Asbury Methodist Village
An Iris program since 2023, Asbury Methodist Village is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit CCRCs, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing on a single campus. Iris’ program at Asbury is a partnership with the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Meet the musicians
Yoshiaki Horiguchi
Yoshiaki Horiguchi, double bassist, has been acclaimed by the Baltimore Sun for his ability to perform with a “dazzling display of dexterity and panache.” Although classically trained as a double bassist, his endeavors span across a broad spectrum of genres having performed in concert halls, hip-hop clubs, dance halls, and more. Yoshi has performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Alarm Will Sound, Baltimore Boom Bap Society, The Hungry Monks Swing Band, and more. Yoshi is currently the bassist for the National Chamber Winds and a founding member of the award-winning Trio Jinx. Yoshi has performed across the country for organizations and venues such as the Sitka Summer Music Festival, Mesa Arts Center, El Paso Pro Musica, the Kennedy Center, and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition.
Elizabeth G. Hill
A recognized leader in chamber music and contemporary music advocacy, pianist Elizabeth G. Hill has performed across the US and Europe in service of her life’s work: joining cultures together through music. Elizabeth is a co-founder of the chamber duo Meraki, dedicated to awakening cultural compassion through music. She is also pianist for Balance Campaign, a chamber ensemble whose focus lies exclusively on commissioning and performing works by marginalized composers. She currently serves as the pianist for the National Philharmonic. Also an active pedagogue, Elizabeth is a private piano teacher in the DC area, and a member of the Collaborative Piano Faculty at the Heifetz International Music Institute. Originally raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Elizabeth holds degrees from Mary Baldwin College (B.A.), James Madison University (M.M.), and The Catholic University of America (D.M.A. with a specialization in Chamber Music).
Kimia Hesabi
Dr. Kimia Hesabi is a violist/percussionist, educator, and administrator currently residing in the D.C area. Hesabi is the Director of Learning and Engagement at National Philharmonic, where she co-creates programs, opportunities, and community initiatives that are centered around artistic, educational, and social impact. Kimia is an active performer and has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra musician in various prestigious concert halls across the country as well as her home country Iran. A recent appearance includes performing at NPR’s Tiny Desk along with Sleater-Kinney. Hesabi released her debut album entitled Nemāno Gaona featuring works for viola by composers of the Iranian Diaspora under New Focus Recordings in 2022. Kimia in collaboration with volinist/kamancheh player/composer Sarvin Hazin, are among the recipients of the Creator Development Fund from New Music USA in 2022 for a project entitled Neera. This multimedia project was among the recipients of the 2023 innova Recordings National Call and will be released internationally in 2025. For more please visit kimiahesabi.com.
Photo credit Emory Hensley.
Amyr Joyner
Violinist Amyr Joyner has performed across the country and internationally as a fervent solo, orchestral, and chamber performer. He has had an extensive performing career spanning nearly 25 years which includes appearing in many major concert halls and venues across the country. His most recent engagements as a member of the Griot String Quartet include the tour ‘Our Song, Our Story’ with prominent composer, producer, conductor and pianist Damien Sneed, as well as appearances in the 2019 Capitol Fourth Concert in Washington D.C., the Hollywood Bowl’s 2022 “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom” historic event, the 2021 March on Washington Film Festival, and the 2022 Gateways Music Festival performance at Carnegie Hall, in which the orchestra made history as the first all-Black orchestra to perform at the venue. Other venues and events he has performed at include Millennium Stage and the Terrace Theater at the John F. Kennedy Center, the Grant Park Music Festival’s 2013 Advocate for the Arts Awards Benefit, the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse, Symphony Hall in Jacksonville, Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Harris Hall in Chicago, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, and the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen.
In addition to his performance career, Joyner has also been a violin instructor for several music institutes, serving on the faculties at the Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore, the International School of Music in Bethesda, Maryland, and the Kirov Ballet Academy in Washington D.C. He has also served as a violin teaching artist for the Atlanta Music Project, an El-Sistema based program in Southwest Atlanta, and for the Richardson School of Music in Takoma Park, Maryland. He currently performs in the National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Strathmore Music Center in Rockville MD, is a musician-in-residence with the Iris Music Project, and serves as an instructor at Howard University in Washington, D.C.