NMPAS Featured Artists
NMPAS Featured Artists
Romantic and Contemporary Chamber Music for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano
Friday, March 27, 2026 at 7 PM
St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church
4601 Juan Tabo Blvd NE in Albuquerque
PROGRAM
Philippe Gaubert, Trois Aquarelles for Flute, Cello and Piano
Bohuslav Martinu, Madrigal Sonata for Flute, Violin and Piano
Michael Heizler, Lied ohne Worte / Song without Words
Aaron Alter, First Time Meeting for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano
Astor Piazzola, Libertango for Clarinet and Piano
FEATURED ARTISTS
Hyorim Kim, flute (emerging artist)
Jerry Weimer, clarinet
Carla Kountoupes, violin
Sally Guenther, cello
Natasha Stojanovska, piano
TICKETS: nmpas.org/tickets/ or call Hold My Ticket at 877-466-3404. Tickets also available at the door with payment in cash or by check. Pre-purchase with a credit card via the NMPAS website through 12 AM on Friday, March 27.
HYORIM KIM, flute
Hyorim Kim, an accomplished flutist from South Korea, has a passion for performing, teaching, and collaborating with other musicians. She graduated from Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School before beginning her studies in the United States. She performs as a substitute flutist for the New Mexico Philharmonic, Opera Southwest, New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, and Chatter Abq.
Hyorim has also participated in several prestigious music festivals, including the Tenerife International Music Festival in Spain and the Music Alp Académie Internationale de Courchevel in France.
She has been recognized for her achievements through numerous awards and scholarships in both South Korea and the United States, including 1st prize in the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Competition, 3rd prize in the Osaka International Music Competition, 1st prize in the Florida Flute Association Young Artist Competition, 3rd prize in the Mid-Atlantic Washington Flute Competition, and 2nd prize in the Richmond Flute Competition, among others.
As a testament to her talent, the renowned American composer Adolphus Hailstork composed a piece entitled “Yuhwa” as a graduation gift for her. This composition has been well received by flutists worldwide and has garnered significant attention.
JERRY WEIMER, clarinet
Clarinetist Jerry Weimer has been a part of the Santa Fe music scene since 2001. He received a BFA in Music Performance/Composition from the College of Santa Fe, and worked for years as a freelance woodwind player both in New Mexico and his native New York City. Known for his unique sound, stylistic versatility, and compelling improvisation, Jerry collaborates regularly with many local artists and ensembles.
Recent performances include Amane (Joe Hay), Silent Cry of a Heron (Marty Regan),
Le Carnaval des Animaux (NDI NM), Opus OP Arts and Education Projects (Oliver Prezant), I Pagliacci/Cavalleria Rusticana/Gianni Schicchi (Opera West), Music from the Deserts (Chris Jonas), Ghostlight Sessions (Lensic), The Charlie Christian Project (Outpost ABQ), Church of Magic (NM/NYC).
CARLA KOUNTOUPES, violin
Carla Kountoupes, violinist, is a member of the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, and Piazzolla da Camera Piano Trio. Carla has toured and performed professionally with orchestras and chamber ensembles in Central America, Taiwan, Germany, and all over the United States, including as a member of the New Century Chamber Orchestra in San Francisco and as a tenured member of the Costa Rican National Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys performing and recording many genres in addition to classical, including Latin/world, alt-rock/pop, and jazz. A dedicated music educator, Carla holds a Master of Music degree in Music Teaching. She has taught private violin lessons to children and adults for more than 25 years and is currently on faculty at the New Mexico School for the Arts. Carla was awarded Music Teacher of the Year in 2016, by the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) of New Mexico, and received the Santa Fe Public Schools’ 2017 Teachers Who Inspire Award. She is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory (Violin Performance) and Oberlin College (English Literature with a concentration in Women’s Studies). Carla’s violin was made in the 1740’s and was inherited from her grandfather.
SALLY GUENTHER, cello
Sally Guenther, New Mexico cellist with performance degrees from Indiana University and the Juilliard School of Music , has served in several major US orchestras (Syracuse, Cincinnati, Metropolitan Opera) before settling for twenty years in Norway as a solo cellist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. While there, she also taught at the Grieg Academy of Music as well as touring extensively throughout Europe , Russia and the Far East with the contemporary ensemble BIT 20. Since returning to the US, she has performed with all of the major New Mexico ensembles including Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Santa Fe Symphony, New Mexico Philharmonic, Chatter, Taos Chamber Music Group, Montage Music Society and NM Performing Arts Society. Recent activity includes solo performances in Cesis, Latvia and Master Classes in Sonora, Mexico.
Guenther has been on faculty of the New Mexico School for the Arts and maintains a private teaching studio . She plays a 1790 John Betts cello which was totally and masterfully restored in 2017 by the late David Caron of Angel Fire, New Mexico.
NATASHA STOJANOVSKA, piano
Macedonian pianist and composer Natasha Stojanovska has earned recognition as a dynamic and innovative artist, seamlessly bridging Eastern European musical heritage with contemporary classical traditions. Her critically acclaimed debut album, Uncommon Voices (Navona Records), showcases music by Eastern European women composers and has been celebrated for its artistry and cultural significance. As a Featured Artist and guest curator for Classical Music Indy, Ms. Stojanovska remains a dedicated advocate for underrepresented voices. Her upcoming album, Uncommon Voices, Part II: American Women Composers, partially supported by a prestigious grant from the Musicians Club of Women in Chicago, continues her mission to highlight diverse perspectives in classical music.
Recent career highlights include performances at the Princeton Festival, Ear Taxi Music Festival, Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, and Henry Fogel’s esteemed music series. A graduate of Northwestern University, Ms. Stojanovska holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Music Theory, where she studied under James Giles and earned Program Honors. Her earlier training includes an Artist Diploma and Master of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University, where she studied with Alexander Toradze and Ketevan Badridze, and a Bachelor of Music from Lynn Conservatory of Music under Roberta Rust.
An active soloist and chamber musician, Ms. Stojanovska has performed extensively across Europe, the United States, South Korea, and Haiti, gracing prestigious stages such as the Gilmore Piano Festival. Her collaborations with luminaries including Renée Fleming, Patricia Barber, Rachel Barton Pine, Molly Barth, Shulamit Ran, Carmen-Helena Téllez, and Nathan Gunn underscore her versatility and artistic excellence. In addition to her performance career, she contributes as a composition and piano consultant, integrating her profound knowledge of creativity and performance.
Currently, Ms. Stojanovska serves as part-time faculty in Music Theory and Collaborative Piano at the University of New Mexico, as well as Piano Professor at New Mexico School for the Arts. She balances an active teaching schedule with her vibrant solo career and co-directs the piano duo, The Stojanovska Sisters, with her sister Marina. This duo, three-time First Prize winners of the Macedonian National Competition, has delighted audiences across Europe and the United States for over 25 years.
Beyond her performance endeavors, Dr. Stojanovska is a dedicated cultural ambassador and community leader. She has introduced world-class international musicians to Santa Fe, NM, organizing performances at premier venues including the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe, New Mexico School for the Arts, and SITE Santa Fe Museum. Additionally, she leads a thriving private studio, providing instruction in piano, music theory, composition, and vocal coaching. Through her artistry, pedagogy, and community engagement, Natasha Stojanovska remains a passionate advocate for classical music culture and intercultural understanding.