Performers

Jennifer Gerth is in her 29th season as principal clarinet of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. A substitute with the Minnesota Orchestra since 1995, she also performs with the Minnesota Opera, VocalEssence, Northrup Ballet and Minnesota Dance Theater and other freelance groups. Jennifer performed and toured with the Minnesota Contemporary Ensemble and co-founded The Prospect Park Players, a chamber music group that enjoyed a 7 year residency at Hamline University. A devoted chamber musician, she has played 25 seasons at the Festival of the Lakes Chamber music festival. Ms. Gerth is also an avid teacher and clinician and has been teaching at the collegiate level for over three decades. Jennifer currently teaches at the University of St. Thomas, the University of Minnesota and also maintains a private studio. She enjoys running, cooking, yoga, gardening and hatching butterflies.

Violinist Hannah Kennedy is the Assistant Concertmaster of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and a core member of Lyra Baroque Orchestra. Hannah is active freelancer, and has performed with the Bach Society of Minnesota, La Grande Bande, STRINGenius, Oratorio Society of Minnesota, Skylark Opera Theatre, and Border CrosSing, among others. She also served as a member of the Altius Quartet for the 2020-2021 season and teaches privately at Songs with Sarah. Hannah obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as an Eileen Phillips Cohen String Quartet Fellow. She received a Master’s degree and Artist Diploma from CU Boulder, studying with Harumi Rhodes and Edward Dusinberre of the Takács Quartet, and serving as Teaching Assistant to Dr. Robert Hill. Hannah lives in Chaska, MN with her husband, Nick, and their dog, Lacy.

Based in Minneapolis, MN, cellist Jane Cords-O’Hara is a freelance cellist. She is a member of The Knights and founding member of Fíora Ensemble. She has performed, toured and recorded with many other ensembles including St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, MN Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Orchestra of St Luke’s, Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, Da Capo Chamber Players, SONYC, Chamber Music Society of MN and A Far Cry. Equally comfortable in many styles, Jane has played a large amount of new and spectral music, as well playing baroque cello, and has played with Lyra Baroque, Bach Society of Minnesota and principal cello at Bach Roots Festival. She is a devoted teacher and has a private studio as well as being on faculty at Augsburg University. Jane studied at the RNCM with Hannah Roberts and at Mannes College with Tim Eddy. She made her Carnegie Hall recital debut in 2006 as a winner of Artist's International competition. Jane plays a cello made by Pierre Pacherel in 1850, France. She lives in South Minneapolis with her husband Dan, and daughter Aoife.

Pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist both in the United States and abroad, in Europe and Latin America. He is a member of ‘Trés’, whose saxophone-piano trio was just nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album for their new album “Romance al Campesino Porteño.” Casey often collaborates in concert or recordings with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and University of Minnesota School of Music faculty. As a piano soloist he took top prizes at the International Liszt-Garrison Competition in Baltimore, has appeared with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and has taught at both the University of Minnesota School of Music and the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts.