Merida Trio is:
Katherine Petersen, piano | Charlene Kluegel, violin | Jean Hatmaker, cello
Brought together by friendship, a shared passion for artistic integrity, and determination to fuse tradition with modern values, Merida Trio combines the bold and dynamic voices of three of Chicago's finest chamber musicians. Combining 42 years of collective chamber music experience with groups including Fifth House Ensemble, Duo FAE, and Kontras Quartet, Katherine, Charlene and Jean have joined forces to explore the potential of their collaborative energy. With a particular interest in championing music by female composers, they infuse every performance with their celebrated craftsmanship and dramatic flair. Coming off of the success of their debut recital in the fall of 2024, Merida Trio is on track to be a cherished gem in the Chicago chamber music scene with several highly anticipated appearances scheduled for the coming season. Discover more at www.meridatrio.com.
Jean Hatmaker, cello
Known for her soulful, expressive playing style, Jean Hatmaker is one of the most versatile and sought-after cellists in the Chicago area with a diverse portfolio of solo and collaborative projects, including several chamber ensembles and regional orchestras across the Midwest. Jean is a founding member of Chicago-based Kontras Quartet, a beloved ensemble known for its well-crafted performances, diverse programming, and accessible audience relations. She appears regularly on the Bach Cantata Vespers Series in River Forest, IL, is principal cellist with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, and is a rostered member of Kalamazoo Symphony, Madison Symphony, and the Chicago Philharmonic. Passionate about mentorship, Jean teaches at Grace Lutheran School of River Forest, as well as at her home studio in Oak Park. She was faculty at Elmhurst University from 2013-2023 and frequently teaches as a guest clinician at schools all across the country. Jean received both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance from Indiana University, where she studied with Helga Winold and Janos Starker, and plays a modern cello by Lawrence Wilke, using Hill, Bearden, and Arcus bows.
Charlene Kluegel, violin
Hailed for her “unsentimental verve, musical feeling and great technical skill” (New York Classical Review), Charlene Kluegel is known for a diversity that transcends traditional boundaries of classical music. An award winning violinist, her performances as a soloist and chamber musician have taken her to the Ravinia Festival’s Bennett Gordon Hall, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Kennedy Center, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. She collaborated on Patois’s explorative CD of Latin Jazz “Canto America” which was nominated for a GRAMMY - Best Latin Jazz Album. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and Cornell University, she earned her doctorate from Indiana University’ Jacobs School of Music as a recipient of the Artistic Excellence Award. Her principal teachers include Pamela Frank, Jorja Fleezanis, Stanley Ritchie, Susan Waterbury, and Monika Urbaniak-Lisik. She currently teaches at Carthage College and the Zodiac Music Festival and receives ongoing string sponsorship from Larsen Strings.
Katherine Petersen, piano
From giving her debut solo recital at age twelve, to performing some of George Crumb’s most monumental works at the Crumb Festival, a 90th birthday celebration of the famed composer, Petersen has made a career embracing the wide array of repertoire available to pianists. Her performances have been described as having “captured the sense of wonder” (Chicago Tribune), and are equally matched with “great technical skill” (New York Classical Review.) She has performed at Ravinia’s Bennett Gordon Hall, the Maison Symphonique in Montreal, the Grand Teton Music Festival, Empire Saal at Esterhazy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria, and Jordan Hall. At age seventeen, she made her Carnegie Hall debut, a performance which was described by Edith Eisler of Strings Magazine as “real music-making–concentrated and deeply felt.” Petersen completed her early musical training at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, her Bachelor of Music degree at the New England Conservatory of Music, and her Master and Doctor of Music degrees at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University as a recipient of the Graduate Excellence, Harold Helm Fellowship and Schulich Scholar awards. In addition to her busy performing schedule, she is on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago teaching Piano, Chamber Music, and coursework for the Academy.
