Blue Notes

Joshua Mhoon, piano
Growing up in Chicago, pianist Joshua Mhoon was exposed to R&B, jazz, blues, hip hop, and gospel. Mhoon is currently enrolled at The Juilliard School, and is under the tutelage of pianists Emanuel Ax and Julian Martin. In 2023, after winning the silver medal in the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition, Mhoon catapulted to new heights in the classical music industry, becoming a Young Steinway Artist, along with engagements domestically and abroad for the 2024-25 season. Recent and upcoming career highlights include performances with Yo Yo-Ma, Lang Lang, Anthony McGill, and Gil Shaham at venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, and Chicago Symphony Hall, among others.

Dalila Lugo, soprano
Dalila Lugo is a nineteen-year-old Cuban-American soprano from Miami, currently studying at Juilliard under Amy Burton. She started classical vocal training at six, and also took acting and musical theatre lessons with the Sociedad Actoral Hispanoamericana. She starred in Mozart’s Bastienne und Bastien with opera company Atelier in Miami. Dalila attended the New World School of the Arts magnet high school and participated in operas done by Miami Classical Music Festival since the age of 11. She won first place at the 2022 Schmidt Vocal Competition Regional and placed second nationally. She also won at the YoungArts National Competition. Dalila is dedicated to advancing her career in musical theatre and classical music.