GAIA Quartet is an all-women string quartet with a passion for bringing to light the music of under-represented composers. The quartet was founded in 2022 by Aspen Barker, Yi Charice Tang, Simone Cartales, and Rosalyn Taylor at the Longy School of Music.

GAIA Quartet gets their name from the Greek goddess Gaia (or Gaea) who is the personification of Mother Earth. The name was chosen to represent their diverse musical and cultural backgrounds, and their shared passion for innovative artistic expression. ​GAIA Quartet has collaborated with several emerging composers, including Christine Hedden, Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), Patrick Wu, and Salome Yichi Zhang. They have also worked with critically acclaimed ensembles; INTERWOVEN, Aizuri Quartet and the Horszowski Trio. In 2024, GAIA Quartet was invited to the St. Lawrence Chamber Music Seminar, where they worked with members from St. Lawrence String Quartet, Kronos Quartet and Brentano Quartet. thegaiaquartet.com

Liz Derstine is a pianist, composer, and collaborator whose musical world is shaped by an eclectic array of experiences. A classically trained pianist, she is equally at home in solo, chamber, and collaborative settings, performing a wide range of repertoire with a deep sensitivity to musical storytelling. Her career seamlessly integrates her foundation in classical music with ventures in pop, composition for media, and artistic explorations inspired by time in nature.

Currently, Liz is pursuing a Master of Music dual degree in Collaborative Piano and Composition at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she is a Collaborative Piano Fellow and a Patricia Ostrander and Presidential Scholar, studying with Eri Nakamura and Alexandra du Bois. As an active performer, she collaborates with vocalists and instrumentalists in a variety of settings, from art song and opera to contemporary music. Her compositions often draw inspiration from movement and endurance, shaped by time spent in nature—including her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Whether performing in recital, composing orchestral works, or engaging in interdisciplinary projects, she seeks to create experiences that resonate beyond the stage. lizderstine.com

Hsiu-Ping Patrick Wu is an award-winning Taiwanese-Canadian composer, violinist, and multimedia artist based in Toronto. Known for blending Taiwanese, minimalistic, and neo-romantic styles, he draws from his multicultural heritage to create evocative compositions that range from lyrical to avant-garde. Wu has collaborated with prestigious ensembles like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and studied under prominent composers and violinists. A recipient of multiple scholarships, he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto, crafting music that often integrates cultural, dramatic, and improvisational elements. patrickwumusic.com

IN TIME by Hsiu-Ping Patrick Wu is a meditation on the constancy of time and the ephemeral nature of life's moments. Its unchanging tempo serves as a metaphor for the relentless flow of time, while the evolving harmonic and textural layers invite listeners to consider the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. The interplay of individual and collective voices symbolizes the delicate balance between change and continuity in human experience. The US premiere of IN TIME offers an opportunity for audiences to pause and engage with the beauty and complexity of temporal existence, creating a space for reflection in an ever-shifting world.