Richard O'Neill and August Baik

Violist of the Takács Quartet Richard O'Neill has distinguished himself as one of the great instrumentalists of his generation. GRAMMY Award winner for Best Classical Instrumental Solo Performance in 2021, O'Neill is only the second person to receive an award for a viola performance in the history of this category. Following two previous GRAMMY nominations, O'Neill's recent win for his recording of Christopher Theofanidis’ "Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra" also spotlights conductor David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony. Theofanidis’ composition was inspired by Navajo poetry and the composer’s psychological response to the September 11 attacks. Born in Seattle, Washington, 20-year-old August Baik currently attends the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Stephen Drury. He has appeared as a soloist with the Virtuosi Bruneses Orchestra (Perugia, Italy), Cascade Symphony Orchestra, Bellevue Symphony, and Tacoma Symphony. Recent solo performance includes: the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s prelude series (Kevin Puts, Tania León, Carlos Simon, Andrew Norman), Helmut Lachenmann @ 90 with the Goethe-Institut Boston, the Marion Rubin Berman '31 Piano Honors Concert (2026: America 250, and 2024: Before and After Schoenberg), and NEC Piano Department: Ives 150, Fauré and Scarlatti, and [nec]shivaree. August also has multiple recordings on NPR Music’s Live Sessions and has performed in Jordan Hall, Benaroya Hall, Sala dei Notari, Basilica di San Pietro and Sauder Concert Hall.