Lumi Trio

The Lumi Trio is an artistically visionary chamber ensemble formed in 2017, uniting clarinet, violin, and piano into a singular, expressive musical voice. Inspired by the pioneering legacy of the Verdehr Trio, Lumi Trio is dedicated to rediscovering and revitalizing the repertoire written for clarinet, violin, and piano. This body of work—commissioned over the past 30 years—represents a rich and uniquely American contribution to the chamber music landscape.

Their repertoire bridges classical masterworks with rarely heard 20th- and 21st-century compositions, including world premieres by living composers who have written and dedicated works specifically to Lumi Trio. Drawn to the ensemble’s clarity of expression and collaborative sensitivity, composers see Lumi Trio as a modern voice for this powerful instrumental combination. 

The Lumi Trio was awarded Second Place at the Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition, recognized for their ensemble cohesion, precision, and emotional nuance. The ensemble has been invited as guest artists throughout Michigan and Texas. In 2022, they were in residence at Stephen F. Austin State University, where they presented world premieres of works specifically dedicated to the trio. Among them was a world premiere of Gonzalo Garrido-Lecca’s trio — a work commissioned as part of the Verdehr Trio’s 40-year tradition of expanding the clarinet–violin–piano repertoire. As of today, it remains the latest addition to that extraordinary legacy — a moment that bridged eras. Rather than closing a chapter, the performance marked a turning point — where homage becomes voice, and tradition becomes transformation.

As part of the same residency, the trio also led a guest discussion in the composition studio, sharing their artistic process and collaborative approach to new music. The trio carries this historic legacy forward—not by imitating the past, but by reimagining its possibilities through living collaborations and bold programming.

Beyond the stage, Lumi Trio is deeply committed to music education. Through masterclasses, residencies, and outreach workshops, they engage the next generation of musicians—encouraging them to explore chamber music as a platform for connection, storytelling, and self-expression. Their pedagogical mission is rooted in helping students find and refine their own musical voice. 

With a dual focus on legacy and innovation, Lumi Trio continues to shape the evolving landscape of contemporary chamber music.

Dr. Ruby Yeh, Clarinet

Founder and artistic director of the Lumi Trio, Dr. Ruby Yeh is a clarinetist, chamber musician, and advocate for contemporary music. A prizewinner of the International Henri Selmer Clarinet Competition and recipient of the Verdehr Endowment, she brings interpretive depth and curatorial vision to the trio’s evolving identity.

Her performances span the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and Argentina, with a focus on repertoire that bridges modernity and tradition. Dr. Yeh has collaborated with numerous composers and ensembles on premieres of 20th- and 21st-century works, and is known for her clarity of expression and artistic leadership. She is dedicated to building a platform that merges legacy with innovation through performance, education, and new music advocacy.

“This trio was born from my respect for tradition and my need to speak through sound. It is where I reclaim voice, and offer space for new ones.”

— Ruby Yeh

Dr. Minhae Lee, Piano

Dr. Minhae Lee is a pianist, educator, and advocate for artistic excellence. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Stephen F. Austin State University and has performed extensively as a concerto soloist and collaborative artist at major venues and music festivals across the United States. In 2020, she was selected as the sole Collaborative Piano Fellow at both the Aspen Music Festival and the Yale School of Music.

A recipient of numerous national awards, including the NTD International Piano Competition and the Barbara Wagner Chamber Music Competition, Dr. Lee brings a rare combination of technical brilliance and interpretive depth to her performances. She holds dual doctoral degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano, as well as a master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy. As the pianist of the Lumi Trio, she brings her collaborative artistry and musical depth to the ensemble’s mission of championing both classical and contemporary repertoire.

Daniela Diaz, Violin

Venezuelan violinist Daniela Diaz is passionate about the transformative power of music and its role in social change. A graduate of El Sistema, she performed with the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela under conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, Claudio Abbado, and Sir Simon Rattle.

She earned her Master’s degree in Violin Performance as a Graduate Assistant to Dmitri Berlinsky at Michigan State University and has performed with chamber ensembles and orchestras across the United States. Currently, she serves as Vice President of Artistic & Education Programming at the Classical Music Institute and is a 2025 Fellow of the Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation. As the violinist of the Lumi Trio, Daniela brings her global vision and commitment to community engagement to the ensemble’s artistic mission.