿe. Outside of classical music, Luke is a member of the Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles and enjoys folk music in all its forms. He is a loving cat dad and technophile.
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We Want to Feature YOU!Got an awesome story, fun fact, or performance video to share?
We love celebrating our students & alumni.Send your stories or clips to Aimee: aimee@juniorchambermusic.org for a chance to be featured!
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Stay Connected!Follow us for daily inspiration, student spotlights, and behind-the-scenes fun:Whether you're new to chamber music or a seasoned JCM performer, this season is your opportunity to grow, connect, and shine—we can’t wait for all that’s ahead!With gratitude,
The Junior Chamber Music Team
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