Storytellers: Higdon, Harbison, Ives Trio Azura

• Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962): Piano Trio:
• 1 Higdon: Piano Trio: I. Pale Yellow 08:48
• 2 Higdon: Piano Trio: II. Fiery Red 05:53
• John Harbison (b. 1938): Piano Trio No. 2 “Short Stories”:
• 3 Harbison: Piano Trio No. 2 “Short Stories”: I. Tale 06:34
• 4 Harbison: Piano Trio No. 2 “Short Stories”: II. Ballad 04:06
• 5 Harbison: Piano Trio No. 2 “Short Stories”: III. Rumors and Reports 04:25
• 6 Harbison: Piano Trio No. 2 “Short Stories”: IV. Enigma 04:43
• Charles Ives (1874 - 1954): Piano Trio:
• 7 Ives: Piano Trio: I. Moderato 05:08
• 8 Ives: Piano Trio: II. TSIAJ (“This Scherzo Is a Joke”). Presto 06:15
• 9 Ives: Piano Trio: III. Moderato con moto 12:26
• Total Runtime 58:18

Info for Storytellers: Higdon, Harbison, Ives

With "Storytellers", the Trio Azura launches the Colburn Collection – an exclusive new recording partnership between Delos and the Colburn School in Los Angeles, whose central aim is to serve as an effective springboard for the next generation of musicians. Almost a century separates the works on this album, yet Charles Ives, John Harbison and Jennifer Higdon are united by the American spirit of curiosity and individuality. Their music poses questions, provokes, hints, jokes, challenges and explores new avenues of musical storytelling. The distinctive voices of these three composers come to life in the interpretations of Trio Azura, which has been praised by Gramophone magazine for its ‘intelligence and imagination’ as well as its ‘deep emotionality’.

Nearly a century separates the works on this album, yet Charles Ives, John Harbison, and Jennifer Higdon share a distinctly American spirit of curiosity and individuality. Their music questions, provokes, implies, jokes, challenges, and explores, always searching for new ways to tell a story. Their singular compositional voices are realized in these performances by Trio Azura, praised by Gramophone for their “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion.”

Ensemble-in-Residence at Colburn, Trio Azura was named the winner of the 2025 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and the organization’s first Ensemble-in-Residence, as well as the Grand Prize winner of the 2024 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Trio Azura:
Duncan McDougall, violin
Yejin Hong, cello
Yanfeng (Tony) Bai, piano

is quickly emerging as one of today's most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramophone). They are currently the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Colburn School—where they formed in 2022—and study with Jonathan Brown, Martin Beaver, Clive Greensmith, and Fabio Bidini. Most recently, Trio Azura was named a winner of the 2025 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and appointed YCA Jacobs Fellows, becoming the organization’s first Ensemble-in-Residence.

Trio Azura consists of Canadian violinist Duncan McDougall, South Korean cellist Yejin Hong, and Chinese pianist Yanfeng (Tony) Bai. Although they come from different backgrounds, their unique perspectives are a constant source of inspiration. In 2024, the Trio won the Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice prize, and Horszowksi Trio Prize at the 51st Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. They are also prize winners at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in Harbin, China.

During the 2024-25 season, Trio Azura completed their Fischoff Double Gold Tour of the US Midwest, where they mentored over 500 students in Indiana and Michigan; they undertook a residency at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE, which was a unique opportunity for cultural exchange with Arabic poets; and they performed at the Chamber Music America National Conference, La Jolla Music Society, Music Guild, Friends of Chamber Music of Troy, Boston Court in Pasadena, Mimir Chamber Music Festival, and the Emilia Romagna Festival in Italy.

Trio Azura’s 2025-2026 season includes appearances at the Brisbane Festival in Australia, Nevada Chamber Music Festival, South Bay Chamber Music Society, Pelican Chamber Concerts, and the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium.

Booklet for Storytellers: Higdon, Harbison, Ives