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Containing 27 species of mostly foxgloves, the genus Digitalis reminds us of countryside walks in the fleeting days of early summer—patches of tall, upward-blooming stalks articulating wild meadows and defining the boundaries of cottage gardens. The name, of course, comes from the Latin digitus ('finger'), while the Old English-derived 'foxglove' conjures fairy-tale and mystery. Though every part of the plant is toxic, it has been used medicinally for several centuries, most notably in the treatment of heart conditions. Provoking a peculiar tension between danger and healing, the foxglove evokes the strength of music as a tool of sociopolitical expression, mobilisation, and even manipulation; the quest to harness the strange powers of music and nature comes with the warning that there will always remain aspects that resist control. As we focus on ecology, climate change, and human nature in our programming, the foxglove leads us ever deeper into the woods.
Blake Huang
Beginning piano studies at the age of five, Blake has cultivated a distinguished career path as a pianist through advanced training and international recognition. In 2018, he was admitted to the University of Melbourne as a Piano Performance major, where he studied under the guidance of Coady Green and Kenji Fujimura.
In 2022, Blake was awarded the prestigious Ida Phillips Scholarship and accepted into the Master of Music programme at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. There, he continued his advanced piano studies with Graham Caskie and Mei Yi Foo.
Blake's achievements have been recognised through numerous awards, including the Gilbert Prize for Best Piano Performance of the Year (2024), the Ida Phillips Scholarship Awards (2022-2024), and First Prize at the Liszt Youth Piano Competition, Yunnan District (2020). Combining refined artistry, technical command, and musical sensitivity, Blake continues to establish himself as a compelling and versatile emerging concert pianist.
During 2025-2026, Blake has appeared in performances across a variety of prestitious venues and music festivals, including St. Mary-le-Bow Church, St. Mary le Strand Church, and the Eisteddfod festival series, further demonstrating his growing presence as an active performer on the international stage.
Andrew Nesler
Andrew has been a featured performer at international concert series and festivals, recently appearing at the Friends of Music concert series (Memphis, TN), the Gene Marcus Piano Camp and Festival (Fort Wayne, IN), The Exploratorium (San Francisco, CA), and on live television for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World (Cardiff, UK). Among awards he’s received are First Prize at the John Ireland Competition (Cardiff), Moving Classics TV’s “Composer of the Week” (Munich, Germany), and two First Prizes at the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Concerto Competition. 2025-2026 season highlights include the U.S. premiere of William Mathias's second piano concerto with the Manchester Symphony Orchestra as their 2025-2026 Guest Artist in Residence (Warsaw, IN) and performances in Toronto (Canada), Milwaukee (WI), and London (UK).
Formerly on the Keyboard Faculty at Purdue University Fort Wayne, Andrew has given masterclasses internationally and adjudicated pre-college competitions. From 2018 to 2021, he co-authored and administered two music education curricula that reached over 1,000 young and disabled students in underserved areas in Fort Wayne. His model for "Wild Music Pedagogy," in which students become advocates for themselves and others in their environment, draws on anti-colonial and eco-literate pedagogies.
Currently studying at Bangor University's Doctoral Academy (PhD, Music), he holds a MMus (Distinction) in Piano Performance from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a B.M. in Piano Performance from Purdue University Fort Wayne, having received scholarships to each institution. His primary teachers have included Mei Yi Foo (RWCMD) and Dr. Hamilton Tescarollo (PFW).
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