ABOUT THE ARTISTS
MARGARET BATJER (Leader, Concertmaster) has served as concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra since 1998, where she also serves as Director of Chamber Music. She is also renowned as a violin soloist, recording artist, chamber musician and teacher, and has established herself as a versatile and respected artist worldwide. Batjer has appeared as soloist with America’s leading orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Batjer has also performed with leading European ensembles such as the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (of Ireland), Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra. An esteemed chamber musician, Batjer was a longtime participant at the Marlboro Music Festival, and has often performed on tours with Musicians From Marlboro. Summers have found her performing in the La Jolla Summerfest, the Sarasota Music Festival, Vancouver Chamber Music Festival, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival and abroad at the Naples, Cremona and the Salzburg Festival. In 2020, she formed the Los Angeles Piano Trio with colleagues Fabio Bidini and Andrew Shulman. Ms. Batjer serves on the faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music and the Colburn School in Los Angeles.
DASHON BURTON (Bass-Baritone) Hailed as an artist “alight with the spirit of the music” (Boston Globe), Dashon Burton has established a vibrant career appearing regularly throughout the US and Europe. Highlights of his 2023/24 season include multiple appearances with Michael Tilson Thomas, including a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the San Francisco Symphony; Copland’s Old American Songs with the New World Symphony; and selections from Tilson Thomas’s own Meditations on Rilke with the San Diego Symphony. Burton also performs Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with the Washington Bach Consort, sings Handel’s Messiah with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and performs the title role in Sweeney Todd at Vanderbilt University. With the Cleveland Orchestra, Burton participates in a semi-staged version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and he joins the Milwaukee Symphony and Ken-David Masur for three subscription weeks as their Artist in Residence.
Last season, Burton returned to the Cleveland Orchestra for Schubert’s Mass No. 6 with Franz Welser-Möst in Cleveland and at Carnegie Hall; to the Houston Symphony for Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex with Juraj Valčuha; and to the New York Philharmonic for Michael Tilson Thomas’ Rilke Songs, led by the composer. Debut appearances included Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Milwaukee Symphony led by Ken-David Masur, the world premiere of Chris Cerrone’s The Year of Silence with the Louisville Orchestra led by Teddy Abrams, and Dvorak Requiem with the Richmond Symphony. In summer 2023, Burton appeared at Tanglewood and Caramoor in critically acclaimed performances of Handel’s Acis and Galatea with Philharmonia Baroque. He continues his relationship with San Francisco Performances as an Artist-in-Residence with appearances at venues and educational institutions throughout the Bay Area.
A multiple award-winning singer, Dashon Burton won his second Grammy Award in March 2021 for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album with his performance featured in Dame Ethyl Smyth’s masterwork The Prison with The Experiential Orchestra (Chandos). As an original member of the groundbreaking vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, he won his first Grammy Award for their inaugural recording of all new commissions.
His other recordings include Songs of Struggle & Redemption: We Shall Overcome (Acis), the Grammy-nominated recording of Paul Moravec’s Sanctuary Road (Naxos); Holocaust, 1944 by Lori Laitman (Acis); and Caroline Shaw’s The Listeners with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. His album of spirituals garnered high praise and was singled out by the New York Times as “profoundly moving…a beautiful and lovable disc.”
Burton received a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College and Conservatory, and a Master of Music degree from Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music. He is an assistant professor of voice at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.
BENJAMIN SMOLEN (Flute) has performed across the globe, from the United States to Europe, Russia, and Japan. He joined the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in 2011, where he holds the Valerie and Hans Imhof Principal Flute Chair. He has also performed as guest Principal Flute with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Pasadena Symphony. He has given solo performances with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Gardner Webb Symphony Orchestra, Princeton University Orchestra, Charlotte Civic and Youth Orchestras, and twice on National Public Radio's From the Top with pianist Christopher O'Riley.
In addition to his work on stage, Benjamin is active in the Hollywood scoring industry and has recorded with many esteemed film composers including John Williams, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, and Randy Newman. He can be heard on projects such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, X-Men: Apocalypse, The BFG, Ghostbusters, Mozart in the Jungle, Monsters University, Night at the Museum, and on Neil Young's latest album, Storytone.
Benjamin has given recitals around the world, including performances as a featured guest at the Japan Flute Festival and the National Flute Association’s annual convention. He won First Prize at the Haynes International Flute Competition and James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition and Second Prize at the New York Flute Club Young Artist Competition and National Flute Association Young Artist Competition. His flute and guitar ensemble Duo Musagete, with guitarist Jerome Mouffe, has performed highly acclaimed concerts in the United States and Europe, and they recently released their debut album, Bach to Beaser.
Benjamin has been a guest teaching artist at many esteemed educational institutions. Recent engagements include classes and performances at Chapman University, CSU-Long Beach, CSU-Fullerton, San Diego State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of California at Irvine, the Symphony Guild of Charlotte, the Long Beach Summer Flute Institute, and Jim Walker's Beyond the Masterclass.
Benjamin completed his undergraduate studies in the Music and Slavic departments at Princeton University, during which time he also completed a Performance Diploma at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He earned a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance at the New England Conservatory and pursued additional studies at the University of Michigan and twice as a Fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. His teachers include Paula Robison, Michael Parloff, Elizabeth Rowe, Jennifer Dior, Jayn Rosenfeld, and Amy Porter.
Benjamin is a William S. Haynes Artist and performs on a handmade, custom-crafted Haynes 14-karat gold flute.
JOSEFINA VERGARA (Violin) joined the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in 1999 as principal second violin. A native of Chile, she has garnered recognition for her performances around the world. An active chamber musician, Ms. Vergara has appeared in recitals throughout the United States, Europe, and the Far East. Ms. Vergara’s chamber and recital appearances have included the La Jolla Chamber Music Society’s SummerFest, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Ojai Music Festival, Aspen, Camerata Pacifica, and the St. Bart’s Music Festival. Ms. Vergara has performed chamber music with Jeffrey Kahane, Lynn Harrell, Timothy Eddy, Claude Frank and David Golub, and others. Josefina Vergara was a founding member of the Pacifica Quartet. As an educator, she has taught at the Music Academy of the West and the Brevard Music Festival.
Ms. Vergara earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Indiana University, studying with Miriam Fried. She has been a prizewinner at the Pasadena Instrumental Competition, the Osaka International, Fischoff, and Coleman Chamber Music competitions.
As an orchestral musician, Ms. Vergara has appeared as Principal Second with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, and New Century Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Ms. Vergara has appeared with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Peninsula Symphony, and the Indiana Chamber Orchestra. Recently, she has toured Europe and Asia as the violinist of the Uri Caine Ensemble. Ms. Vergara has performed in various summer music festivals including Mainly Mozart and Tanglewood, the Music Academy of the West Summer Festival and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. Josefina Vergara has participated in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute and played at the Villa Musica in Mainz, Germany. Ms. Vergara is active in many film, television and recording projects.
PATRICIA MABEE (Harpsichord) is acclaimed by audiences and critics for her virtuosity, flawless technique and outstanding interpretive skills.
She has been featured as a soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, where she has been principal keyboardist since 1976, and has appeared in more than 20 works from the concerto repertoire under the batons of Sir Neville Marriner, Christopher Hogwood, Helmuth Rilling, Nicholas McGegan and Iona Brown. Tisha is also principal keyboard with the New West Symphony Orchestra.
Since her debut at Carnegie Hall in 1982, she has given recitals on four continents. Her career as an ensemble player is equally distinguished. She has made regular appearances at the Oregon Bach Festival with Helmuth Rilling, as well as at the Casals, Chamber Music Northwest, Ojai and Los Angeles Bach festivals. Specializing in Early Music, Tisha received a Master’s degree in keyboard performance from California Institute of the Arts. She is currently on both the CalArts and Colburn School Conservatory of Music faculties.
Mabee performs with the Bach’s Circle which focuses on the music of JS Bach, his sons and contemporaries. She is the music director of Ritornello, a period instrument ensemble that presents educational programs for schools, museums and community groups. The pianist for world premieres by John Adams, Bruce Broughton, Donald Crockett and Libby Larsen, she also performs new works for harpsichord and synthesizer. Tisha can be heard on many film soundtracks including Marie Antoinette and Master and Commander.
Her hobbies include gardening and yoga, and she is a buff of both mystery books and movies. Musicality runs in the family – her sons Oliver and Aaron are both multi-instrumentalists, arrangers and producers in the popular music scene.
CLAIRE BRAZAEU (Oboe) is the principal oboist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra where her career began as second oboist, a position she held from 2014-16. An active soloist and chamber musician, Claire was also an awarded finalist in the International Gillet-Fox Oboe Competition in 2017.
Claire has established herself as a versatile soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. An awarded finalist in the International Gillet-Fox Oboe Competition, her command of the instrument has been featured in concerto performances with orchestras and ensembles such as Le Train Bleu at Bravo Vail, the Redlands Symphony, and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. Claire has become a fixture in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's numerous chamber music series in addition to guest appearances with the Camerata Pacifica and Jacaranda series.
An omnivorous musician, Claire can be heard performing period instruments with the Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra followed by a concert of world premieres with new music collective Wild Up, of which she is a member. In addition to her concert season, Claire is an active freelance studio musician who has recorded for several film and TV soundtrack recordings.
Claire is part of the woodwind faculty of the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University Long Beach where she maintains an active oboe studio. Deeply committed to music education, Claire frequently serves as guest clinician at numerous youth orchestra programs in Southern California. She is also a faculty member at the National Take a Stand Festival; a full-scholarship youth orchestra intensive spearheaded by the LA Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel comprised of nationally selected students from El Sistema-inspired programs. Among Claire’s other festival engagements are the Lucerne Festival Academy, Yale School of Music Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Aspen, the New York String Orchestra Seminar, and the Pierre Monteux School. During the 2011-2012 season she served as a Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome, Italy.
Under the tutelage of the LA Chamber Orchestra's former principal oboist Allan Vogel, Claire received an Artist Diploma from The Colburn School. At Bard College and Conservatory she earned a triple major with a Bachelor of Arts in East-Asian studies and piano performance, and a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance. Her principal teachers at Bard were Laura Ahlbeck and Elaine Douvas; she studied piano with Blair McMillen.
Claire loves connecting with audiences on social media platforms and actively curates her Instagram page with concert clips, upcoming performance information, and pictures.
JASON ISSOKSON (Violin) enjoys an active career as a soloist and chamber musician. Concerto highlights include engagements with the Fort Worth Symphony, Aspen Concert Orchestra, Waco Symphony, Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, Great Falls Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra di Teatro San Carlo, and the Orchestra Internazionale d'Italiae, among others.
Jason was a founding member of the Argus Quartet, where he served as a violinist for six seasons. His busy performance schedule has brought him to many prestigious venues and festivals, including multiple appearances at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall, as well as recent and upcoming performances at Washington Performing Arts (DC), UCLA’s Clark Memorial Library (CA), Merkin Hall (NY), Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Series (NY), Valley of the Moon Music Festival (CA), Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (IL), Purdue Convocations (IN), Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (FL), Chamber Music Society of Detroit (MI), Amherst College (MA), and Juneau Jazz and Classics (AK).
Jason has performed chamber music alongside some of the most important musicians of our time, including recent appearances at the Ravinia Festival with pianists Leon Fleisher and Misha Dichter. Other highlights include collaborations and appearances with the Brentano Quartet, Attacca Quartet, and Spektral Quartet, cellist Astrid Schween of the Juilliard String Quartet, flutist Carol Wincenc, pianist Anne-Marie MacDermott and guitarist Eliot Fisk.
Jason’s playing has garnered a number of awards including the top prize at the International Violin Competition ‘Andrea Postacchini,’ third prize at the International Alberto Curci Violin Competition, and the prize for best performance of a commissioned work at the International Max Rostal Competition in Berlin. Chamber music honors include first prize at the 2017 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competiton, as well as first prize at the Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition.
As a member of the Argus Quartet, Jason was part of the Fellowship Quartet in Residence at the Yale School of Music from 2015-2017, and the Graduate Resident String Quartet at the Juilliard School, from 2017-2019. Jason studied with the violinist Midori at both the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Southern California.
MISHA VAYMAN (Violin) is a violinist based in Los Angeles, performing in a wide variety of contexts such as opening for Dorian Electra and soloing with various orchestras across the United States, Mexico, China and Russia.
He has released albums with the Benefic Piano Trio, the Delirium Musicum Chamber Orchestra, and his genre-defying band, Astral Mixtape, on labels such as Warner Classics and MSR. Aside from recordings with these ensembles, Vayman has also appeared on albums by Plini, String Theory, Jamie Drake, Ryan Dilmore, and Porter Robinson, among others. Animals have been known to enjoy his playing, as do some people. Visit mishavayman.com for more.