OUR TEAM
Dr. Miriam English Ward
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
The artistry of violist, educator, and director Dr. Miriam English Ward transcends borders, captivating audiences across the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Mexico, Spain, and Norway. Her passion for connecting people with the beauty of live classical music has led to collaborative performance opportunities worldwide, in addition to directorial entrepreneurship that helps shape the future of concert presentation. A key figure in the Pacific Northwest music scene, she is the principal violist of the Portland Chamber Orchestra, one half of the Atomic Duo, and teaches at the University of Alaska. Miriam is the creative force behind Alaska Resounding, a music festival that brings together performers and artists to create impactful musical experiences that strengthen communities.
Recent highlights of Miriam's career include recordings for Naxos, Japanese television (NHK), live performances on All Classical Radio, and premiering a new viola concerto written for her by Jasnam Daya Singh. Miriam has played with ensembles including the New Jersey Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Portland Opera, Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene Symphony, Sunriver Music Festival, Siletz Bay Music Festival, and various chamber ensembles. Her work extends beyond the classics; she is deeply committed to championing the work of living composers and is an active performer and arranger in pop, rock, modern classical, and alternative groups.
Miriam coaches chamber music for the Alaska Youth Orchestras, nurturing the next generation of musical talent and has previously taught at prestigious institutions including the Juilliard School Preparatory, the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and the Chiba Prefecture Youth Symphony in Japan. She brings a wealth of experience to her teaching, incorporating neurology-based practices to enhance her students' learning experience. Dr. Miriam English Ward holds a Bachelor's from the Manhattan School of Music, a Master's from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in Viola Performance. For more information, please visit www.thejoyfulviolist.com
Amelia Lukas
CREATIVE STRATEGIST & PR REPRESENTATIVE
An inspired communications expert and modern production pioneer, Amelia Lukas specializes in maximizing artistic impact. Both a world-class flutist and creative entrepreneur, she is the Founder and Principal of Aligned Artistry, providing exceptional creative strategy and public relations services to artists, arts organizations, and artistically minded businesses. Through enriched experiences and stronger, more aligned communication channels, Amelia excels at identifying and leveraging resources and builds community that is more deeply connected to and engaged in the arts.
In serving on the Board of Directors for Chamber Music Northwest, she helps guide one of the most extensive classical music festivals in the nation. In 2020, she worked on a task force that managed Chamber Music Northwest’s transition to virtual performances due to the pandemic, which became a success model for festivals across the US. As All Classical Portland’s first Director of Community Engagement, Amelia was an integral part of the team that brought the station to number one in the country for audience growth among classical radio stations.
With a passion for high-quality immersive experiences and a desire to recontextualize classical music, Amelia founded the Brooklyn-based multimedia series Ear Heart Music in 2009. The series received widespread, international acclaim for presenting talented, forward-thinking artists across genres of music, visual art, dance, theater, photography, lighting design, literature and film through more than 85 unique performances with over 60 premieres during its six seasons. Her speaking engagements include the Chamber Music America and Dance USA conferences, as well as Philip Glass' MATA Festival and the New Music Gathering. Amelia is a Powell Flutes Artist, and performs with “a fine balance of virtuosity and poetry.” (New York Times) She holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music (Dean’s List) and the Royal Academy of Music in London where she received three prizes for musical excellence. Learn more at www.alignedartistry.com