Tara Helen O'Connor
Artistic Director
March 22 – Trio Animoso
Concert sponsored by BrandTech Scientific, Inc.
Where and When:
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek
55 E. Kings Highway, Chester, CT
Click here to view in Google maps.
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Concert begins at 3:00 pm; outer doors open at 2:00 pm, and auditorium doors open at 2:30 pm.
Accessible parking, entry and seating are available.
Concert Program:
French Impressions, American Echoes
Sophia Jean, flute
Julian Seney, viola
Subin Lee, harp
Pieces de Clavecin en Concerts no. 5 (arr. for flute, viola and harp) – Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Hidden Grace – Zhou Tian (1981-)
Le Tombeau de Couperin (arr. by Joyce Morlock) – Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Scénes de la forêt – Mel Bonis (1858-1937)
Mother and Child (arr. for flute, viola and harp by Brittney Benton and Trio Animoso) – William Grant Still (1895-1978)
Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp – Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Artist Biographies:
Trio Animoso
Trio Animoso is a virtuosic and innovative ensemble that combines the artistry of flutist Sophia Jean, violist Julian Seney, and harpist Subin Lee.
The Spanish word “Animoso” translates to “spirited or animated” which captures the essence of this dynamic ensemble, each member bringing a captivating artistic persona. The trio seeks to showcase the beauty of the historical Debussy trio while broadening the repertoire of this instrumentation by commissioning works by new composers and by presenting the lesser known but extraordinary works of underrepresented composers.
All members students at the Yale School of Music, Trio Animoso is based in New Haven, Connecticut and regularly performs in the greater Connecticut and New England area. Trio was recently named 1st Place Winner of the International Harp Competition “Angel Padilla Crespo.”
Sophia Jean, flute
Sophia Jean is a second-year M.M. candidate at the Yale School of Music where she is a student of Tara Helen O’Connor. A passionate orchestral musician, Sophia has attended numerous festivals including the Music Academy of the West (2022 Flute Fellow), Aspen Music Festival (2024 Piccolo Fellow, 2023 New Horizons Fellow), and Kent Blossom Music Festival (2021 Fellow). This past year, Sophia has performed as a substitute musician with the New York Philharmonic and the West Point Band.
Sophia is a laureate of numerous competitions and was recently named first place winner of the 2024 NFA Young Artist Competition, also receiving the Paul Taub Award for Best Performance of the Newly Commissioned Work. Previously, Sophia was named first place winner of both Chicago Flute Club’s 2023 Kujala International Piccolo Competition and 2023 Donald Peck Flute Competition. Sophia also received honorable mention in the 2024 Sphinx Orchestral Partners Audition (SOPA) Competition, was a finalist for the 2023 Chicago Women’s Club of Musicians Senior Nerenberg Competition and was a semifinalist for Music Academy’s 2022 Duo Competition.
Sophia graduated from Northwestern University in December 2022, where she pursued a dual degree in Flute Performance and Cognitive Science. At Northwestern she studied flute with John Thorne, and piccolo with Jennifer Gunn and Alyce Johnson. Sophia is originally from Lakeland, Florida, where she attended Harrison School for the Arts and performed as principal in the Harrison Symphony Orchestra, studying with Barbara Jacobson.
Outside of performing, Sophia is a teaching artist for the Yale Music in Schools Initiative Program (MISI), where she regularly serves as a mentor for New Haven public school students. Her love of teaching continues from her time at Northwestern, where she was involved as a volunteer for the Academy of Music and Arts for Special Education (AMASE), eventually taking on roles as Co-Curriculum Director and Community Engagement Director.
Julian Seney, viola
Julian has performed in venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and Beijing Concert Hall, under conductors Susanna Mälkki, Michael Tilson Thomas, and George Benjamin, among others. He is an alumni of the Perlman Music Program, National Youth Orchestra, and the Lucerne Festival Academy, and has participated in residencies through both Perlman Suncoast and the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival. He loves performing new music, and has premiered many works of his peers and mentors — most recently with Yale’s New Music series. As a teacher he has worked at New England Conservatory’s preparatory school, and currently teaches through Yale’s Music in Schools Initiative. He received a Bachelor’s of Music from the New England Conservatory, having studied with Kim Kashkashian, and now is pursuing a Masters of Music at the Yale School of Music with Ettore Causa. In his free time, he loves to hike, takes care of his two dogs, and bake.
Subin Lee, harp
Harpist Subin Lee actively performs in both South Korea and the United States, having appeared in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Seoul Arts Center, and Kumho Art Center.
An award-winning harpist, she has won first prize at the Italy International Harp Competition, Lyon&Healy Awards, Fanny Mendelssohn International Music Competition, and Padova International Music Competition. She is also a prizewinner of Hong Kong International Harp Competition, Korea International Harp Competition, Szeged International Harp Competition, Germany International Harp Competition, and more.
She is also an avid chamber musician and has been invited to perform with her trio at the Philadelphia Athenaeum, Yale Vista Concert Series, Whitney Center Concert Series, and more. She has also been invited to perform at the Rendezvous de la Musique Chamber Music Festival in summer 2024 and is the guest artist of the 2024-2025 season of the Dolce Suono Ensemble.
Subin has performed regular volunteer concerts in hospitals from a young age and continues to share her music in and out of the traditional concert hall setting. Her recent performances have taken place not only in professional venues but also in schools, children’s shelters, and art galleries with interactive concerts designed for children and young adults.
Her efforts to expand boundaries of music and performance also include taking part in composition and performing new music. As part of the Marylin Costello Composition Competition, she has worked with the winning composer to provide feedback on the commissioned work and performed the world premiere of “Blue, Vanishing”. She has also composed and premiered her own works for harp, some of her recent works including music based on literature by Richard Wright and William Shakespeare.
Subin began harp studies at the age of eleven in South Korea. She received her bachelor’s degree at the Curtis Institute of Music as recipient of the Marylin Costello Fellowship. During her undergraduate studies, she was awarded the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award for musical and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership, and contribution to an inclusive community. She is currently a Master of Music candidate at the Yale School of Music.
Regarding tickets and subscriptions:
tickets@essexwinterseries.com
For support, program advertising and all other inquiries:
office@essexwinterseries.com
Our Venues:
Valley Regional High School
256 Kelsey Hill Road
Deep River, CT 06417
Click here to view in Google maps.
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek
55 E Kings Highway
Chester, CT 06412
Click here to view in Google maps.
© Copyright 2024 Essex Winter Series. Essex Winter Series is 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has provided quality arts presentations for the Connecticut River Valley and Shoreline communities since 1978. EIN#06-0991889.
Regarding tickets and subscriptions:
tickets@essexwinterseries.com
For support, program advertising and all other inquiries:
office@essexwinterseries.com
Our Venues:
Valley Regional High School
256 Kelsey Hill Road
Deep River, CT 06417
Click here to view in Google maps.
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek
55 E Kings Highway
Chester, CT 06412
Click here to view in Google maps.
Old Saybrook High School
1111 Boston Post Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
Click here to view in Google maps
© Copyright 2025 Essex Winter Series. Essex Winter Series is 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has provided quality arts presentations for the Connecticut River Valley and Shoreline communities since 1978. EIN#06-0991889.