Sasha Sound (also known as Sasha Burdin) is a multifaceted musician, holding roles as a pianist, composer, singer, bandleader, teacher, and music director. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree from the University of Iowa in 2018.
In 2014, as a member of the Ephawk Quartet, he performed Messiaen’s “Quatuor pour la fin du temps,” a performance that garnered significant acclaim, being described in the media as “miraculous.” That same year, Mr. Sound was awarded a fellowship at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, MA.
In 2015, Sasha, along with clarinetist Thiago Ancelmo and violinist Andrew Uhe, formed the Nashat Trio. They performed works by Bartok, Milhaud, Khachaturian, and Shostakovich, and were featured at the Laredo Music Festival in 2016. During the 2015-2016 season, Sound was the principal pianist for the Johnson County Landmark jazz band, performing with notable guest artists such as Carmen Bradford, a former singer with Count Basie’s Jazz Band, and Melvin Butler of the Brian Blade Fellowship Band.
In 2016, Sasha founded The Sasha Burdin Quartet, focusing on original compositions and jazz standards. That year also marked the beginning of his collaboration with soprano Rachel Joselson and violinist Scott Conklin on the music of Nikolai Medtner. This collaboration led to a series of concerts and the recording of the CD “Ich denke dein: Songs and Chamber Works of Nikolai Medtner.” Sasha’s doctoral project included recording several of Medtner’s solo piano works, including the rarely performed Second Improvisation, op.47. This resulted in the CD “Dreams and Improvisations of Nikolai Medtner” (2022), available on his Bandcamp page (sashasound.bandcamp.com) and streaming platforms.
Sasha Sound also formed the ensemble DuoArt with violinist and composer Leo Iogansen. One of their notable recent performances was a concert in Mt. Shasta, CA, in May 2024.
As a composer, Sasha has explored different genres and styles, writing for solo piano, chamber music, large multicultural ensembles (such as “Calling,” written for GAB – Global Art Bridges), and songwriting.
As a teacher Sasha taught many courses, including solo piano, chamber music, music theory, harmony, improvisation, composition. Sasha trained students of diverse ages and education, including piano lessons for kids, adults, and music professionals. Sasha is an author of original music courses focused on creative learning and integration of music disciplines: “Improvisation,” “Composition,” “Integrated Musicianship,” and “Piano Playground.” These courses are based on understanding of the intrinsic value of arts and creativity. Students experience music learning through play and improvisation, discovery, interactive games, and collaboration. Sasha also mentored and guided young musicians in realizing their potential in music making and becoming composers and music producers.
In April 2023, Sasha took on the role of music director at Grace Church, where he discovered a new passion for singing. This new journey in vocal music led him to start and lead a children’s choir, Evergreen Voices, consisting of several talented young singers.
As Sasha continues to grow in his musicianship and skills, his main passion remains bringing the community together through music and creative arts as the unifying forces of human existence.
For information about the artist is available on his website: http://sashasound.art
Sasha Sound’s bandcamp artist’s page: https://sashasound.bandcamp.com/
Mari Kawamura is a concert pianist whose curiosity has taken her in a variety of directions ranging from improvisation and dance to biology and physics. Kawamura is drawn to music, which utilizes the entirety of the piano as an expressive device. She is as equally fascinated by works that showcase the tremendous agility of the instrument, as by compositions that explore its ability to produce cavernous resonances, complex spectral sounds, and unpitched noise.
Her repertoire includes music by William Byrd, Scriabin, Xenakis, and Japanese composers such as Toru Takemitsu and Michio Mamiya. Kawamura has also collaborated with a number of living composers, premiering new works by Joseph Bourdeau, Annie Hui-Hsin Hsieh, Lil Lacy, and Anthony Vine, among many others.
Kawamura has presented solo recitals on concert series hosted by Carnegie Mellon University, University of Northern Colorado, Piano Spheres, MONK Space in Los Angeles, and Center for New Music in San Francisco. She has appeared in major festivals, such as Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival USA, Darmstadt International Summer Course, and SICPP in Boston, at which her 2013 performance of Xenakis’ Dikthas was described as “an unrelenting volcanic eruption” by NEWMUSICBOX.
In 2019, Kawamura was featured on Jeffrey Holmes’ album, “May the Bridges I Burn Light My Way,” and in the Fall of 2020, she toured Denmark with Anna Jalving and Morten Lohmann Soenders, to premiere Lil Lacy’s piano trio, “Plant Native.”
Kawamura received her bachelor’s degree from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, where she studied with Emiko Kumagai and Vadim Sakharov. She went on to win the Winfred Christie Award scholarship to study at London’s Royal Academy of Music, where she earned her master’s degree under Tatiana Sarkissova, and was awarded a prestigious DipRAM prize for her outstanding final recital.
After studying with Stephen Drury at the New England Conservatory, she pursued her Doctorate in Contemporary Music Performance at the University of California, San Diego, where she trained under Aleck Karis. Her research dealt with MA, an ancient Japanese concept concerning space and time, and is focused on identifying ma-like structures in music outside of Japan’s sphere of influence with the goal of demonstrating that the concept of “charged stillness” is a widespread global phenomenon.
As a music teacher, Mrs. Kawamura believes that music learning is essential for human growth, as through the musical activity we obtain not only skills to play instruments, but also find our own unique voices to express our own ideas. In her studio, students enjoy exploring a variety of musical styles and genres while their natural curiosity and inspiration guide the practice and lead the way of learning. With this approach, Dr. Kwamura is committed to helping students find confidence and become independent musicians.
Her solo album, “MA ~ space between ~,” is available on Furious Artisan, and on her bandcamp page: https://marikawamura.bandcamp.com/album/ma-space-between
For more information, visit her website: https://marikawamura.net/
John Chiang’s music is always sensitive with very emotional expression. John is an active musician constantly performing in Asia, North America, and Europe. He served as concertmaster of Dachung Chinese Orchestra from 2004 to 2011.
Among various awards and honors for this orchestra are top prize of “National Chinese Music Competition”, “Spring of International Music Festival Shanghai” and had received great reviews in the papers and music magazines.
In 2007, John was the founding member of “Taiwanese Ensemble” together with three other Taiwanese musicians, and has been invited to perform in several festivals in Europe, including Busker Festival and Edinburgh Festival.
He is currently a member of “TOPS”; a musician group sponsored by one of the biggest Taiwanese artistic agency “New Art, Inc.” and has performed in Taiwanese National Concert Hall, Shanghai Fashion Week, Hong Kong Art Festival, and Japanese Music Festival.
He also appears in numerous performances as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborating with many musicians as well as different type of performing artists. John has won several music competitions, including First Prize of Taiwan National Music Competition and National Yellow Bell Chinese Music Competition, in the Erhu category. He also won the top prize of “best leading performer” from the Taipei Chinese Music Competition. John has also involved in several music associations, including Society of Ethnomusicology, International Association for the Study of Popular Music, Chinese Music Research. He is currently the council of Music Teachers’ Association of California and the board member/vice president of Chinese Music Teacher’s Association of North California.
“It’s a very enjoyable thing to play Erhu, which is one of the iconic traditional Chinese instruments. But before we can really express our emotion through this two strings bowed instrument, technical foundation is the gateway to the Erhu music, and the musicianship could bring us beyond the music notation. Finally, we as the experienced teacher would help the student to know how to practice; practice would build the confident to the point where you could really enjoy playing music everywhere by yourself or on the stage with your Audiences”.
Gloria Ma is a high-school junior attending Valley Christian High School in San Jose, California. She has been playing the piano for 10 years and the violin for 6. Over her past 8 years under the tutelage of Dr. Zhao Zhao Yang, she has achieved numerous top placements in piano competitions. These include a 1st place and Outstanding Gold Medalist prize in the Showcase Solo division of the 2024 US Open Music Competition and a 2024 Music Teachers’ Association of California Panel Finals with Honors award.
In addition to her love for piano, she has been playing violin in the Evergreen Valley Youth Orchestra since 6th grade. She is excited to be serving as president and conductor of the orchestra for the 2024-25 season.
Beyond music, Gloria has a deep curiosity for mathematics, biology, and physics, and also loves to crochet.
Victor Gong has played piano for around 9 years, including the period of Covid quarantine (2020-2022). He recentlybegan learning the saxophone. Victor has served as a musician in residence at Grace Church of Evergreen for more than 2 years, becoming an invaluable musical asset to the community. He has gained a reputation as a dedicated
and a passionate musician. Victor has accomplished a number of performances along with the music director Sasha Sound and accompanied the children’s choir Evergreen Voices at the Christmas Event in December 2023. Although Victor partakes in many activities, music has become one of his dearest hobbies.
He loves learning and playing various compositions, ranging from classical to contemporary, and through his journey, Victor has come to realize the power and importance of music in one’s life, as a single piece can enliven the atmosphere of an entire room.