A Groupmuse holiday encore brings four acclaimed classical artists together for an intimate seasonal program in New York City.
Lights of the Season: A Holiday Encore arrives as a carefully shaped continuation of the festive calendar, presented within the distinctive framework of Groupmuse and hosted in the West Village. The evening reflects a shared belief in proximity, conversation, and musical presence, values that define the Groupmuse platform and distinguish it from traditional concert halls. Set within an intimate church setting, the performance emphasizes clarity of sound, personal connection, and the shared experience of live classical music.
The concert gathers four musicians whose international careers intersect at a moment of collective artistry. Bass Kofi Hayford, soprano Maria Brea, pianist Alexander Bolotin, and violinist Taisiya Losmakova form an ensemble rooted in varied traditions and training, unified by professional depth and mutual respect. Each artist arrives with a substantial body of work and a performance history that spans major institutions, festivals, and cities across the United States, Europe, Africa, and beyond.
Groupmuse’s model frames the evening as both accessible and refined. Audience members reserve their places in advance, with the full contribution made at the event itself, reinforcing a sense of shared support for the musicians. The gathering is welcoming, family friendly, wheelchair accessible, and open to a wide public, reflecting the organization’s mission to integrate classical music into everyday communal spaces.
The choice of West Village as the neighborhood anchor carries its own significance. Long associated with artistic exchange and cultural openness, the area provides a fitting context for a concert that values dialogue between performers and listeners. The exact address remains shared only with approved attendees, preserving the intimacy that defines the Groupmuse experience.
At the center of the program stands Kofi Hayford, who also serves as the event host. Hayford’s career reflects a steady ascent marked by international recognition and institutional leadership. A prize-winning British Ghanaian American bass, he has built a reputation for vocal authority and expressive range across more than forty operatic roles.
Hayford’s engagements have included performances with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Fort Worth Opera, Indianapolis Opera, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. His work extends across continents, drawing audiences from the Arctic Circle to the Caribbean, and throughout Europe and Africa. These experiences shape his approach to both performance and hosting, grounding the evening in professional assurance and personal warmth.
In 2024, Hayford achieved notable milestones, including his mainstage debut at Carnegie Hall. That same year, he became a double laureate of the Grand Voix Lyrique d’Afrique International Competition, an acknowledgment of his standing within the global operatic community. His recent and upcoming engagements reflect continued momentum across major venues and international circuits.
Beyond performance, Hayford’s contributions extend into arts leadership and innovation. He is the co founder of the DictionBuddy mobile app, a tool supporting singers and educators, and serves as Chairman of the Board of the Groupmuse Foundation. His role within Groupmuse underscores a commitment to expanding access and sustaining the future of classical performance.
Maria Brea joins the ensemble as soprano, bringing a career defined by international acclaim and stylistic breadth. Recognized as one of Venezuela’s most celebrated operatic artists, Brea has earned recognition for vocal refinement and interpretive versatility. Her training at The Juilliard School laid the foundation for appearances on some of the world’s most prominent stages.
Brea’s performance history includes Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, Palais Garnier, and Teatro Liceu. Her debut album, Alba Beyond Borders, released on Lexicon Classics, explores Latin American and Jewish art song and has reached audiences worldwide. The album has also launched a multi city concert tour across the United States, extending her reach beyond traditional operatic venues.
Her operatic repertoire encompasses leading roles such as Violetta, Mimì, Gilda, Nedda, and Liù. Collaborations with companies including Arizona Opera, Opera San José, Palm Beach Opera, and Wolf Trap Opera further illustrate her professional range. Recognition at Operalia, finalist status in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, and the Best Musical Actress Award from the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors mark key moments in her career trajectory.
Violinist Taisiya Losmakova brings a chamber music sensibility shaped by international training and performance. Educated at the Republican Gymnasium College of the Belarusian State Academy of Music and later the Belarusian State Academy of Music itself, she emerged early as a soloist with the Belarusian State Philharmonic. Her formative years included appearances across Europe and the Middle East.
Losmakova’s collaborations with artists such as Maxim Vengerov and Misha Maisky speak to her standing within the classical community. From 2019 to 2021, she served as Concertmaster of the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus, a role that combined leadership and performance at the highest institutional level.
Relocating to the United States in 2021, Losmakova continued her studies at Temple University’s Boyer College of Music, earning her Master of Music under the guidance of Eduard Schmieder and Lambert Orkis. Her appearances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Baryshnikov Arts Center, and the Kimmel Center reflect her integration into the American concert landscape.
As a dedicated chamber musician and producer, Losmakova curates and performs concerts throughout New York and the Northeast. Her artistry is documented on the album Frozen Reflections, adding a recorded dimension to her live performance work and reinforcing her commitment to collaborative musical expression.
Pianist Alexander Bolotin completes the quartet, offering a background rooted in the Russian classical tradition and refined through international study. Born in St. Petersburg, he began piano studies at the age of eight and trained at the Special Music School for Gifted Children at the Rimsky Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory.
Bolotin continued his education under Professor Alexander Sandler before relocating to the United States. Since 2021, he has studied at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, working in the studio of Inesa Sinkevych. His development reflects a balance of technical discipline and interpretive restraint.
A prizewinner in numerous international competitions, Bolotin has earned multiple first prizes at Frederic Chopin competitions across Estonia, Poland, Russia, and Italy. His performance experience spans Russia, Europe, the United States, and Asia, with appearances alongside ensembles such as the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
Bolotin remains an active recitalist and festival artist, regularly participating in concerts supporting Ukraine within the United States. His engagement with social and cultural causes adds another dimension to his artistic profile, aligning with the community oriented spirit of the Groupmuse event.
The program itself centers on seasonal repertoire presented as a holiday encore, extending the festive period through carefully selected works for voice, violin, and piano. The ensemble format allows for both solo expression and collaborative dialogue, highlighting the individual voices while maintaining a cohesive musical narrative.
The church setting contributes acoustical clarity and a sense of focus, supporting the balance between performers and audience. Seating, proximity, and shared refreshments encourage conversation and connection, reinforcing the idea that classical music can thrive within welcoming and informal environments.
Groupmuse’s emphasis on accessibility is evident throughout the event design. Attendees are invited to bring non alcoholic drinks, while both alcoholic and non alcoholic options are provided. The event welcomes children and accommodates wheelchair access, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.
Lights of the Season: A Holiday Encore stands as a convergence of accomplished artistry and community engagement. It offers an opportunity to experience internationally active musicians in a setting that values closeness, listening, and shared cultural investment. The evening extends the spirit of the season through sound, presence, and collaboration, reaffirming the enduring appeal of live classical performance within contemporary urban life.
