Season Soloists
Shanley Horvitz
Shanley Horvitz is a distinguished American soprano known for her versatility in the zwischenfach repertoire been reviewed to have "lovely, warm legato phrases, holding obvious power in reserve.” Recently, she made a captivating debut with the Wagner Society of New York in concert performing Wagner’s Wesendonck and also as Meg Page in Verdi's Falstaff with Opera San Jose. As a young artist, Shanley has achieved remarkable success in prestigious competitions, claiming 1st place in renowned events like the Wagner Society of New York, International Czech and Slovak Competition, International Orpheus Competition, Mario Lanza Institute Competition, and Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Competition, showcasing her exceptional vocal prowess. Her recent debuts have been met with resounding acclaim, including a captivating portrayal of Anacoana in Franchetti's Cristoforo Colombo with Teatro Grattacielo and a concert debut at Carnegie Hall, where she assumed the title role in Bizet's Carmen, solidifying her reputation as a gifted and versatile artist. Hailing from New Jersey, Shanley is a distinguished graduate of Westminster Choir College and now is under Jennifer Rowley's expert tutelage. Her dedication to musical excellence continues to shine, as evidenced by her enthralling performances in Vienna at the Palais Ehrbar, performing with the esteemed PolyMuse Orchestra and recently when she debuted as La Gran Vestale in Spontini's La Vestale this past fall.
Kingsley Hsieh
Kingsley Hsieh, born in Dallas, TX, raised in Taiwan. He began his Bachelor degree in The New School - Mannes School of Music in 2023. Studying with professor Charles Neidich. He is interested in performing all varieties of contemporary pieces. Kingsley started his piano learning when he was 4 and started his clarinet’s at 9. He used to major in piano until high school. Kingsley has countless concert experiences around Taipei and other cities in Taiwan. He began his contemporary path in 2022, which made him fully attracted. Therefore, his final repertoire is one of his favorite masterpiece by John Corigliano. Hope everyone enjoy.
Matthew Hakkarainen
Matthew Hakkarainen is the first American violinist to win first prize at the Premio Rodolfo
Lipizer International Violin Competition, in Gorizia, Italy, where he also received three special
prizes for “a young, deserving talent,” the best interpretation of a 19th century sonata, and the
best interpretation of a 19th century concerto. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis
Institute of Music, where he studied with Pamela Frank, and he currently attends the Juilliard
School, studying with Sylvia Rosenberg and Ronald Copes. Previous teachers Matthew has
studied with include Charles Castleman, Mauricio Fuks, Borislava Iltcheva, Huifang Chen, and
Maree Sawhney.
Matthew was recently awarded third prize at the Stuttgart International Violin Competition in
Germany. He also won the second prize, audience prize, and contemporary piece prize at the
Mirecourt International Violin Competition in France. In 2018, he won first place in the New
World Symphony’s Concerto Competition and performed Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with
Michael Tilson Thomas and the NWS. Later that year, Matthew served as Concertmaster of
NYO-USA for its concert tour in Asia. In 2022, he won the Aspen Music Festival and School’s
Violin Competition, and performed as a soloist with the Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra.
This past summer, he won first prize ex æquo in the Prix Ravel at the Conservatoire américain
de Fontainebleau with his performance of Maurice Ravel’s Tzigane. He has served as
Concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra, the latter for which
he recorded the violin solos from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade for the orchestra’s first
Curtis Studio Label album, now available on Apple Music, Spotify, and other streaming
platforms. He is currently Associate Concertmaster of Symphony in C, and has also appeared
as a Substitute Violin with the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Matthew has been featured on National Public Radio’s “From the Top,” and has performed as a
guest artist at FestivalSouth. In 2019, he went on a solo recital tour across three towns in
Northern Italy. Matthew has appeared as a soloist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra,
Jacksonville Symphony, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra,
Orchestra Sinfonica Bulgaria Classic di Plovdiv, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, New River
Orchestra, and others. Festivals he has attended include the Conservatoire américain de
Fontainebleau, Aspen Music Festival and School, Music Academy of the West, Castleman
Quartet Program, Orford Musique, Ferme de Villefavard Summer Academy, Meadowmount
School of Music, and Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute. Matthew is also honored to be a
Center for Musical Excellence Young Artist, and a faculty member at Musart Music.
A native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Matthew is currently pursuing his Master of Music in
violin performance. He is very grateful to perform on a 1790 Giuseppe Guadagnini violin and an
Étienne Pajeot bow graciously provided by the company CANIMEX INC., from Drummondville
(Québec), Canada. Matthew also recently received his dual citizenship with Finland.