Sarah Rothenberg Artistic Director

Young Artist Program

DACAMERA YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

The DACAMERA Young Artist program is a fellowship program for emerging professional instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers. The goal of the program is to encourage musicians to develop the skills necessary to become passionate, forward-thinking and community-focused “citizen artists;” that is, artists who reimagine the traditional notions of their music-making and embrace the role of contributing to society through the transformative power of their art and proactive social engagement. DACAMERA Young Artists participate in an exciting variety of performances, workshops and school visits. Young Artists perform at the Wortham Center; The Menil Collection; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; and area hospitals and libraries. They are also the principal teaching artists for DACAMERA’s innovative Music Encounters program.

The 2024/2025 Young Artists are:

Rebecca Benjamin, viola;  Keaton Brown, baritone; Nanki Chugh, violin; Chloe De Souza, piano; Oliver Dubon, composer; Isaac Foreman, piano; Gavin Goodrich, composer; Christian Harvey, double bass; Wei An Hung, cello; Sophie Kim, harp; Bensen Kwan, percussion; Julie Lin, violin; Yu-Ming Ma, violin; Jimena Montserrat, soprano; Astrid Nakamura, violin; James Palmer, piano; Anne Pinkerton, oboe; Triniti Rives, clarinet; Tasiah Rodgers, jazz voice; Adam W. Sadberry, flute; Sebastian Stoger, cello; Brooke Wyatt, jazz piano.

Click below the photo to learn more about each DACAMERA Young Artist. Look for upcoming performances by the Young Artists on our Free Events page.

Rebecca Benjamin

Viola

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Violist Rebecca Benjamin is an engaging and versatile musician who has made appearances across the United States and abroad. At home on both the violin and the viola, Rebecca is an active performer on both instruments. Ms. Benjamin recently was a quarterfinalist at the 2023 ARD Viola Competition and participated in the 2022 Tokyo International Viola Competition. An avid chamber musician, she is a member of the Abeo Quartet and is on the faculty of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival Maine Students Program. Holding degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Yale School of Music and the University of Delaware, Rebecca is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University under the tutelage of James Dunham.

Keaton Brown

Baritone

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​Hailing from Houston,Texas, DACAMERA Young Artist baritone Keaton Brown is establishing himself as a musical and versatile artist. In the 2024-25 season, Mr. Brown will be a Resident Artist with Nashville Opera  where he will perform the role of Boatswain in H.M.S Pinafore. Mr. Brown has previously performed the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Seagle Festival and Guglielmo in Cosi Fan Tutte as a Moores Opera Center guest artist. Additional highlights include Fredrik Egermann in A Little Night Music, Il Notaio in Gianni Schicchi, and Papageno in Die Zauberflöte. Mr. Brown received his Master of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and his Bachelor of Music at San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Originario de Houston, Texas, el barítono Keaton Brown se ha establecido como un artista musical y versátil. En la temporada 2024-25 Brown se unirá a Nashville Opera como artista en residencia, donde cantará el papel de Boatswain en H.M.S Pinaforte. También regresa DACAMERA Houston para su segunda temporada como joven artista. En la temporada 2023-24, Brown cantó el papel protagónico de Don Giovanni, ópera de Mozart, y fue artista invitado en el Moores Opera Center, donde cantó el rol de Guglielmo, en Così fan tutte. En el ámbito de concierto, Brown se ha presentado como el barítono solista en el Requiem de Mozart con la Mercury Chamber Orchestra. Otros acontecimientos importantes incluyen los papeles de Fredrik Egermann en A Little Night Music con Seagle Festival, Il notaro en Gianni Schicchi con Festival Napa Valley, y Papageno en Die Zauberflöte con LAH-SOW. Brown obtuvo su maestría en música en la Shepherd School of Music de Rice University, y su licenciatura en Música en San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Nanki Chugh

Violin

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Nanki Chugh, an Indian-American violinist from Southern California, is currently pursuing her master’s degree in violin performance with Paul Kantor at the Shepherd School. She received a B.S. degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University in 2022. Passionate about the intersection of music, art, and science, and its impact on education, therapy, and society, Nanki studies the effects of collaborative music-making on the brain and performed Dr. Anthony Brandt’s “Meeting of Minds” at the 2024 “AI for Good” Conference in Geneva. This season, Nanki looks forward to premiering music with Musiqa, and working with DACAMERA to create “Discovery Series: The Science of Sound” and stage a musical adaptation of her own children’s book with Harris County Public Libraries.

Chloe De Souza

Piano

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Lauded for her emotional expressivity, Indian pianist Chloe de Souza has created a name for herself as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent highlights include performing Dinuk Wijeratne’s piano concerto at the Inter-Asian Cultural Exposition, and giving a highly-acclaimed concert and masterclass tour across India. A consummate chamber musician, de Souza has performed with Eastman’s Musica Nova and Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble. A passionate educator, she was selected as a 2023-24 Interplay Artist and currently serves as piano faculty at the Annunciation Orthodox School in Houston. De Souza completed her undergraduate studies in Piano and Vocal Performance at Oberlin Conservatory, followed by a Master’s in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the Peabody Institute.

Oliver Dubon

Composer

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Oliver Dubon is a musician hailing from Palmyra, Virginia. His compositions have been performed by musicians such as Grammy Awar- winning pianist Nadia Shpachenko, Grammy Award-winning vocal octet Roomful of Teeth, the Ónix Ensamble, and the Kinetic Ensemble. Dubon has been awarded fellowships at the Arvo Pärt Centre, the Fulbright Program, and the Atlantic Center for the Arts where he was an associate artist working under Timo Andres. Upcoming engagements include new orchestral works for the Shepherd School of Music Symphony Orchestra and the Pacific Chamber Orchestra, a new work for oboist Anne Pinkerton, and a new piano solo work for pianist Anthony Ratinov. Dubon is a graduate of Pomona College and Rice University where his teachers included Thomas Flaherty, Pierre Jalbert, and Kurt Stallmann.

Isaac Foreman

Piano

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Isaac Foreman is establishing himself as an exciting and versatile pianist and chamber musician. A second year DACAMERA Young Artist, he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University with Jon Kimura Parker. Mr. Foreman completed a master’s degree at The Juilliard School. He has recently appeared at Alice Tully Hall’s “Wednesday at One” series, the Juilliard Focus Festival, Internationalen Sommerakademie am Mozarteum Salzburg, and the Gijón International Piano Festival. He is a prize winner of several competitions, including the Young Texas Artists Piano Competition (2nd Prize), American Virtuoso International Competition (1st Prize), MTNA Steinway and Sons Piano Competition (2nd Prize), and has recently performed concerti with the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra and Brunesis Virtuosi Orchestra.

Gavin Goodrich

Composer

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Gavin Goodrich is a composer and concert pianist whose works synthesize pure mathematics, Vipassana Meditation, and visual arts. He is a Washington State and New York-based composer with commissions from the International Contemporary Ensemble, Ekmeles, and Ensemble Modern. Born in an Alaskan fishing community, he taught himself piano, composition, and mathematics from YouTube videos before receiving a scholarship to study mathematics and music at Columbia University. His senior thesis focused on developing mathematical systems for applying 15th-century Franco-Flemish polyphony into microtonal systems. After taking a year off from academics to teach in Spain on a Fulbright Grant, he now lives in Houston and is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Composition at Rice University studying under Shih-Hui Chen. 

Christian Harvey

Double Basss

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Christian Harvey, a double bassist from Riverdale, GA, is part of a wave of next-generation double bassists. Christian’s music journey began at Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Music at Rice University, Christian studies with Paul Ellison. He is a Community Embedded Fellow with the Houston Symphony, where he works closely with the Community Embedded Musicians. Christian is also a part of the DACAMERA Young Artist program where he works as a community-focused “citizen artist.” In 2023, Christian received third place in the National Strings Competition with the National Association for Negro Musicians. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Columbus State University studying with Patricia Weitzel and Jackie Pickett.

 

Wei An Hung

Cello

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Wei-An Hung, a cellist from Changhua, Taiwan, holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She is currently pursuing her doctorate at Stony Brook University with Colin Carr, where she also served as a teaching assistant. As a passionate chamber musician, Ms. Hung has attended summer music festivals like Aspen, Kneisel Hall, Taos, Yellow Barn, and the New York String Seminar. She has collaborated with renowned artists such as Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson, Philip Setzer, Franck Cohen, Alan Kay, and Anthony Marwood. As a soloist, she has performed with the CIM Orchestra, Temecula Symphony, and Idyllwild Arts Academy Orchestra.  Ms. Hung is also a prizewinner in the Akron Tuesday Musical and Cleveland Cello Society competitions.

Sophie Kim

Harp

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DACAMERA Young Artist Sophie Kim is currently pursuing her Masters of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music with Paula Page. Raised in College Park, MD, Sophie was named a National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellow in 2017. She has served as principal harpist at the Round Top Festival Institute and the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute and Festival, as well as participating in the National Orchestral Institute + Festival. Sophie enjoys working with composers and performing new music and has premiered works by Shih-Hui Chen, Nicki Sohn, Oliver Dubon, Daniel Leibovic, and Alex Moreno. She received her Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance from Rice University.

Bensen Kwan

Percussion

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Bensen Kwan is a percussionist and educator from Houston, TX. A jack-of-all trades, master of one, he received his master’s from the University of Delaware on full scholarship and bachelor’s from the University of Houston. His accolades include being a featured soloist with the United States Army Field Band and West Point Band, along with being a prizewinner of several competitions. His international endeavors include study in Leipzig, Germany under Stefan Rapp; marimba in Greece with Theodor Milkov; Trinidad & Tobago to play steelpan with the First Citizens Supernovas; and most recently, Japan to study with marimba virtuoso, Keiko Abe. “Community through music” is a mantra he stands by, and he hopes to combine music and community service in a way that brings people together.

Julie Lin

Violin

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Canadian violinist Julie Lin is the recipient of the 2024 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award. She has appeared as soloist with the Richmond and Surrey symphony orchestras and been featured on concert series including the Vancouver Westcoast Music Society, Colburn Chamber Music Society, Pacific Region International Summer Music Association, and the Taiwan Friday Night Concert series. Julie was awarded first prize at the American Protégé International Competition, National Music Festival of Canada, and the Canadian Music Competition. Julie has worked with the Skid Row community in collaboration with Street Symphony and the Urban Voice Project. She received her Bachelor of Music from the Colburn Conservatory of Music and is currently a Master of Music candidate at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.

 

Yu-Ming Ma

Violin

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Taiwanese violinist Yu-Ming (Andrew) Ma began his musical studies at the age of five. Being a well-rounded violinist, he especially enjoys performing actively as a chamber musician. His chamber music experience includes performing at the Kneisel Hall chamber music festival, Taos School of Music, and Music@Menlo as an international performer. In February 2020, Andrew performed at Tongyeong International Music Festival in Tongyeong Korea as a guest artist, invited by noted violinist Jinjoo Cho. Yu-Ming holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Cleveland Institute of Music and a Master’s Degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Rice University studying under the tutelage of Paul Kantor.

Jimena Montserrat

Soprano

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Jimena Montserrat is a Mexican coloratura soprano and DACAMERA Young Artist. Her repertoire includes the roles of Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Mrs. Fiorentino in Street Scene. She has sung as soloist next to baroque orchestra “La Galatea” and the Texas Medical Center Orchestra. In 2018 she received the “Best Opera Performance” award in the Maritza Alemán Vocal Competition and during her master’s she was a scholar of Mexico’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Jimena has worked as an Artistic Administration apprentice at The Glimmerglass Festival and is currently an intern at Stratagem Artists. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal performance from Escuela Superior de Música, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish studies from UNAM, and a Master of Music in Vocal performance from Rice University.

Jimena Montserrat es una soprano coloratura mexicana y joven artista de DACAMERA. Su repertorio incluye los roles de Adina en L’elisir d’amore, Zerlina en Don Giovanni, y Mrs. Fiorentino en Street Scene. Ha cantado como solista junto a la orquesta barroca “La Galatea” y la Texas Medical Center Orchestra. En 2018 recibió el premio a la “Mejor Interpretación de Ópera” en la Competencia Vocal Maritza Alemán y, durante su maestría, fue becaria de la Secretaría de Cultura de México. Jimena ha trabajado como aprendiz en Administración Artística en The Glimmerglass Festival y actualmente es pasante en Stratagem Artists. Tiene una licenciatura en Interpretación Vocal de la Escuela Superior de Música, una licenciatura en Lengua y lieraturas hispánicas de la UNAM, y una maestría en Música en Interpretación Vocal de Rice University.

Astrid Nakamura

Violin

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Canadian violinist Astrid Nakamura recently completed her master’s degree at Rice University, supported by the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation. She is a recipient of the 2024 Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award, and was recently featured as one of CBC’s “30 Canadian classical musicians under 30.” Astrid has been part of a diverse array of ensembles such as the Houston Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Musiqa, Kinetic Ensemble, Dacamera Young Artist Program, and Ensemble Urbain. She has attended festivals such as Yellow Barn, Music Academy of the West, and the McGill International String Quartet Association. As a soloist, Astrid has won third place at the 2024 Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition and second place in the 2022 Golden Violin Competition at McGill University. Astrid performs on a c.1830-1850 Georges Chanot I violin, generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.

James Palmer

Piano

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Equally at home as a soloist, collaborator, and educator, James Palmer is a dynamic musician based in Houston, Texas.  He is currently a doctoral candidate at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.  An active performer in the Houston music scene, Mr. Palmer has played for many local organizations like Context and Musiqa as well as many local recital series. Mr. Palmer also frequently performs around the US and beyond; in July 2024, he attended the Art of Piano Residency at Banff Centre, Canada. Mr. Palmer is an active educator in Houston, maintaining a private studio in addition to instructor positions with the Shepherd School Prep and AFA Texas. He is the Secretary for the Scriabin Society of America.

Igualmente versado como solista, colaborador y educador, James Palmer es un músico dinámico radicado en Houston, Texas. Actualmente es candidato a doctorado en la Shepherd School of Music de Rice University. Es intérprete activo en la escena musical de Houston, y ha tocado para muchas organizaciones locales como Context y Musiqa, así como en numerosas series de recitales locales. James también se presenta con frecuencia en los EE. UU. y más allá; en julio de 2024, asistió a la Art of Piano Residency en el Banff Centre, en Canadá. Es un educador activo en Houston, donde mantiene un estudio privado además de posiciones de instructor en Shepherd School Prep y AFA Texas. Es el Secretario de la Scriabin Society of America.

 

Anne Pinkerton

Oboe

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A versatile performer in solo, chamber, and orchestral music, Anne Pinkerton is an oboist originally from the Chicago area. Especially interested in new music, she has performed with One Found Sound, been a fellow with the Bang on a Can Festival, and attended the Blackhouse Collective Workshop. Anne is a founding member of Reeds and Keys, an oboe and organ duo where she performs with her partner, organist Matthew Dion. As an orchestral oboist, Anne has played with the Houston Ballet Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, Sacramento Philharmonic, and others. Festival appearances include Music Academy of the West, Sarasota Music Festival, and the DeCoda Chamber Music Festival. Anne currently studies at Rice University and was the wind division winner of Rice’s Concerto Competition in 2024. Previously, Anne received her master’s degree from Colburn Conservatory, and her bachelor’s degree at Oberlin Conservatory.

Triniti Rives

Clarinet

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Clarinetist and first-year DACAMERA Young Artist, Triniti Rives, is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music with Richie Hawley. Triniti was a finalist in the 2024 Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions and received accolades in the 2022 Coltman and Briggs Chamber Music Competitions. A passionate advocate for chamber music, Triniti has partnered with organizations including the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings and Vision Possible Charity Concerts. She also serves as a substitute clarinetist for The Florida Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, and New World Symphony. Triniti earned her Bachelor of Music with high honors from the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Through her music, Triniti is dedicated to fostering community engagement and artistic collaboration.

La clarinetista y artista joven de primer año de DACAMERA, Triniti Rives, actualmente está cursando su Maestría en Música en la Shepherd School of Music de Rice University con Richie Hawley. Triniti fue finalista en las Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions de 2024 y recibió reconocimientos en las Competencias de Música de Cámara Coltman y Briggs en 2022. Apasionada defensora de la música de cámara, Triniti ha colaborado con organizaciones como Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings y Vision Possible Charity Concerts. También se desempeña como clarinetista suplente para The Florida Orchestra, Virginia Symphony y New World Symphony. Triniti obtuvo su licenciatura en Música con altos honores en la School of Music, Theatre and Dance de la University of Michigan. A través de su música, Triniti se dedica a promover el compromiso comunitario y la colaboración artística.

Tasiah Rodgers

Jazz Voice

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Tasiah Rodgers is a jazz vocalist with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a minor in Jazz Studies from Texas Southern University. She served as the premiere jazz vocalist for Texas Southern University at the 2022 Monterey Jazz Festival. Ms. Rodgers has six years of teaching experience and developed her own children’s music curriculum. Her community involvement includes curating fine arts events and performing at historic Houston venues such as the Eldorado Ballroom, Cultural Arts Museum Houston, and Project Row Houses. Ms. Rodgers is a member of SOFAR Sounds National Women in Music Organization’s Houston Chapter, and has recently completed the 2024 mentorship program with Women in Jazz. Currently, Tasiah is eager to grow her artistic and community outreach skills as a DACAMERA Young Artist.

Tasiah Rodgers es una vocalista de jazz con una licenciatura en Interpretación Vocal y una especialización en Estudios de Jazz de Texas Southern University. Fue la vocalista de jazz principal de Texas Southern University en el Monterey Jazz Festival de 2022. Tasiah cuenta con seis años de experiencia en enseñanza y ha desarrollado su propio plan de estudios de música para niños. Su participación comunitaria incluye la organización de eventos de bellas artes y presentaciones en lugares históricos de Houston como el El Dorado Ballroom, Cultural Arts Museum Houston y Project Row Houses. Tasiah es miembro de la organización SOFAR Sounds National Women in Music Organization en Houston, y recientemente completó el programa de mentoría 2024 con Women in Jazz. Actualmente, le entusiasma ampliar su habilidad artística y su participación comunitaria como artista joven de DACAMERA.

Adam W. Sadberry

Flute

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Flutist Adam W. Sadberry, named to The Washington Post’s 23 for ’23, uses his artistry and humanity to build bridges in society. He has performed at venues from the Hollywood Bowl to Merkin Hall, and he has performed with musicians across genres from Renée Fleming to Nas. Mr. Sadberry is passionate about education and advocacy, serving as Music for Autism’s 2024 Spotlight Artist and holding residencies at institutions including the Eastman School of Music. Inspired by his grandfather, a Civil Rights Movement journalist named L. Alex Wilson, he champions culturally and socially-relevant performances. Mr. Sadberry is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and is trained in the Alexander Technique.

Sebastian Stoger

Cello

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Sebastian Stoger, cellist, is currently a master’s student at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. He completed his undergraduate studies at The Juilliard School. Sebastian made his solo debut with the Empire State Youth Symphony and recently performed as soloist with the Central Pennsylvania Symphony. He has performed with the New York Philharmonic and is a member of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and Verbier Festival Orchestra. A previous YoungArts and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award recipient, Sebastian has notably performed for President Joe Biden. He has attended numerous music festivals, including Kneisel Hall, Pacific Music Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. Sebastian currently plays on a Gaetano Sgarabotto instrument generously loaned to him by Curtis Bryant Fine Cellos.

Sebastian Stoger, violonchelista, es actualmente estudiante de maestría en la Shepherd School of Music de Rice University. Completó sus estudios de licenciatura en The Juilliard School. Sebastian hizo su debut como solista con la Empire State Youth Symphony y recientemente se presentó como solista con la Central Pennsylvania Symphony. Ha tocado con la New York Philharmonic y es miembro de la Princeton Symphony Orchestra y Verbier Festival Orchestra. Anteriormente, recibió el premio YoungArts y el Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, y ha tenido el honor de tocar para el presidente Joe Biden. Ha asistido a numerosos festivales de música, incluyendo Kneisel Hall, Pacific Music Festival y Aspen Music Festival. Actualmente, Sebastian toca un chelo Gaetano Sgarabotto, generosamente prestado por Curtis Bryant Fine Cellos.

Brooke Wyatt

Jazz Piano

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Brooke Wyatt is a passionate pianist, vocalist, and songwriter from Houston, Texas. She received her BA in Music at Columbia College Chicago where she performed with artists such as Jonathan McReynolds, Isaiah Sharkey, and Kendrick Scott. She has also had other notable performances at Carnegie Hall and the Caramoor Jazz Festival in New York with artists such as Sean Jones, Dianne Reeves, and Jeff Tain Watts. While shifting to online studies during the pandemic, Brooke developed a passion for audio and decided to pursue her Masters Degree in Audio Engineering at Northwestern University. Since graduating last year,  she is now combining her passion for audio and music through her intensive work as an audio engineer, piano teacher, and working musician.
Brooke Wyatt es una apasionada pianista, vocalista y compositora de Houston, Texas. Recibió su licenciatura en Música en Columbia College Chicago, donde actuó con artistas como Jonathan McReynolds, Isaiah Sharkey y Kendrick Scott. También ha tenido presentaciones destacadas en Carnegie Hall y en el Caramoor Jazz Festival en Nueva York, junto a artistas como Sean Jones, Dianne Reeves y Jeff Tain Watts. Durante la transición a estudios en línea en la pandemia, Brooke desarrolló una pasión por el audio y decidió estudiar una maestría en Ingeniería de Audio en Northwestern University. Desde su graduación el año pasado, Brooke combina su pasión por el audio y la música mediante su trabajo intensivo como ingeniera de audio, profesora de piano y músico activo.

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