Cristian Larios (b. 1996) is a composer, conductor, vocalist, and educator from Joliet, IL. His works range from chamber music to larger choral works. Through his music, he hopes to empower the performers and provide the listener with a new perspective on the human experience.

His music has been performed by the Illinois State Madrigals, The No-Name Chorale, SWIC Chamber Singers, and has been featured at the REDNote New Music Festival. Larios has also collaborated with the School of Theatre and Dance and Kristin Schoenback on Ellen Mclaughin’s, Oedipus. Cristian enjoys the collaborative process and is always looking for new adventures and challenges.

In 2017, Larios was the recipient of the Harlan Peithman Music Scholarship for excellence in music theory and composition. Larios is currently a senior pursuing his Bachelors in Music Education-Choral and his Bachelors of Music in Theory/Composition from Illinois State University where he studied composition with Martha Horst, Roger Zare, Roy Magnuson, Joshua Keeling, and Carl Schimmel.

Current projects include Cause I Wanted You to Know for
percussion trio and a new commision for Christine Hansen and ctp trio for horn, tuba, and piano.

He is avid supporter of flannel, flowers, and the sparkle emoji.

Hailed by the New York Times for her "soaring melodies and beguiling harmonies," Dale Trumbore has received commissions, performances and awards from organizations including ACDA, ACME, Inscape Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists and VocalEssence. Learn more about her music at daletrumbore.com.

Composer / Performer / Saxophonist / Educator / Friend  - Let's make some noise together - NYC.

Marybeth Kurnat (1987) is an emerging voice in modern choral music. Her debut work, Epitaph For A Romantic Woman, was premiered by the St. Charles Singers in October 2021. Her recent work, I, Lover, was the 2021-22 winner of True Concord’s Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers’ Competition, and she was selected as a 2023 Composition Fellow for the PREMIERE|Project Festival in Orange County, CA. Eight of her works are slated to premiere throughout 2023 in Illinois, California, Louisiana and Arizona. She has also submitted works to several additional competitions, including HerVoice, Florida State New Music Festival, VOCES8, and ACDA-Illinois. She has been commissioned by soprano Elizabeth Shuman,  Chicago Choral Artists, Baker Memorial Church of St. Charles, Giving Voices Collective, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb High School and the Spectra Choir of Savannah, GA. 

Described as “transcendent” and “otherworldly,” Marybeth's authentic style is strongly influenced by her origin as a jazz saxophonist, most clearly illustrated in her colorful and adventurous harmonic vocabulary and unique command of rhythm. Her piano parts have been frequently praised as “the fifth voice.” Her compositional influences include Brad Mehldau, Wayne Shorter, Jacob Collier, Rollo Dilworth, Dale Trumbore and Stephen Paulus. Her arranging portfolio also includes music for jazz ensemble, concert band, chamber music and commercial a cappella.

Marybeth earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University, where she studied voice with Diane Ragains and saxophone with Steve Duke. She has taught in Illinois public schools since 2011, and currently serves as a vocal and instrumental music educator in DeKalb, IL. She is a District 8 representative for the Illinois Music Education Association.

In addition to teaching and composing, Marybeth writes poetry, and maintains an active performance schedule as a choral singer and soloist in the greater Chicago area. She is a member of the St. Charles Singers, Chicago Choral Artists, and the Grant Park Music Festival Chorus.

Eric Malmquist (b. 1985) writes earnestly heartfelt and engaging music. He draws on a deep love of early music and modern influences to produce works that are focused and emotional.

He has been commissioned by the Chicago Composers Orchestra, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, tubist Scott Tegge, the International Chamber Artists, the Newberry Consort and the Wicker Park Choral Singers.

His commissioned work Prairie Music for CYSO was featured on Chicago’s Ear Taxi Festival in October 2016 and at Midwest Clinic in December 2016. CCO and WPCS co-commissioned his Blemish’d Muse, a twenty-minute work for choir and orchestra, in 2016. His song cycle If You Travel Far Enough was the very first commission of the ICA, and was featured on Live from WFMT in 2015. Michael Hall premiered his Sonata for Viola and Piano in 2014, and Gaudete Brass premiered his Three Preludes in 2013.

His music has been performed outside of Chicago on both coasts and in Texas, and has been featured repeatedly on 98.7WFMT. His music has been recorded by VOX 3 on the disc “New Song” and by pianist Jonathan Hannau.

If you have questions about my work or if you would like to purchase and perform it please contact me at matthewcfinkmusic@gmail.com and head to my website https://matthewcfinkmusic.wixsite.com/website

The Office of Choral Organizations at Northwestern University
https://choirs.northwestern.edu

Founded in 2008, Wicker Park Choral Singers is an all-volunteer ensemble dedicated 
to building community through choral music. The choir performs repertoire spanning 
eight centuries in venues across the city of Chicago and the surrounding area. 
Through rehearsals, free concerts, and collaborations, WPCS uses choral music to 
bring people together in unique and meaningful ways. To learn more about WPCS, 
check out our website at WickerParkSings.org. 

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