FARHAD BADALBEYLI
Artistic Director
Farhad Badalbeyli- Professor, Rector of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov.
Was born in 1947 in Baku, Azerbaijan .
Got Bachelor degree at Azerbaijan State Conservatory and Master degree at Moscow State Conservatory named after Peter Tchaikovsky.
In 1967-1968, the winner of International Piano Competitions in Prague and Vianne da Motta Piano competition Lisbon, Portugal.
Gave concerts at famous music halls with various programs and was directing different music projects all over the world.
Received a highest award of Former Soviet Union - The title of Peoples Artist.
Received the highest award of France- Order of Chevalier of Literature and Art.
Since 1991 - President and Professor of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov.
Got Bachelor degree at Azerbaijan State Conservatory and Master degree at Moscow State Conservatory named after Peter Tchaikovsky.
In 1967-1968, the winner of International Piano Competitions in Prague and Vianne da Motta Piano competition Lisbon, Portugal.
Gave concerts at famous music halls with various programs and was directing different music projects all over the world.
Received a highest award of Former Soviet Union - The title of Peoples Artist.
Received the highest award of France- Order of Chevalier of Literature and Art.
Since 1991 - President and Professor of Baku Music Academy named after Uzeyir Hajibeyov.
DMITRY YABLONSKY
Artistic Director
Dmitry Yablonsky was born in Moscow into a musical family. His mother is Oxana Yablonsklaya, famed pianist and his father Albert Zaionz, who has been for 30 years, solo oboe of the Radio and Television orchestra in Moscow.
Dmitry began playing the cello when he was 5 years old and right away was accepted to the Central Music School for gifted children. At the age of 9 he gave his orchestral debut playing Haydn´s cello concerto in C major. In Russia, Dmitry has studied with Stefan Kalianov, who has been Rostropovich´s assistant and Isaak Buravsky, who for many years was solo cello of Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra. Before immigrating to the United States he has performed on many occasions in Moscow and many cities of the former Soviet Union. To leave the Soviet Union was not that easy as the visa application was first refused and it took a few years and many signatures from many well known personalities as Leonard Bernstein, and Katherine Hepburn to convince the Soviet authorities to issue a visa abroad.for his mother to leave the country.
In 1977 Dmitry and his mother arrive in New York. Upon arrival in New York, he auditioned to the Juilliard School of Music and was accepted to study with Lorne Munroe, solo cello of New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In the summer of 1979, at the age 16, Dmitry was accepted to participate in Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont and was the youngest participant that summer. In Marlboro, he met many great musicians as M. Horszowski, M. Tree, M. Shneider, M. Foley and many others. After playing for David Soyer, cellist of Guarneri quartet, he offered him to come to Curtis Institute of Music to study with him.
In the summer of 1980, Dmitry met Aldo Parisot, distinguished cellist and Professor at Yale University where Dmitry spent 4 years. At Yale he became interested in conducting after meeting Otto Werner Muller, Conducting Professor. After graduating from Yale, he has spent 2 years in the artist diploma program at the Juillard School of Music with Zara Nelsova. During the studying years Dmitry has played for Janos Starker, Mstislav Rostropovich, Andre Navarra, Maurice Gendron and many more. During one festival, which took place in Camerino, Italy he was asked to replace a conductor, who cancelled at the last minute conducting Stravinsky Octet with members of Santa Cecilia orchestra of Rome. This was quite challenging as he never conducted before. Dmitry was 26 years old and that was his conducting debut.
As a cellist he has played all over the world in venues as Carnegie Hall, La Scala, Moscow Great Hall, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall, Taiwan National Hall, Teatre Mogador, Cite de la Musique, Louvre and many others. Some chamber music partners have included, Victor Tretyakov, Leif Ove Andsnes, Yuri Bashmet and many more.
For 4 years Dmitry has been Principal Guest Conductor of Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and has conducted many orchestra all over the world as, Belgian National Orchetsra, Catania Opera Orchestra, Netherlands North Orchetsra, Holland symphonia, Bologna Chamber Orchestra, Taiwan National Orchestra, Russian State Orchestra, Orchestre National d´Ile de France, Israel Symphony Orchestra and many more. He has collaborated with soloists as Monserrat Caballe, Roberto Alagna, Olga Borodina and performed K. Penderecki cello concerto with composer at the podium.
Piano trio recording for Erato/ Warner with Vadim Repin and Boris Berezovsky has won numerous awards. He has transcribed and edited works for cello, which was released by International Music Company and Dover Publications. His recording of all 40 Popper etudes for solo cello will be released by Naxos records in the fall of 2008.
Dmitry has made more then 70 recordings as conductor and cellist for Naxos, Erato-Warner, Chandos, Belair Music, Sonora, Connoisseur Society. Some of his recordings have won many prizes as, Berlin critic prize, Shostakovich´s Jazz suites recording have been on charts in UK and US. Grammy nomination for 2007 and much more.
He has organized many festivals all over the world including Qabala Festival in Azerbaijan, Wandering Stars Festival, which takes place in different countries of the world each year as in Israel, Italy, Russia, USA and more.
Dmitry has two cellos, which he uses for his cello concerts, Joseph Filius Andrea Guarneri of 1726 and Matteo Gofriller of 1700. He lives on the border of France and Spain in a beautiful Catalan Village in the mountains.
OXANA YABLONSKAYA
“…Yablonskaya’s musicality never gives way to merely exploiting the music for its own glory. If tastefulness and stylistic insight mean anything to you, you will thoroughly enjoy listening to Oxana Yablonskaya”
“An orchestra is superfluous for ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ when there is a pianist of Yablonskaya’s powers to paint them in such indelible colors. A thoroughly excited audience lingered for four encores.”
1 Los Angeles Times
“…Yablonskaya is a mixture of passion, power and poetry, and in the course of one concert, put herself, her piano and the audience through everything that could be expected of a piano recital.”
1 Toronto Star
“…An imposing figure at the piano, Yablonskaya goes for the large gesture rather than for subtle detail, and thus we had heard hard driving, percussive performances, which developed an enormous amount of visceral excitement and left no doubt that Yablonskaya is in complete command of the total resources of the keyboard.”
2 Monterey County Symphony
“…A large audience welcomed her back to Chicago, and her program revealed a technique as impressive as ever, as well as a temperament equally at home in the simple elegance of a Mozart rondo and the thundering chords of a Scriabin etude. Being perfectly able to manipulate the keyboard however she wants, Yablonskaya knows when to take risks and when to pull back and let the music speak for itself.
In the two major pieces, the Beethoven Sonata in D Minor, Op.31, both dramatic, emotional works – Yablonskaya’s bold originality surfaced. She took full liberty with the experiments in contrasting rhythm and dynamics in the first movement of the Beethoven. She lingered over the slow introductory bars whenever they returned, letting each rising tone build and echo before plunging into the short, answering flurry of notes.
In the famous Marche Funebre of the Chopin sonata, she emphasized the bass melody’s relentless nature rather than its overpowering volume. In the Sonata’s opening movement, she gave this almost chaotic music coherence by highlighting the return of early motifs. She made sure we heard a rumble of octaves under a singing melody and the harmonic twists that helped reinforce the shape of this hectic, headlong movement.
Yablonskaya’s sheer technical prowess was on the most vivid display in six Scriabin etudes from Op. 8, exercisers composed in imitation of Chopin’s etudes. But as the Mozart Rondo K.511 and the Chopin Noturne Op. 9, No. 1 and Scherzo Op. 31, No. 2 revealed, she also can weave a lyrically meditative melody.”
3 Chicago Sun-Times
Oxana Yablonskaya’s charismatic piano playing and profound interpretations have brought her acclaim for over thirty years. Known for her powerhouse virtuosity, exquisite sensitivity, and deep emotional drive, Ms. Yablonskaya has enchanted audiences world-wide.
Oxana Yablonskaya was born in Moscow. As an adolescent she attended The Moscow Central School for the Gifted under the tutelage of great Anaida Sumbatyan, with whom she worked with until the age of 16. She later studied at the Conservatory of Moscow with the legendary Aleksandre Goldenweiser. At 22, she began a professional relationship with Tatiana Nikolayeva in the Doctorate Program, later acting as her assistant at the Moscow Conservatory. Following graduation with high honors, she was introduced to the Western World in Paris at the Jacques Long-Thibaud Competition in 1963, the Rio de Janeiro Competition in 1965, and the Vienna Beethoven Competition in 1969. She won top prizes in all three competitions, and received numerous invitations for return engagements, but because of the Cold War, was not allowed to do so.
While still in the USSR, Ms. Yablonskaya performed Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto #1 with the Moscow Philharmonic under conductor Yury Simonov at the Composers Jubilee Concert in the Kremlin. She was the first performer to play Rodion Shchedrin’s “Basso Ostinato,” which became her signature piece. Her status as a consummate professional was heightened by many prominent Soviet and foreign composers dedicating their music to her.
Despite the reputation she had earned within the Soviet Union and being a prize winner of three international competitions, she was never permitted to play outside the Eastern Bloc. Yet, she recorded for the Melodya label and had earned the prestigious title of Soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic. The title put her in the company of elite artists such as Gilels, Richter, Rostropovich, Oistrakh and Kogan. Outstanding solo performances with the Bolshoi Orchestra, the Moscow Stars series, and the Shostakovich 65th Birthday Celebration Concert were confirmations of her remarkable talent.
In 1975, distressed over constant restraints on her personal and artistic freedom, she applied for a U.S. visa. Her actions resulted in a loss of her position as a professor at the Moscow Conservatory. She inherently was deprived of all concert engagements. She waited more than two years for a visa and finally, she was allowed to leave the country with her father and young son due to the diligence and petitioning by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, Katherine Hepburn, Bar Ilan, and over 45 famous writers, musicians, senators, and actors.
Ms. Yablonskaya arrived in New York in 1977, unknown, unheralded, and not having touched a piano in more than two years. She made her first New York appearance in a recital at the Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center only four months later, and received laudatory acclaim from the press. Her Carnegie Hall debut recital the following October was attended by a capacity crowd, and she has since taken her place among the major pianists of the world.
Once considered ‘The best kept secret of the Soviet Union,’ Ms. Yablonskaya has now performed in more than 40 countries.
Following her triumph at her London recital debut in the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1982, the Daily Telegraph wrote: “Yablonskaya is the sort of pianist who accomplishes with ease and naturalness what others struggle for a lifetime to achieve.” In 1986, following her Canadian performance with the National Symphony under conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, a music critic of the Toronto Star wrote, “She played Rachmaninoff’s 3rd as if it was written for her.”
Ms. Yablonskaya has emerged as one of the most compelling talents of her generation. She has performed with many of the finest symphony orchestras in the world and with many of the leading conductors of our time. An extraordinary recitalist, she is equally renowned for solo performances.
In addition to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, she has performed in the Royal Albert Hall in London, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Royal Concergebouw in Amsterdam, Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Great Hall of St. Petersburgh Philharmonic, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Sheldonyan Theatre and Holywell Music Room in Oxford, England and many more.
Ms. Yablonskaya has collaborated in performances with such celebrated conductors as: Alexander Dmitriev, Alexander Anissimov, Yury Aronovitch, Rudolf Barshai, Herbert Bloomstaadt, Boris Brott, Abraham Chavez, Sergiu Comissiona, Franz Paul Decke, Alexander Dmitriev, Lawrence Foster, Youosh Forst, Pierro Gamba, Fedor Gluschenko, Inbal, Arnold Katz, Anton Kersies, Dmitry Kitaenko, Eric Klaas, Kirill Kondrashin, Uri Maier, Fuat Mansurov, Nathan Rakhlin, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Stanislaw Skrowachevsky, Pavel Sorokin, Yevgeny Svetlanov, Yuly Turowsky, Victor Yampolsky.
In 1990, after a 13 year absence, Ms. Yablonskaya returned to Russia for a sold-out concert, master classes and recitals at the Moscow Conservatory. Since then she has returned on a regular basis and is once more recognized as an elite piano virtuoso in Russia.
In recent years, Ms. Yablonskaya has collaborated with her son, renowned cellist/conductor, 2007 Grammy Award Nomineee Dmitry Yablonsky. Their concerts have enjoyed vast public and critical acclaim. The New York Times called their Carnegie Hall debut, “A vibrant dialog.” Their recordings together include duo performances for cello and piano as well as Khachaturian and Glasunov piano concertos recorded with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofieff, Brahms , Liszt 1st concertos and Chopin 1st and 2nd Concertos with Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and Mr. Yablonsky conducting .
In addition to her success as a concert pianist and recording artist, Ms. Yablonskaya has held the position of Professor of Piano at The Julliard School in New York City. She has lectured numerous master classes at many distinguished music schools, academies, conservatories and festivals throughout the world such as Newport and Bowdin in USA, Flaine and Tours in France, Lago Maggiore in Switzerland, Oxford Philomusica in England. Dr.Yablonskaya is a Co-Founder of Puigcerda Musica Clasica International Festival in Spain since 1998. Ms. Yablonskaya made numerous editions of piano music by Cimarosa, Tchaikovsky, Lyadov, Balakirev, Gluck, Glinka and others for International Music Company and currently continues her collaboration with this prestigious music publishing company.
Oxana Yablonskaya and her son Dmitry co-founded new Festival in Duxbury, MA in 2006. Ms. Yablonskaya also serves on the jury of many international piano competitions such as Leeds in England, Franz Liszt in the Netherlands, Prokofiev in St.Petersburg, Russia, Hamamatsu in Japan, competitions in Taiwan, Andorra, at the 2005 Seiler International Piano Competition and Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition, Piano E-Competition in Minneapolis, Minn. Jose Iturbi in Valencia, Parnassos in Monterrey, Mexico and in 2007 she has been invited to judge Sendai Competition in Japan and Beethoven Competition in Bonn.
Among her numerous recordings, Ms.Yablonskaya’s Liszt/Schubert CD won the Grand Prix du Disque from the International Liszt Society in Budapest. In the December 1995 review of her Tchaikovsky CD, the American Record Guide wrote, “Oxana Yablonskaya is an artist who deserves to be heard and in any repertory she chooses.”
In March of 2006 Ms. Yablonskaya performed inaugural "Sold Out" recital in Carnegie Zankel Hall in New York marking the Founding of Chopin Society of New York of which she was appointed Vice -President and Music Director.
The 6-concert tour of France with a "Sold Out" concert in Paris's hystorical MagadorTheatre followed immediately after where Oxana Yablonskaya performed Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto with Orchestre National D'Ille de France under the direction of Mo. Yablonsky. After magnificent performance at Magador Theatre French critic Cyril Brun called Yablonskaya "Grand Tsarina of Russian piano who in an instant opened for us the whole Imperial Russia."
On December 15th of 2006 another “Sold Out“ “Oxana Yablonskaya and Friends“ event took place at Carnegie Zankel Hall , where Oxana and Dmitry Yablonsky performed Chopin’s Cello Sonata and Grand Polonaise and received standing ovations. Composer Lowell Liberman wrote after attending this concert: ”Profound performance of this Sonata will stay in my memory for a long time”.
During this concert surprise ceremony took place – Oxana Yablonskaya was presented with a title of Honorary Academician of International Academy of the Arts at the United Nations, International Academy of the Arts in San Francisco and International Independent Academy of Liberal Arts in Moscow, Diplomas and Einstein Gold Medal for extraordinary achievements. In October of 2008 Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute will open it’s doors in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana in Tuscany, Italy.
The 2008 is a 70th Birthday Jubilee Celebration of Oxana and all year she has been performing starting in Italy with New Years Day recital in Catania, then in Israel she performed Tchaikovsky 1st concerto four times, Grieg concerto in Turkey, solo recital in Tuscany and Master Classeses in Hamamatsu Academy, Japan, judging Liszt Competition in Utrecht, Jose Iturbi in Los Angeles, E-Piano Competition in Minneapolis, teaching in Spain, solo recital at MTNA in Los Angeles, Master Classes and chamber music concert in Nice, recording of Tchaikovsky “Seasons” and”Album for the Young.” Two concerts on November 29th and December 1st will be held in Taiwan – Oxana will perform Shostakovich 1st Concerto with National Symphony Orchestra in Taipei and Taichung and on December 11th the Jubilee Concert will take place at Carnegie Zankel Hall where Oxana Yablonsaya will perform Beethoven 4th, Chopin 2nd and Shostakovich 1st concerti under the direction of her son Grammy Award nominated conductor Dmitry Yablonsky.
Oxana Yablonskaya is a Yamaha Artist and Artistic Advisor for Yamaha Master Classes in New York city.
David Dubal is internationally known as a pianist, teacher, writer, and broadcaster.
An acknowledged authority on the piano literature, Mr. DubalТs books. The Art of the Piano, Evenings with Horowitz, Reflections from the Keyboard, and Conversations with Menuhin are highly acclaimed and have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, German, etc. He has also written numerous articles in journals, liner notes, and CD booklets for the Nimbus Grand Piano Series. He edited American Piano Music from the Civil War through World War I for International Music.
David DubalТs video, The Golden Age of the Piano has been seen worldwide on Philips Classics VCR and DVD in four languages and won him an Emmy award. He also presented a multi-media show on Horowitz for Steinway and Sons using HorowitzТs piano.
Recipient of the first ASCAP Deems Taylor award for broadcast journalism, David Dubal has won numerous awards including the coveted George Foster Peabody award. He also received a proclamation from mayor Guiliani for his services to music in New York City. During 1999 he was heard every Sunday at WQXR as host of the program The American Century - a series devoted to American music. He was music and program director of the radio station WNCN (New York City) and was also producer and commentator of innumerable special broadcasts.
Mr. Dubal has been on the faculty of the Juilliard School since 1983 and the Manhattan School of Music since 1995. At Juilliard, his series The World of the Piano is one of the most popular classes in the Evening Division.
David Dubal has conducted master classes worldwide including: Seoul National University, the Berne Conservatory in Switzerland, and in Brazil and Israel. Mr. Dubal has judged many international competitions including a series of 6 lecture-recitals at the 1989, 1993, 1997 Van Cliburn competitions. The Dubal Collection of Interviews is at the University of Maryland. He is a Housewright Eminent Scholar at Florida State University.
Currently Mr. Dubal is heard every Wednesday night at 10:00PM on WQXR in his program: Reflections From The Keyboard, The Piano in Comparative Performance. His new book, The Essential Canon of Classical Music was recently published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. In May, 2006, Mr. Dubal received an honorary Doctor of Music from the 64 colleges of The State University of New York.
“An orchestra is superfluous for ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ when there is a pianist of Yablonskaya’s powers to paint them in such indelible colors. A thoroughly excited audience lingered for four encores.”
1 Los Angeles Times
“…Yablonskaya is a mixture of passion, power and poetry, and in the course of one concert, put herself, her piano and the audience through everything that could be expected of a piano recital.”
1 Toronto Star
“…An imposing figure at the piano, Yablonskaya goes for the large gesture rather than for subtle detail, and thus we had heard hard driving, percussive performances, which developed an enormous amount of visceral excitement and left no doubt that Yablonskaya is in complete command of the total resources of the keyboard.”
2 Monterey County Symphony
“…A large audience welcomed her back to Chicago, and her program revealed a technique as impressive as ever, as well as a temperament equally at home in the simple elegance of a Mozart rondo and the thundering chords of a Scriabin etude. Being perfectly able to manipulate the keyboard however she wants, Yablonskaya knows when to take risks and when to pull back and let the music speak for itself.
In the two major pieces, the Beethoven Sonata in D Minor, Op.31, both dramatic, emotional works – Yablonskaya’s bold originality surfaced. She took full liberty with the experiments in contrasting rhythm and dynamics in the first movement of the Beethoven. She lingered over the slow introductory bars whenever they returned, letting each rising tone build and echo before plunging into the short, answering flurry of notes.
In the famous Marche Funebre of the Chopin sonata, she emphasized the bass melody’s relentless nature rather than its overpowering volume. In the Sonata’s opening movement, she gave this almost chaotic music coherence by highlighting the return of early motifs. She made sure we heard a rumble of octaves under a singing melody and the harmonic twists that helped reinforce the shape of this hectic, headlong movement.
Yablonskaya’s sheer technical prowess was on the most vivid display in six Scriabin etudes from Op. 8, exercisers composed in imitation of Chopin’s etudes. But as the Mozart Rondo K.511 and the Chopin Noturne Op. 9, No. 1 and Scherzo Op. 31, No. 2 revealed, she also can weave a lyrically meditative melody.”
3 Chicago Sun-Times
Oxana Yablonskaya’s charismatic piano playing and profound interpretations have brought her acclaim for over thirty years. Known for her powerhouse virtuosity, exquisite sensitivity, and deep emotional drive, Ms. Yablonskaya has enchanted audiences world-wide.
Oxana Yablonskaya was born in Moscow. As an adolescent she attended The Moscow Central School for the Gifted under the tutelage of great Anaida Sumbatyan, with whom she worked with until the age of 16. She later studied at the Conservatory of Moscow with the legendary Aleksandre Goldenweiser. At 22, she began a professional relationship with Tatiana Nikolayeva in the Doctorate Program, later acting as her assistant at the Moscow Conservatory. Following graduation with high honors, she was introduced to the Western World in Paris at the Jacques Long-Thibaud Competition in 1963, the Rio de Janeiro Competition in 1965, and the Vienna Beethoven Competition in 1969. She won top prizes in all three competitions, and received numerous invitations for return engagements, but because of the Cold War, was not allowed to do so.
While still in the USSR, Ms. Yablonskaya performed Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto #1 with the Moscow Philharmonic under conductor Yury Simonov at the Composers Jubilee Concert in the Kremlin. She was the first performer to play Rodion Shchedrin’s “Basso Ostinato,” which became her signature piece. Her status as a consummate professional was heightened by many prominent Soviet and foreign composers dedicating their music to her.
Despite the reputation she had earned within the Soviet Union and being a prize winner of three international competitions, she was never permitted to play outside the Eastern Bloc. Yet, she recorded for the Melodya label and had earned the prestigious title of Soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic. The title put her in the company of elite artists such as Gilels, Richter, Rostropovich, Oistrakh and Kogan. Outstanding solo performances with the Bolshoi Orchestra, the Moscow Stars series, and the Shostakovich 65th Birthday Celebration Concert were confirmations of her remarkable talent.
In 1975, distressed over constant restraints on her personal and artistic freedom, she applied for a U.S. visa. Her actions resulted in a loss of her position as a professor at the Moscow Conservatory. She inherently was deprived of all concert engagements. She waited more than two years for a visa and finally, she was allowed to leave the country with her father and young son due to the diligence and petitioning by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, Katherine Hepburn, Bar Ilan, and over 45 famous writers, musicians, senators, and actors.
Ms. Yablonskaya arrived in New York in 1977, unknown, unheralded, and not having touched a piano in more than two years. She made her first New York appearance in a recital at the Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center only four months later, and received laudatory acclaim from the press. Her Carnegie Hall debut recital the following October was attended by a capacity crowd, and she has since taken her place among the major pianists of the world.
Once considered ‘The best kept secret of the Soviet Union,’ Ms. Yablonskaya has now performed in more than 40 countries.
Following her triumph at her London recital debut in the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1982, the Daily Telegraph wrote: “Yablonskaya is the sort of pianist who accomplishes with ease and naturalness what others struggle for a lifetime to achieve.” In 1986, following her Canadian performance with the National Symphony under conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, a music critic of the Toronto Star wrote, “She played Rachmaninoff’s 3rd as if it was written for her.”
Ms. Yablonskaya has emerged as one of the most compelling talents of her generation. She has performed with many of the finest symphony orchestras in the world and with many of the leading conductors of our time. An extraordinary recitalist, she is equally renowned for solo performances.
In addition to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, she has performed in the Royal Albert Hall in London, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Royal Concergebouw in Amsterdam, Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Great Hall of St. Petersburgh Philharmonic, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Sheldonyan Theatre and Holywell Music Room in Oxford, England and many more.
Ms. Yablonskaya has collaborated in performances with such celebrated conductors as: Alexander Dmitriev, Alexander Anissimov, Yury Aronovitch, Rudolf Barshai, Herbert Bloomstaadt, Boris Brott, Abraham Chavez, Sergiu Comissiona, Franz Paul Decke, Alexander Dmitriev, Lawrence Foster, Youosh Forst, Pierro Gamba, Fedor Gluschenko, Inbal, Arnold Katz, Anton Kersies, Dmitry Kitaenko, Eric Klaas, Kirill Kondrashin, Uri Maier, Fuat Mansurov, Nathan Rakhlin, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Stanislaw Skrowachevsky, Pavel Sorokin, Yevgeny Svetlanov, Yuly Turowsky, Victor Yampolsky.
In 1990, after a 13 year absence, Ms. Yablonskaya returned to Russia for a sold-out concert, master classes and recitals at the Moscow Conservatory. Since then she has returned on a regular basis and is once more recognized as an elite piano virtuoso in Russia.
In recent years, Ms. Yablonskaya has collaborated with her son, renowned cellist/conductor, 2007 Grammy Award Nomineee Dmitry Yablonsky. Their concerts have enjoyed vast public and critical acclaim. The New York Times called their Carnegie Hall debut, “A vibrant dialog.” Their recordings together include duo performances for cello and piano as well as Khachaturian and Glasunov piano concertos recorded with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofieff, Brahms , Liszt 1st concertos and Chopin 1st and 2nd Concertos with Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and Mr. Yablonsky conducting .
In addition to her success as a concert pianist and recording artist, Ms. Yablonskaya has held the position of Professor of Piano at The Julliard School in New York City. She has lectured numerous master classes at many distinguished music schools, academies, conservatories and festivals throughout the world such as Newport and Bowdin in USA, Flaine and Tours in France, Lago Maggiore in Switzerland, Oxford Philomusica in England. Dr.Yablonskaya is a Co-Founder of Puigcerda Musica Clasica International Festival in Spain since 1998. Ms. Yablonskaya made numerous editions of piano music by Cimarosa, Tchaikovsky, Lyadov, Balakirev, Gluck, Glinka and others for International Music Company and currently continues her collaboration with this prestigious music publishing company.
Oxana Yablonskaya and her son Dmitry co-founded new Festival in Duxbury, MA in 2006. Ms. Yablonskaya also serves on the jury of many international piano competitions such as Leeds in England, Franz Liszt in the Netherlands, Prokofiev in St.Petersburg, Russia, Hamamatsu in Japan, competitions in Taiwan, Andorra, at the 2005 Seiler International Piano Competition and Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition, Piano E-Competition in Minneapolis, Minn. Jose Iturbi in Valencia, Parnassos in Monterrey, Mexico and in 2007 she has been invited to judge Sendai Competition in Japan and Beethoven Competition in Bonn.
Among her numerous recordings, Ms.Yablonskaya’s Liszt/Schubert CD won the Grand Prix du Disque from the International Liszt Society in Budapest. In the December 1995 review of her Tchaikovsky CD, the American Record Guide wrote, “Oxana Yablonskaya is an artist who deserves to be heard and in any repertory she chooses.”
In March of 2006 Ms. Yablonskaya performed inaugural "Sold Out" recital in Carnegie Zankel Hall in New York marking the Founding of Chopin Society of New York of which she was appointed Vice -President and Music Director.
The 6-concert tour of France with a "Sold Out" concert in Paris's hystorical MagadorTheatre followed immediately after where Oxana Yablonskaya performed Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto with Orchestre National D'Ille de France under the direction of Mo. Yablonsky. After magnificent performance at Magador Theatre French critic Cyril Brun called Yablonskaya "Grand Tsarina of Russian piano who in an instant opened for us the whole Imperial Russia."
On December 15th of 2006 another “Sold Out“ “Oxana Yablonskaya and Friends“ event took place at Carnegie Zankel Hall , where Oxana and Dmitry Yablonsky performed Chopin’s Cello Sonata and Grand Polonaise and received standing ovations. Composer Lowell Liberman wrote after attending this concert: ”Profound performance of this Sonata will stay in my memory for a long time”.
During this concert surprise ceremony took place – Oxana Yablonskaya was presented with a title of Honorary Academician of International Academy of the Arts at the United Nations, International Academy of the Arts in San Francisco and International Independent Academy of Liberal Arts in Moscow, Diplomas and Einstein Gold Medal for extraordinary achievements. In October of 2008 Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute will open it’s doors in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana in Tuscany, Italy.
The 2008 is a 70th Birthday Jubilee Celebration of Oxana and all year she has been performing starting in Italy with New Years Day recital in Catania, then in Israel she performed Tchaikovsky 1st concerto four times, Grieg concerto in Turkey, solo recital in Tuscany and Master Classeses in Hamamatsu Academy, Japan, judging Liszt Competition in Utrecht, Jose Iturbi in Los Angeles, E-Piano Competition in Minneapolis, teaching in Spain, solo recital at MTNA in Los Angeles, Master Classes and chamber music concert in Nice, recording of Tchaikovsky “Seasons” and”Album for the Young.” Two concerts on November 29th and December 1st will be held in Taiwan – Oxana will perform Shostakovich 1st Concerto with National Symphony Orchestra in Taipei and Taichung and on December 11th the Jubilee Concert will take place at Carnegie Zankel Hall where Oxana Yablonsaya will perform Beethoven 4th, Chopin 2nd and Shostakovich 1st concerti under the direction of her son Grammy Award nominated conductor Dmitry Yablonsky.
Oxana Yablonskaya is a Yamaha Artist and Artistic Advisor for Yamaha Master Classes in New York city.
DAVID DUBAL
David Dubal is internationally known as a pianist, teacher, writer, and broadcaster.
An acknowledged authority on the piano literature, Mr. DubalТs books. The Art of the Piano, Evenings with Horowitz, Reflections from the Keyboard, and Conversations with Menuhin are highly acclaimed and have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, German, etc. He has also written numerous articles in journals, liner notes, and CD booklets for the Nimbus Grand Piano Series. He edited American Piano Music from the Civil War through World War I for International Music.
David DubalТs video, The Golden Age of the Piano has been seen worldwide on Philips Classics VCR and DVD in four languages and won him an Emmy award. He also presented a multi-media show on Horowitz for Steinway and Sons using HorowitzТs piano.
Recipient of the first ASCAP Deems Taylor award for broadcast journalism, David Dubal has won numerous awards including the coveted George Foster Peabody award. He also received a proclamation from mayor Guiliani for his services to music in New York City. During 1999 he was heard every Sunday at WQXR as host of the program The American Century - a series devoted to American music. He was music and program director of the radio station WNCN (New York City) and was also producer and commentator of innumerable special broadcasts.
Mr. Dubal has been on the faculty of the Juilliard School since 1983 and the Manhattan School of Music since 1995. At Juilliard, his series The World of the Piano is one of the most popular classes in the Evening Division.
David Dubal has conducted master classes worldwide including: Seoul National University, the Berne Conservatory in Switzerland, and in Brazil and Israel. Mr. Dubal has judged many international competitions including a series of 6 lecture-recitals at the 1989, 1993, 1997 Van Cliburn competitions. The Dubal Collection of Interviews is at the University of Maryland. He is a Housewright Eminent Scholar at Florida State University.
Currently Mr. Dubal is heard every Wednesday night at 10:00PM on WQXR in his program: Reflections From The Keyboard, The Piano in Comparative Performance. His new book, The Essential Canon of Classical Music was recently published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. In May, 2006, Mr. Dubal received an honorary Doctor of Music from the 64 colleges of The State University of New York.
DANIEL POLLACK
A brief biography
(www.danielpollack.com)
(www.danielpollack.com)
Audiences worldwide, across five continents – North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa -- recognize the pianism of Daniel Pollack for its signature colors in sound, coupled with over-the-edge thrilling virtuosity, giving his performances an electrifying element that catches the imagination of concert goers. Worldwide critics speak about “his astonishing pianism,” Washington Post and “his dramatic tension, poignant lyricism,” Diapason Magazine, Paris, France and “his torrents of sound that turned feathery flurries of delicate sounds,” Los Angeles Times.
Highlight appearances as soloist with major orchestras in the U.S. include the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony; and worldwide, Moscow State Philharmonic, St. Petersburg, Russia, London's Royal Philharmonic, Bergen Symphony, Norway, Seoul Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Kiev Philharmonic, Ukraine, National Symphony Orchestra of Bogota, Colombia, Montevideo Symphony, among others.
Pollack has performed solo recitals in the major music centers of the world including London's Royal Festival Hall, Vienna's Musikverein, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Buenos Aires' Teatro Colon, Seoul's Arts Center, Moscow's Bolshoi Zal, New York's Carnegie Hall, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, Los Angeles' Music Center. Additional highlights of Pollack's career include guest appearances at Tchaikovsky's home in Kline, Russia, performing on the composer's piano and at a joint session of the United States Congress honoring the late President Harry Truman.
Pollack is much in demand on international competition juries. He has participated several times on the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition held in Moscow as well as on the Queen Elizabeth in Brussels; Montreal, Canada; Vladimir Horowitz, Kiev, Ukraine; Leeds, England; Ciurlionis, Vilnius, Lithuania; Maria Callas, Athens, Greece; Han Romanson, Seoul, Korea; Jose Iturbi, Los Angeles, California; Gina Bachauer, Salt Lake City; Hamamatsu and Sonoda Competitions in Japan; UNISA in Pretoria, South Africa; Anton Rubinstein, Dresden, Germany; Prokofiev, St. Petersburg, Russia; and the Rachmaninoff in Moscow, among others.
His most recent CD, entitled “COLORS, with major works from Schumann and Liszt has received international critical acclaim… “the great Schumann Fantasy is played with sweep and passion…(Pollack) plays all three sections with all the emotion, imagination and color necessary to make it sound like a disciplined yet grand improvisation,” and “Liszt’s two blockbusters (the Mephisto Waltz, Funerailles) add additional incentives to acquire this outstanding recording,” wrote Alan Becker, American Record.
Among other international releases are Pollack’s Grammy-nominated CD for Naxos, the complete solo piano works of Samuel Barber, which was heralded as “prodigious pianism of fiery energy, dynamic articulation and élan,” Repertoire Magazine, Paris, France. Other CDs include an all-Chopin recital recorded in the Bolshoi Zal of the Philharmonic in St. Petersburg, Russia, released by Sony as well as two CDs of popular short romantic works for Four Winds.
Pollack first garnered the music world's attention when he became a prizewinner in the International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. Following, he concertized throughout the former Soviet Union and became the first American to record there for the Melodya label. Later, these were re-issued worldwide under several different labels. A more recent CD entitled, “The Legendary Moscow Recitals” are from Melodya’s archives of Pollack recordings of his early years that sold in the millions throughout the former Soviet Union over several decades.
Pollack has held several visiting artist faculty positions including The Juilliard School, Columbia University and Yale's School of Music. Pollack is also on the faculty at the Thornton School of Music, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Pollack began his studies at the age of four with the renowned prodigy teacher Mme. Ethel Leginska and made his debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of nine, performing the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School from the class of the legendary Rosina Lhevinne, herself a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory. Pollack continued his graduate studies at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna under a Fulbright scholarship with Bruno Seidlhofer, at the Academia Chigiana in Siena, Italy with Guido Agosti and was awarded a Prix de Positano, Italy for a special Beethoven Master Class with the late Wilhelm Kempff.
Daniel Pollack’s cutting edge web site www.danielpollack.com, in which he can be seen and heard in a live concert from Moscow’s Bolshoi Zaal, has been a favorite of classical musicians worldwide, achieving a record number of visitors annually and winning the prestigious Informative Music Site Award.
VLADIMIR VIARDO
Renowned pianist Vladimir Viardo, highly acclaimed for his masterful interpretations of composers from all eras, was born in the Caucasus Mountains near the Black Sea. As a young aspiring artist he moved to Moscow to study with Professor Lev Naumov at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was taught the methods of the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus. Within six years of study, he received his doctorate degree and was appointed Associate Professor to Naumov. That same year he was tenured as a soloist by the Moscow Philharmonia. Viardo was first brought to international acclaim in 1971 after winning the “Grand Prix” and “Prix du Prince Rainier” in the Maguerite Long/Jacques Thibaud Competition held in Paris. In 1973, he was the top prizewinnner of the Van Cliburn Competition, where he also won a special prize for Rachmaninoff and Contemporary Works and subsequently received concert contracts for over seventy recitals and appearances with symphony orchestras in major U.S. cities. But after having his travel visa revoked, Maestro Viardo was prevented from carrying on his musical career outside the USSR for fourteen years. During his confinement he expanded the foundation of his musical knowledge and enlarged his repertoire to include 37 concerti. But it wasn’t until the new era of “Glastnost” and “Perestroika” that the distinguished pianist was able to bring his music to the rest of the world. Since resuming his international career, Vladimir Viardo has met with extremely enthusiastic reviews and has become one of the most sought-after pianists in the world, performing in such major venues as Lincoln and Kennedy Centers, Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. He has appeared as soloist with the conductors Mehta, Maazel, Penderecki, Mata, Kondrashin, Comissiona, and Krivine, among many others.
Immediately after concertizing with the Dallas Symphony, Maestro Viardo was offered the position of Professor – Artist in Residence at the University of North Texas, where he is dedicated to developing a selective class of artistically gifted students from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan, Portugal, Finland, and the USA, who include laureates of the world’s major competitions. He is the founder of the Viardo Foundation, committed to providing financial assistance to his promising students during their years of collegiate study, and he is listed among “The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the U.S.A.” Viardo’s recordings include the Third Concerto of Rachmaninoff and solo works of Rachmaninoff, Medtner, Karamanov, Shostakovich, Liszt, and Debussy. He has also taken great interest in conducting, stating, “Conducting allows me to have a better understanding of the symphonic mentality and instrumental timbre that lies within all piano creations.” He conducted his orchestration of Shostakovich’s Second Piano Sonata with the Kiev Philharmonic in 2004.
2005 marked the first year of the Viardo International Piano Competition in Belmont, California. In addition, Mr. Viardo is the chairman of several international piano competitions in Italy, Portugal and the USA. His concert tours this season include the appearances in China, Germany, France, England, Spain, USA, Georgia and Russia.
Alexander Braginsky was born and educated in Moscow. He received his first piano lessons from his mother, a well-known concert pianist. At the age of six he begun study with Alexander Goldenweiser, a close friend of Leo Tolstoy and a classmate of Rachmaninov and Scriabin. It was through Goldenweiser, with whom he spent 12 years as his youngest student, that Braginsky came into contact with the great 19th-sentury romantic tradition. After Goldenweiser death, he continued to study with Theodore Gutman, another illustrious representative of the “Golden Age” of Russian piano school.
Braginsky’s repertoire extends from Baroque to avant-garde. He performed over twenty world premieres, most of which were works commissioned and written for him, including music by Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen and Paul Fetler’s Piano Concerto, commissioned by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Braginsky performed extensively in the former USSR, Israel, England, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China, Spain, France, Cuba and the United States. The London Times characterized Braginsky’s playing as “splendid” and the Chicago Sun-Times called him “…a pianist with a fine, commanding sound that he can also use with great delicacy and expression.”
Braginsky has recorded for DDF, Sound StarTone and d’Note labels. He has appeared repeatedly on BBC, National Public Radio, RTB-BRT and other radio stations throughout the world.
Braginsky was artist-in-residence in Churchill College, England in 1981 and 1986. From 1995 to 2006 he was on the faculty of the International Music Summer Course in Vienna, Austria, and has given numerous masterclasses in Europe, Asia and North America. Currently he teaches at the University of Minnesota School of Music where he is Professor of Piano. Many of his students have won national and international competitions.
Alexander Braginsky frequently judges International and National Piano Competitions. He is the Founder/President and the Artistic Director of the Minnesota International Piano-e-competition.
Immediately after concertizing with the Dallas Symphony, Maestro Viardo was offered the position of Professor – Artist in Residence at the University of North Texas, where he is dedicated to developing a selective class of artistically gifted students from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan, Portugal, Finland, and the USA, who include laureates of the world’s major competitions. He is the founder of the Viardo Foundation, committed to providing financial assistance to his promising students during their years of collegiate study, and he is listed among “The Most Wanted Piano Teachers in the U.S.A.” Viardo’s recordings include the Third Concerto of Rachmaninoff and solo works of Rachmaninoff, Medtner, Karamanov, Shostakovich, Liszt, and Debussy. He has also taken great interest in conducting, stating, “Conducting allows me to have a better understanding of the symphonic mentality and instrumental timbre that lies within all piano creations.” He conducted his orchestration of Shostakovich’s Second Piano Sonata with the Kiev Philharmonic in 2004.
2005 marked the first year of the Viardo International Piano Competition in Belmont, California. In addition, Mr. Viardo is the chairman of several international piano competitions in Italy, Portugal and the USA. His concert tours this season include the appearances in China, Germany, France, England, Spain, USA, Georgia and Russia.
ALEXANDER BRAGINSKY
Alexander Braginsky was born and educated in Moscow. He received his first piano lessons from his mother, a well-known concert pianist. At the age of six he begun study with Alexander Goldenweiser, a close friend of Leo Tolstoy and a classmate of Rachmaninov and Scriabin. It was through Goldenweiser, with whom he spent 12 years as his youngest student, that Braginsky came into contact with the great 19th-sentury romantic tradition. After Goldenweiser death, he continued to study with Theodore Gutman, another illustrious representative of the “Golden Age” of Russian piano school.
Braginsky’s repertoire extends from Baroque to avant-garde. He performed over twenty world premieres, most of which were works commissioned and written for him, including music by Stephen Paulus, Libby Larsen and Paul Fetler’s Piano Concerto, commissioned by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Braginsky performed extensively in the former USSR, Israel, England, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China, Spain, France, Cuba and the United States. The London Times characterized Braginsky’s playing as “splendid” and the Chicago Sun-Times called him “…a pianist with a fine, commanding sound that he can also use with great delicacy and expression.”
Braginsky has recorded for DDF, Sound StarTone and d’Note labels. He has appeared repeatedly on BBC, National Public Radio, RTB-BRT and other radio stations throughout the world.
Braginsky was artist-in-residence in Churchill College, England in 1981 and 1986. From 1995 to 2006 he was on the faculty of the International Music Summer Course in Vienna, Austria, and has given numerous masterclasses in Europe, Asia and North America. Currently he teaches at the University of Minnesota School of Music where he is Professor of Piano. Many of his students have won national and international competitions.
Alexander Braginsky frequently judges International and National Piano Competitions. He is the Founder/President and the Artistic Director of the Minnesota International Piano-e-competition.
LIU SHIN KUN
Liu Shih Kun is a worldwide well-known Chinese pianist. He was a prodigy, performing the Beethoven concert at the age of six and winning the gold medal in the Chinese National Piano competition for children when he was nine years old. In 1956, he received third prize at the Liszt International Piano Competition in Hungary (he shared the third prize with the Russian legendary pianist “Lazar Berman”). Hungarian government especially gave Mr Liu Shih Kun the Liszt’s hair as a “superior first price” because the political situation Mr Liu couldn’t be an actual first price. Two years later, Mr Liu won the second prize at the First Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow, the first prize was famous American pianist- Van Cliburn.
Mr. Liu graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. His recording “Liszt Piano concerto No.1” performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa was one of the best sellers in the world. Two Russian legendary pianists Emil Giles and Sviatoslav Ricter had said Liu Shih Kun is a “rare gifted pianist” and “a genius pianist”, even Heinrich Neuhaus has said “Mr Liu has amazing technique and his performance is from another world.” Mr Liu has been performed for the president of China, president of former Soviet Union, presidents of America, and presidents of other countries.
During the culture revolution, Mr Liu has been in jail for many years. The government tortured him and his arm was almost broken. Fortunately, thanks the kindness and understanding of Mao Zedong, Mr Liu was released from the jail but his performance skill still kept the same level as before the jail. He became the legendary pianist in China.
From 1964, Mr. Liu has been the Representative of the National People’s Congress and the Deputy Chief of the Art Council of the China Cultural Department for many years. Now he is the Member of National Committee of The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Standing Director of Chinese Culture Promotion Society, President of Hong Kong (Overseas) Literature & Arts Association and Honorary (honored) Professor at Central Conservatory in Beijing, Shanghai Conservatories and other conservatories in China.
Since 1990, Mr Liu not only devotes himself to the performance career, but also dedicated himself to the music education. There are over 100 Liu Shih Kun Piano & Arts Centres around the China, 8 Liu Shi Kun Music & Arts Kindergarten and one piano factory, including 50,000 students. On March 14, 2008, the President Hu JinTao told Mr Liu “ Thank you for your contribution on the music education for Chinese People!”.
Mr. Liu graduated from the Moscow Conservatory. His recording “Liszt Piano concerto No.1” performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa was one of the best sellers in the world. Two Russian legendary pianists Emil Giles and Sviatoslav Ricter had said Liu Shih Kun is a “rare gifted pianist” and “a genius pianist”, even Heinrich Neuhaus has said “Mr Liu has amazing technique and his performance is from another world.” Mr Liu has been performed for the president of China, president of former Soviet Union, presidents of America, and presidents of other countries.
During the culture revolution, Mr Liu has been in jail for many years. The government tortured him and his arm was almost broken. Fortunately, thanks the kindness and understanding of Mao Zedong, Mr Liu was released from the jail but his performance skill still kept the same level as before the jail. He became the legendary pianist in China.
From 1964, Mr. Liu has been the Representative of the National People’s Congress and the Deputy Chief of the Art Council of the China Cultural Department for many years. Now he is the Member of National Committee of The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Standing Director of Chinese Culture Promotion Society, President of Hong Kong (Overseas) Literature & Arts Association and Honorary (honored) Professor at Central Conservatory in Beijing, Shanghai Conservatories and other conservatories in China.
Since 1990, Mr Liu not only devotes himself to the performance career, but also dedicated himself to the music education. There are over 100 Liu Shih Kun Piano & Arts Centres around the China, 8 Liu Shi Kun Music & Arts Kindergarten and one piano factory, including 50,000 students. On March 14, 2008, the President Hu JinTao told Mr Liu “ Thank you for your contribution on the music education for Chinese People!”.
VINCENZO BALZANI
Balzani (Milan 1951) graduated in piano in 1971 in Milan Conservatorio under Alberto Mozzati. At the age of 13 he could already perform F. Chopin’s Studies. At 16 he won the F. Liszt Prize at the “M. Canals” Contest, and at 19 the first prize at the “F. P. Neglia” and the “G. B. Viotti” (Vercelli) International Contests, which since then has not yet had another Italian winner.
He has performed more than 900 recitals in the most important Italian concert halls (Teatro alla Scala, San Carlo di Napoli, Petruzzelli di Bari, Regio di Torino, Massimo di Catania, Festival di Bergamo e Brescia, Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto, etc.), and tourning all over the world (U.S.A., Russia, Argentina, South Korea, Germany, France, Romania, Czech Rep., England, Japan, Middle East). He has recorded live performances for radio and TV in Italy (RAI), Switzerland (RTS), France (ORTF) and Korea (MBC).
He has been piano teacher in Conservatorio since 1973, and is presently teaching in Milan (“G. Verdi”). Since 1974 he has been member of the jury in several International Contests (G. B. Viotti, Rina Sala Gallo, E. Pozzoli, F. P. Neglia) and teacher in Master Classes (Tokyo: Toho Gakuen, Mosca: Conservatoire Tchaikowsky...).
He is presently Art Director in the following International Contests: Viotti-Valsesia, Città di Pavia, Città di Cantù (piano and orchestra), which he also founded.
Reid Smith was born in rural North Carolina where he began piano lessons with his mother at the age of 4. By the age of 8 he presented his first solo recitals with performances at several colleges in North and South Carolina.
His musical training was primarily influenced by the teachings of Artur Schnabel. He received his Bachelors of Music at Boston University in 1977, studying with Leonard Shure, who had been Arthur Schnabel's assistant, and continued his studies for three more years at Kent State University with Tung Kwong Kwong, another Schnabel student. In Ohio, he was the Chamber Music Fellow in Piano for the Blossom Festival School of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Reid received his Masters of Music at The Juilliard School in 1983 as a student of Sascha Gorodnitzki, where he was awarded a full Scholarship as well as a Full-Time Teaching Fellowship. He continued his studies at the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik under a Rotary International Graduate Fellowship and an Austrian Young Artists Fellowship, studying with Noel Flores.
Reid earned his Doctorate from the University of Minnesota, where he received a Graduate School Fellowship and Full-Time Teaching Assistantship. His dissertation was entitled "An Analysis of the Structural, Technical, and Pedagogical Aspects of the Chopin Etudes Opus 10 and 25".
Reid has performed in Master Classes with Claude Frank, Gina Bachauer, Leon Fleisher, and Karl Ulrich Schnabel. He has attended Summer Sessions at Indiana University, the Blossom Festival of the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Eastman School of Music. For three years he was Chamber Music Pianist for Blossom Festival School, receiving Chamber Music coaching from Ma Si-Hon, Tung Kwong-Kwong, Felix Galimir, John Mack, and Margaret Baxtresser.
Additionally, Reid worked with Rebecca Penneys at the Eastman School of Music, and Linda Babbits at the Alexander Center, New York City exploring the kinesthetic connections of Motion and Emotion, aligning the body, and natural movements at the piano
As a performer, Reid toured eight seasons throughout the United States under the auspices of Columbia Artists in Community Concert Series, performed with the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony and Kent State University Symphony, and won both the National Stillman-Kelley Competition and the Crosby Adams Concerto Competition. He has performed with members of the Cleveland Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra in numerous chamber music concerts including several appearances in New York City with the Si-Yo Chamber Music Society.
Reid has taught private piano lessons at Minnehaha Academy and Mounds Park Academy in Minnesota and has developed a piano school with three teaching assistants who work with.130 students each week. Additionally he was on the faculty of St. John's University in Collegeville, MN from 1993-95.
In 2005, he co-founded the Dellwood Hills Salon Concerts which presents local and international musicians in an intimate home setting.
He has recorded two CDs: Piano Masterworks Vol. I, an All-Chopin Recital containing the Four Ballades, Scherzo in B Minor and Polonaise in A-Flat, and Piano Masterworks Vol. II, The 27 Etudes of Chopin.
Ms. Rassoulova, native of Baku, Azerbaijan, graduated from the Byul - Byul Special Music School and went on to continue her education at the Azerbaijan state Gajibekov Conservatory and at the the Moscow state Conservatory with Lev Vlasenko.
Her prizes and awards include an honorary diploma from the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, top prize in the International Marguerite Long - Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris and the Gold Medal at the International Music Festival in Pleven, Bulgaria. Ms. Rassoulova–Suk, who holds the title of Distinguished Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has performed in major venues throughout the former Soviet Union, as well as in Poland, Italy, Algeria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Austria, the Netherlands , Belgium, Turkey, Finland, Norway and France. Since settling in New York City in 1990, she has started successful teaching career and became much sought after teacher. Ms. Rassoulova-Suk has appeared in recitals and as a chamber musician throughout the United States , Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. In 2003 she appeared as the featured soloist at a benefit concert for the French Academy Conservatory at Weill Recital Hall. In January 2004, she performed a program of Chopin works in a concert entitled “Reconstructing Chopin” as part of the “Music at the Institute” series at the Ukranian Institute of America. She often collaborating with the distinguished soprano Oksana Krovytska and the Cassat String Quartet. In September 2004, Ms. Rassoulova–Suk returned to her native Baku to appear as soloist with the Azerbaijani Academic Symphony Orchestra.
In the years leading to the present, Ms. Rassoulova–Suk participated in the International Music Festival in Puigcerda, Spain, served on the juries of Intenational Piano Competitions in Monterrey, Mexico, Horowitz in Kiev, Ukraine, played recitals in the prestigious serious at “Bargemusic,” New York, while continuing teaching at Lucy Moses Special Music School.
He has performed more than 900 recitals in the most important Italian concert halls (Teatro alla Scala, San Carlo di Napoli, Petruzzelli di Bari, Regio di Torino, Massimo di Catania, Festival di Bergamo e Brescia, Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto, etc.), and tourning all over the world (U.S.A., Russia, Argentina, South Korea, Germany, France, Romania, Czech Rep., England, Japan, Middle East). He has recorded live performances for radio and TV in Italy (RAI), Switzerland (RTS), France (ORTF) and Korea (MBC).
He has been piano teacher in Conservatorio since 1973, and is presently teaching in Milan (“G. Verdi”). Since 1974 he has been member of the jury in several International Contests (G. B. Viotti, Rina Sala Gallo, E. Pozzoli, F. P. Neglia) and teacher in Master Classes (Tokyo: Toho Gakuen, Mosca: Conservatoire Tchaikowsky...).
He is presently Art Director in the following International Contests: Viotti-Valsesia, Città di Pavia, Città di Cantù (piano and orchestra), which he also founded.
REID SMITH
His musical training was primarily influenced by the teachings of Artur Schnabel. He received his Bachelors of Music at Boston University in 1977, studying with Leonard Shure, who had been Arthur Schnabel's assistant, and continued his studies for three more years at Kent State University with Tung Kwong Kwong, another Schnabel student. In Ohio, he was the Chamber Music Fellow in Piano for the Blossom Festival School of the Cleveland Orchestra.
Reid received his Masters of Music at The Juilliard School in 1983 as a student of Sascha Gorodnitzki, where he was awarded a full Scholarship as well as a Full-Time Teaching Fellowship. He continued his studies at the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik under a Rotary International Graduate Fellowship and an Austrian Young Artists Fellowship, studying with Noel Flores.
Reid earned his Doctorate from the University of Minnesota, where he received a Graduate School Fellowship and Full-Time Teaching Assistantship. His dissertation was entitled "An Analysis of the Structural, Technical, and Pedagogical Aspects of the Chopin Etudes Opus 10 and 25".
Reid has performed in Master Classes with Claude Frank, Gina Bachauer, Leon Fleisher, and Karl Ulrich Schnabel. He has attended Summer Sessions at Indiana University, the Blossom Festival of the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Eastman School of Music. For three years he was Chamber Music Pianist for Blossom Festival School, receiving Chamber Music coaching from Ma Si-Hon, Tung Kwong-Kwong, Felix Galimir, John Mack, and Margaret Baxtresser.
Additionally, Reid worked with Rebecca Penneys at the Eastman School of Music, and Linda Babbits at the Alexander Center, New York City exploring the kinesthetic connections of Motion and Emotion, aligning the body, and natural movements at the piano
As a performer, Reid toured eight seasons throughout the United States under the auspices of Columbia Artists in Community Concert Series, performed with the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony and Kent State University Symphony, and won both the National Stillman-Kelley Competition and the Crosby Adams Concerto Competition. He has performed with members of the Cleveland Orchestra and Philadelphia Orchestra in numerous chamber music concerts including several appearances in New York City with the Si-Yo Chamber Music Society.
Reid has taught private piano lessons at Minnehaha Academy and Mounds Park Academy in Minnesota and has developed a piano school with three teaching assistants who work with.130 students each week. Additionally he was on the faculty of St. John's University in Collegeville, MN from 1993-95.
In 2005, he co-founded the Dellwood Hills Salon Concerts which presents local and international musicians in an intimate home setting.
He has recorded two CDs: Piano Masterworks Vol. I, an All-Chopin Recital containing the Four Ballades, Scherzo in B Minor and Polonaise in A-Flat, and Piano Masterworks Vol. II, The 27 Etudes of Chopin.
VALIDA RASSOULOVA-SUK
Ms. Rassoulova, native of Baku, Azerbaijan, graduated from the Byul - Byul Special Music School and went on to continue her education at the Azerbaijan state Gajibekov Conservatory and at the the Moscow state Conservatory with Lev Vlasenko.
Her prizes and awards include an honorary diploma from the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, top prize in the International Marguerite Long - Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris and the Gold Medal at the International Music Festival in Pleven, Bulgaria. Ms. Rassoulova–Suk, who holds the title of Distinguished Artist of the Republic of Azerbaijan, has performed in major venues throughout the former Soviet Union, as well as in Poland, Italy, Algeria, Hungary, Bulgaria, Tunisia, Austria, the Netherlands , Belgium, Turkey, Finland, Norway and France. Since settling in New York City in 1990, she has started successful teaching career and became much sought after teacher. Ms. Rassoulova-Suk has appeared in recitals and as a chamber musician throughout the United States , Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. In 2003 she appeared as the featured soloist at a benefit concert for the French Academy Conservatory at Weill Recital Hall. In January 2004, she performed a program of Chopin works in a concert entitled “Reconstructing Chopin” as part of the “Music at the Institute” series at the Ukranian Institute of America. She often collaborating with the distinguished soprano Oksana Krovytska and the Cassat String Quartet. In September 2004, Ms. Rassoulova–Suk returned to her native Baku to appear as soloist with the Azerbaijani Academic Symphony Orchestra.
In the years leading to the present, Ms. Rassoulova–Suk participated in the International Music Festival in Puigcerda, Spain, served on the juries of Intenational Piano Competitions in Monterrey, Mexico, Horowitz in Kiev, Ukraine, played recitals in the prestigious serious at “Bargemusic,” New York, while continuing teaching at Lucy Moses Special Music School.
MYRTHALA SALAZAR
Myrthala Salazar was born in Monterrey, México. She began her studies in piano at the age of five under the guidance of Antonio Ortiz, a very distinguished mexican musician. She received her Bachelor´s degree in Music Education and Concert Pianist from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL).
She continued postgraduate studies at the Ecole Normale Superieur de Paris, Alfred Cortot, under the reknowned pianist France Clidat and in London with the great pianist Louis Kentner, later attending masterclasses under Gyorgy Sándor, Jorg Demus and in Santiago de Compostela with Rosa Sabater.
Salazar has performed throughout México as well as in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the United States, England, Greece, Italy, Brazil and the Cayman Islands, etc.. She participated on a T.V. program “Pianists of America” which was transmitted to several cities in the United States.
Myrthala Salazar has been awarded prizes in the field of music such as. The Aguila de Tlatelolco, a medal and diploma for artistic excellence, from the Conjunto Cultural Ollin Yoliztli, a prize for musical merit from the Universidad Regiomontana, Honorable mention from the “Amigos del Obispado”as well as the Civic Merit Award of her home State, Nuevo León. Salazar occupies a very important place in the international concert circuit not only for her piano skills but as the author of “Concerteatro” having its premiere with the work and life of C.A. Debussy. She is the founder of the internationally, acclaimed musical association “PARNASSOS” which organizes concerts, ballets and individual recitals of world renowned artists in Monterrey, México. Last October Parnassós successfully held its First International Piano Competiton Parnassós 2003 under the presidence of Salazar, Gyorgy Sándor and France Clidat.
Salazar keeps very busy as a juror in many international competitions, being the last ones, the Piano competition of Spanish Composers in Madrid, The Scriabin Competition and the Valsesia in Italy, the Princess Lalla Merien in Morocco, The Merignac in Burdeos, the Andorra and the Chatou international competition in France. having become a permanent member of the jury for the later. She has given Masterclasses in Brazil, the Puigcerda festival and many other places.
Salazar just started to work in the third National Competition for Young Pianists to be held in January 2010.
She continued postgraduate studies at the Ecole Normale Superieur de Paris, Alfred Cortot, under the reknowned pianist France Clidat and in London with the great pianist Louis Kentner, later attending masterclasses under Gyorgy Sándor, Jorg Demus and in Santiago de Compostela with Rosa Sabater.
Salazar has performed throughout México as well as in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, the United States, England, Greece, Italy, Brazil and the Cayman Islands, etc.. She participated on a T.V. program “Pianists of America” which was transmitted to several cities in the United States.
Myrthala Salazar has been awarded prizes in the field of music such as. The Aguila de Tlatelolco, a medal and diploma for artistic excellence, from the Conjunto Cultural Ollin Yoliztli, a prize for musical merit from the Universidad Regiomontana, Honorable mention from the “Amigos del Obispado”as well as the Civic Merit Award of her home State, Nuevo León. Salazar occupies a very important place in the international concert circuit not only for her piano skills but as the author of “Concerteatro” having its premiere with the work and life of C.A. Debussy. She is the founder of the internationally, acclaimed musical association “PARNASSOS” which organizes concerts, ballets and individual recitals of world renowned artists in Monterrey, México. Last October Parnassós successfully held its First International Piano Competiton Parnassós 2003 under the presidence of Salazar, Gyorgy Sándor and France Clidat.
Salazar keeps very busy as a juror in many international competitions, being the last ones, the Piano competition of Spanish Composers in Madrid, The Scriabin Competition and the Valsesia in Italy, the Princess Lalla Merien in Morocco, The Merignac in Burdeos, the Andorra and the Chatou international competition in France. having become a permanent member of the jury for the later. She has given Masterclasses in Brazil, the Puigcerda festival and many other places.
Salazar just started to work in the third National Competition for Young Pianists to be held in January 2010.
YURI KIM
MM and BM, Mannes College of Music. Professional studies, Mannes College of Music. Piano studies with Nina Svetlanova, Edward Aldwell, Vladimir Feltsman, Alexander Edelman, and David Oei. Analysis with Carl Schachter. Chamber music with Felix Galimir.
Cuban born, Leonel Morales, has been a distinguished citizen of Spain since 1991. He is Piano professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Castellón. As such, he has been appointed as a member to the Academia de Bellas Artes de Santa Isabel de Hungría in Seville.
In October 2008, he was awarded with the prestigious prix “Tasto D´Argento 2008” (Alexandria – Italy) by he’s consolidate international career, valuing also the success in his recent tour about 23 concerts on the best halls of USA.
He played the concert nº 1 of Tchaikovsky and the nº 3 of Rachmaninov with the Symphonic Orchestra of the state of Mexico under the conduction of the master Enrique Bátiz, he has obtained a spectacular success on his career, always standing the public up, asking for some encores.
Treated by the critic between others, as Hero of the day.
…His incredible Concert of Tchaikovsky created an instantaneous ovation, His technique is uncanny Morales emerged a hero. (Palm Beach Post)
…His concert nº 3 of Rachmaninov plenty of electricity and a lot of brilliant, made the people to be on his foot. (The Daily Gazette, New York)
...The European tradition was also given its full due. In Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, soloist Leonel Morales was extraordinary, playing blizzards of notes with solid intensity with a virtuosist interpretation, excitant and very imaginative. (Times Union, Schenectady)
In the Weill Recital Hall of the Carnegie Hall of New York … Impressively clean and nice structured Sonata Op. 101 of Beethoven … The hair stood on end with his marvellous Petrouska. (Harris Goldsmith, NEW YORK CONCERT REVIEW)
Also, he showed his exceptional dotes in the tour of concerts he made by USA with the Spanish National Orchestra, under the direction of the Master Frühbeck from Burgos in the Angeles, New Jersey, DalIas, Houston, Washington (Kennedy Concert Hall), ... extraordinary interpretation and power (WASHINGTON POST)
Sure we are in front of a chase of great virtuosism, trust, efficiency but of big naturality and without big gestures (CLASSICAL MUSIC REVIEW)
Morales is a frequent member of International Juries, including the CHOPIN (Rome), CITTÀ DE MARSALLA, AMA CALABRIA, MENDELSSOHN, ANDORRA, FUNDACIÓN GUERRERO, JOAQUÍN RODRIGO, A. GARCÍA ABRIL (Teruel), OPORTO, PARNASSOS, CHATOU and POULENC competitions. He has chaired the jury for the SCRIABIN (Grosseto), CANTÚ and VALSESIA competitions.
He is also founder and Jury Chair for the prestigious International Piano Competition “Spanish Composers” which takes place annually in Las Rozas, Madrid (Spain).
Morales offers Master Classes all over the world, including the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Korea, Italy, Mexico… in the USA, in the Festival Steinway of the University of Florida and Houston (Texas). He also runs successful courses in which he analyses and interprets the 32 Beethoven Sonatas. More than 50 pianists from the entire world come to his International Masterclass and Piano Festival of Granada which is celebrated on the month of July. The 12th edition will be celebrated on the next 2009. Many of his pupils have been prize winners at national and international competitions.
Morales has been awarded with many international prizes, including BEST SOLOIST 1994 SOMMERAKADEMIE MOZARTEUM IN SALZBURG, WILLIAM KAPELL, FUNDACIÓN GUERRERO, OPORTO, JAÉN, EPINAL, TERESA CARREÑO, CIUTAT DE MANRESA, UNEAC, VIANNA DE MOTTA, FIRST PRIZE TO THE BEST CONCERT SOLOIST IN KOREA, AOSTA, SYDNEY...
Between his records are:
“Piano Concert number 3 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini of Rachmaninov" under the conduction of the master E. Bátiz with the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico.
“Concierto Breve”, of Xavier Montsalvatge, with the Symphonic Orchestra of Madrid under the conduction of the master Antoni Ros Marbá (Award Beat, as the best CD of the year 1994).
Double album with the ``complete pieces for piano´´, of Antón García Abril, or his version of the 2 concert for piano and Orchestra of the same author, recorded with the Orchestra of the R.T.V.E, under the conduction of the master Enrique García Asensio.
Shortly he will realise the recording of a new double album with the new pieces of García Abril.
…Perfectly knower and specialist of the pieces of Antón García Abril (RITMO y ABC)
“The Album Regio” by Vicente Díaz de Comas, dedicated to the Spanish Queen Elisabeth II.
Soon, a new album will be released of the records (on life) of his latest recital in the cycle of the Biggest Interpreters on the ``Sala Mozart´´ of the auditorium of Saragossa with pieces of Beethoven and Stravinsky.
Morales’ ability and virtuosity have frequently been shown during his concert performances with the Spanish National Orchestra, Spanish Radio and TV Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic of Galicia, Symphonic Orchestra of Bilbao, Philharmonic Orchestra of Malaga, Symphonic Orchestra of Tenerife, the Symphonic Orchestra of Hamburg, Portuguese Symphonic Orchestra, Frankfurt-Oder Orchestra, RAI National Orchestra of Turin, Philarmonic Warsaw Orchestra, as well as with the Virtuosos Orchestra of the Berlin Philharmonic where he has shown us his capacity as concertist, conducted by the best Spanish conductors of the moment, including Frühbeck de Burgos, Víctor Pablo Pérez, Juanjo Mena, Pedro Halffter, Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez, Manuel Galduf, Enrique García Asensio, Antoni Ros Marbá as well as Michael Jurowski, Goerge Pehlivanian, Alexander Rahbari, Marc Tardue, Jacques Mercier, Max Valdés, Adrian Leaper, Tania León, Ovidiu Balan, Franz Krager, John Bae, Jiri Malat, Enrique Bátiz, Marzio Conti, Antoni Wit etc.
Yuri Logatchov was born in Chukotka, Russia. He began studying the piano at the age of five; graduated from Sobinov Conservatoire in Saratov and continued his training in a post-graduate course.
His principal teachers were Mrs. Zilya Baich and Professor Valentin Khanetzki; each of them represents a significant Russian piano school (of Samuil Feinberg and Konstantin Igumnov).
In 1991 he moved to Israel and studied at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with Professor Isser Slonim.
Yuri Logatchov is the winner of the first Tel-Aviv Chopin Competition (1996), the 7th European Music Competition in Turin, Italy (1992) and was awarded with a Diploma of The Masterplayers Competition in Lugano (1995).
He performed in Israel, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico and Russia. In Poland he gave special Chopin Recital in Zelazova Wolya - the birthplace of Frederic Chopin.
Yuri Logatchov has a rich repertoire of solo, chamber and piano duet music, which contains all styles, including chamber works by Paul Hindemith and Pierre Boulez. His recordings include a release of works by Nikolai Medtner for The Israeli radio station “Voice of Music”.
Yuri Logatchov is a member of a jury of several piano competitions in Israel and of Igumnov International Competition of Young Pianists (Russia), teaches at international summer music courses.
“Mr. Yuri Logatchov is an excellent pianist. His playing is very brilliant and quite musical. He is a real virtuose and his tone is beautiful.”
Pnina Salzman
“Mr. Logatchov is an outstanding pianist and truly feels the spirit of Chopin’s music. He presents musical ideas with force and clarity, and he raises his art to a high degree of virtuosity.”
Tadeusz Kerner,
President of the Tel Aviv Chopin Society.
“Yuri Logatchov is known to be a virtuoso in the highest sense and meaning of this word. Again and again he got me to remember the truth almost lost by now: the technique is not an end in it itself, but the means of self-expression. He seemed to be moving us into another epoch, where the past masters were radiant with free breathing, subtle nuances; the times when those masters were talking with the audiences through tunes and not by means of notes. It was a true music of soul.”
“Novosti Nedeli”, Elina Goncharskaya
Born in Italy, Massimiliano Mainolfi graduated from the "Conservatorio S.Pietro a Majella" in Italy.
As a young pianist, he was very early brought to public attention winning several national and international piano competitions. At the age of 17 he was awarded with the 1st Prize at the "P. Denza International Piano Competition" in Capri, Italy. In 1992 he moved to United States where he was admitted to the graduate program of the Juilliard School. In New York he studied with the internationally acclaimed Russian pianist Oxana Yablonskaya and worked on the chamber music repertoire with the legendary Austrian violinist Felix Galimir. He graduated from the Juilliard School in 1996 and a few months later he made his New York Recital Debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall as winner of the "Young Concert Artist International Auditions"
After his graduation he went to London where he has worked for several years with one of the greatest pupil of Arthur Schnabel, Maria Curcio.
From 1996 to 2000 Mr. Mainolfi attended Masterclasses with several great pianist such as Alexander Lonquich at the Florence Academy, Ferenc Rados, Andràs Schiff at the International Musicians Seminars in Cornwall, England and Piernarciso Masi at the prestigious "Accademia Pianistica" in Imola from wich he received the „Diploma Master" in 2002, a recognition that has been given only a few times in the history of the Accademia.
As a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician Mr. Mainolfi has performed throughout Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, England, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, South Africa and the United States. He was invited to perform at the Montreux Festival, the Festival „da Bach a Bartok" in Imola, the Festival de Lascours in France, the „Young European Soloists in Brussels, the IMS in Cornwall and the Davos Festival in Switzerland.
Mr. Mainolfi appeared as soloist, with several orchestras throughout Europe and his recent performances include recitals in the most important venues in Geneva (Salle Ansermet), Bern (Radio Auditorium), Munich (Residenz) , Stuttgart (Wilhelma Theater), Berlin (Philharmonie). He performed in many european cities such as Hamburg, Kiel, Milan, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Brussels, Stockholm, Cologne.
Mr. Mainolfi is a devoted chamber musician. In April 2003 he made his Berlin Philharmonie Debut in duo with cellist Mattia Zappa which was broadcast live in several european countries. With his Duo he was prize winner at the „V Gui International Competition" in Firenze, the „G.B. Viotti International Competition" in Vercelli and the „Trio di
Trieste International Competition".
He records for the label Ducale, Lyra Classica, Claves Records and for Deutschland Radio, DRS, Rai 3, Radio Espace 2. He is regularly invited to join the jury of national and international music competitions.
He is Director of the International Academy of Music, Chamber Music Supervisor at the Summit Music Festival and from 2008 Associate Professor of the Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute.
Stanislav Pochekin completed his studies at the Gnesin Institute in Moscow. Amongst his teachers were Eduard Mirzoian and Theodor Gutman. On the completion of his studies he taught at the Conservatoire in Ekaternburgo (Russia) In 1989 he went to Cuba where he worked in Havana as a Professor at the "Instituto Superior del Arte". During all his teaching activities, he formed until the diploma more than 250 pianists. For the pedagogical merits, Mr. Pochekin is awarded with a Honourable medal of the Ministry of culture of Russia. His big repertoire goes from Barogue to the Contemporary Music. He played as soloist and with orchestra, conducted by very famous artists as M. Paverman, F. Glushenko, I. Lapinsh. R. S. Ferrer , J. Medina and many others. In 1993 he was appointed at the "Concervatorio del Liceo" de Barcelona in Spain. His pupils have won more that 50 prizes in National and International competitions.
S. Pochekin holds master classes in Europe and America. He is a Jury member at National and International competitions including competitions in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Cuba and Russia. Since 1993 Mr. Pochekin is Director of Department of a Piano in a Conservatory "Liceo" in Barcelona, Professor Klavierakademie in Murrhardt (Germany) and Art Director of the International competition of the pianists in Andorra.
“performances full of personality and intelligence... which command attention”
Daily Telegraph
“music-making of an uncommonly dedicated order... consistently plumb the depths of these... masterpieces "
Classic CD Magazine
“independence of thought and insight”
Murray Perahia
“numerous interesting interpretative points, casting new light...”
Classic FM Magazine
Marios Papadopoulos has captured the attention of public and critics for artistic integrity. Critics unanimously agree that his strong interpretative statements excite, inspire and, especially, cast new light on familiar works. His Beethoven Sonatas, currently being recorded, have been set on a level with Schnabel, Brendel, Barenboim and Kempff (Daily Telegraph and Classic FM Magazine Critics’ Choice).
Since his London debut in 1974, Papadopoulos’ career as pianist and conductor has been world-wide. He has appeared as soloist with and has conducted many of the world’s great orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, the European Community Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As part of the world-wide celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth in 2006, he has directed from the keyboard the complete cycle of all the Mozart Concertos in 7 concerts with the Oxford Philomusica in Oxford.
Apart from the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas which Marios Papadopoulos is currently recording, his prolific output as a recording artist includes performances of Stravinsky’s Concerto for piano and wind with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the Hyperion label, works by Mozart for a Readers’ Digest album, works by Moussorgsky - including the ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ - piano works by Cesar Franck, the 24 Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich and a CD of ‘Baroque Encores’ in which he conducts the City of Oxford Orchestra. His recording of a John Field ‘Nocturne’ on two CDs featuring this genre, has been included in Classic FM’s highly successful ‘Nocturne’ album compiled by Michael Mappin.
In 1998, he founded the Oxford Philomusica, the Resident Professional Symphony Orchestra of the University of Oxford, of which he is Music Director.
He holds a doctorate in music from City University and is a Fellow by Special Election of Keble College, Oxford.
Michael Gurfinkel was born in 1960 in Russia. He started to play clarinet at an early age studying with his father, a wonderful musician and teacher. From 1979 until 1984 he studied in The Gnesin's Music Institute in Moscow with Professor Fedotov. Already in 1983, he was given second price in an international competition. AAfter the contest, he began to play with very famous musicians, Borodin string quartet, Moscow Virtuosi under Vladimir Spivakov just to name a few. Between 1986-1990, he was a Principal clarinet & bass clarinet of USSR Symphony orchestra of Ministry of Culture under Gennady Rozdestvensky.
n 1990, Michael Gurfinkel immigrated to Israel . From 1991, he is a Principal clarinet of New Israel Opera.
Since 1994 he has played all the clarinet positions in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta.
In 1995, Maestro Zubin Mehta invited Michael to tour in Japan with the orchestra of Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
Michael Gurfinkel has played with, Loren Maazel, Ricardo Muti, Kurt Mazur, Valery Gergiev, Daniel Oren and many more world famous conductors.
Today Michael is very popular in Israel. He plays a lot of chamber music and teaches in Israel and around the world.
Profile:
First prize, Virginia National Competition. Recipient, Artists International Distinguished Artists Award and Uris Brothers Foundation award. Solo and orchestral performances in the United States and Asia. Collaborations with conductors such as Yoel Levi, Heichiro Oyama, and Vladimir Feltsman. Performances with Atlanta Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, New York Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, Round Top Festival Orchestra, Korean Broadcasting Symphony, Buchon Philharmonic, and International Sejong Soloists. Performances at Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and 92nd Street Y. Appearances at Aspen Music Festival, Taos Chamber Music Festival, Round-Top Festival, and Merano Festival (Italy). Recording for Well-Tempered Productions (National Public Radio Award). Former faculty, New Paltz Piano Institute and Special Music School of America. Faculty, Summit Music Festival, Duxbury Music Festival, Puigcerda Festival (Spain), International Academy of Music (Italy), Bizier Music Festival (France), and Music on the Mountain summer festival. Faculty, Mannes College The New School for Music, since 1999; Mannes Preparatory Division, since 1989.LEONEL MORALES
In October 2008, he was awarded with the prestigious prix “Tasto D´Argento 2008” (Alexandria – Italy) by he’s consolidate international career, valuing also the success in his recent tour about 23 concerts on the best halls of USA.
He played the concert nº 1 of Tchaikovsky and the nº 3 of Rachmaninov with the Symphonic Orchestra of the state of Mexico under the conduction of the master Enrique Bátiz, he has obtained a spectacular success on his career, always standing the public up, asking for some encores.
Treated by the critic between others, as Hero of the day.
…His incredible Concert of Tchaikovsky created an instantaneous ovation, His technique is uncanny Morales emerged a hero. (Palm Beach Post)
…His concert nº 3 of Rachmaninov plenty of electricity and a lot of brilliant, made the people to be on his foot. (The Daily Gazette, New York)
...The European tradition was also given its full due. In Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, soloist Leonel Morales was extraordinary, playing blizzards of notes with solid intensity with a virtuosist interpretation, excitant and very imaginative. (Times Union, Schenectady)
In the Weill Recital Hall of the Carnegie Hall of New York … Impressively clean and nice structured Sonata Op. 101 of Beethoven … The hair stood on end with his marvellous Petrouska. (Harris Goldsmith, NEW YORK CONCERT REVIEW)
Also, he showed his exceptional dotes in the tour of concerts he made by USA with the Spanish National Orchestra, under the direction of the Master Frühbeck from Burgos in the Angeles, New Jersey, DalIas, Houston, Washington (Kennedy Concert Hall), ... extraordinary interpretation and power (WASHINGTON POST)
Sure we are in front of a chase of great virtuosism, trust, efficiency but of big naturality and without big gestures (CLASSICAL MUSIC REVIEW)
Morales is a frequent member of International Juries, including the CHOPIN (Rome), CITTÀ DE MARSALLA, AMA CALABRIA, MENDELSSOHN, ANDORRA, FUNDACIÓN GUERRERO, JOAQUÍN RODRIGO, A. GARCÍA ABRIL (Teruel), OPORTO, PARNASSOS, CHATOU and POULENC competitions. He has chaired the jury for the SCRIABIN (Grosseto), CANTÚ and VALSESIA competitions.
He is also founder and Jury Chair for the prestigious International Piano Competition “Spanish Composers” which takes place annually in Las Rozas, Madrid (Spain).
Morales offers Master Classes all over the world, including the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Korea, Italy, Mexico… in the USA, in the Festival Steinway of the University of Florida and Houston (Texas). He also runs successful courses in which he analyses and interprets the 32 Beethoven Sonatas. More than 50 pianists from the entire world come to his International Masterclass and Piano Festival of Granada which is celebrated on the month of July. The 12th edition will be celebrated on the next 2009. Many of his pupils have been prize winners at national and international competitions.
Morales has been awarded with many international prizes, including BEST SOLOIST 1994 SOMMERAKADEMIE MOZARTEUM IN SALZBURG, WILLIAM KAPELL, FUNDACIÓN GUERRERO, OPORTO, JAÉN, EPINAL, TERESA CARREÑO, CIUTAT DE MANRESA, UNEAC, VIANNA DE MOTTA, FIRST PRIZE TO THE BEST CONCERT SOLOIST IN KOREA, AOSTA, SYDNEY...
Between his records are:
“Piano Concert number 3 and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini of Rachmaninov" under the conduction of the master E. Bátiz with the Symphonic Orchestra of the State of Mexico.
“Concierto Breve”, of Xavier Montsalvatge, with the Symphonic Orchestra of Madrid under the conduction of the master Antoni Ros Marbá (Award Beat, as the best CD of the year 1994).
Double album with the ``complete pieces for piano´´, of Antón García Abril, or his version of the 2 concert for piano and Orchestra of the same author, recorded with the Orchestra of the R.T.V.E, under the conduction of the master Enrique García Asensio.
Shortly he will realise the recording of a new double album with the new pieces of García Abril.
…Perfectly knower and specialist of the pieces of Antón García Abril (RITMO y ABC)
“The Album Regio” by Vicente Díaz de Comas, dedicated to the Spanish Queen Elisabeth II.
Soon, a new album will be released of the records (on life) of his latest recital in the cycle of the Biggest Interpreters on the ``Sala Mozart´´ of the auditorium of Saragossa with pieces of Beethoven and Stravinsky.
Morales’ ability and virtuosity have frequently been shown during his concert performances with the Spanish National Orchestra, Spanish Radio and TV Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic of Galicia, Symphonic Orchestra of Bilbao, Philharmonic Orchestra of Malaga, Symphonic Orchestra of Tenerife, the Symphonic Orchestra of Hamburg, Portuguese Symphonic Orchestra, Frankfurt-Oder Orchestra, RAI National Orchestra of Turin, Philarmonic Warsaw Orchestra, as well as with the Virtuosos Orchestra of the Berlin Philharmonic where he has shown us his capacity as concertist, conducted by the best Spanish conductors of the moment, including Frühbeck de Burgos, Víctor Pablo Pérez, Juanjo Mena, Pedro Halffter, Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez, Manuel Galduf, Enrique García Asensio, Antoni Ros Marbá as well as Michael Jurowski, Goerge Pehlivanian, Alexander Rahbari, Marc Tardue, Jacques Mercier, Max Valdés, Adrian Leaper, Tania León, Ovidiu Balan, Franz Krager, John Bae, Jiri Malat, Enrique Bátiz, Marzio Conti, Antoni Wit etc.
YURI LOGATCHOV
His principal teachers were Mrs. Zilya Baich and Professor Valentin Khanetzki; each of them represents a significant Russian piano school (of Samuil Feinberg and Konstantin Igumnov).
In 1991 he moved to Israel and studied at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with Professor Isser Slonim.
Yuri Logatchov is the winner of the first Tel-Aviv Chopin Competition (1996), the 7th European Music Competition in Turin, Italy (1992) and was awarded with a Diploma of The Masterplayers Competition in Lugano (1995).
He performed in Israel, Germany, Netherlands, USA, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico and Russia. In Poland he gave special Chopin Recital in Zelazova Wolya - the birthplace of Frederic Chopin.
Yuri Logatchov has a rich repertoire of solo, chamber and piano duet music, which contains all styles, including chamber works by Paul Hindemith and Pierre Boulez. His recordings include a release of works by Nikolai Medtner for The Israeli radio station “Voice of Music”.
Yuri Logatchov is a member of a jury of several piano competitions in Israel and of Igumnov International Competition of Young Pianists (Russia), teaches at international summer music courses.
“Mr. Yuri Logatchov is an excellent pianist. His playing is very brilliant and quite musical. He is a real virtuose and his tone is beautiful.”
Pnina Salzman
“Mr. Logatchov is an outstanding pianist and truly feels the spirit of Chopin’s music. He presents musical ideas with force and clarity, and he raises his art to a high degree of virtuosity.”
Tadeusz Kerner,
President of the Tel Aviv Chopin Society.
“Yuri Logatchov is known to be a virtuoso in the highest sense and meaning of this word. Again and again he got me to remember the truth almost lost by now: the technique is not an end in it itself, but the means of self-expression. He seemed to be moving us into another epoch, where the past masters were radiant with free breathing, subtle nuances; the times when those masters were talking with the audiences through tunes and not by means of notes. It was a true music of soul.”
“Novosti Nedeli”, Elina Goncharskaya
MASSIMILIANO MAINOLFI
Born in Italy, Massimiliano Mainolfi graduated from the "Conservatorio S.Pietro a Majella" in Italy.
As a young pianist, he was very early brought to public attention winning several national and international piano competitions. At the age of 17 he was awarded with the 1st Prize at the "P. Denza International Piano Competition" in Capri, Italy. In 1992 he moved to United States where he was admitted to the graduate program of the Juilliard School. In New York he studied with the internationally acclaimed Russian pianist Oxana Yablonskaya and worked on the chamber music repertoire with the legendary Austrian violinist Felix Galimir. He graduated from the Juilliard School in 1996 and a few months later he made his New York Recital Debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall as winner of the "Young Concert Artist International Auditions"
After his graduation he went to London where he has worked for several years with one of the greatest pupil of Arthur Schnabel, Maria Curcio.
From 1996 to 2000 Mr. Mainolfi attended Masterclasses with several great pianist such as Alexander Lonquich at the Florence Academy, Ferenc Rados, Andràs Schiff at the International Musicians Seminars in Cornwall, England and Piernarciso Masi at the prestigious "Accademia Pianistica" in Imola from wich he received the „Diploma Master" in 2002, a recognition that has been given only a few times in the history of the Accademia.
As a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician Mr. Mainolfi has performed throughout Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, England, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, South Africa and the United States. He was invited to perform at the Montreux Festival, the Festival „da Bach a Bartok" in Imola, the Festival de Lascours in France, the „Young European Soloists in Brussels, the IMS in Cornwall and the Davos Festival in Switzerland.
Mr. Mainolfi appeared as soloist, with several orchestras throughout Europe and his recent performances include recitals in the most important venues in Geneva (Salle Ansermet), Bern (Radio Auditorium), Munich (Residenz) , Stuttgart (Wilhelma Theater), Berlin (Philharmonie). He performed in many european cities such as Hamburg, Kiel, Milan, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Brussels, Stockholm, Cologne.
Mr. Mainolfi is a devoted chamber musician. In April 2003 he made his Berlin Philharmonie Debut in duo with cellist Mattia Zappa which was broadcast live in several european countries. With his Duo he was prize winner at the „V Gui International Competition" in Firenze, the „G.B. Viotti International Competition" in Vercelli and the „Trio di
Trieste International Competition".
He records for the label Ducale, Lyra Classica, Claves Records and for Deutschland Radio, DRS, Rai 3, Radio Espace 2. He is regularly invited to join the jury of national and international music competitions.
He is Director of the International Academy of Music, Chamber Music Supervisor at the Summit Music Festival and from 2008 Associate Professor of the Oxana Yablonskaya Piano Institute.
STANISLAV POCHEKIN
Stanislav Pochekin completed his studies at the Gnesin Institute in Moscow. Amongst his teachers were Eduard Mirzoian and Theodor Gutman. On the completion of his studies he taught at the Conservatoire in Ekaternburgo (Russia) In 1989 he went to Cuba where he worked in Havana as a Professor at the "Instituto Superior del Arte". During all his teaching activities, he formed until the diploma more than 250 pianists. For the pedagogical merits, Mr. Pochekin is awarded with a Honourable medal of the Ministry of culture of Russia. His big repertoire goes from Barogue to the Contemporary Music. He played as soloist and with orchestra, conducted by very famous artists as M. Paverman, F. Glushenko, I. Lapinsh. R. S. Ferrer , J. Medina and many others. In 1993 he was appointed at the "Concervatorio del Liceo" de Barcelona in Spain. His pupils have won more that 50 prizes in National and International competitions.
S. Pochekin holds master classes in Europe and America. He is a Jury member at National and International competitions including competitions in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Cuba and Russia. Since 1993 Mr. Pochekin is Director of Department of a Piano in a Conservatory "Liceo" in Barcelona, Professor Klavierakademie in Murrhardt (Germany) and Art Director of the International competition of the pianists in Andorra.
MARIOS PAPADOPOULOS
pianist/conductor
“performances full of personality and intelligence... which command attention”
Daily Telegraph
“music-making of an uncommonly dedicated order... consistently plumb the depths of these... masterpieces "
Classic CD Magazine
“independence of thought and insight”
Murray Perahia
“numerous interesting interpretative points, casting new light...”
Classic FM Magazine
Marios Papadopoulos has captured the attention of public and critics for artistic integrity. Critics unanimously agree that his strong interpretative statements excite, inspire and, especially, cast new light on familiar works. His Beethoven Sonatas, currently being recorded, have been set on a level with Schnabel, Brendel, Barenboim and Kempff (Daily Telegraph and Classic FM Magazine Critics’ Choice).
Since his London debut in 1974, Papadopoulos’ career as pianist and conductor has been world-wide. He has appeared as soloist with and has conducted many of the world’s great orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, the European Community Chamber Orchestra, the London Mozart Players and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. As part of the world-wide celebrations for the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth in 2006, he has directed from the keyboard the complete cycle of all the Mozart Concertos in 7 concerts with the Oxford Philomusica in Oxford.
Apart from the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas which Marios Papadopoulos is currently recording, his prolific output as a recording artist includes performances of Stravinsky’s Concerto for piano and wind with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on the Hyperion label, works by Mozart for a Readers’ Digest album, works by Moussorgsky - including the ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ - piano works by Cesar Franck, the 24 Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich and a CD of ‘Baroque Encores’ in which he conducts the City of Oxford Orchestra. His recording of a John Field ‘Nocturne’ on two CDs featuring this genre, has been included in Classic FM’s highly successful ‘Nocturne’ album compiled by Michael Mappin.
In 1998, he founded the Oxford Philomusica, the Resident Professional Symphony Orchestra of the University of Oxford, of which he is Music Director.
He holds a doctorate in music from City University and is a Fellow by Special Election of Keble College, Oxford.
MICHAEL GURFINKEL
Clarinet
Michael Gurfinkel was born in 1960 in Russia. He started to play clarinet at an early age studying with his father, a wonderful musician and teacher. From 1979 until 1984 he studied in The Gnesin's Music Institute in Moscow with Professor Fedotov. Already in 1983, he was given second price in an international competition. AAfter the contest, he began to play with very famous musicians, Borodin string quartet, Moscow Virtuosi under Vladimir Spivakov just to name a few. Between 1986-1990, he was a Principal clarinet & bass clarinet of USSR Symphony orchestra of Ministry of Culture under Gennady Rozdestvensky.
n 1990, Michael Gurfinkel immigrated to Israel . From 1991, he is a Principal clarinet of New Israel Opera.
Since 1994 he has played all the clarinet positions in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta.
In 1995, Maestro Zubin Mehta invited Michael to tour in Japan with the orchestra of Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
Michael Gurfinkel has played with, Loren Maazel, Ricardo Muti, Kurt Mazur, Valery Gergiev, Daniel Oren and many more world famous conductors.
Today Michael is very popular in Israel. He plays a lot of chamber music and teaches in Israel and around the world.
RAANANA SYMPHONETTE ORCHESTRA
General Manager: Orit Fogel- Shafran
General Manager: Orit Fogel- Shafran
Raanana Symphonette Orchestra was founded in 1991 and today consists of 42 musicians, of which 31 are immigrants from the former Soviet Union and 11 are graduates of the outstanding IDF musicians’ division. For many years the orchestra has hosted world renowned soloists and conductors including Salvador Brotons, Maxim Shostakovich, Dan Ettinger, Gisele Ben-Dor and Noam Sheriff; opera singers Paata Burchuladze and Ljuba Kazarnovskaya; the 200 singers’ Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City; pianists Joaquin Achúcarro, Oxana Yablonskaya and Arie Vardi; violinists Maxim Vengerov and Nikolaj Znaider; cellists Arto Noras and Dmitry Yablonsky; and the last Klezmer of Galicia, Leopold Koslowski.
Besides performing an array of classical repertoire, the orchestra has always focused on presenting original musical works that serve as a solid link between the richness of Jewish music from the past and the freshness of contemporary Israeli music from present day. During its 17 years of existence, the orchestra has commissioned and performed some 50 original works based on our unique heritage. The orchestra also performs works by composers who were murdered in the Holocaust.
In 2007, the orchestra reconstructed the tragic story of Alma Rosa who directed the Aushwitz Women’s Orchestra and, in the same year, the orchestra was awarded the prestigious Engel Prize (named after the composer Yoel Engel) for “its unique contribution to promoting Jewish musical heritage of all generations.” This prize is given every three years for “original musical creation and performance”.
Time and time again, the symphonette’s direct dynamic and liberal artistic approach has attracted young and diverse audiences. Many popular musical artists have performed with the orchestra, including: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Ian Anderson, Manhattan Transfer, Emma Shapplan, Charlotte Church, David D’Or and David Broza.
The orchestra’s repertoire also spans operas, musicals, performances that combine dance and multimedia, musicals for children, DVD recordings for Sony International of Charlotte Church and the production of 17 television programmes for children presenting classical music in an entertaining way - these have been popular for many years.
In addition, the orchestra presents a unique educational program for children in nurseries, elementary and junior high schools where the peak consists of an actual live meeting between the children and members of the orchestra. This stems from a deep belief that music enriches the ability of children to learn and appreciate cultural values, together with a feeling of mission in developing a new, young audience.
Research has proven that a connection exists between an early exposure to classical music and the development of the brain and intellectual abilities. Supporting this research, the orchestra gave a world premiere to a concert for babies, especially intended for the ears of babies and toddlers. In addition, the Symphonette has recorded a classical music CD intended for pregnant women and their newborns.
The orchestra gives approximately 360 concerts per year. It regularly performs in important festivals such as the Israel Festival, Vocal Music Festival in Abu Gosh, Kfar Blum Festival and ‘Sounds in the Desert’. In addition, the orchestra has been invited to perform abroad in many countries including USA, Denmark, France, Poland, Germany and Eritrea. The combination of classical culture and quality and the dynamic way in which it is presented, places Raanana Symphonette in the forefront of the cultural, educational and social scenes of Israel.
Besides performing an array of classical repertoire, the orchestra has always focused on presenting original musical works that serve as a solid link between the richness of Jewish music from the past and the freshness of contemporary Israeli music from present day. During its 17 years of existence, the orchestra has commissioned and performed some 50 original works based on our unique heritage. The orchestra also performs works by composers who were murdered in the Holocaust.
In 2007, the orchestra reconstructed the tragic story of Alma Rosa who directed the Aushwitz Women’s Orchestra and, in the same year, the orchestra was awarded the prestigious Engel Prize (named after the composer Yoel Engel) for “its unique contribution to promoting Jewish musical heritage of all generations.” This prize is given every three years for “original musical creation and performance”.
Time and time again, the symphonette’s direct dynamic and liberal artistic approach has attracted young and diverse audiences. Many popular musical artists have performed with the orchestra, including: Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Ian Anderson, Manhattan Transfer, Emma Shapplan, Charlotte Church, David D’Or and David Broza.
The orchestra’s repertoire also spans operas, musicals, performances that combine dance and multimedia, musicals for children, DVD recordings for Sony International of Charlotte Church and the production of 17 television programmes for children presenting classical music in an entertaining way - these have been popular for many years.
In addition, the orchestra presents a unique educational program for children in nurseries, elementary and junior high schools where the peak consists of an actual live meeting between the children and members of the orchestra. This stems from a deep belief that music enriches the ability of children to learn and appreciate cultural values, together with a feeling of mission in developing a new, young audience.
Research has proven that a connection exists between an early exposure to classical music and the development of the brain and intellectual abilities. Supporting this research, the orchestra gave a world premiere to a concert for babies, especially intended for the ears of babies and toddlers. In addition, the Symphonette has recorded a classical music CD intended for pregnant women and their newborns.
The orchestra gives approximately 360 concerts per year. It regularly performs in important festivals such as the Israel Festival, Vocal Music Festival in Abu Gosh, Kfar Blum Festival and ‘Sounds in the Desert’. In addition, the orchestra has been invited to perform abroad in many countries including USA, Denmark, France, Poland, Germany and Eritrea. The combination of classical culture and quality and the dynamic way in which it is presented, places Raanana Symphonette in the forefront of the cultural, educational and social scenes of Israel.