Full Bio

Founded by Billy Popfinger, double bassist and Jessica Ringston, flutist during their studies at the Mannes School of Music in 2025, the Astra Collective is quickly establishing themselves as an innovative emerging chamber ensemble alongside violinist Sofia Nangle and violist Devin Oswald. Astra has featured collaborations with other New York City based musicians that highlight rarely heard instrumentations. The ensemble has given half a dozen performances at The Frick Collection, showcasing a variety of Baroque, classical, and modernist repertoire. The Astra Collective  has also been featured at the Fifth Avenue Blooms, an installation celebrating spring in New York created by jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels. 

Advocates for new music, the Astra Collective is committed to working with composers to commission new works. The ensemble’s first ever commission Re: Visit for alto flute, viola, and double bass by composer Yifeng Xie was performed in December of 2025 at the Mannes School of Music. The Astra Collective’s devotion to collaboration and contemporary music brought them to New York’s iconic Mercury Lounge as the opening act for Free of Propaganda. At Mercury Lounge, they performed in the world premieres of two works for flute, violin, viola, and double bass: One Internal Clock by Bruno Robles-Rendón and moon, earth, and back by Leah Jane.