Black Moon Trio, Ensemble-in-Residence
Black Moon Trio is a horn, violin, and piano ensemble redefining the chamber music experience through adventurous programming, community-centered education, and a commitment to equity in the arts. Founded in 2022 by Parker Nelson, Jeremy Vigil, and Khelsey Zarraga, the trio seeks to effect meaningful change by connecting with diverse audiences and amplifying underrepresented voices.
At the heart of Black Moon Trio’s mission is the belief that classical music is for everyone. Through innovative performances, original commissions, and collaborations across artistic disciplines, they spotlight the work of composers of color, women composers, and others historically excluded from the classical canon. Their adventurous programming blends newly commissioned works with reimagined classics, interdisciplinary collaborations, and thought-provoking themes—crafting concerts that challenge traditional expectations while fostering a sense of inclusivity and discovery.
In addition to live performance, Black Moon Trio is dedicated to documenting and sharing new music through recording projects that extend the reach of their mission. Their debut album, Principal, features five world premiere recordings of newly commissioned works and original arrangements, showcasing the trio’s versatility and commitment to expanding the repertoire for horn, violin, and piano. Flourish, their second major project, is an immersive musical experience exploring the deep connections between humans and the natural world. Featuring three world premiere recordings and spoken-word narration by scientist, professor, New York Times best-selling author, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Robin Wall Kimmerer. Flourish blends music and narrative to invite listeners into a richly interwoven ecological story.
Beyond the stage, Black Moon Trio inspires curiosity and creativity through engaging educational programs reaching thousands of participants each year. Their members bring extensive experience not only in chamber music performance, but also music education in social service settings, university-level workshops, multi-day residencies, and arts-integrated curriculum development. These collective strengths allow the trio to offer performances and learning experiences that bring curriculum to life through vivid, interactive musical experiences that invite participants to create, reflect, and lead.
Kathryn P. Haydon, Poet-in-Residence
Kathryn P. Haydon is Brushwood Center’s Poet-in-Residence. She is the author of seven books, including her latest poetry collection Unsalted Blue Sunrise: Poems of Lake Michigan, which was featured in Brushwood’s Water(color) for the Soul: Music of Lake Michigan program earlier this year.
Kathryn earned her BA in Latin American and Spanish literature from Northwestern University and her MSc in creativity and change leadership from the acclaimed International Center for Studies in Creativity at the State University of New York. Her award-winning haiku and poetry have been published internationally in leading journals such as The Heron’s Nest, Humana Obscura, Wales Haiku Journal, East on Central, and many others, as well as in books and academic journals. The founder of Sparkitivity, Kathryn writes about people who think a lot, feel a lot, and wonder a lot in her Substack, Deep Soul Strengths.
Heeyoung Kim, Artist-in-Residence
Heeyoung Kim is a botanical artist, instructor, and native plant advocate. She is the founder of the Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy, which meets weekly at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods.
Wildflower painter, Heeyoung Kim, documents native plants of Midwestern prairies and woods. Rare and endangered ones are in her priority as plant population is rapidly decreasing globally. She creates detailed portrayals of each plant and its life cycle through keen observation and broad research throughout its growing seasons in natural habitats. Her paintings and drawings are distinguished with scientific accuracy, authentic composition, and masterful rendering of the medium. She has been building up a digital image bank with her artworks in “Project 200”. She set a goal to paint 200 native plant species, and other wildlife hoping her art would contribute to the public awareness about native plants and nature conservation.
Kateryna Sazonova, Videographer-in-Residence
Kateryna Sazonova is an Emmy Award Winning Ukrainian filmmaker and environmentalist based in the USA. Her work focuses on environmental issues, climate change, human impact on the planet, and ways to live in balance with nature insuring healthy and sustainable life of our species on Earth.
Her first documentary short film, Plastic (2018), on plastic pollution was screened at over 15 film festivals across the globe, and is now used for educational purposes. Her short films Giving In, a social drama short on addiction, 2839: Coming Home, a sci-fi short on climate change and 200 Years Before 2389, a hybrid experimental prequel to 2389: Coming Home, are all now on the film festival circuit. Kateryna holds an MFA in Film and TV Directing from Columbia College Chicago.
