Special Events
Holy Comforter Concert Series: The Amaris Trio
October 20 @ 4:00 pm
The Amaris Trio was founded in 2014 by three musicians who came to the Washington area to earn their graduate degrees and have remained here to pursue careers in both teaching and performance. The group’s name was chosen to reflect their gratitude for music as a divine gift: “Amaris” is Hebrew for “given by God.”
Current members of the ensemble are violinist Shearom Chung, cellist Ryan Ashley Nobles, and pianist Janghyo Yoo, each of whom is also active with multiple other ensembles.
Their program at Holy Comforter will feature early works by Ludwig van Beethoven and Claude Debussy, and conclude with Antonin Dvořák’s well-known “Dumky” Trio. The concert is free and open to the public, with donations requested to support Holy Comforter’s music programs.
A reception will be follow. All are welcome.
About the Musicians
Shearom Chung has performed on both violin and viola with a variety of orchestras in the greater Washington area, including the National Philharmonic, Alexandria Symphony, and Mid-Atlantic Symphony. She is also an active member of the Friday Morning Music Club as a solo and chamber music player, and formerly held principal positions with Bel Cantanti Opera and the Pennsylvania Philharmonic. After receiving her master’s at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Catholic University on a full scholarship, where she was a winner in their Concerto Competition. In 2013 she won first place in the American International Strings Competition at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Ryan Ashley Nobles earned a bachelor’s in music from the University of Mary Washington in 2006 and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from George Mason University in 2012, having received scholarships for both degrees. She served as principal cellist of the student orchestras at both universities, and while at GMU was selected to participate in the 2011 School of Music Honors Recital. Ms. Nobles currently teaches and freelances in the DC-MD-VA area, appearing with the Passione String Trio, Amaris Trio, Worship Orchestra of Washington, and the McLean Bible Church Orchestra.
Janghyo Yoo earned undergraduate degrees in his native South Korea before coming to the United States to study for master’s and doctoral degrees at Catholic University. Throughout his career he has performed in numerous chamber music and solo recitals, and is also an accomplished jazz and rock pianist. He is currently active as an accompanist throughout the greater Washington area, working with youth orchestra competitions and music theater workshops, as a staff pianist at Washington Conservatory of Music, and as a rehearsal pianist and co-musical director for Catholic University’s Musical Theater program. He is also music director at Messiah Presbyterian Church of Washington and an artistic advisor/collaborative pianist at Young Muscians Inspiring Challenge.
Stephanie Weng (Edwards) currently freelances throughout the Northern Virginia and DC areas as a solo pianist, accompanist, and collaborative musician, performing with the Amaris Trio and serving on the worship team at Centerpointe Church in Fairfax, Virginia, and giving private lessons at the Edwards Piano Studio in South Riding. Mrs. Weng earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance from George Mason University, where she studied with Dr. Linda Apple Monson and participated in the 2012 Honors Recital and the highly acclaimed Grand Piano Celebrations. In addition to her musical training, she holds a master’s degree in South Asia Studies and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.