Cezary Karwowski: Collaborative Pianist

Polish born pianist Cezary Karwowski is an active soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist with numerous performances throughout Europe and the USA. He was first prize winner in the MTNA Competition, Young Artist- Piano(2021), the International Gloria Artis Chopin Competition in Vienna (2019) and the 3rd Siberian International Chopin Competition (2016). Cezary might be known to our audiences through his team’s (Davian Raggio, Breck McGough) second place finish in last year’s songSLAM. He is currently pursuing an Advanced Performers Certificate at Baylor University under the guidance of Dr. Bradley Bolen.

Max Winningham: Composer

Max Winningham is a performer, composer, and improvisor born in Houston, Texas. After graduating from Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Max went on to receive his BMA in Double Bass Performance from Northwestern University, and a double MM in Performance and Composition from Baylor University. Though his primary training is classical, his pursuits include a wide variety of genres and sensibilities, including electronics, world music, and jazz. Max has performed in international festivals, concerts, and conventions in countries such as France, Canada and Switzerland— and in 2018 was awarded the International Rabbath Institute de Paris (IRIP) performance and teaching certificates, as well as one of the Artist-in-Residence positions at the Cité Internationale des Arts Paris. In 2022 his piece Tabula Rasa was chosen for the International Society of Bassist’s grand prize in composition for an unaccompanied solo work for double bass.

Natalia Leslie: Singer

Romanian-American soprano Natalia Leslie spent her formative years in Houston, Texas. Natalia studied voice at Baylor University, and there she explored different paths within classical singing. She has been seen performing with Baylor Opera Theater in many of their recent productions: as Laurie in The Tender Land (2023 National Opera Association award winner), Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, the title role in Patience, and Lucile in Monsieur et Madame Denis (2023 NOA award winner). Today, she continues to perform opera and teach voice, while also exploring other avenues of expression within the wide world of classical music.