First Prize Winner of the “Debut Berlin” Concert Competition, Stilian Kirov made his debut at the Berlin Philharmonic in 2017. That same year, he began his tenure as Music Director of the Illinois Philharmonic while continuing as Music Director of the Bakersfield Symphony. In 2024, he also joined the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra as Interim Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor. A four-time recipient of the Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award (2016–2019), Kirov is widely recognized as a dynamic artistic leader, educator, and advocate for community engagement.

Praised as a “thoughtful musician well beyond his years” (The Republic), pianist Sean Chen is known for his “alluring, colorfully shaded renditions” (The New York Times) and “genuinely sensitive” artistry (Los Angeles Times).