Originally from New Zealand, Emma Yoon began her studies with Stephen Larsen at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. She then completed her master’s degree and concert exam with Elisabeth Kufferath at the Hanover College of Music, Drama and Media. She also studied chamber music with Oliver Wille in Hanover. Among other prizes, this violinist has won the New Zealand National Concerto Competition. In 2010 she made her solo debut with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra performing Samuel Barber’s Violin Concerto. Emma Yoon is also an avid chamber musician, collaborating with outstanding artists such as Sarah Christian, Florian Donderer and Tanja Tetzlaff. Her most recent recording, the chamber music album ›Jonny‹, was nominated for an Opus Klassik in 2020.

Both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, Emma Yoon has performed concerts throughout Europe, the UK, the USA and New Zealand, and has appeared at international festivals such as the Edinburgh International Arts Festival, the Rottweil Musikfestival Sommersprossen and the Heidelberger Frühling. She was an academist with the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen from 2017 to 2019 before becoming a permanent member of the orchestra, and has played as concertmaster in ensembles such as the Kammer­philharmonie Landshut, Musica Assoluta and Camerata Hamburg.

She has also completed an internship with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hanover and has played as a section leader in ensembles such as the Kammer­philharmonie Landshut and the Camerata Hamburg. Since 2018, Emma Yoon has also been a member of the Estonian Festival Orchestra, working with Paavo Järvi at the Pärnu Music Festival in Estonia.

Raphael Zinner received his first cello lessons at the local music school aged four. Since 2022, he has been studying for his Masters with Peter Bruns at Leipzig College of Music. Previously, he completed his undergraduate studies with Troels Svane at Lübeck College of Music. Participation in masterclasses by Peter Bruns, David Geringas, Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt and Gustav Rivinius have also provided him with vital musical input. As the first ever three-time winner of ›Jugend musiziert‹, Raphael has also won numerous other prizes at international competitions such as the Heran Competition in the Czech Republic, the Liezen International Competition for Cello in Austria and the David Popper Cello Competition in Hungary.

In addition to his solo playing, he is a passionate chamber musician. He has performed with his piano trio in the Berlin Philharmonie as well as in Boston and Washington. Together with his string quartet, he has performed at the Brahms Festival in Lübeck and at the Atlantic Festival. As prizewinner of the 27th Competition of the German Musical Instrument Fund, he plays a Genoa 1871 Niccolò Bianchi cello.

In 2022, Raphael Zinner won the preliminary round and became a member of the Deutsche Kammer­philharmonie Bremen Academy. In 2023, while still a member of the Academy, this talented young cellist successfully completed his probationary year with the orchestra and has been a member of the orchestra since 2024.

Grace Leehan began violin lessons aged seven and received viola tuition from the age of eleven. She learned both instruments while studying for her bachelor’s degree at the University of Auckland with Stephen Larsen, where she was awarded ›First Class Honours‹ and the Senior Scholar Award. Grace finally decided to devote herself to the viola and continued her studies with Andra Darzinsat the Stuttgart College of Music and Performing Arts, where she is currently completing her master’s degree.

Grace received a comprehensive musical education which included chamber music, orchestra and also solo playing. Since chamber music is one of her passions, she has participated in various ensembles that have won awards at important competitions and is currently a member of the NERIDA Quartet. As a soloist, Grace is also a prizewinner in the New Zealand National Concerto Competition and the Gisborne International Music Competition. Grace’s orchestra experience includes performances with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra. She was also a member of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, where she became an academy student.