CRISTAL TANGO QUINTET

Cristal was formed in 2025 in the San Francisco Bay Area, bringing Argentine tango to life with the warmth of an Argentine singer at its heart. The ensemble performs with dancers and listeners in mind, keeping the music warm, lively, and full of heart.

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Crystie Shum (piano/director)

Born in Hong Kong, Crystie Shum began piano lessons at four. In 2017, she fell in love with Argentine tango. Since then, she has been receiving coaching from maestros such as Hector Del Curto, Pablo Estigarribia, Nicolas Ledesma, Adrian Enriquez, Cesar Salgan, etc. She performed at the Stowe Tango Music Festival,  Tijuana, and  Japan. She is actively performing in Alex Roitman Tango Ensemble based in Florida and Orquesta Tarareando directed by Sasha Zeyliger based in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Claudio Ortega (vocals)
Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Claudio has been bringing the soul of tango to life in the San Francisco Bay Area since 2005, when he founded his ensemble, Trío Corazón al Sur.  From the Argentine Tango USA Championship in San Francisco to the Los Angeles Ford Amphitheater, Claudio’s voice has filled venues large and small with warmth and emotion. ​Known for his velvety tone and passionate delivery, Claudio brings every lyric to life, weaving the poetry of tango into an unforgettable experience.

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Keiko Cadby (violin)
A mixed native to Northern California and Southern Japan, Keiko Cadby began playing violin at five (5) years old, performed Carnegie Hall New York by 11, and continued her studies at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. She has performed internationally with countless tango performers and ensembles, including GRAMMY winners Hector Del Curto and Pablo Estigarribia and numerous other nominees, the West Coast Tango Ensemble, and the Stowe Tango Music Festival orchestra.

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Pablo Vanwoerkom (bandoneon)
Pablo Vanwoerkom began studying bandoneon in 2020, inspired by Winnie Cheung. Since then, he has learned from wonderful teachers and mentors including Aude Bresson, Alexander Zeyliger, Melissa Bowman, Alex Roitman, and most recently, Rodrigo Avalos. He has also participated in workshops across the United States, learning from renowned Argentine tango masters such as Hector del Curto, Pablo Jaurena, and Julián Peralta.

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Chris Johnson (double bass)
Chris Johnson studied classical double bass at Cal State Northridge and later at The Boston Conservatory. He played with many orchestral and chamber music groups in Los Angeles, Mexico, and Boston. In 2009, Mr. Johnson moved to Buenos Aires to study tango bass with Juan Pablo Navarro. In the Bay Area, he plays with Seth Asarnow y su sexteto típico and continues to explore musical possibilities across genres.