Trio Confero

Maksim Shtrykov, clarinet
Emil Olejnik, cello
Misuzu Tanaka, piano

Trio Confero was founded in 2018 by clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov as an expansion of his long-standing collaboration with Japanese pianist Misuzu Tanaka. Since 2012, the two have performed extensively as the Shtrykov–Tanaka Duo. Trio Confero extends this artistic partnership into the rich repertoire for clarinet, cello, and piano, with a particular focus on expressive performances and rarely heard masterworks. The ensemble brings together three accomplished musicians whose artistry has been shaped by studies at The Juilliard School and other leading conservatories, as well as distinctions earned at major international competitions. United by a shared commitment to thoughtful programming and compelling chamber music, the trio is dedicated to creating engaging musical experiences for audiences.

Confero is a Latin verb meaning "to bring together, unite, and contribute"—a fitting reflection of the ensemble's artistic philosophy. From beloved works by Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch, Fauré, and Glinka to compelling twentieth- and twenty-first-century repertoire by composers including Nino Rota, Robert Muczynski, John Ireland, Isang Yun, and Magnus Lindberg, Trio Confero explores the remarkable breadth of literature written for this distinctive combination of instruments.

Praised for its "sparkling virtuosity" and "outstanding talent" by Ponca City News, the trio has appeared at Les Pianos Folies du Touquet in France, the 3rd International Cello Festival, and Nádor Hall in Hungary, as well as on concert series throughout the United States, including the Fairmont Chamber Music Society, Summer Stars Classical Series, Ponca City Concert Series, Rappahannock Concert Association, Los Gatos Community Concerts Association, Del Norte Curry Community Concert Association, Ridotto Classical Concerts, and the Ridgecrest Chamber Music Society. Highlights of the 2026–27 season include engagements with Gretna Music, Asheville Chamber Music Concerts, Wofford College's Benjamin B. Dunlap Chamber Music Series, Placitas Artists Series, and Concerts at 3 in Catonsville.

Maksim Shtrykov, clarinet

A recipient of the Artists International Special Presentation Award, Maksim made his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall's intimate Weill Recital Hall in 2007. A passionate advocate of clarinet music, he is on a continuous quest of expanding his instrument’s repertoire, bringing to light rarely performed masterpieces by forgotten masters, and pushing the boundaries of the instrument with his transcriptions of the string and woodwind repertoire.

Maksim’s recent seasons have included appearances with the Amadeus Festival Orchestra and performances across the United States on series such as the Northeast Kingdom Classical Series (VT), Roche Visiting Artist Series (PA), Chamber Music Society of Maryland, Parrish Art Museum Series (NY), Black Hills Chamber Music Society (SD), Cedarhurst Chamber Music (IL), Ridgecrest Chamber Music Society (CA), Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (IL), Rochester Institute of Technology Artist Series, and Summer Stars Classical Series (NJ), among many others.

Maksim is a prizewinner of numerous competitions, including the International Johannes Brahms Chamber Music Competition (Poland), the “Salieri–Zinetti” International Chamber Music Competition (Italy), and the Dmytro Bida International Woodwind Competition (Ukraine). He began his clarinet studies in his native Belarus and became the first Belarusian clarinetist to be accepted to The Juilliard School, where he earned his Master of Music degree as a scholarship student in the celebrated studio of Charles Neidich.

Emil Olejnik, cello

Award-winning Polish cellist Emil Olejnik is recognized for his expressive artistry, thoughtful musicianship, and versatility as a soloist and chamber musician. Based in New York, he recently completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at The Juilliard School, where he studied with Natasha Brodsky, Nina Lee, Joel Krosnick, and Richard Aaron.

A prize winner of more than twenty national and international competitions, Emil has earned distinctions including the Grand Prix at the ARS Lithuanica SummerFest in Vilnius and First Prize at the CEA Polish National Cello Competition. He is also the recipient of several prestigious artistic and educational scholarships, among them the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage’s Young Poland Scholarship and the First Lady of Poland Agata Kornhauser-Duda Scholarship.

As a soloist, Emil has appeared with orchestras including the Rzeszów Symphony Orchestra, performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations, and the Warmian-Masurian Symphony Orchestra in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. An avid chamber musician, he has participated in leading festivals such as the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Allegro Vivo Festival, Zenon Brzewski International Music Festival, and the Chamber Music Academy with the Scharoun Ensemble. In addition to his solo and chamber music career, Emil is an active performer throughout New York’s vibrant musical community, collaborating with fellow musicians in a wide range of artistic projects.

A passionate advocate for chamber music, Emil is drawn to the collaborative process and the opportunity to explore diverse repertoire with fellow artists. His curiosity, expressive approach, and commitment to musical dialogue continue to shape his growing career as both a performer and collaborator.

­­Misuzu Tanaka, piano

Hailed by international press as a pianist whose “readings are very convincing” Fanfare Magazine and for her “exceptionally high technical level” General-Anzeiger Bonn, Misuzu Tanaka has established herself as an artist of remarkable individuality.

She has performed in prestigious concert venues throughout the world, from the Gewandhaus in Leipzig and Mozart’s Museum at Villa Bertramka in Prague to Alice Tully Hall in New York, and is also a respected regular performer for Music from the Frederick Collection, a leading North-American venue for performance on historical instruments.

Her debut album, Misuzu Tanaka in Concert, which was recorded live on the Concertant Classics label, features works by Leoš Janáček and J. S. Bach, two composers who have been a constant source of her musical inspiration. Additionally, she has released a debut album “Epilogues” with clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov, which focuses on four clarinet sonatas that are among the last works of three leading composers – Johannes Brahms, Camille Saint-Saens and Francis Poulenc.

Born in London, United Kingdom where she began her piano lessons at age 5, she then continued her studies in Japan and in the United States with Martin Canin at The Juilliard School. Her Masters and Doctoral degrees are from University of Michigan where she was a full scholarship recipient and devoted much time to the study and performance of the works of Leoš Janáček, which led to further studies with Miroslav Brejcha and the late Ivan Moravec in the Czech Republic.