Lucie Žurmanová is a Czech cellist who began her musical studies at the Prague Conservatory. Subsequently, she relocated to The Netherlands where she received her Bachelor of Music in classical cello at The Royal Conservatoire in The Hague under the guidance of Lucia Swarts.

From an early age, Lucie has actively participated in competitions for both solo and chamber music. As a soloist, she is the 3rd prize winner of Bohus Heran International Cello Competition for Youth, Jan Vychytil Cello Competition and Pro Bohemia Ostrava in Czech Republic. In 2020, she performed Kabalevsky's Cello Concerto No. 2 in a concert for the Dutch Radio in her own unique arrangement for a solo cello and cello quartet.

Whether as a musician or semi-professional photographer, Lucie is highly passionate about cross-disciplinary projects with outreach, which she perceives as a unique space for self-realization and creative freedom. The most recent educative and artistic project 'Et Terezín Chantait' showcased her as a videographer in a new audio-visual work by a young French composer Charles Baumstark, supported by The Foundation for the Memory of the Shoah in collaboration with Printemps des Orgues Festival in France.

Lucie is currently based in Stockholm where she is pursuing her Master's Degree at The Royal College of Music in the class of Kati Raitinen.

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