Trio Confero

Maksim Shtrykov, clarinet
Julia Kang, cello
Misuzu Tanaka, piano

Trio Confero was founded in 2018 by clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov as a logical continuation of his quest to bring to the larger audience, the superb yet seldom performed chamber music repertoire for clarinet. The journey began in 2012 when, together with his partner Japanese pianist Misuzu Tanaka, they formed the Shtrykov-Tanaka Duo and began touring in the United States garnering an impressive record of instant re-engagements. With the addition of cellist Julia Kang to the Duo, Trio Confero is comprised of three exceptionally talented musicians who are prizewinners of many international competitions and graduates of the world’s most prestigious music academies.

Confero is a Latin verb that means “to bring together, unite, and contribute”, and this is precisely what Trio Confero’s mission statement was set to be when the three musicians met. With remarkable works written by such giants of the past as Beethoven, Brahms, Bruch, Faure, Glinka as well as stellar composers of the 20th century and beyond such as Nino Rota, Robert Muczynski, John Ireland, Isang Yun and Magnus Lindberg, the possibilities of programming were endless.

Praised for "sparkling virtuosity" and "outstanding talent" by Ponca City News, the trio has brought their passionate readings of the unique and vast repertoire to the festival “Les Pianos Folies du Touquet” in France, 3rd International Cello Festival and Nádor Hall in Hungary and many concert series across the US including Rochester Institute of Technology Performing Artist Series, Summer Stars Classical Series, Ponca City Concert Series, Los Gatos Community Concerts Association, Del Norte Curry Community Concert Association, Ridotto  Classical Concerts and the Grand Montgomery Chamber Music Series to name a few. Upcoming performances include engagements with the Fairmont Chamber Music Society, Ridgecrest Chamber Music Society, and Rappahannock Concert Association.

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.

Julia Kang, cello

Julia Kang is an acclaimed cellist celebrated for her vibrant artistry and versatility across a wide spectrum of musical genres. Equally at home in classical music and film music, she has built a multifaceted performance career marked by expressive depth, technical mastery, and a deep connection with audiences.

She has performed with renowned ensembles including the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and New York Classical Players, and has contributed to numerous film soundtracks. 

As a soloist, Julia has appeared with orchestras including the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, performing concertos by Dvořák, Elgar, and Haydn to critical acclaim.

A passionate chamber musician and recitalist, Julia has toured internationally, with particular success in Japan, where she has performed at leading venues such as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Kitara Hall in Sapporo, and Kanack Hall in Yokohama. 

Julia holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music. She has been recognized with numerous honors at these institutions, including the Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship and the Samuel Mayes Memorial Cello Award

­­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.