The Astralis Chamber Ensemble is an innovative and dynamic ensemble performing with much acclaim across the globe. Through creative programming and presentations on the works performed in a small ensemble setting, Astralis aims to make classical music more accessible and for audiences to make a lasting connection to the music and performers. Astralis includes an assortment of musicians to cover a broad range of repertoire and ensemble combinations to fit each type of performance. These award-winning musicians represent decades of experience across many of the world’s major venues and notable concert series. With instrument pairings that are unique worldwide, the ensemble expands the repertoire available through yearly commissions and arrangements. Astralis aims to support the development of the arts through new compositions and reach communities of all backgrounds through music.
Kris Marshall is principal trumpet with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and has built an active career performing with multiple orchestras across the state of Florida, including the Jacksonville Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Venice Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, and The Florida Orchestra. Marshall has been a featured soloist with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra on many occasions and with the Fifth Avenue Chamber Orchestra in Naples, Florida. As a founding member of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble, he presents several chamber recital tours each year and participates in commission projects to increase the chamber repertoire for trumpet. He won first prize in the Florida Orchestra Young Artist Competition and was later selected to attend the Chautauqua Institution Summer Music Festival where he studied with Chuck Berginc, principal trumpet with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. Other significant instructors include Robert Smith, principal trumpet with The Florida Orchestra, and Ed Cord, former principal trumpet with the Israel Philharmonic and Utah Symphony. Marshall pursued degrees in trumpet performance at Florida State University, Indiana University, and the University of South Florida.
As founding 1st violinist of the Callisto Quartet, Paul Aguilar won top prizes at Banff, Bordeaux,
Fischoff, Melbourne, Wigmore Hall, and Manhattan International Competitions. Recent
performances include appearances on Schneider Concert Series, Dame Myra Hess Concerts,
Music Institute of Chicago Artist Series, Ravinia Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, La Jolla
Summerfest, Heidelberg String Quartet Festival, and the Emilia-Romagna Festival. He is also
performing with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for the 2022-2023 season. Formerly, he was a
member of Rice University’s Graduate String Quartet in Residence and also studied at the
Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofia School in Madrid, Spain with Gunter Pichler. He
previously earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of
Music where he was a full-scholarship student of Jaime Laredo and Jan Sloman.
Hailing from a Venezuelan-American family in South Carolina, he began studying violin at age
five with his older sister as his primary teacher. In addition to traveling around the world
performing, Paul enjoys sharing music alongside his wife Rachel, at their church and throughout
their community in schools and numerous other community centers. Paul is a 2019 MPower
Grant recipient from the Sphinx Organization.
Fischoff, Melbourne, Wigmore Hall, and Manhattan International Competitions. Recent
performances include appearances on Schneider Concert Series, Dame Myra Hess Concerts,
Music Institute of Chicago Artist Series, Ravinia Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, La Jolla
Summerfest, Heidelberg String Quartet Festival, and the Emilia-Romagna Festival. He is also
performing with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for the 2022-2023 season. Formerly, he was a
member of Rice University’s Graduate String Quartet in Residence and also studied at the
Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofia School in Madrid, Spain with Gunter Pichler. He
previously earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of
Music where he was a full-scholarship student of Jaime Laredo and Jan Sloman.
Hailing from a Venezuelan-American family in South Carolina, he began studying violin at age
five with his older sister as his primary teacher. In addition to traveling around the world
performing, Paul enjoys sharing music alongside his wife Rachel, at their church and throughout
their community in schools and numerous other community centers. Paul is a 2019 MPower
Grant recipient from the Sphinx Organization.
The 2019 Gold Medal winner of the Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg Competition, Rachel O’Brien has appeared in Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Houston’s E. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Cleveland’s Severance Hall, and Blossom Music Center. A winner of Astral Artists’ 2017 National Auditions, O’Brien received top prizes from such competitions as the Lyon & Healy Awards, the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) Concerto Competition, and the Saratoga Harp Colony “Play with the Pros” Competition. She is also the recipient of the Alice Chalifoux Award and was the 2015 CIM Presser Scholar. O’Brien has appeared as soloist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the CIM Symphony Orchestra. Passionate about inspiring musicians around the world, O’Brien maintains a significant social media following, with around 50,000 followers on Instagram. She is the author of “Purpose in Practice: 26 Rules for the Practicing Musician,” a book designed to motivate musicians to achieve higher practicing goals. O’Brien teaches privately and also serves on faculty at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. Rachel O’Brien holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied harp performance under Yolanda Kondonassis.
A native of Atlanta, GA, pianist Caroline Owen has performed in venues across the U.S. and in Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic. She was the winner of the 2019 Florida MTNA Young Artist Competition and a semifinalist in the 14th International Mozart Competition and 2016 International Keyboard Odyssiad. She also won the 2018 Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta Competition, from which she received a scholarship to study at the Mozarteum International Summer Academy under Dominique Merlet and Christopher Hinterhuber. Owen has participated and performed at festivals including Pianofest in the Hamptons, PianoTexas, Atlantic Music Festival, and the Prague Piano Festival. She has worked with distinguished artists and teachers such as Richard Goode, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Pascal Rogé, and Boris Slutsky, among others. Owen is also committed to promoting new music, most recently performing at the 2022 FSU Festival of New Music and premiering Donald Yu’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra in 2021. Her background in dance has also fostered unique multidisciplinary collaborations with composer Badie Khaleghian. Owen recently received her Doctorate of Music degree in piano performance from Florida State University.
Visit the Astralis Chamber Ensemble at www.astralisensemble.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Massey's debut album, The Elements, has been described as
“beautiful and enchanting, the performances on this CD are magical!” by Jeanne Baxtresser, former principal flute of the New York Philharmonic. All of the works selected relate to the elements of earth, water, wind, and fire. CDs can be purchased by emailing angmassey@gmail.com. |