Ilya Yakushev, a pianist with many awards and honors to his credit, continues to astound and mesmerize audiences at major venues on three continents. The British label Nimbus Records released his “Prokofiev Sonatas Vol. 1,” and the American Record Guide praised him as “one of the very best young pianists before the public today,” noting his uniformly high-caliber performances across repertoire.

Yakushev has appeared in prestigious halls worldwide, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York), Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), Sejong Performing Arts Center (Seoul), Great Philharmonic Hall (St. Petersburg), and Victoria Hall (Singapore). His orchestral collaborations include performances with the San Francisco Symphony, BBC Concert Orchestra, Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, and others. In 2025–26 he undertakes dozens of engagements spanning New York City to the West Coast for recitals, concertos, and chamber music. He has collaborated with members of the St. Lawrence String Quartet and performs regularly in a duo with cellist Thomas Mesa, recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Prize and the Sphinx Organization’s Medal of Excellence.

Winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition (Cincinnati), Yakushev’s competition successes began at age 12 as a prizewinner of the Young Artists Concerto Competition in St. Petersburg. He received the Mayor of St. Petersburg’s Young Talents award in 1997 and won First Prize at the Donostia Hiria International Piano Competition in San Sebastián in both 1997 and 1998. He was also a recipient of the Gawon International Music Society Award in Seoul.

A student of Vladimir Feltsman at Mannes College of Music, Yakushev is a Yamaha artist.

Branden & James — powerhouse cello-and-vocal duo — join forces with singer‑songwriter Effie Passero (American Idol; Postmodern Jukebox) for a tour‑de‑force evening of music and stories. NPR Music praised their “dazzling cello and soaring tenor vocals,” and Entertainment Weekly called Passero’s voice “insanely powerful.” Together the trio blends epic musical collaborations with lighthearted anecdotes that will make audiences laugh and cry.

Simply Three — the electrifying trio of Julian Nguyen, Nick Villalobos, and Zack Clark — has captivated audiences worldwide since 2010 with high‑octane, genre‑blurring performances. Hailed as “having what it takes” (Boston Philharmonic) and “highly imaginative and well played” (Maine Today), the group transforms repertoire from Adele and Ed Sheeran to Gershwin and Michael Jackson with inventive arrangements and virtuosic flair. Their original works and crossover interpretations explore the essence of modern instrumental music, blending classical training with a fresh, contemporary sound.