Julian Graef

Executive Director

A violinist and violist, Julian Graef has been featured in major publications such as Strings Magazine and has been working consistently to bring new and interesting concert programs to national and international audiences. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, he has performed at the Library of Congress, performed with the Missouri Symphony, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and has conducted the Royal Martinu Philharmonic in Prague, CR. He enjoys a duo career with his sister, cellist Anita Graef, and tours regularly, performing around the world.

Email: julian@tallgrassfestival.org

Anita Graef

Artistic Director

Described as a musician of “superb artistry” (Pasadena Now) who plays with “high energy and polish” (WQXR), cellist Anita Graef has earned recognition for her music making as an artist who is equally at home exploring traditional as well as contemporary works, along with a deep commitment to service, outreach and education. Notable appearances include features in Strings Magazine, as well as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert series, and “Concerts from the Library of Congress.” She has performed on various radio networks, including WQXR, WFMT, WGTE, WUOL, WOSU, and NPR. Highlights from recent seasons include her New York debut with the Riverside Symphony, the Louisville Orchestra, Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, with recital appearances at the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, Ojai’s Chamber on the Mountain, Kenyon College, the Nielsen Concert Series, and return appearances to “Live from WFMT” and “Temecula Presents,” among others.

Email: anita@tallgrassfestival.org

Emily Seaberry Graef

Founding Director

Emily Seaberry Graef is the founder and the flutist of the Juliani Ensemble. Beginning in 1999, Ms. Graef and the Juliani Ensemble were performing partners with The Chicago Cultural Center for 20 years, performing chamber music concerts throughout the year in historic Preston Bradley Hall. Ms. Graef has maintained a teaching studio for more than 30 years. Ms. Graef is a graduate of The University of Michigan School of Music where she won the Nelson Howenstein Award for outstanding flute performance. Emily did post graduate study at The University of Maryland and at The Mozarteum Academy in Salzburg, Austria where she studied with Helmut Zangerle. She is the former Principal Flute and soloist with The Rome Festival Orchestra and has performed as flutist with The Chicago Winds, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's MusicNOW series and on the nationally acclaimed and broadcast Dame Myra Hess series. Emily was the co-founder of The Galena Chamber Ensemble, a chamber music organization which performed in Galena, Illinois for 10 years in historic Turner Hall. She has been an artist in residence at the People's Music School and is a former faculty member of the Merit School of Music.

Sherri Zhang

Director of Operations

Violinist Sherri Zhang is an avid chamber musician, orchestral player and music educator. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory and dual Master’s Degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Sherri currently splits her time between Washington, D.C., where she regularly plays with the Annapolis Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, and New Orchestra of Washington and Madison, WI, where she is a core member of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and subs with the Milwaukee Symphony. As a performer with a great passion for teaching, Sherri holds a violin studio in the DMV area and is on faculty for both traditional and Suzuki violin at the Levine School of Music. Last October, she had the pleasure of performing a NPR Tiny Desk concert with Grammy winner Laufey.