Save the date for the 2026 WSMTA State Conference, to be held June 27-29, 2026 at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA!
We are excited to welcome the Bardin-Niskala Duo as our conference guest artists, with cellist An-Lin Bardin and pianist Naomi Niskala.
A classical cello and piano duo, the Bardin-Niskala Duo began in 2021 in response to the sharp rise in anti-Asian violence and hate crimes across the United States. The ensemble commissions ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) composers, asking them to use their music to address their sense of identity by composing a piece inspired by a folk song, a children song, or a social song that is central to the composer’s sense of cultural or racial belonging. Through the performances of these commissioned works, the Duo encourages composers and audiences alike to celebrate their racial heritages, start or continue their journey towards discovering where and how they belong, or address historical or current social and racial injustices. Each commissioned composer is also asked to record a short personal video about their work, their heritage, or the song(s) their work is based around. These videos are shared with audiences before the Duo performs each work.
In addition to this Commissioning Project, the Duo performs additional works by under-represented composers, as well as more traditional works that are based around song, including transcribing voice and piano works for cello and piano.
Both active educators and passionate teachers, An-Lin and Naomi work with students (school-age and college) in master classes, workshops, and discussions, where they are able to discuss more intricately their Commissioning Project, the commissioned works, and the importance of encouraging and promoting cultural and racial awareness through humanizing and personalizing people’s stories and experiences.
An-Lin and Naomi met while living and teaching in New Haven, CT, shortly after they finished their studies at the Yale School of Music. An-Lin is Chinese-American, and Naomi is Japanese-American.
Carol Cross, 2026 WSMTA Conference Co-Chair