London-based John-Paul Muir has established himself as one of the finest pianists to emerge from New Zealand in recent years, and certainly one of the most versatile; equally at home in both classical, jazz, and contemporary genres.

He graduated his Artist Masters Programme in classical piano performance with Distinction at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London having studied with the senior professor, Joan Havill.

John-Paul is currently the Senior Programme Manager of the Bloomsbury Festival, an annual 10 day arts festival held in October featuring over 100 events across Bloomsbury in London. He has established a weekly jazz night in Bloomsbury at Goodenough College, where his regular appearances feature an ever-evolving roster of guest musicians from the U.K jazz scene and beyond.

His debut solo piano record featuring original compositions and improvisations, the “Cornerstone Suite”, was released in November 2019 after a premiere at the London Jazz Festival and his latest recording project is due for release in 2023.

jason bae | founder & music director

Jason Bae is the Founder & Music Director of Afflatus Ensemble and has recently finished his two-year role as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Conducting Fellowship Programme Conductor in 2020/21. Jason made his debut in Stockholm, conducting the Aurora Festival Orchestra - presenting the Swedish premiere of "Violent, Violent Sea" by the American composer, Missy Mazzoli. Last year, Jason gave the New Zealand Premiere of Lotta Wennäkoski's "Nosztalgiaim" with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra National Youth Orchestra.

He has received masterclasses with renowned conductors such as Osmo Vänskä with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Jorma Panula with South Denmark Philharmonic Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Vaasa City Orchestra, Hamish McKeich, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Holly Mathieson and Gemma New with New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Formerly trained as a pianist, Jason received his Master of Arts in piano performance with the highest distinction award, 'DipRAM' at the Royal Academy of Music in London studied under the Professor Emeritus Christopher Elton and Joanna MacGregor in 2015. Jason then further studied orchestral conducting and was mentored by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Currently, he has been accepted to study his second Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm as the only recipient receiving the entire full scholarship from the college.

@jasonbae1029