Transformations: From Brahms to Woodie Guthrie

Julia Pautz, violin

Julia Pautz has been delighting audiences with her uniquely engaging onstage personality since her orchestral debut at age 10. Performing as a member of the San Diego Symphony since 2010, she has been called a “genuine virtuoso” by the Dallas Morning News, and has had her artistic projects featured on the front page of the San Diego Union Tribune.  

A passionate advocate for innovative and accessible classical music experiences, Julia is a a founding member of the Artonic String Quartet, which pairs traditional classical music with enticing contemporary music and virtuosic pop arrangements in performances across the Southwestern US, and serves as the quartet in residence for Mosaic Chamber Music Festival. As co-founder and Artistic Director of Blanco Performing Arts, Julia has worked for 17 years to bring exceptional music to the rural Texas Hill Country. Equally at home as a presenter, performer, and educator, Julia is also a published author, whose work has been featured in the American Suzuki Journal.

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Tina Chong, piano

Award-winning Canadian pianist Dr. Tina Chong enjoys a versatile career as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral keyboardist, and educator. She serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at San Diego State University and performs regularly with the San Diego Symphony as principal keyboardist. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, she has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the Calgary Philharmonic, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, and Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, with performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and other major venues across North America.

Equally at home in classical, contemporary, film, and collaborative performances, Dr. Chong is widely admired for her expressive artistry and musical versatility. She is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, an active clinician and masterclass presenter, and a Yamaha Artist.

Julia Pautz and Tina Chong last appeared together on the Blanco Performing Arts stage in 2019 and are delighted to return for this performance.