Loi has been working for Amici since operations began, January 1, 2009. When Loi is not in the office, she can be found working on her next quilt project, working out at the local Y, riding her bike, or working around her yard. Loi is married to Bruce Heldt (35 years) and has two adult children, Tory Marie and Aaron Alexander.

Grace joined Chamber Music Amici in late 2019 as a core member, and starts her journey as new Artistic Director beginning the 2020-21 season. Grace is a highly acclaimed collaborative pianist and chamber musician who regularly appears on international concert stages and recordings with world-class musicians. She has called Eugene home since 2017 with her husband, clarinetist Wonkak Kim, and their 4-year-old daughter.

Don grew up in a music-loving home; both his parents were knowledgeable music lovers who played piano and sang in their church choir. His dad in particular had an avid love for the piano. Don and his wife, Lin, have loved chamber music since dating in high school. In college, they were eager listeners at on-campus recitals, and while in New York for Don’s first job, they joined the Juilliard Society and attended chamber music performances at Columbia University and the opening concerts at Alice Tully Hall. As Board president, Don is committed to seeing Amici safely into its second decade.

Tory grew up in Eugene, where she played violin — and took lessons from Amici’s own Sharon Schuman! She went to the University of Chicago, where she studied romance languages and literature. She helped her mom, Loi, with mailings and putting up posters around town during Amici’s first season, and has volunteered throughout the years. Tory lives in Springfield with her dogs, Roux and Hazel, and works from home as a Salesforce consultant for IBM. She spends her free time working in her garden, going on hikes, and of course enjoying the rich arts scene. She is so excited to be back home, and to be involved with Amici again!

Nonna was born in Denmark, raised in the East London, United Kingdom, suburbs, married physicist Roger Haydock after college, and moved to Eugene in 1982. She taught drama and English in secondary schools, then English as a foreign language in preparation for being a trailing spouse. Nonna has three children, all who learned to play the piano, and each participated in the Eugene-Springfield Youth Orchestra on their chosen instruments: harp, French horn, and violin. One became a professional violinist!  Nonna has greatly enjoyed the community of musicians in Eugene and the exposure to a variety of styles of music.

Laurel grew up in Eugene at a time when music programs were strong in the public schools. Her experiences at Roosevelt Middle School and South Eugene High School in the mid to late seventies, along with wonderful private teachers for piano and flute, influenced her. She attended the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, and then taught elementary music for 34 years, 30 years in Springfield, before she retired in 2018. Laurel thoroughly enjoys volunteering in a kindergarten class these days… unless she is off traveling… or walking her dog, Snickers.

Steven was born in New York City and grew up in the suburbs. As an adolescent he would commute into the city after school for weekly cello lessons and to attend New York Philharmonic concerts, in which his teacher was the principal cellist. As a kid, Steven attended summer camps that focused on backpacking, organic farming and caring for horses and farm animals. In high-school, he started attending summer music festivals and has continued every year since. He maintains a disciplined meditation practice and enjoys hiking, running, reading, being with friends and family, and roasting coffee.

Outside of Amici, Sharon helps advance research for the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, dedicated to finding a cure for the rare genetic condition that took the lives of three daughters of Lynn and Dave Frohnmayer. She also serves on the board of Square One Villages, which creates tiny home communities that are affordable in perpetuity for people who need housing. She is currently curating a collection of her husband’s writings, running, cycling, walking her dog, Billy Budd, playing with grandchildren, and presenting informal concerts in her yard.