Midori Ataka

Originally from Kobe, Japan, Midori Ataka is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ Performance at Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, under the instruction of Daniel Aune.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Northwestern College, Iowa, and Master of Music as well as Graduate Performance Diploma degrees from Peabody. She has studied with John Walker and James Hurd, and has performed in masterclasses with Nathan Laube, Jean-Baptiste Robin, and Alan Morrison.

As a musician, Midori received numerous scholarships including the Donald S. Sutherland Endowed Organ Scholarship and George M. Wagner Scholarship. In 2022, she was inducted into the Epsilon Omicron chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda in recognition of her musical and academic achievements. Midori and composer Victor Cui were selected as one of four organist/composer pairs to win a grant for the 2023 American Guild of Organist Student Commissioning Project.

Putting academics as her highest priority, Midori currently works as a substitute organist for numerous churches in Baltimore/DC area including Loyola University Maryland, the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Christian Cang Cuesta

Christian Cang cuesta is a pipe organist who seeks for his playing to connect emotionally and intellectually with his audiences. He pays particular attention to tempo and articulation in order to convey musical meaning.

Christian first taught himself Bach’s Little Fugue in G Minor on a Hammond he and his orchestra teacher discovered in his high school. He then served as the organist at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Plainview, NY before heading off to university at Peabody Conservatory. He is a fifth-year student of Daniel Aune and is looking to graduate in 2025 with both his master’s and his bachelor’s degrees.

Along with his love for playing Bach and playing for worship, Christian has become a close collaborator of British composer Tristan Latchford, recording and performing various pieces of his. Christian has worked on movements from Women in the Bible and has premiered his evocative organ concerto, titled Tides. They have a strong friendship and look forward to collaborating even more in the future.

Despite his dedication to the organ, Christian still misses the orchestra dearly and has started harp lessons as an outlet. He also likes to read literature from the Renaissance to the Victorian age and also likes writing reviews, poetry, and short stories.

Bethany Dame

Bethany Dame is passionate about juxtapositions, performing historic music in contemporary spaces and contemporary music in historic spaces. She regularly explores the intersection of science and music with the goal of bringing herself and her audiences into a sense of awe and wonder.

An avid collaborator, she has worked with multiple choirs, orchestras, chamber groups, and composers, including the Hope College Chapel Choir, and Peabody-Hopkins Conservatory Choir. Accolades include winning Hope College’s 2022-23 Concerto/Aria Competition, performing on the Muskegon-Lakeshore Young Artist series in Fall 2022, and winning first prize in both the Michigan Federation of Music Clubs and Annamae Rotman organ competitions in 2019.

Bethany is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organ Performance at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, where she studies with Dr. Daniel Aune. She joined the organ studio on a trip to Paris in the summer of 2023 and enjoys serving as the graduate assistant for the Peabody ensemble library. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where she completed additional studies in piano, percussion, and physics. Her past organ instructors include Dr. Chris Dekker, Dr. Huw Lewis, and Dr. Elizabeth West.

A native of Kentwood, Michigan, she attributes her coordination skills to growing up as a competitive fencer. When she is not on the bench, she enjoys reading, journaling, rock climbing, and making French Press coffee.

Luke DiGiacinto

Luke DiGiacinto is working towards his MM in Organ Performance at Peabody Conservatory. Luke was Director of Music and Organist at Advent Moravian Church in Bethlehem, where he directed the chancel choir, Advent Bell choir, and worked closely with a Brass ensemble. He previously served Morning Star Moravian Church and West Side Moravian Church as their church musician. He was also the accompanist for the Unitas Chorale. Luke is a 2017 graduate of Moravian University where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in sacred music with a focus in organ and voice. While a student, he performed actively in the student ensembles including the Moravian Choir, the Early Music ensembles, Vocalise, and chamber music groups. While a student he received numerous honors, graduating magna cum laude. He is currently a member of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem. As an organist he has participated in masterclasses, performed recitals, including for the Philadelphia AGO chapter, and has served as ceremony organist for Moravian University on numerous occasions. He has officiated from the organ at many weddings and funerals around the Lehigh Valley and is extremely active in their American Guild of Organists chapter, currently serving as education coordinator and board member.

Cameron Kuzepski

Cameron Kuzepski, Principal Organist at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, a native to Wilmington, Delaware is an advocate of historical performance practice. He is an undergraduate student at the Peabody Institute. There he is earning degrees in organ and historical harpsichord performance. His professors include Daniel Aune and Adam Pearl. Previous teachers include David Schelat, Dawn Stevens. Cameron attended The Music School of Delaware and the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division.

As a historical keyboard player, at the Peabody Institute Cameron is in high demand as a continuo player and accompanist for many ensembles, most notably the Baltimore Baroque Band. In addition he can also be seen accompanying lessons, coachings, recitals, departmentals, and other historical performance based classes.

In 2018 Cameron studied orchestral conducting in Vidin, Bulgaria with the International Musicians Academy along-side the Vidin Sinfonietta, he developed a love for ensemble work and chamber music. In 2022, he participated in an internship with the Netherlands Bach Society in Utrecht, Holland. There he spent two weeks studying historical performance practices as well as ensemble and rehearsal techniques. He recently traveled to Paris with the Peabody Organ Department, where he studied and played the organs of Saint-Gervais, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, Saint-Sulpice, Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, Sainte-Trinité, Saint-François-Xavier, Saint-Clotilde, Saint Eustache and the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. Masterclass opportunities have been with Nathan Laube, Jean-Baptiste Robin, David Hurd, Paul Jacobs and Jean Rondeau.

Outside of Cameron’s musical endeavors he will take advantage of any opportunities to travel both domestically and internationally.

Alice Real

Alice Real is a Master of Music candidate in organ performance in the studio of Daniel Aune at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. A native of Northern Virginia, she serves as organist and director of handbells and youth at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Springfield, VA and was a general music and choral specialist with Fairfax County Public Schools for 13 years. Alice accompanies the Northern Virginia Chorale and also performed many seasons with the Virginia Bronze Community Handbell Ensemble. A graduate of the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, Alice earned a Bachelor of Arts in music and history with a certificate in museum studies, while studying piano and harpsichord. She additionally holds a Master of Arts in elementary education from W&M and a graduate certificate in church music from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA. As a scholarship recipient through Washington DC’s Potomac Organ Institute, Alice began studying organ with David Lang in 2021 and is a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists.

Justin Nichlaus Weilnau

Justin Nichlaus Weilnau, a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, has had a diverse career and education. He holds a BA in Music from Lebanon Valley College where he studied with Shelly Moorman-Stahlman, in the lineage of Delbert Disselhorst. He then received a MM from Duquesne University, where he studied with Ann Labounsky Steele, the famed biographer and American disciple of Jean Langlais. With Labounsky, Weilnau learned the art of Gregorian Chant, both as conductor of the Schola Cantorum Gregorianum and through improvisation at the organ. During this time, Weilnau also studied choral conducting with Caron Daley. Currently, Weilnau is pursuing a DMA at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, studying with Daniel Aune. Weilnau also serves as the Minister of Music to Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Downtown Baltimore, the mother church of Baltimore. At Old St. Paul’s, Weilnau leads the professional Old St. Paul’s Choir and serves as the principal organist.