Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments

As a soloist, collaborator, conductor, and educator, Joseph Gascho has performed and taught across the world. Selected recent highlights include performances with large ensembles like the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra, solo recitals in Paris and Tokyo, and masterclass and lectures at Oberlin Conservatory and Vanderbilt University. He has enjoyed a wide range of collaborations, including recent projects with the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan, Iranian barbat virtuoso Hossein Behroozinia, singer/songwriter Susan Loring, composers Julie Zhu and Douglas Boyce, and instrument builder Adam Schmidt. At SMTD, he teaches harpsichord, basso continuo, chamber music, improvisation and ornamentation, and co-directs the Baroque Chamber Orchestra with violist Aaron Berofsky. Gascho holds masters and doctoral degrees in harpsichord from the Peabody Conservatory and the University of Maryland.

Carol Stepanchuk works as the Outreach Coordinator for both the Stearns Collection and the U-M Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies. She received graduate degrees in Asian Studies from University of California, Berkeley as well as in Museum Studies and has over thirty years of experience in global arts. She organizes artist residencies, facilitates conferences and special events, and most recently spearheaded the U-M Festival of Asian Music (Fall 2024). She has led professional development workshops, campus-community collaborations, and museum-related educational outreach. Carol has written several books for youth and general audiences on festivals, participates on arts and cultural boards, and is especially excited about supporting creativity, collaboration and accessibility in the arts.

Katie Sucha is a PhD candidate in historical musicology at Case Western Reserve University, where she is completing her dissertation on nuptial imagery in 17th century convent music. An active performer, Katie has sung with various early and new music ensembles, including Quire Cleveland, Cleveland Chamber Choir, and Red Shift, among others. She co-founded and directs Serafina, a Detroit-based ensemble specializing in early music by women composers, and directs music for the University of Michigan’s Shakespeare in the Arb summer program. Katie holds a master’s degree in music history from Binghamton University and a bachelor’s degree in vocal music education from Eastern Michigan University.