Trio Azura is quickly emerging as one of today's most promising young ensembles, characterized by “intelligence and imagination” and “profound emotion” (Gramaphone). They are currently the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Colburn School—where they formed in 2022—and study with Jonathan Brown, Martin Beaver, Clive Greensmith, and Fabio Bidini. Most recently, Trio Azura was named a winner of the 2025 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions and appointed YCA Jacobs Fellows, becoming the organization’s first Ensemble-in-Residence.
Trio Azura consists of Canadian violinist Duncan McDougall, South Korean cellist Yejin Hong, and Chinese pianist Yanfeng (Tony) Bai. Although they come from different backgrounds, their unique perspectives are a constant source of inspiration. In 2024, the Trio won the Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice prize, and Horszowksi Trio Prize at the 51st Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. They are also prize winners at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in Harbin, China.
During the 2024-25 season, Trio Azura completed their Fischoff Double Gold Tour of the US Midwest, where they mentored over 500 students in Indiana and Michigan; they undertook a residency at the American University of Sharjah in the UAE, which was a unique opportunity for cultural exchange with Arabic poets; and they performed at the Chamber Music America National Conference, La Jolla Music Society, Music Guild, Friends of Chamber Music of Troy, Boston Court in Pasadena, Mimir Chamber Music Festival, and the Emilia Romagna Festival in Italy.
Trio Azura’s 2025-2026 season includes appearances at the Brisbane Festival in Australia, Nevada Chamber Music Festival, South Bay Chamber Music Society, Pelican Chamber Concerts, and the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium.
Meet The Azures
Duncan McDougall, Violin
Duncan McDougall is a Canadian violinist pursuing his Artist Diploma at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, studying with Martin Beaver. Duncan has appeared as a soloist with the Colburn Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Duncan was chosen by CBC Music as one of Canada’s top 30 classical musicians under the age of 30, was a Grand Prize winner of the Canadian Music Competition, and received the National Gold Medal for Violin Performance and Violin Pedagogy from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Duncan plays on a 1900 Scarampella violin on generous loan from the Colburn Collection. Outside of his musical life, he enjoys trail running, hiking, canoeing, and skiing, and baking.
Yejin Hong, Cello
Born in South Korea, Yejin pursued her Bachelor’s degree at the New England Conservatory, where she was awarded a full scholarship as a student of Laurence Lesser.
She completed her Master’s degree and Artist Diploma at the Colburn Conservatory of Music and is currently a member of Trio Azura, the piano trio-in-residence at the Colburn School.
As a soloist, Yejin has received several awards, including second prize at the International
Youth String Competition at the Tchaikovsky School of Music in Moscow and a semifinalist at
the Johansen International Competition in Washington, D.C. She has also served as principal cellist with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, New England Conservatory Symphony, and the Colburn Orchestra.
Yejin has performed at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at
Carnegie Hall, and Jordan Hall in Boston. She was invited by the Berlin Philharmonic to perform with the Yewon Arts School in Berlin, further solidifying her international presence. In 2019, she attended the Fontainebleau School of Music in France, where she studied with
Gary Hoffman and Philippe Muller and received awards in both chamber and contemporary
music.
Yanfeng (Tony) Bai, Piano
Pianist Yanfeng (Tony) Bai, is an international prizewinner, recently winning the 3rd prize and audience award in the Olga Kern International Piano Competition, 1st prize at the China Shenzhen International Piano Concerto Competition, 3rd Prize of the Gotrian International piano competition in Germany and the 1st prize twice at the Concerto Competition of the Morningside Music Bridge. The Strings Magazine mentioned his performance as “gorgeous playing.” He was also awarded 1st prize in the China Central Television Piano Competition, 1st prize and Grand prize of “KADANZA CUP” national piano competition, and was a prize winner of the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians.
Mr.Bai is also accomplished in Chamber Music, as a former member of the MOCC piano quintet, they won the 1st prize of the China Hummingbird Music Award Chamber Music Competition. Now he is a founding member of the Trio Azura and in 2024 they just won the Grand Prize, Gold Medal, Lift Every Voice Prize, and Horszowksi Trio Prize at the 51st Fischoff Competition.
He has performed with numerous orchestras, including Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Mexico Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also collaborated with leading conductors, including James Conlon, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Peter Bay, Lorenzo Passerini and Daye Lin among others. He has given multiple recitals in US, Italy and China.
Mr.Bai is a Guest Artist of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and a Yangtze River Piano Artist. He is currently an Artist Diploma of Music candidate at the Colburn School, where he studies with Fabio Bidini. Previously he graduated from the Colburn school as Masters and Bachelor of music, and the middle school attached to the China Central Conservatory of Music. Previous teachers include Jin Zhang, who he studied with in China before coming to Los Angeles.