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Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival, P. O. Box 53, Lindsborg, KS (2026)

05/15/2026

Meet SVCMF Young Artists: 👋CHUNG-WEN LEE, Viola 🎻(Taipei, Taiwan)🇹🇼

🌟Hear Chung-Wen perform as a featured member SVCMF’s Quartet-in-Residence, Seville String Quartet at the opening concert of the festival, “American Soundscape,” on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00p and as part of the Festival Finale concert, “Smoky Valley Soundscape,” on Saturday, May 23 at 3:00p. Welcome, Chung-Wen!

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BIO:
CHUNG-WEN (KATY) LEE is an accomplished Taiwanese violist currently based in Kansas City, MO. With a passion for music that began at a young age, she received professional training in viola, piano, and the Chinese instrument zhongruan at a prestigious musical elementary school in Taiwan. Ms. Lee’s dedication to her craft led to numerous achievements, including winning first prize at the Taoyuan City Music Competition in 2013. She served as the principal violist of the Wu Ling Philharmonic, touring in Taiwan, China, and Japan. In the United States, she has performed with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra, the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, and recorded an acclaimed CD album with the Midwest Chamber Ensemble. Passionate about fostering musical excellence, Ms. Lee has been involved in various summer music festivals. She has shared her expertise as a teaching assistant at the Walnut Hill Music Festival in Boston, won the Chamber Music Competition at Round Top Festival Institute, and was invited to participate in the Taipei Music Academy Festival, founded by renowned violinist Cho-Liang (Jimmy) Lin.

Ms. Lee is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Viola Performance under the guidance of Professor Scott Lee at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) as the violist of the Graduate Fellowship String Quartet.
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🙌Special thanks to the Lindsborg Arts Council, and many generous community partners who helped bring Chung-Wen and so many extraordinarg artists from around the world Lindsborg for the inaugural Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival!

05/15/2026

Meet SVCMF Young Artists: 👋 JESÚS GARCIA PALACIOS, Horn (Monclova, Coahuila, Mexico) 🇲🇽

Hear Jesús perform📯at “Välkommen to Lindsborg,” on Monday, May 18, “Summer Sounds & Stories,” on Wednesday, May 20, and “American Mosaic,” on Friday, May, May 22. Welcome, Jesús!
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BIO:
Jesus Garcia Palacios is a musician currently based in Kansas City, MO. Jesus is a native of Monclova, Coahuila (MEX) and has spent most of his life in the United States.

Prior to Kansas City, Jesus pursued a Master of Music at Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music at Texas Christian University, where he sustained an active musical presence throughout the communities. His primary mentors are Denise Tryon and Heather Test.

Jesus continues to maintain a diverse musical profile, where his engagements range from standard repertoire to innovative, contemporary programs. Part of these efforts include an emphasis in historically-informed performance, where Jesus performs on the natural horn, a nineteenth-century predecessor to the modern valve-horn. Jesus also performs with numerous chamber ensembles, including brass/wind quintets and horn ensembles.

Jesus’ other contributions to music include numerous years in brass instrument repair and music publishing; his most recent project includes The Grand Theoretical and Practical Method for the Valve Horn (edited by Denise Tryon). In addition to music, Jesus is also a prolific reader and enjoys building a life with Bekah, his wife.

Welcome, Jesús!
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🙌Special thanks to ALL of the corporate, community, and individual sponsors for their partnership in bringing Jesús and other incredible artists from across the nation and around the world to Lindsborg for the inaugural Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival!

05/15/2026

Meet SVCMF Artists: 👋 SHIYI ZHU, piano 🎹 (Gulangyu Island, China) 🇨🇳

🌟 Hear Shiyi featured at SVCMF Special Events, “Teaching the Piano,” Tuesday, May 19, “Piano Virtuoso,” Wednesday, May 20, and “American Mosaic,” on Friday, May 22. Welcome, Shiyi! 🎉
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BIO:
Pianist SHIYI ZHU has earned wide acclaim for her artistry and expressive musicianship. A recent performance of works by Franz Liszt was praised for its “dazzling technique and strong musicality” by Wu Han, Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

An active soloist and collaborative artist, Zhu has appeared with the University of Florida Symphony Orchestra and is the winner of the Xiamen International Piano Competition (2022) and the Liszt International Youth Piano Competition (2019). Her performance venues include Carnegie Hall in New York, the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina, and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. As a dedicated chamber musician, Zhu has collaborated extensively with instrumentalists and vocalists in diverse ensemble settings. In 2024, she performed a chamber work by a living composer for clarinet, violin, and piano at Florida State University’s Festival of New Music. She also appeared at the Brevard Music Festival, performing Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57. In addition, she is frequently invited to perform in duo piano and four-hand repertoire.

In addition to performing, Zhu’s research explores the intersection of psychology, performance optimization, and piano practice. She was invited through peer-reviewed selection to present “Alexa, Fix My Rhythm,” at the 2026 MTNA National Conference.

Born on Gulangyu Island—known as China’s “Island of Music”—Zhu began studying piano at age four with her grandmother. She studied Piano Performance at Xiamen Conservatory of Music and earned a master’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from East China Normal University. She is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Florida, where she serves as a Teaching Assistant and studies with Steinway Artist Dr. Evan Mitchell.

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🙌Special thanks to all of the corporate, community, and individual sponsors for their partnership in bringing Pedro and other artists from around the world to Lindsborg for the inaugural Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival

05/15/2026

Meet SVCMF Artist: PEDRO PABLO MENDĒZ, Viola 🎻
(Barquisimeto, Venezuela) 🇻🇪

🌟Hear Pedro perform Florence Price’s stunning “Adoration,” for Viola & Piano at the “American Mosaic,” Concert on Friday, May 22, and Handel-Halvorsen’s “Passacaglia,” alongside his wife, Laura, at “Scandinavian Soundscape,” on Wednesday, May 22.
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BIO:
Pedro Pablo Mendēz’s musical journey began even before he was born. Though not a musician herself, his mother purchased a violin before he was born in the hope that one day her child would become an artist. At five years old, Mendez began studying the instrument that had been waiting for him. He received his formal training in Venezuela at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory, earning a diploma in Violin Performance. After establishing himself professionally, he became a a faculty member of the same conservatory, mentoring the next generation of musicians. His early formation was deeply shaped by Venezuela’s renowned El Sistema, where he later served as a teacher and artistic leader. From 2017 to 2019, he was Director of the Latin American Violin Academy, guiding and training numerous young artists across the region. In 2019, Mendez was awarded a scholarship to pursue studies in the United States at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance. There, he studied with Roland and Almita Vamos and Li-Kuo Chang.

Mendez collaborated on a Grammy Award–winning recording featuring the music of contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery, contributing to a project reflectingbthe evolving voice of American classical music. His orchestral experience also includes appearances with major American ensembles such as the Nashville Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where he served as Principal Viola. Mendez currently performs as member of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Mendez performs on a fine viola generously loaned from the Margaret Harvey instrument collection in Chicago.

In March, 2026, Pedro Mendez won a Section Viola position in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Congratulations & Welcome, Pedro!🎻🎉
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🙌Special thanks to all of the corporate, community, and individual sponsors for their partnership in bringing Pedro and other artists from around the world to Lindsborg for the inaugural Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival!

05/15/2026

Meet SVCMF Young Artists: QIUFAN CHEN, violin🎻 (Shanghai, China)🇨🇳

🌟Hear Qiufan perform Halvorsen’s “Concert Duo Caprice on Norwegian Melodies,” at “Scandinavian Soundscape,” on Wednesday, May 20, and as a member of the Seville String Quartet on Tuesday, May 19.
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BIO:
QIUFAN CHEN, a native of Shanghai, China, began her musical journey on the violin at the age of 4. At the age of 12, she began studying under the famous music educator Zhinuo Ding, and was later admitted to the Affiliated Middle School of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she studied with acclaimed violin professors Chenxing Huang, Liang Chai and Yang Song. Ms. Chen graduated with her undergraduate degree in violin performance from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, studying under the renowned violin musician Professor Huang Mengla.

During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad with Stephan Picard, violin professor of Hans Eisler Conservatory of Music in Berlin, and Nachum Erlich, violin professor of Karlsruhe Conservatory of Music in Germany. Following her studies in Germany, Ms. Chen continued postgraduate studies in 2021, and participated in the Generation Classique chamber music competition in Belgium in 2022. During her time in Belgium, she put a special focus on chamber music, forming the DSCH String Quartet and Audace Ensemble Clarinet Quintet with her classmates and friends, which toured around the country to high acclaim. She has also served as a guest musician in the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.

Currently, Ms. Chen is furthering her postgraduate studies in the United States, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory, where she performs as a violinist in the UMKC Conservatory Graduate Fellowship String Quartet, and studies under Professor Benny Kim.

Welcome, Qiufan! 👋🎉
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🙌Special thanks to all of the corporate, community, and individual sponsors for their partnership in bringing Qiufan and other artists from around the world to Lindsborg for the inaugural Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival!

05/14/2026

Meet SVCMF Young Artists: CESARÍN CARO FELÍZ, Clarinet👋(Dominican Republic)🇩🇴

🌟Hear Cesarín perform Gershwin’s “Three Preludes,” for Clarinet and Piano at the “American Mosaic" concert, and more at the “Summer Sounds & Stories,” pop-up concert at the Lindsborg Community Library and the “Smoky Valley Soundscape,” Festival Finale concert.

Safe travels from the DR to the US, Cesarín! ✈️👋
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BIO:
Cesarín Caro Feliz is a Dominican clarinetist who graduated in 2023 from the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (National Conservatory of Music) in Santo Domingo. His orchestral career began at an early age, and in 2018 he was appointed principal clarinetist of the Orquesta Sinfónica Juan Pablo Duarte (Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra) of the National Conservatory of Music.

In 2019, Cesarín participated in the CLARIFEST VI International Clarinet Festival in Guatemala, where he received instruction from distinguished clarinetists such as Michel Lethiec and Bettina Aust. That same year, he represented the Dominican Republic as a guest musician with the Orquesta Guatemalteca de Vientos (Guatemalan Wind Orchestra), further strengthening his connection to the Latin American wind ensemble tradition. In 2021, he once again represented his country as a member of the Banda Sinfónica Integrada de las Américas (Integrated Symphonic Band of the Americas). This multinational ensemble brought together musicians from seven countries across the continent, providing a dynamic environment for artistic collaboration and engagement with a diverse symphonic wind repertoire.

Within the Dominican musical landscape, Cesarín has maintained an active and influential presence. He served as principal clarinetist of the Orquesta Dominicana de Vientos (Dominican Wind Orchestra). He has also actively participated in the clarinet festival CLARINETISIMO in the Dominican Republic, taking part in concerts, and masterclasses with renowned clarinetists such as José Franch Ballester and Philippe Cuper. He also appeared as a guest clarinetist during the 2024 and 2025 symphonic seasons of the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de la República Dominicana (National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic).

Welcome, Cesarín!

Special thanks to all of our corporate and community sponsors for helping bringing Cesarín and other artists from around the world to Lindsborg for the inaugural Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival!

05/14/2026

📣SVCMF “Special Events” FULL Lineup:
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🌟“VÄLKOMMEN TO LINDSBORG,” ft. pop-up performances by SVCMF Young Artists📯🎻
🗓️5.18 @ 7:30-8:15 pm | 📍Välkommen Bridge & Bike Trail👟🚲
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🌟“TEACHING THE PIANO,” a masterclass WITHIN a masterclass.🎹
🗓️5.19 @ 4 pm | 📍Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
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🌟“VIRTUOSIC SOUNDSCAPE,” ft. Shiyi Zhu performing piano works of Franz Liszt🎹
🗓️5.20 @ 11 am | 📍Sunflower Terrace @ Bethany Village
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🌟“SUMMER STORIES & SOUNDS,” ft. a pop-up concert by SVCMF Young Artists.
🗓️5.20 @ 3 pm | 📍Lindsborg Community Library
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🌟“AMERICA’S FIRST LADY OF THE BATON,” Presentation on Ebba Sundstrom Nylander. 🎻
🗓️5.20 @ 4 pm | 📍Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Musuem
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🌟”BACH & CHALK @ THE BLACKSMITH,” ft. Elise Cole, Cello, & Shelly Carlson, Chalk Artist🎻🎨
🗓️5.21 @ 12:45-1:15p | 📍Blacksmith Coffe Shop & Roastery
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🌟“SPRING ARTIST STUDIO OPEN HOUSE,” ft. SVCMF Musicians & Lindsborg Artists.🎻📯🎶🎨🖼️
🗓️5.23 @ 10A-2P | 📍Various Locations Around Town (Pick up map at Red Barn Studio).
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🌟“LINDSBORG FOLKDANSLAG,” ft. a pop-up performance of Swedish Dancing.
🗓️5.23 | 2:15-2:45p | 📍Southeast Lawn of Presser Hall

🎟️ Thanks to our sponsors, all SVCMF Special events (and SVCMF Concerts) are FREE and open to the public!
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With special thanks to corporate and community sponsors, including:
👏First Bank Kansas
👏Bank of Tescott
👏United Capital Management
👏Lindsborg Arts Council
👏Visit Lindsborg

05/14/2026

Join us in Lindsborg for the week or weekend during the Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival and Spring Artist Studio Open House!

Enjoy over 10 free workshops, concerts, studio tours, and more during this FREE weeklong celebration of the arts. Check out or lindsborgarts.org/smoky-valley-chamber-music-festival for more information!

We hope to see you next week in Lindsborg, May 18–23!

05/13/2026

SVCMF Special Event: “VÄLKOMMEN TO LINDSBORG,” a pop-up performance ft. SVCMF Young Artists!

🗓️Monday, May 18, 2026 | 7:30-8:15p
📍Välkommen Bridge & Bike Trail
🎟️Free & Open to the Public

🌟Kick off the festival week by grabbing your bikes 🚲or walking shoes 👟and heading over to Lindsborg’s Välkommen Trail & Bridge to enjoy live 🎶 performances from SVCMF Young Artists along this historic converted railroad track 🚂crossing over the scenic Smoky Hill River.🌅

With special thanks to corporate and community sponsors, including:
👏First Bank Kansas
👏Bank of Tescott
👏United Capital Management
👏Lindsborg Arts Council
👏Visit Lindsborg

Smoky Valley Chamber Music Festival

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