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

Belarusian-born American clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov [pronounced: sh-TRY-koff] is quickly gaining renown as an artist of remarkable charisma and extraordinary musicianship, and has been hailed for “clarity that’s viscerally breathtaking” and “effortless…quicksilver legato” (Lucid Culture, NYC). About his recent duo recital Shelter Island Reporter (NY) wrote: “[Duo] enchanted the audience with their technique and style and generated standing ovations from the sold-out crowd”

A recipient of the Artists International New York Debut Award, Maksim presented his Carnegie Hall debut recital at Weill 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.

In the past seasons, Maksim appeared with the Amadeus Festival Orchestra and gave numerous concerts around the country with appearances on the Chamber Music Society of Maryland, Summer Stars Classical Series (NJ), Parrish Art Museum Series (NY), Black Hills Chamber Music Society (SD), Cedarhurst Chamber Music (IL), Ridgecrest Chamber Music Society (CA), Rochester Institute of Technology Artist Series, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (IL), Shorter University’s Guest Artist Series (GA), and Summer Stars Classical Series (NJ) among many others.

Maksim is a prizewinner of many competitions including the Dmytro Bida International Woodwind Competition (Lviv, Ukraine), Brahms Chamber Music Competition (Gdansk, Poland), and “Salieri - Zinetti” International Chamber Music Competition (Verona, Italy).

Maksim Shtrykov began clarinet studies at the age of nine in his native Belarus. He later became the first Belarusian woodwind player to get accepted to the Juilliard School where he was awarded a degree of Master of Music as a scholarship student in the celebrated studio of Charles Neidich.

Julia Kang, cello

Julia Kang is an acclaimed cellist based in the New York Tri-State area, celebrated for her vibrant artistry and versatility across a wide spectrum of musical genres. Equally at home in classical, chamber, 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. Her recording credits include major studio films such as The Girl on the Train, Noah, Collateral Beauty, and A Dog’s Purpose, as well as a wide range of independent films. Julia was also a member of the orchestra for The Phantom of the Opera, Broadway’s longest-running musical, further demonstrating her versatility and excellence as a crossover artist.

As a soloist, she has appeared with prestigious orchestras including the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. An avid chamber musician and recitalist, Julia has toured internationally, with notable success in Japan where she performed both solo and piano trio repertoire at distinguished venues including Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Kitara Hall in Sapporo, and Kanack Hall in Yokohama. This summer, she will return to Japan for a recording session for her debut solo CD, as well as a recital performance 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, including the Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship and the Samuel Mayes Memorial Cello Award.

­­Misuzu Tanaka, piano

Hailed by international press for her "dizzying speed and sensitivity" Today’s Zaman (Turkey) and “exceptionally high technical level” General-Anzeiger Bonn (Germany), Misuzu Tanaka has established herself as an artist of remarkable individuality with a rare combination of poetic sensitivity and breathtaking virtuosity.

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. She has also achieved notable success in international competitions, receiving prizes and awards in the International Janáček Competition, Boulder Bach Festival's World Bach Competition and the Daniel Rutenberg Chamber Music Competition to name a few.

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.