Chief Conductor of the Gävle Symphony Orchestra in Sweden, Christian Reif has established a reputation for his natural musicality, innovative programming, and technical command.

Since 2022, Reif has served as Music Director of the Lakes Area Music Festival, a month-long summer festival in Minnesota featuring the nation’s top classical performers in programming that ranges from opera and chamber music to symphonic performances along with commissioned new works. LAMF believes that high quality arts experiences should be accessible to all and operates on a name-your-price ticket model.

Highlights of Reif’s 2025–26 Season include debut performances with the Nashville Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Danish Chamber Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and Australian Youth Orchestra. He returns to conduct the Houston Symphony; National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Canada; Netherlands Radio Philharmonic; Belgrade Philharmonic; and National Radio Orchestra of Romania.

In 2024, Reif won a Grammy Award for the Nonesuch Records album Walking in the Dark, the debut solo album of classical singer Julia Bullock in which he accompanied her on piano and led London’s Philharmonia Orchestra. The album was praised by Gramophone Magazine as “illuminating” and described Reif as providing “excellent support” for Bullock. In 2020 during the pandemic, Reif and Bullock recorded a series of at-home virtual “Songs of Comfort,” ranging from Carole King’s classic “Up on the Roof” to Schubert’s “Wanderers Nachtlied.” NPR Music featured the duo in a Tiny Desk Concert for their special quarantine edition of the series, and The New York Times highlighted them on their Best Classical Music of 2020 list.

From 2016 to 2019, Christian was Resident Conductor of the San Francisco Symphony and Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, after being the Conducting Fellow at the New World Symphony from 2014 to 2016 and at Tanglewood Music Center in 2015 and 2016.

Renaissance woman Hélène Grimaud is not just a deeply passionate and committed musical artist whose pianistic accomplishments play a central role in her life. Her multiple talents extend far beyond the instrument she plays with such poetic expression and technical control. Grimaud has established herself as a wildlife conservationist, a human rights activist, and a writer; her deep dedication to her musical career is reflected in and amplified by the scope and depth of her environmental, literary, and artistic interests.

She has been an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2002 and her recordings have received prestigious accolades. Her discography includes acclaimed albums such as Credo, Reflection, and a Beethoven album with Staatskapelle Dresden. Her 2010 solo album Resonances and subsequent releases—including Duo with cellist Sol Gabetta and Memory (2018)—highlight her diverse musical range. Her latest project, For Clara (September 2023), revisits Robert Schumann’s Kreisleriana alongside Brahms’s Intermezzi and songs.

In the 2025–26 season, Hélène Grimaud brings her exceptional artistry to George Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, performing this iconic work with prestigious orchestras including the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, among others. Alongside these highlights, she embarks on a West Coast tour with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performing Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto, while additional orchestral engagements underscore the rich breadth of her repertoire. Throughout the season, she continues to captivate audiences worldwide with solo recitals and chamber music performances.

Born in Aix-en-Provence in 1969, Grimaud entered the Paris Conservatoire at 13. In 1987, she gave her debut recital in Tokyo. That same year, conductor Daniel Barenboim invited her to perform with the Orchestre de Paris, marking the launch of her career, which has since been characterized by concerts with major orchestras and celebrated conductors worldwide.

Katelyn Drye is a singer, songwriter, wife, cat mom, and lover of all things Dolly. She is exactly one-half of the country duo, The Dryes, alongside her husband Derek. They were recognized by Country Living Magazine as “The new hot country duo to watch” after premiering on season 22 of NBC’s The Voice, Team Blake. To date, The Dryes have accumulated more than 12 million global streams. Based in Nashville, TN since 2014, she and Derek regularly tour playing fairs and festivals across the United States, and host writer’s rounds in their home state of North Carolina. After releasing music in 2018, The Dryes have caught the attention of USA Today, Rolling Stone, People, American Songwriter, and Billboard, among others, while gaining thousands of fans and followers along the way.

Their sassy single “Dolly Would” is the anthem to a longtime hero, Dolly Parton. Both “Dolly Would” and their alluring, soulful track “House on Fire” achieved the remarkable feat of reaching #1 on CMT’s 12 Pack Countdown while their recent music video “A Little Longer” landed a spot in rotation on CMT’s 12-Pack Countdown. The Dryes have toured with Jo Dee Messina and performed at CMA Fest and the Carolina Country Music Festival. Their latest EPs, Raisin’ Beers & Hallelujahs and Dear Heart show the full spectrum of who they are. Their summer single, “Daydrinkin’,” charted on iTunes on release day and has garnered more than five million views across social media, while their newest single “Ain’t God Good” reflects on the goodness found in and out of the difficult times we all face in life. Follow The Dryes on all socials and join the #DryeFam at thedryes.com

Hollie Hammel is a Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, producer, and background vocalist. Originally from Nashville, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Belmont University. During her decade in Music City, Hollie toured and recorded with celebrated artists such as Joss Stone, Sara Evans, Hans Zimmer, Brandi Carlile, and more. Her talents have also been featured on projects for Disney, where she lends her voice and likeness to several beloved characters in Harmonious (streaming on Disney+), as well as recordings played in Disney Parks around the world.

Now splitting her time between Los Angeles and Nashville, Hollie is deeply passionate about fostering creative communities in both cities. When not collaborating with other artists, she dedicates herself to writing, recording, and producing her own original music. She is currently in the process of carefully crafting her next album, recording and shaping her sound in both cities.

Hollie is deeply honored to join the Houston Symphony in celebrating the legendary Dolly Parton, paying tribute to one of music’s, and her own personal, cherished icons.

Blair Lamb is a Kentucky-grown and New York City-based musician, songwriter, and actor. She received a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Piano from Northern Kentucky University and has since performed professionally worldwide. Dubbed "a Swiss Army Knife of a performer," she is known for her artistry which captures everything from acoustic original music to jazzy cocktail piano entertainment.

Blair has performed on luxury cruise ships as both a dueling pianist and a solo piano bar entertainer, drawing from a repertoire of more than a thousand songs. She also periodically works as a professional theatre actor across the country.

Above all, Blair is an avid songwriter and spirited storyteller. She frequently graces iconic New York City stages with her ever-growing rolodex of original songs. You can find her sophomore EP Two Left Feet on all music streaming platforms, as well as her new single “Mother Goose.” blairlambmusic.com

Derek Drye is from Thomasville, North Carolina and found his voice on the guitar when he was 14 years old. He has studied blues/jazz theory, played the Ryman & Grand Ole Opry, toured the country as a sideman, and now tours as a music duo with his wife Katelyn under the name of The Dryes.

Their music merges classic country tones with modern lyrical wit. Think Conway & Loretta with a little rock ‘n’ roll. Mentioned in Rolling Stone, CMT, USA Today, and even appearing on NBC’s The Voice, the duo has found their stride as a touring duo, and now are both performing in Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony, touring in between their own shows.

In Nashville, TN, where guitarists outnumber every other instrument, Lindsey Miller has been carving out an admirable niche for herself. Her fast-growing resume of artists, recording clients, and respected musical associates has been a natural result of her unusually diverse skill set. Growing up in Prairie Village, KS, Lindsey picked up her first guitar at age 10.

Although she was first inspired by Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, and 90s alternative rock, it was her discovery of hometown guitar hero Pat Metheny that initiated her into the world of jazz. Lindsey’s talent and ever-growing interest in jazz improvisation earned her a scholarship to attend the University of North Texas where she performed in the Two O’Clock Lab band and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies. She then went on to complete a Master’s degree in Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Lindsay has toured with Brett Eldredge, Lauren Daigle, Kevin Max, and Danny Gokey. She has performed with jazz, R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll luminaries such as Bernard Fowler, Ellis Hall, Brian Blade, Keith Carlock, Dennis Chambers, Felix Pastorius, Danny Gottlieb, and Jeff Coffin. In 2018, Lindsey was a featured musician in an exposé on the Nashville jazz scene for NPR’s Jazz Night In America. She performs regularly with symphonies nationwide, notably the Nashville Symphony’s world premiere of Julia Wolfe’s Her Story, the Kentucky Opera’s production of Astor Piazzola’s Maria de Buenos Aires, and performances of Disney Pixar’s Coco, and Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony nationwide. She has appeared on the TV shows Tell Me A Story Season 2 (CBS), the NBC Rockefeller Tree Lighting Special 2022, and three seasons of ABC/CMT’s Nashville.

When she’s not touring, Lindsey is an active member of the Nashville studio scene. Her recording credits include music for movies such as Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (2022), Devotion (2022), Reagan (2024), and the Grammy-nominated “Indiana Jones and The Great Circle” (Original Video Game Soundtrack). In 2023, Lindsey released a three-song jazz EP/video project The Sapphire Sessions: Live From Layman Drug Company which can be viewed via her YouTube channel.

Dean Berner is a musician, photographer, and educator. He lives in Nashville, TN with partner Rachel Beauregard, their two daughters, and dog Sharkey. Dean is an in-demand session player and is currently touring with MCA Recording artist Catie Offerman. Over the last few years, he’s worked with Andrew Ripp, Mackenzie Porter, Maggie Rose, Lucie Silvas, Jana Kramer, Clare Dunn, Rick Brantley, Paul McDonald, and others.

From 2003–2013, Dean was a member of the country/bluegrass trio Edens Edge (Big Machine Records) and toured with Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, and Lady A. Also an avid photographer, Dean holds a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of Hartford and teaches at Nashville State Community College.

A native of Nashville, bassist Duncan Mullins has been in the music business since 1981. After graduating from Belmont College with a music business degree he hit the road, touring and recording with such diverse artists as Jerry Reed, Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant, and Richard Marx. Along the way, he began doing more and more studio work in Nashville, eventually leaving the road to pursue the recording world full-time in 1990. Since then, he has played on thousands of recording sessions, including platinum and Grammy-winning albums.

Luke Woodle’s passion for music started at an early age, fostered by a family of musicians and incredible mentors in Seattle, Washington. Luke is known for his musicality and love for music of all genres, having performed with a wide variety of musicians live and in the studio. Graduating from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, California with both an undergraduate (2019) and master’s degree (2021), Luke is currently attending The Juilliard School in the prestigious Artist Diploma program.

He has performed and taught across the U.S. and throughout the world including South Korea, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Japan, and Switzerland. Luke has recorded and performed with countless musicians including Sullivan Fortner, Louis Cole, the New York Voices, Georgia Webster, Pat Coil, Joel Frahm, Ricky and Paul Peterson, Pat Bergeson, and the Bob Mintzer Big Band. He lives in New York City where he regularly performs and teaches.