Chimera Trio 

Chelsea Czuchra, Flute

Edmund Riddle, Viola

Lindsay Buffington, Harp

chi·me·ra |     \ kī-ˈmir-ə

Definition of chimera

1a capitalized : a fire-breathing she-monster in Greek mythology having a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail

b : an imaginary monster compounded of incongruous parts

The Chimera Trio is Chelsea Czuchra, flute, Edmund Riddle, viola, and Lindsay Buffington, harp. The three Switzerland- based musicians have collaborated in various ensembles over the past 10 years, including the Cochlea Duo (Czuchra and Buffington) and the City Light Symphony Orchestra (Riddle and Buffington). In early 2022 they finally fulfilled their long-held wish to collaborate as a trio. The trio’s name references the Greek mythical figure of the chimera, an imaginary creature compounded of incongruous parts. The unique combination of instruments, the musicians’ wide range of musical interests and their different personalities create a true musical chimera of sorts.

The Chimera Trio thrives on performing a broad and eclectic range of repertoire, from tangos, Balkan folk tunes, traditional Irish music, French impressionist classics to bluegrass music. Recent concerts have included works by Claude Debussy, André Jolivet, Béla Bartók, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Milton Barnes, Miguel del Águila, David Lefkowitz, Ian Krouse, Matan Porat and Caleb Burhans. Chimera has performed at the following concert series, among others: “TheoSounds” in the Theodorskirche in Basel, “Mehrklang Seetal” in Hochdorf under the auspices of the “Lange Nacht der Kirche 2023”, “Belle Époque Magique” at the Leysin American School. Audience members have praised the trio’s “tangible joy of performing together”, their “surprising and delightful musical repertoire” and their “chemistry” as an ensemble.

Chelsea Czuchra

A performer at home in a wide range of genres and repertoire, flutist Chelsea Czuchra is especially drawn to the experimental, quiet, and gorgeous sounds found in the world of new music. She has appeared as soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and North America, including turns as a scotch tape virtuoso and bull-roarer player. Chelsea’s most recent collaborative projects have included commissioning, premiering and recording the song cycle “Buaine na Gaoithe” by Ryan Molloy and Martin Dyar, with the Damselfly Trio, and the launch of a project commissioning works for moving/ vocalizing flutist. An advocate for arts education, Chelsea frequently performs for outreach programs in Switzerland and around the US. Based in Switzerland, Chelsea was raised in eastern North Carolina and is a proud graduate of UNCSA, the NC Governor’s School, Purchase College and CalArts.

Edmund Riddle was born in 1984 in Adelaide, Australia. From 1997 to 2002 he studied violin at the Purcell School with Yossi Zivoni. In 2002 he began his studies at the Royal College of Music, studying under Andriy Viytovych for his postgraduate course.

Since leaving the RCM, Edmund has worked as a freelance violist with the Beethoven Chamber Ensemble, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Metamorphosen Ensemble, London Concert Orchestra, Mozart Players and Glyndebourne Opera. In Switzerland he performs with the Musikkollegium Winterthur, the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra, the City Light Symphony Orchestra, the Südwestdeutschphilharmonie and the Swiss Orchester.

As a chamber musician, he joined the Hera Quartet in 2010 and won first prize at the RCM Chamber Music Competition. They have performed at the Albert Hall, Southbank Centre, National Gallery, St Martin in the Fields, Wigmore Hall and on Radio 4 as part of the Proms season.