Schubert MiniFest
Lone Traveler
About Schubert MiniFest
Four Distinct Programs. Two Unforgettable Days.
One Extraordinary Musical Journey.
Lone Traveler
“A stranger I arrive. A stranger I depart.”
Inspired by the journey of the lone traveler, Schubert MiniFest unfolds across two days and four distinctive programs exploring the music, stories, and imagination of Franz Schubert. Though he lived only 31 years, Schubert created an extraordinary body of work that transforms life's deepest emotions into music of remarkable intimacy and beauty. A poet in melody and a painter in sound, he captured the wonder, longing, and poignancy of the human experience with a voice that continues to resonate across generations.
Featuring seven acclaimed musicians from the Roaring Fork Valley and across the nation, this festival brings Schubert's world vividly to life through solo piano masterpieces, chamber music, and beloved song cycles woven together with storytelling and dramatic narrative. Each program explores the poetry, friendships, landscapes, and inner journeys that inspired his creativity, inviting audiences to experience his music not merely as performance, but as a deeply human story.
Whether attending a single program or embarking on the complete festival journey, audiences are invited to travel alongside Schubert through landscapes of longing, beauty, and discovery. Like the lone traveler at the heart of his music, they may find themselves transformed by what they encounter along the way, departing with a deeper sense of wonder, connection, and possibility.
MINI FEST PASSES:
$200 Two-day MiniFest Pass: 4 concerts + 2 dinners
$120 Single Day MiniFest Pass: 2 concerts + 1 dinner
SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS:
$40 - Choose any one of four concerts
MiniFest Schedule:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
CONCERT 1
5:30PM
Impromptu D.899/no. 1 & D.935/3
Grand Duo for violin & piano in A major
Quartettsatz in C minor
DINNER AT HOMESTEAD BAR & GRILL
CONCERT 2
7:00PM
Song Cycle Winterreise
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
CONCERT 3
5:30PM
Arpeggionne Sonata
Piano Trio No. 2 in Eb major
DINNER AT HOMESTEAD BAR & GRILL
CONCERT 4
7:00PM
String Quartet in G major
Lieders
Ensemble:
MinTze Wu
artistic director, violin
MinTze Wu is a violinist of many passions and a visionary with illuminating artistry. A native of Taiwan, MinTze founded BenFeng Music Productions in 2013 and played the role as Producer and Artistic Director. Deeply rooted in the richness and intimacy of chamber music tradition, MinTze interweaves music, words, movements, and theater to create compelling narratives. Her work moves fluidly across artistic disciplines and cultural boundaries, inviting audiences to experience classical music in a unique and personal way. Infused with spirit, precision, and soulfulness, MinTze’s artistic superpower is to make music accessible, attainable, and available for all.
Michael Graham
cello
Michael Graham is a cellist whose artistry moves effortlessly between classical music, popular culture, and the unorthodox. An Eastman School of Music and Yale University graduate, he has performed with artists ranging from Yo-Yo Ma and Joan Baez to John Densmore of The Doors, and appeared on national television with Regis and Kelly and Jimmy Fallon. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, Michael has performed with leading ensembles across the U.S. and appears on Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl. A founding artist of BenFeng since 2013, Michael brings his curiosity, wit, and soulful musicianship to every adventure.
Chieh-Fan Yiu
viola
Chieh-Fan Yiu is a triple-prize winner of the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Stony Brook University, he has performed from Alice Tully Hall to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and intimate rural stages across the U.S. and Europe. A versatile chamber musician and featured artist with ensembles including Frisson, Delirium Musicum, Ensemble for the Romantic Century, and Sejong Soloists, Dr. Yiu is equally devoted to education, mentorship, and community engagement, bringing the transformative power of music to audiences and musicians of all backgrounds.
Chih-Long Hu
piano
Chih-Long Hu is an internationally acclaimed performer, educator, and artistic director whose artistry has taken him across Asia, Europe, and North America. A prizewinner of major international piano competitions, he has appeared as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, with performances broadcast nationally through NPR’s Performance Today. His acclaimed recordings include Rachmaninov’s Etudes-Tableaux, Formosa Caprices, Trifecta Trio, and Bach’s Goldberg Variations. A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Hu is the Sandra G. Powell Endowed Professor of Piano at the University of Tennessee and artistic director of international piano festivals in the U.S. and Canada.
Stephen Salters
baritone
Stephen Salters is an Assistant Professor of Voice at the University of Tennessee, Stephen Salters is an acclaimed performer, recitalist, and advocate for new music. His international career spans Europe, Africa, Asia, the UK, and the United States, with appearances at major venues and festivals including the Kennedy Center, New York Philharmonic, Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Vail. His operatic repertoire ranges from Mozart and Handel to Britten, Glass, and contemporary works, including world premieres by Elena Ruehr, Daniel Sonenberg, and Ysaye Barnwell. A versatile artist and sought-after educator, Salters has collaborated with leading conductors and orchestras worldwide and is celebrated for performances that combine extraordinary artistry, emotional depth, and a commitment to expanding the vocal repertoire.
Delaney Meyers
violin
Delaney Meyers is a passionate and engaging performer, educator, and creator from Columbus, OH now based in Carbondale, CO. An avid chamber musician whose first love was the string quartet, her artistry combines classical training with curiosity, versatility, and a deep commitment to musical connection. As a modern and baroque violinist and violist, Meyers performs throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and has appeared at festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and abroad. She directs Miss Delaney’s Violin/Viola Studio, serves as a Teaching Artist with AMFS AfterWorks programs, and frequently organizes community engagement performances in local schools. She holds a B.M. from Oberlin Conservatory and a M.M. from East Carolina University.
Michael Schoepe
narrator
Michael “Micha” Schoepe is a German-born performer, director, and voice educator whose work spans musical theatre, plays, concert performance, and community-based storytelling. Trained in Musical Theatre Performance in Leipzig, he later toured internationally with the award-winning a cappella ensemble vocaldente. Micha previously joined BenFeng Music Productions as singer and narrator for the Schubert Mini Fest and returned in 2025 for The Kreutzer Sonata. He currently directs Queer Voices, a devised storytelling project amplifying LGBTQ+ voices. In a new chapter beyond a fixed home base, Micha and his husband are transitioning to full-time life on the road.
BenFeng Music Productions
Team
MinTze Wu | Executive & Artistic Director
Jem Moore | Media Production
Adelaide Moore | Stage Manager
Elizabeth Winn | Publicity & Design
Board
Janet Braccio
Sharon Caulfield
Amy Kimberly
Barn Music Series is made possible by partnership with Aspen Snowmass Sotheby’s International Realty.