Artists

Jennifer Montbach, oboe, is the founder and artistic director of Radius Ensemble, named Boston's Best (2016) by the Improper Bostonian, in residence at the Longy School of Bard College since 2011. She has been acclaimed for her "energetic and eclectic" programs that have “attracted a younger, more diverse audience” (Boston Globe), winning the ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming from Chamber Music America in 2013. Jen curated and produced the ensemble's debut album, Fresh Paint, and has commissioned and premiered more than thirty new works in her role as artistic director. As an oboist, she is known for her "evocative lyricism and nuanced phrasing” (Bay Windows); she has appeared with orchestras and ensembles throughout New England, including Ambient Orchestra, the Portland (Maine) Symphony, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and Composers in Red Sneakers, among others, and has held administrative positions at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. She holds a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Harvard College and a Master of Music in oboe performance from New England Conservatory. Jen founded and produces the West Concord Porchfest, and is also a volunteer with Breakthrough T1D (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), where she mentors families of children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Sarah Bob, piano, hailed as “sumptuous and eloquent” by the Boston Globe, is an active soloist and chamber musician noted for her charismatic performances, colorful playing and diverse programming. A strong advocate for new music and considered a “superstar” by National Sawdust, she is the founding director of the New Gallery Concert Series, devoted to commissioning and uniting new music and contemporary visual art with their creators. The goal, her strong suit, is to introduce music in a loving, inclusive, and intoxicating way. Her recent album, ...nobody move..., a selection of NGCS commissioned solo piano works from over the past twenty years, has quickly received international acclaim and is considered “a must listen” by the BBC Magazine. Inspired by current events, she is also the creator of The Nasty Cooperative, numerous dialogue-driven artistic events created to build community and help raise funds for organizations in need. In addition to Radius Ensemble, Sarah is an original member of her piano/percussion group, Primary Duo, and is faculty at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. sarahbob.net

Miriam Bolkosky, cello, appears nationally as an orchestral and chamber musician. She has performed extensively with orchestras in Boston, New York, D.C. and Chicago, including Boston Lyric Opera, A Far Cry, Boston Pops, BMOP, Boston Ballet, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, National Lyric Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has appeared as soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Paul Hill Chorale, and on classical and popular commercial recordings. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the Cleveland Institute of Music, Miriam maintains a large private studio and has held faculty positions at Northwestern and the Cleveland Institute of Music.  She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, Alexander Technique Teacher, and Coach. practiceinharmony.com

Sarah Brady, flute, called “enchanting” (Boston Globe) and “clairvoyantly sensitive” (New Music Connoisseur), is principal flute with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Opera Boston, and appears with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Ballet, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Firebird Ensemble, Boston Musica Viva, The Cortona Collective, and Brave New Works.  She has premiered and recorded new music from many of today’s leading composers, including new music commissioned by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project.  Sarah is the newly appointed Director of Contemporary Classical Music at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she is Associate Professor of Flute. She recently enjoyed a sold out debut at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall with pianist Oxana Yablonskaya. Her chamber and orchestral recordings can be heard on the Albany, Naxos, Oxingale and Cantaloupe labels.

Gabriela Díaz, violin, began her musical training at the age of five, studying piano with her mother, and the next year, violin with her father. She studied at New England Conservatory, where she earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees under James Buswell. A cancer survivor, Diaz is committed to supporting cancer research and treatment. In 2004, she was awarded a grant from the Albert Schweitzer Foundation to organize a series of chamber music concerts in cancer units at various hospitals in Boston called the Boston Hope Ensemble. A fierce champion of contemporary music, Gabriela has worked closely with many significant living composers, including Pierre Boulez, Magnus Lindberg, Frederic Rzewski, Alvin Lucier, John Zorn, Roger Reynolds, Steve Reich, Brian Ferneyhough, and Helmut Lachenmann. Gabriela is a member of several Boston-area new music groups, including Sound Icon, Ludovico Ensemble, Dinosuar Annex, Firebird Ensemble, Boston Musica Viva and Callithumpian Consort. She also appears regularly with Winsor Music, Mistral Music and Emmanuel Music. She is a member of the Wellesley College faculty and can be heard on New World, Naxos, Centaur, BMOPSound, Mode, and Tzadik records.

Eran Egozy, clarinet, hailed as “sensitive and energetic” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), is a musician, entrepreneur, and educator. He is the co-founder and Chief Scientist of Harmonix Music Systems, which developed Guitar Hero, Rock Band, The Beatles: Rock Band, and Dance Central. Eran and his business partner are recipients of the Time 100, Fortune Magazine’s “40 under 40” award, and USA Network’s “Character Approved” award. Eran is currently Professor of the Practice in Music Technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he teaches and conducts research on new forms of interactive computer music systems. He holds degrees in electrical engineering and music from MIT and studied clarinet with Jonathan Cohler and William Wrzesien at New England Conservatory. He has performed as soloist with the MIT Symphony Orchestra and has appeared with Emmanuel Music, A Far Cry, Winsor Music, and the Worcester Chamber Players. 

Noriko Futagami, viola, enjoys a distinguished career as a versatile and prolific soloist, orchestral and chamber musician. She is Principal Violist for the Albany Symphony, an ensemble with numerous world premiere performances and recordings, and plays with their Dogs of Desire contemporary ensemble as well as the New Jersey Symphony. Now living in the Greater Boston area, she serves as Assistant Principal Violist for the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. Her dynamic virtuosity, combined with a passion for new music, has led to collaborations with the Boston Ballet Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Musica Viva, Radius Ensemble and Winsor Music Chamber Series.

Anne Howarth, horn, is a freelance horn player and chamber musician, appearing regularly in area ensembles including the wind quintet Vento Chiaro, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Lexington Symphony, Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, and Portland Symphony Orchestra. Anne is not only a founding member of Radius Ensemble, but also serves as its outreach director. She teaches horn and coaches chamber music at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Tufts University, maintains a private studio, and is on the horn faculty of the New England Conservatory Preparatory and Continuing Education divisions, and the Brookline Music School. Anne studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich and holds degrees from Oberlin College, Oberlin College Conservatory, and New England Conservatory. She is currently fascinated by transformation and the way it is represented in music.

All photos by Kate Lemmon except for Montbach: Stuart Beeby; Brady: Liz Linder; Bolkosky: Jenny Moloney; Howarth: Edward Feather