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JSFest competition
Jury members
Chairperson Maria Tuturilova, harp
The young harpist Mag. Maria Tuturilova is one of the new leading harpists on the current concert scene. As further recognition of her excellent skills, she has been officially listed in the encyclopedia "Who is Who Austria" since 2009 and has been awarded Austrian citizenship since
December 2010. Born in Sofia/ Bulgaria, she began her musical education at the age of 7 with the piano and later at the age of 11 with the harp.
International award-winning Harpist and teacher Mag. Maria Tuturilova holds 4 master's degree with distinction from the State Music Academy "Prof. P. Vladigerov" (2000): harp in the class of Prof. Malina Christova (student of the legendary Prof. Vera Dulova in Moscow), conducting, music pedagogy, piano and organ. 1999-2001 postgraduate degree for harp at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in the class of Univ. Prof. A. Blovsky-Miller (member of the Vienna State Opera). Completed numerous harp master classes in Europe (A. Fontaine, C. Popova, Prof. E. Witsenburg, A. Schinozaki, C. Michel, I. Moretti, I. I. Roncea, P. Tassini, J. Molnar, etc.).
As a concert harpist and harp teacher Mag. Maria Tuturilova has won prizes (Grand Prix and 1st prize) at over 80 international competitions and festivals for harp (Sofia, Beograd, Moscow, Munich, Italy, Argentina, Slovenia, Ireland, Spain, USA, Hong Kong, etc). Some of her students are also prize winners of various international competitions. In addition to her performing and teaching career, Mag. Tuturilova is an established international juror (Chairperson Scandinavian Int. Music Competition, JSFest Jean Sibelius Int. Music Competition & Edvard Grieg Int. Music Competition, Savshinsky Int. Music Competition St. Petersburg, Stockholm Int. Music Competition, Musical Lace Int. Competition, etc.)
Mag. Tuturilova has received the following scholarships and other awards: International Foundation "Open Society Soros", Zonta International, Herbert von Karajan Center & Thyll-Dürr Foundation, Live Music Now "Yehudi Menuhin", etc. Golden Badge for Achievements from the
National Society "Mati Bolgaria", Ministry of Culture of Republic Bulgaria, World Harp Congress Scholarship, etc. Numerous CD recordings and film music (Ennio Morricone), TV and Radio live broadcasts, etc. Solo recitals, chamber music concerts. Regular soloist with "SOFIA SOLOISTS" Chamber Ensemble, chamber orchestra "EPOCH", chamber orchestra "TEMPI CONCERTATI", State Academic Symphonic Orchestra, Men's Choir "GUSLA", Sofia Women's Chamber Choir "Vassil Arnaoudov", etc.
Orchestra concerts (Principal Harpist: 1st Private Orchestra for Film Music, New Symphonic Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic, ELO Electric Light Orchestra, Keyo Wagner Society Orchestra Tokyo, etc.) in Europe & USA, World Harp Congress, etc. under Maestros R. Milanov, E. Tabakov, P. Djurov, E. Morricone, K, Jarvi, A. Previn, M. Jurowski, D. Russell Davies, P. Boulez, etc.
2002-2008 solo harpist of the Vienna city hall, 2008-2010 solo pianist & harpist Imperial Riding School. Since 2003 regular substitute for the Tonkünstler Orchestra Lower Austria, RSO, Vienna Chamber
Orchestra, Vienna State Opera, Children's Opera and Philharmonie, etc.
For more information visit:
www.mariatuturilova.com
www.instagram.com/mariaharpangel
Zoraida Avila, harp
She graduated at Tchakovsky Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with the eminent harpist Vera Dulova, obtaining a "Master of Arts" (1983) and "Philosophical Doctor" (1985). She also has the title of "The Associated of Royal College of Music", London, UK (1989). She has received awards in international competitions and festivals such as the National Harp Competition of the USSR (1984) and the "Andrés Segovia" Spanish Music Award. She has performed in Venezuela, USSR, Russia, Bulgaria, England, Belgium, Denmark, Algeria, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Greece, Norway, India and China.
In some of these countries She performed for television and the recordings of her interpretations are often broadcast by different radio stations worldwide.
She has participated in several international festivals: First Latin American Harp Festival, San Jose, Costa Rica; XV Festival do Estoril, Portugal; II World Harp Festival in Cardiff, Wales; VII Festival of El Hatillo, Venezuela, 5th European Harp Symposium in Amsterdam, Netherlands among others.
She recorded a CD with the chamber music group " Isolda" (1989) Her Solo reccordings have earned her praise from international critics: "Between Two Worlds" (1986) with repertoire transcribed and dedicated to Nicanor Zabaleta; and "Paths" (1998) published by the University of Curaçao, which shows her work as a transcriber and arranger of Latin American music.
She has been a member of the Jury in several competitions: The "International Competition of Harpers", Moscow 1997 and 1999, The "International Festival Vera Dulova" (Moscow, 1997 and 2000) and The "Competition of Chamber Music with Harp," in Arles, France , 2001, The "First International Harp Contest" in Szeged, Hungary, 2007, and The First International Harp Competition "Ksenia Erdely" in St. Petersburg, Russia.
She chairs the Cultural Association Isolda, through which she organizes the international competition " The Iberian Chamber Music Competition with Harp", which reached its fourth edition in February 2014.
In 2008 She participated as a special guest at the Festival "The soul of the Harp" held at The Centre of Art Workers in Moscow, Russia, where she gave a lecture on" the Spanish music for harp". She has coordinated three editions of compact "Isolda sings Tales" (2018, 2010 and 2012) in which her students perform works of didactic repertoire for solo harp and in combination with other instruments.
She held in usufruct the Harp that belonged the harpist Nicanor Zabaleta, which is provided with an eighth damper pedal, a system designed by the same harpist.
With this instrument she touredd as a soloist and with the chamber music group Isolda.
She is currently working on a doctoral thesis in Musicology about" the Romantic Harp in Spain" for the Faculty of Geography and History of the Complutense University of Madrid.
Güneş Hızlılar, harp
Graduating with distinction from the Mozarteum University Salzburg and performing with the Staatskapelle Berlin under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, Güneş Hızlılar is described by musical authorities as "possessing a deep musical intelligence and one of the great talents in today’s harp world.” Born in Istanbul in 1995, she began her musical education in 2006 at the Istanbul University State Conservatory under Assistant Professor Ümit Tunak. She continued her undergraduate studies at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Professor Stephen Fitzpatrick.
Hızlılar gained recognition through her exceptional performances in international harp competitions, achieving distinctions in events such as the Marcel Tournier International Harp Competition, Assia Cunego IHC in Bremen, Josef-Reinl IHC in Vienna, and Martin Geliot IHC in Paris.
Her debut concert as a soloist with the Istanbul University Symphony Orchestra in 2015 marked the beginning of her international career. She then performed Debussy’s Danse Sacrée et Profane at the Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra’s concerto competition in Vancouver, Canada.
In 2018, Hızlılar was selected for the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) “Women Stars of Tomorrow” project, performing at the 46th Istanbul Music Festival alongside guest of honor İdil Biret. That same year, she gave a solo recital in the Shining Stars series at İş-Sanat, earning the Meriç Soylu Honorable Mention Award.
In addition to her solo and chamber music endeavors, Hızlılar toured Europe and South America as a member of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie orchestra, performing in venues such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Frankfurt Alte Oper, and Sala São Paulo. She also premiered works with the Austrian Ensemble for New Music.
Supported by the “Ceren Necipoğlu” scholarship from the Turkish Harp Society, Hızlılar attended the Harp Masters Academy in Switzerland, studying with harp virtuosos Isabelle Perrin, Irina Zingg, and Karen Vaughan. She further honed her craft with artists like Isabelle Moretti, Xavier de Maistre, Jana Bouskova, and Alice Giles, mastering a broad repertoire from early to modern music.
After graduating with highest honors from Mozarteum University Salzburg in 2019, Hızlılar began her master’s studies at the same institution. Accepted into the orchestra academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin, she performed under the direction of Daniel Barenboim with renowned conductors and soloists such as Zubin Mehta, Martha Argerich, and Pinchas Zukerman. Following her tenure with Staatskapelle Berlin, she served as deputy solo harpist at the Niedersächsische Staatsorchester Hannover, performing harp solos in major operas and symphony concerts.
Hızlılar's education was supported by the Rotary Club, Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, Yehudi Menuhin Foundation, and the Contemporary Education Foundation’s Young Talents Project. In 2023, she graduated with the highest honors from Mozarteum University Salzburg with a master’s degree. Recently, she drew attention with her solo recital at the 51st Istanbul Music Festival. Hızlılar continues to perform across Turkey and Europe, bringing the enchanting world of the harp to wider audiences. June 2024
Emanuela Degli Esposti, harp
Emanuela Degli Esposti, Harp Professor at the A.Boito Conservatory of Music in Parma, is Artistic Director of the International Contest and Festival "Suoni d’Arpa", Vice-president of the Association Conoscere la Musica and President of the Italian Harp Association. She studied harp with Prof. A.N.Schirinzi in Bologna Conservatory and at the Rubin Academy of Tel Aviv with Prof. J. Liber. She recorded several Album Fonit Cetra, Bottega Discantica and Tactus. As soloist, performed recitals in various Festivals in Italy and abroad, plays in duo and quartet with the harpist Ieuan Jones. She played as 1st harp in the orchestras of Florence, Milan and Naples RAI, Swiss Radio of Lugano, performing with conductors such as Berio, Chailly, Delman, Ficher, Kuhn, Inbal, Mehta, Muti, Oren, Prêtre, and won the 1stPrize at the international chamber music competitions at Stresa and Palmi. She published a book about C. P. E. Bach and publisheded UT Orpheus Edition music for harp which have been included in the programs of international harp competitions such as International Harp Contest in Israel, International American Harp Competition, Franz-Josef-Reinl International Harp Contest in Munich, International Harp Contest Suoni d'Arpa. She is Director of the Leonardo Primavera Harp Orchestra and has been jury member in international harp contests such as Israel (1998 and 2003), Munich (1999), M.Tournier (2009-2012), Belgrade (2014), Novi Sad (2017), Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe en Ile de France (2017), International Slovenian Harp Contest (2019), St.Petersburg Cristal Key Harp Contest (2019), Barcellona – Madrid Arpa Plus and International AEDA Contest (2021). She has helds international master classes and concerts at Assisi Umbria Festival, London Royal College, Lovere Tadini Academy, Belgrade Mokranjac Academy, Madrid Real Conservatorio Superior, Pipkov High School in Sofia, Riga Vītols Academy, Rio Harp Festival, Villa Medici-Giulini, Opera House of St.Petesburg, Feldkirch Stella Vorarlberg Hochschule.
https://www.emanueladegliesposti-harp.com/
Daniela Iolkicheva, harp
Michel Plasson - “Daniela is an extraordinary harpist with a highly consolidated technique and enchanting musicality.”Daniela was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. At the age of 9, she started to study the piano and five years later, commenced her harp studies in the L. Pipkov Musical Institute with Constance Karadjova.In 1980, she received the harp position in the Bulgarian PIONER Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1984, Daniela commenced her studies in the Sofia National Conservatoire. A year later, she won a scholarship to study at the Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire in St. Petersburg, where, in 1990 and under the direction of the renowned harpist Tatiana Tauer, she obtained a PhD in Harp studies (as the first study instrument) and a further PhD in Piano studies (as a second study instrument), graduating with first-class honours (Summa Cum Laude).The following prizes Daniela has won are worth noting: Silver medal in the 7th Bulgarian National Harp Competition (1985), where she also received the Special Prize for the Youngest Participant; she was a prize winner in the International Festivals in Moscow and St. Petersburg (1988); the Andrés Segovia and José Miguel Ruiz Morales prize as the most distinguished student in the Música en Compostela competition, awarded by the prestigious harpist Nicanor Zabaleta; the Jakez François 1st prize in the 1st Iberian Chamber Music with Harp Competition in Madrid (2004), with violinist Sergei Teslia. In 1991, Daniela received the harp soloist position in the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra. Since 2002, she has been the harp tutor at the Special School for Music at San Francisco de Paula School in Seville. She also gives master classes sponsored by grants awarded by the Junta de Andalucía (the Andalusian regional government) and the Asociación Amigos de la ROSS (the Royal Seville Symphony Orchestra Fellowship). In 2017, she was named as the tenured harp lecturer for the Master’s degree in Soloist Performance, speciality: Harp Studies at the KATARINA GURSKA Centre for Higher Musical Education, Madrid.Since 2002, Daniela has led an intensely active career as a soloist and also in chamber music duos with María Antonia Rodríguez, flute soloist in the RTVE Symphony Orchestra. In 2004, in conjunction with Don José Enrique Ayarra, Seville Cathedral’s principal organist, Daniela performed a concert of 19th and 20th century music with an electroacoustic harp in the aforementioned cathedral. This repertoire had never before been performed with this type of harp. For the occasion, the instrument was loaned by the Victor Salvi Foundation.Composers such as Antonio Noguera, Esteban Sanz Vélez, Julio Lozano, Martín Zalba, Luis Ignacio Marín and Gualberto García have dedicated works to her.Daniela has recorded with many different record labels for Bulgarian, Russian, Spanish and Italian national radio and television broadcasters. She frequently performs in recitals, chamber ensembles in Europe, the USA, Russia and Asia. Furthermore, she performs with highly prestigious orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (London), the Symphony Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre, the State Orchestra of St. Petersburg, the Symphony Orchestra of India, the Gürzenich Orchester Köln and the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville, working with conductors such as Maazel, Muti, Jansons, Lazarev, Rostropovich, Plasson, etc. In addition, Daniela frequently performs at festivals, for instance: the Santander International Festival, International Harp Festival “Northern Lyre”, Mariinsky Theatre, the Festival of Granada, Clásicos en Verano and the Festival Dei Due Mondi – Spoleto…
Borislava Taneva, piano
Borislava Taneva is a pianist-performer, a composer, a pedagogue, a chamber musician, an organiser of musical events. Her active participation in the contemporary cultural life in Bulgaria and abroad defines her as a successful, multispectral musician.
She was born in Sofia in the family of distinguished musicians and started her musical education at a very early age. She completed her master’s degree in piano and composition at the National Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov” in Sofia. There are some other world famous professors like Jacob Lateiner,Germaine Mounier, Vera Gornostaeva and Ludwig Hoffmann who also played a role in her development as a performer. Borislava Taneva has been a laureate of national and international piano, chamber music and composition competitions in Bulgaria, Italy, Japan, Greece, etc. She has performed multiple recitals in Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Italy, Brasil, Switzerland, Lithuania, Israel, France, Norway, Macedonia, Spain, etc. After her graduation Borislava Taneva started work as an assistant professor in the Piano Department of the Performance Faculty of the National Music Academy /NMA/ in Sofia. Currently she is a piano and pedagogical practice professor at NMA in Sofia and vice rector of the Academy.
In 2012 a Doctor's degree (PHD) was conferred on Borislava Taneva. For several years she had great success, teaching Interpretation of Contemporary Music in Athens.She gives masterclasses and delivers seminars on various topics at music colleges and academies in Greece, Swiss, France, USA, Luxembourg, Brasil, Spain, USA, Singapore, Norway, Italy etc. Prof. Taneva has appeared as a jury member in many national and international piano competitions in Greece, France, Vienna, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Serbia etc. Her students have been awarded with numerous of prizes from national and international forums and competitions. She is the author of several opuses of piano pieces for beginners, edited by MUSICA FERRUM in London. She is the founder and a member of the Swiss-Bulgarian Association of Culture – SBAC, based in Geneva. B. Taneva was awarded with special prizes for her contribution to Bulgarian culture.
Mikhail Vorotnoy, piano
Honored Higher Professional Education Worker of the Russian Federation.
Professor, Doctor PhD, a Laureate of international competitions.
He has terminated the St.-Petersburg state conservatory (Academy) "N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov" with Honours (1994) and postgraduate course in that place (1996).
He is Professor of piano of Music College of the Herzen University (SPb) since 1994, since 2004 - a deputy of the Director of Music, Theatre & Choreography College on concert-creative activity. He is a visiting professor of the North University of Iowa (USA, 2010/2011); The Huanggang Normal University (China, 2017/2018)
For years art working has appeared in 450 concertos more then as soloist (including - with orchestra), accompanist, organist at concert halls of Saint Petersburg not only, but also the other city’s to Russia, as well as overseas (the USA, China, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus). He is member of jury of different competitions and festivals. He had the master-classes to USA, China, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus.
He was the First performer of the row of the compositions Petersburg, England and American composers. He is dedicated to three opuses. He has a records on TV, radio, as well as on CD.
He leads active scientific activity. He is the Editor-compiler several collection scientific works. He appeared with report at any international scientifically-practical conferences. He is the author of the monograph, textbooks, number scientific articles, editor of music-scores.
He has prepared 40 students – Laureates and Diplomantes of international and All-Russian music competitions and festivals.
«Mikhail Vorotnoy … is a very good musician, who has original conception of a beautiful performance and sublime touch. He also has a bright and balanced sound».
(pianist Shura Cherkassky, 1991)
Maia Sepp, piano
Maia Sepp was born in 1985 in Tallinn (Estonia). She received her first piano lessons at the music school for gifted children «K. Baisseitow» in Almaty, Kazakhstan in the class of T.Abilchairova. 2003 she graduated this school with the distinction under the direction of famous pianist Prof. Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova, who had a great influence on the formation of pianist’s personality. At the age of eight, she gave her first public concert, the first concert of Ludwig van Beethoven, with the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1999 she was the youngest participant at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg and the 3rd prizewinner at the International Piano Competition in Naples. The following year she reached the finals of the International Piano Competition in Jurmala (Latvia) and in 2002 attended the International Bach Piano Competition in Leipzig. She is also prizewinner of the annual Festival of the President Nursultan Nazarbaevs Education Foundation.
From 2003 to 2008 she studied at the Moscow State Conservatory named after Tchaikowsky, where she graduated with honors in the class of Prof. A.Mndoyants. Since 2010 she has continued her musical education at the master's degree with famous pianist Prof. Dr. h.c. Kalle Randalu at the Academy of Music in Karlsruhe (Germany). In 2012 she graduated her master degree with honors and in 2015 - her soloist studies with honors.
In 2009 Maia Sepp was the 1st Prizewinner at the 3rd International Piano Competition in Wien (Austria) and the semi-finalist of the 5th International Piano Competition in Lyon. In 2013 she was the 1st Prizewinner at the International Wolfgang-Rihm-Competition in Karlsruhe (Germany) and at the International Piano Competition Concours Musical de France in Paris. In 2017 she was the 2nd Prizewinner at the XVIII International Maria Yudina Piano Competition in Saint Petersburg (Russia). In 2018 she was 4th Prizewinner at the V Tatjana Gaydamovich Chamber Music Competition in Magnitogorsk (Russia).
Maia Sepp leads an active concert career and performed in Moskau (Rubinstein Museum, P. Slobodkin’s concert hall, Rachmaninov Hall), in Tallinn (Estland), in Kasachstan (Almaty, Astana, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Karaganda), in France (Paris, Wissembourg), in Germany (Karlsruhe, Baden-Baden, Stuttgart, Ettlingen), in Italy (Finale Ligure). She performed with such orchestras as the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana Symphony Orchestra, Latvian Chamber Orchestra, Karlsruhe Chamber Orchestra, Baden-Baden Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra.
In 2015 Maia Sepp won a prestigious scholarship from the Cultural Foundation of Baden-Württemberg (Germany). The grant supports promising young artists. In 2015 Maia Sepp recorded her first solo CD with Sonate B-Dur D960 of Schubert and “Davidsbündlertänze” of Schumann at the record company “Hofa” in Germany. Since 2016 she is a soloist at the Kazakh State Zhambyl Philharmonic and piano teacher at the Piano department of Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory.
Darinka Todorov, piano
I work as a pianist, professor, accompanist and chamber musician, performing mostly classical music. As a piano professor I work almost 37 years at music school "Stanislav Binički" - Belgrade.
During a long career, as chamber musician, I cooperated with musicians from Sweden, Finland, Serbia etc. On International piano competition in Novi Sad (Serbia), and other domestic competitions I was a jury member. In National theatre - Belgrade I was working on opera "Salome" and cooperating with German conductor Johanes Harneit. For about 15 years, Svetozar Vujic - double bass, and I perform and play together, as a chamber duo "DiS". Among other concerts, we had recitals in Belgrade -Serbia, on BASS CONGRES 2016. - PRAGUE, BASS CONGRES 2018. - LUCCA - ITALY, at ISB Convention 2019. - Bloomington - USA. Our most recent concert was at 10.03.2021. - Historical musem - Belgrade - online streaming.
Jasna Đurović, piano
Jasna Đurović, Bosnia and Herzegovina/Serbia, (1974) was born in Banja Luka, where she completed primary music education in Banja Luka(music school “Vlado Milosevic”) in the class of prof. Branka Kuzmanović, and secondary music school in Zemun (Serbia) in the music school "Kosta Manojlović", in the class of prof. Tanja Jablanović. She graduated from the Academy of Arts in Banja Luka 2002, in the class of prof. Nevena Popović. She was a scholarship holder of the "Petar Kočić" Fund, which is awarded to students with the highest grade point average. She performed as a soloist in chamber ensembles during her studies. She held a solo concert at the National Theater of Republika Srpska (2002), as well as a concert of the piano duo with her colleague Dijana Zrnić in the Banski dvor City Hall in 1999. During her studies, she recorded works by Edvard Grieg and Sergei Rachmaninoff for the needs of the Radio Television of Republika Srpska. She is a semifinalist of the International piano competition Grand Concerteum in Athens in 2000 in the discipline of piano duo. However, she shows the greatest affinities for piano pedagogy, as evidenced by the numerous successes of her students, both in the country and abroad. She was also a member of the jury at many piano competitions in Serbia (Sabac, Belgrade, Kragujevac, Smederevo) and Bosnia and Herzegovina( Bijeljina, Banja Luka,Sarajevo,Brcko District, Prijedor). Her students were awarded by the home school "Vlado Milosevic" as the most successful.She trained at numerous master classes with eminent piano pedagogues and pianists such as Nevena Popović, Aleksandar Serdar, Nataša Veljković, Maria Nemcova, Vladimir Milošević, Arbo Valdma . She also worked as a demonstrator accompanist at the Academy of Arts, Department of Dramatic Arts. She also collaborated with the National Theater of Republika Srpska in the play "How to make your master laugh", directed by our famous director Kokan Mladenović, where she played musicians permeated the entire play.She is the co-founder and the idea holder of the first piano competition in BiH, the "Banja Luka Biennale". She held a master piano course for students of the elementary school "Marcos Portugal" in Doboj in 2006. as well as the music workshop "Viva la musica", for students of primary and secondary music schools, 2019, 2020,2021, 2022 and 2023. which was supported by the Cultural Center Banski dvor. She has 29 years of work experience in piano pedagogy behind her. She collaborates with the many pianists and piano artists.She held a piano duo recital She returned to the music scene with a solo performance at the concert of the professor of the music school "Vlado Milosevic" in December 2020. She also performed as a guest at the concert of pianist Borko Milojković in Belgrade, in the Artget Gallery of the Cultural Center Belgrade, where she performed with him in a piano duo. She was a guest on Radio Television of Republika Srpska, ELTA TV and Alternative Television. She held a piano duo recital with her colegue Borko Milojković at the Cultural center Banski dvor in Banja Luka (2021) .Her new currently piano duo anssamble is with respectable pianist and piano professor Marija Godjevac from Belgrade. The goal of her work is to nurture and direct young talents and promising young artists to engage in art music and to preserve its traditional values through public performances, concerts, piano competitions. Recently, she is active in the field of concert activities. She is currently employed at a music school "Vlado Milošević"in Banja Luka( Bosnia and Herzegovina) as a piano and chamber music professor in primary and secondary music school.
Violet Wong, piano
Violet Wong, the music creative, as a pianist, trumpet player and teacher. Violet started playing the classical piano at 6 and she has been teaching different aged groups of students, she has extensive experience in teaching for over ten years, specialising in children and teenagers. Her students were awarded different competitions such as Hong Kong Music Festivals and Hong Kong Youth International Youth Performance Art Festivals. and recently, her students won the Second place and awarded distinction in Bristol Festival of Music, Drama and Speech 2023.
Ten years ago, Violet started her music career after being awarded the Talent Development Scholarship by HKSAR. Over these years, she achieved herself both teaching and performing. She attained Trinity ATCL Piano in the same year. Since 2014, Violet has served as a trumpet player in the Hong Kong Civil Aid Service (Band Company) and is well-trained in marching music. She has performed at different official functions including Officer Mess Dinners, New Recruit Passing Out Ceremonies etc. She was awarded the "Best Progress Member of the Year" and Commander's Commendation twice respectively. In 2017 and 2019, she sought guidance from Alexandr Smutny, a renowned trumpet player from the Czech Republic, further enhancing her skills. Since 2017, Violet has engaged in performances and collaborations with local musicians in Hong Kong. One notable experience was her participation in the Annual Dinners of the Federation of Australian Alumni Association, leaving a lasting impression on her. Apart from music performance, she also experienced making her music in videos and recording as film production.
In 2020, Violet's music journey took her from Hong Kong to London and Bristol. She provided piano accompaniment for choirs at St. Martin in the Fields and St. Mary Woodford, respectively. She also contributed her talents to brass bands such as the South London Wind Ensemble, the University of Bristol Brass Band (2021/2022), and the Long Ashton Orchestra. Notably, she participated in Unibrass 2022 in Sheffield. In the same year, she achieved Merit in the exam by herself.
Last year, while continuing her teaching and performing career, Violet embarked on her MA in Music Performance at Bath Spa University. During this time, she participated in Sparkfest 2023, a funded project by the school which was titled “Impressions and Expression: La Cathedrale Engloutie”. This unique underwater filming project marked Violet's first professional music endeavour. Together with ideas of music visualisation and Debussy's music ideas, She rearranged the music with different percussion instruments , infusing it with her inspiration. It is possible that her musical creations will receive recognition at upcoming film festivals. In the coming days , she aims to continue her education career and perform her advanced standard of piano and trumpet together in different countries.
Antonia Daskalova, piano
Antonia Daskalova is an internationally recognized concert pianist and collaborative artist,
honored as a KAWAI Artist for her exceptional artistry and contribution to piano performance.
She holds a doctorate in collaborative piano and is known for her emotionally powerful
interpretations and technical finesse across solo, chamber, and vocal repertoire.
Her performances span major venues in Europe and the United States, and her work as an
educator and content creator bridges classical tradition with contemporary insight. Antonia
produces high-quality digital content focused on piano technique, performance psychology,
and musical storytelling, reaching thousands through platforms like YouTube.
She is officially featured by KAWAI on their international artist roster:
n KAWAI Artist Profile – Antonia Daskalova
From the concert stage to the recording studio and beyond, Dr. Daskalova continues to
inspire audiences and students with depth, clarity, and vision.
Corina Mocanu, piano
I am a full senior teacher (Teaching Degree I) within the Main Piano Department of the “George Enescu” National College of Music in Bucharest, a prestigious institution dedicated to excellence in musical education. I completed my studies at the National University of Music in Bucharest, where I developed both my artistic and pedagogical path under the guidance of distinguished mentors.
Throughout my career, I have performed as a soloist and chamber musician in renowned concert venues, including the Romanian National Opera, the “Ion Dacian” National Operetta and Musical Theatre, the ACT Theatre, as well as within the prestigious “George Enescu” International Festival. My collaboration with the CaMMerata Orchestra has provided a valuable framework for cultivating musical expressivity and artistic dialogue.
As a teacher, I believe that excellence is built through dedication, vision, and an individualized pedagogical approach tailored to each student. Over the years, my students have obtained numerous national and international awards; yet beyond prizes, they have had the opportunity to perform on emblematic stages of the global musical landscape. Among the most notable achievements are invitations to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, Orbetello (Italy), the “Sergey Rachmaninov” Conservatory in Paris, as well as within the Rovere d’Oro Competition in Italy. Additionally, several young pianists trained under my guidance have been invited to perform with the Philharmonic Orchestras of Râmnicu Vâlcea, Brașov, Pitești, and Bacău.
Alongside my teaching and performing activity, I am actively involved in the Romanian musical community as a member of juries in major national competitions, thereby contributing to the promotion of excellence in music education and the support of emerging artistic talent.
Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova, piano
People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova is First Prize winner of the 31st Viotti International Competition in Italy. Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova became the first pianist of Kazakhstan awarded the highest international recognition that has established her as the foremost pianist in the modern piano art of Kazakhstan.
In their excited reviews in such magazines as Stampa Sera musical critics unanimously recognized the emergence of a new bright artistic name, called her a “great pianist”, “pianist of international class”, “tiger of a fingerboard”, compared her play with the distinguished artists of the XX century: Ciccolini, Berman, and Cziffra.
Kadyrbekova graduated from the Moscow State Conservatory under the direction of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, Professor Gleb Axelrod, who had a great influence on the formation of the pianist’s personality. Kadyrbekova has built encompassing a huge repertoire and over forty years’ experience as a pianist.
She has performed with numerous major orchestras including Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Romanian Philharmonic, Georgian Philharmonic, Kazakh State Philharmonic. Conductors Kadyrbekova has enjoyed working with include Dmitri Kitayenko, Ovidiu Balan, Renat Salavatov, Timur Mynbayev, Tolepbergen Abdrashev.
Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova gave a series of concerts in Italy and participated in the XX International Music Festival in Stresa with Mstislav Rostropovich, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Anne-Sophie Mutter, where she gave a solo concert, which the reviewers called “magic”. Kadyrbekova has appeared at many of the world’s most notable concert halls including Moscow Tchaikovsky Great Hall, Small Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Shostakovich Philharmonia, Rome and Turin Conservatory Halls, Debussy Hall in Salle Pleyel, Cortot Hall of the École Normale de Musique de Paris, Concert Hall of the Ankara University and Aya Irini Istanbul.
Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova often joins the jury and was part of the esteemed panel for the 10th International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians, 45th International Palma d’Oro Piano Competition, French Piano Institute Competition in Paris, Astana Piano Passion. She has been regularly invited for teaching, masterclasses, and performing International Music Festival in Stresa, Interforum in Hungary, Beethoven Festival in Vienna.
Her first album on the label Melody (Moscow 1981) is a combination of Rachmaninov (The Second Piano Sonata) and Liszt (Scherzo and March, The Forgotten Waltz No. 1). Kadyrbekova’s second disc with Hofa records (Germany 2015) is a two-opus set of Complete Schubert Impromptus.
Gulzhamilya Kadyrbekova is Professor of Piano for over 50 years at the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory (Almaty, Kazakhstan).
Igor Oleksenko, piano
Igor Oleksenko was born in 1973 in Belgorod (Russia). He received his first piano lessons at the Reinhold Glière music school in Almaty, Kazakhstan and graduated this school with honors in 1988. Since 1988 he has continued musical education at the Almaty Tchaikovsky Music College in the class of S. Ostrovskaya. The following years he participated in several republican piano competitions (Temirtau, Kazakhstan). 1992 he graduated Almaty Tchaikovsky Music College.
From 1992 to 1999 he studied at the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory. He graduated from the Conservatory and postgraduate studies with the distinction under the direction of Professor S. Massover. In 1995 he received a Diploma at the International N. Khalmamedov Piano Competition in Ashgabat (Turkmenistan).
Since 2000 he was a piano teacher at the Department of Special Piano of Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory and an accompanist of the highest category in the class of Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor S. Kurmangalieva (soprano). From 2000 to 2009 he participated in department concerts, «Romansiade» international vocal competitions, masterclasses and International Rachmaninov Music festival. Igor Oleksenko regulary gives concerts with soloists such as Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhamilya Baspakova (soprano), Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan Talgat Mussabayev (baritone), N. Usenbayeva, J. Tapin. He performed in Kazakhstan (Almaty, Astana), Russia (Saint-Petersburg, Novosibirsk), China (Hong Kong).
From 2008 to 2009 he was an accompanist in the class of Raissa Borshchevskaya (soprano) at the Saint-Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Music College. He confirmed his qualification of «accompanist of the highest category» (Russian certification). Since 2009 he is a piano teacher of the Department of General Piano at the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory.
In 2011 he was the finalist of the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition as an accompanist with a soloist of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre Oxana Davydenko (soprano) and received Diploma of the competition.
From 2019 to 2022 he was the Head of the Department of General Piano of the Faculty of Instrumental Performance of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory. Since 2022 he is the associate professor of the Department of General Piano of the Faculty of Instrumental Performance of the Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory. 2023 he received First Prize at the Scandinavian International Piano Competition. Since 2025 he is the associate professor of Piano of the Department of Vocal and Conducting.
Many of his students received the titles of the laureates of international piano competitions. Igor Oleksenko often joins the jury panel such as Eurasia Piano Forum in Astana (Kazakhstan), International Piano Competition named after E. Bliznyuk in Novosibirsk (Russia), Enisey−Klavier International Piano Competition in Krasnoyarsk (Russia).
He published 6 collections for students of the conservatory in the courses «General Piano» and «The Art of Vocal Accompanied». His recent collection called «55 vocal warm-ups on the piano».
Since 2018 Igor Oleksenko is the Holder of the State order «Kurmet».
Yihua Li, organ
Organist, chamber musician, PhD (Germany), Associate Professor of Organ at Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music Library. Principal Investigator for the 2024 National Arts Fund Small Stage Project, member of the National First-Class Undergraduate Course Programme. Studied under Professor Ludger Luman, a leading authority in organ performance and pedagogy. At the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart, Germany, she attained the highest doctoral degrees in organ solo performance and chamber music available in Germany, recognised by China's Ministry of Education as a dual-specialisation doctorate. Prior to this, she earned dual master's degrees in organ performance and harpsichord from the Freiburg University of Music, studying under renowned organist Professor Martin Schmieding and harpsichordist Professor Robert Hill. Li Yihua has collaborated with ensembles including the Leipzig Gewandhaus Brass Quintet, the Mannheim Brass Ensemble, and Friedrich, Principal Trumpet of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra.
During her studies in Europe, following her first prize win at the International Organ Competition in Łódź, Poland, Li Yihua presented organ recitals and chamber music concerts in renowned concert halls and churches across Germany, Austria, and Poland.
She has frequently performed organ works with renowned conductors Zhang Yi and Zhang Guoyong, alongside orchestras including the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Zhejiang Symphony Orchestra, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, and Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra.
In recent years, she has comprehensively dedicated herself to promoting and popularising the development of organ art in China through organ education, solo concert tours, organ concertos, organ chamber music, and workshops. Her students have repeatedly won awards in international and domestic music competitions. Since 2021, Li Yihua has successfully toured major concert halls across China for three consecutive years with her organ recitals. Furthermore, her organ albums Blossom and Colours from China were published by People's Music Publishing House in late 2021, serving as tributes to the motherland and the centenary of the Communist Party of China. She participated in recording the latest instalment of the NCPA Classics ‘Stroll Through Classics’ series – a collection of organ masterpieces, officially released in May 2023. This marks the first formally recorded and released album from the National Centre for the Performing Arts organ since its inauguration in 2007. Li Yihua was invited to serve as a judge for the 7th Alexander Gordik International Organ Competition hosted by the Moscow Conservatory of Music in Russia. Participated in the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra's 2025-2026 ‘Back to the Future’ concert season, making his NCPAO debut alongside young conductor Lai Jiajing. Together, they successfully performed works by Bach, Mozart and Handel under the theme ‘Resonant Echoes’.
Mgr. Dana Ščasná, DiS.art, accordion
Accordionist and accordion teacher, Mgr. Dana Ščasná, DiS.art, was born in Slovakia. At the age of seven, she started attending the Basic Art School. After her graduation, she entered the Conservatory in Košice, where she devoted herself to playing the button accordion. During her studies, she was a member of the prestigious accordion orchestra, with which they became famous in Cyprus, Finland, Poland, Castelfidardo and other countries. She later completed university studies in playing the accordion, majoring in Church music and music teaching.
He has been teaching keyboard and button accordion for 25 years at the Ján Melkovič Elementary School of Art in Stará Ľubovna and at the Jan Nepomucký church school. All the while, he regularly prepares pupils for Slovak and foreign concerts, shows, recitals. Her students regularly participate in online and live international competitions, where they win top prizes. As winners, they participated in gala concerts of international competitions in Trophea, New York - DiMenna center for Classic music and in the Berlin Philharmonic.
Together with their students, they participated in the following competitions/concerts:
- Australian International Accordion Championship,Sydney,2021 – Silver Award
- 7th International Accordion daysin Prague 2021 – Silver Awards
- XIX. International Festival Accordeon – EUROMESETTE & GOLDEN TANGO 2021,Slovakia – Gold Awards
5th year of the all-Slovak accordion competition show, Association of Accordionists of Slovakia 2021 – Silver awards
- Czech Accordion online competition – Ostrava 2021- Silver awards
- VI. Tokyo International Music Competition „ Melos APS“ 111.proze,2022
- Nouvelles Étoiles – Praris – Laureat 2 prix,2022
- Kyjev- New York Constellatione Power of Music – 1 Prize,2022
- Israel- International Virtul Music „ Gates of Hope“ - Laureate 1 degree ,2022
- British College of Accordionists- Bronze Award, 2022
- Geneva –VI.International Music Competition „ Melos APS“ III.Prize,2022
- Internationa of Participation Manahttan- Diploma, 2022
- London Classical Music Competition- -Second Prize, 2022
- YIMC- absolute winner in the accordion category, 2022
- Amadeus International Music awards Salzburg – Silver Prize, 2022
- Prague - Competition music festival - Silver in the 3rd category, 2022
- London Classical Music Competition- -Second Prize, 2023
- Nouvelles Étoiles – Praris – Laureat 2 Prize. 2023,2024
- Birmingham.International Competition – Second Prize, 2023
- Euterpe Music Awards – Berlin – Gold Prize, 2023
- 7th annual accordion show of art schools-ASPUS-Slovakia., Silver, 2023
- XXI.. International Festival Accordeon – EUROMESETTE & GOLDEN TANGO 2023,Slovakia, Silver
- As an absolute winer in his category, he took part in the winer concert in New York on September 3, 2023
- Musicarte Festival and Competition 2024 Italia – 1. absolut prize
- Virtuoso Intenational Music awards ( VIMA) 2024 Londyn – Silver prize
Her students as an absolute winers in his category, he took part in the winer concert in New York on September 3, 2023,2024.
There was also a report on local TV about her achievements as a teacher and her students.
Dušan Đorđevic, accordion
Dušan Đorđevic was born in Zaječar (Serbia) in 1992. He began primary music education in his hometown in the class of prof. Jelena Srbinoska. Already at the beginning of his music school education, he showed great love for music, which resulted with his participation in many international and national competitions. After finishing primary school, he continued his music education in high music school "Dr. Miloje Milojević" in Kragujevac, the class of prof. Dušan Vučković. He completed his undergraduate and masters studies at the Faculty of Philology and Arts in Kragujevac, in the class of prof. Predrag Kostovic. He is currently studying a master's of chamber music at the Faculty of Philology and Arts in the class of prof. Borislav Čičovački.
He participated many festivals and competitions in the country and abroad, among which are:
Accordion art (Sarajevo) 2010 - First prize
Star Trek (Kragujevac) 2009 - First prize
Accordion Days (Smederevo) 2007,2009 - First prize
Meh fest (Belgrade) 2015 - First prize
Kligenthal (Germany) 2015 – 8th place
With the chamber ensemble, he was the laureate of the competition "Donne in musica" in Kragujevac, 2014.
He played in the accordion orchestra and in Kragujevac. He performed the world premiere of Fiver Haiku for accordion flute and cello, composed by Vladimir Trmcic with chamber ensembles at SANU gallery in 2014, Belgrade.
As a soloist and with the chamber ensemble Sagum Rubrum duo, he performed in many cities in Serbia and abroad, including performances in Linz, Vienna (Austria), Detmold, Lemgo (Germany), Turn Severin (Romania), Doboj (BiH).
He participated in the 59th March Days of Music Festival in Ruse (Bulgaria), and the concert was recorded by the National Radio of Bulgaria.
He has attended numerous seminars with eminent professors from abroad:
Krasimir Šterev (Munich), Yuri Šiškin (Rostov-on-Don),
Markus Kohler (Detmold), Raimondas Svickevičius and Eduardo Gabins (Lithuania).
Safak Eriskin, cello
Born in Istanbul in 1971, Safak Eriskin started her first music lessons at Turkish Radio and Television’s
Children Choir when she was only 7. After graduating from the Violoncello department of Mimar
Sinan University State Conservatoire Istanbul as a student of Prof. Resit Erzin at 1991, she attended to
the master-classes of M. Rostropovic, A. Rudin, D. Shafran, M. Maisky and N. Gutman. During her
master’s program at Mimar Sinan University, Istanbul in the fields of ‘Aesthetics, Philosophy, 19th
Century Art History, Cello, Pre-School Cello Education, in 1994 as a member of Istanbul Quartett, she
was accepted with full scholarship into four years of ‘Quartett Perfection’ programmes of Accademia
Musicale Chigiana and Scuola di Musica di Fiesole-Firenze by Maestro Piero Farulli (the founder of
famous Italian Quartett) and she was awarded to ‘Honorary Diploma’ from both of these instutitions
in 1997. She received various degrees with Istanbul Quartett by attending to the competitions in
Cremona Quartet, Florence V. GUI and Moscow Schostakovitch. During her education and after, she
attended to many concerts in whole Italy, Europe, United States, Russia and Middle East. She also had
the opportunity of working with famous cellist of Borodin Quartett, Valentin Berlinsky in Moscow and
with the Takacs Quartett in Denver, Colorado University in perfection programme . She released a Cd
in 1997 consisting works of J. Brahms for the occasion of Brahms Year. Performed Chamber Music
concerts with distinguished artists such as Idil Biret, Peter Jablonski, Steven Kovacevic, Huseyin
Sermet. She arranged Tchaikovsky’s Love Songs and recorded it with Bass Ayhan Baran and Pianist
Judith Ulug in 2006. Attended to various dance and music festivals in Netherlands, Germany and
Spain as guest artist. Having the Professional Coaching Certificate approved from International
Coaching Federation ‘ICF’, Eriskin worked with professional musicians in the fields of ; Stage, Artist,
Career, Performance, Stage Psychology and Artistic Development. She also coached young orchestra
musicians at the National Youth Orchestra of Turkey.
Besides her solo cello post at the State Opera and Ballet Orchestra now in Istanbul, Safak Eriskin was
the Principal Cellist of Akbank Chamber Orchestra for 12 years, also the principal cellist of Borusan
Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra until season 2017 which is the first Turkish Orchestra being invited to
BBC Prom’s in London. As well as her individual concerts and trainings, she is currently Cello teacher
in BAU Conservatuary in İstanbul and member of Cello Paradiso Quartet and BAU Trio.
Dmitry Mikhailov, violoncello
Freelance cellist, founder and artistic director of the Savshinsky
International Music Competition (St. Petersburg, Russia) and the
Stockholm International Music Competition — SIMC (Stockholm,
Sweden)
Dmitry Mikhaylov was born in 1978 to a family of musicians from St.
Petersburg. He began studying music at the age of five and graduated from
Children's Music School No. 26 (cello class under Natalia Tolbukhina). In
1999, he graduated from the Mussorgsky College of Music (cello class by
Lev Fishkov and symphony conducting class by Lev Savich). In 2004, he
graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied with
People's Artist of Russia, professor Sergey Roldugin.
Since the mid-1990s, he has been actively pursuing chamber music with
his father, pianist Ivan Mikhaylov, a professor at the St. Petersburg
Conservatory, as well as with his students and colleagues. He regularly
performs at the city's finest concert venues, including the Philharmonia,
the Conservatory, the State Capella, and others.
From 1999 to 2007, he worked as an artist, then as second solo cellist of
the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra. From 2007 to 2014, he was
an artist with the St. Petersburg Governor's Orchestra (formerly the
Leningrad Radio Orchestra) then directed by People's Artist of Russia
Stanislav Gorkovenko. Dmitry has toured extensively in Russia and abroad
with these orchestras, and has also performed extensively with ensemble
programs in various styles, not only as an artist but also as an organizer of
cultural and educational concerts for Russian youth.
He became a laureate of several international competitions.
In 2009, Dmitry Mikhaylov founded the International Competition for
Young Musicians in St. Petersburg, named after the outstanding pianist
and teacher Samariy Savshinsky. Since then, it has been held annually
under his direction, and since 2021, it has been held in two formats — live
and online.
In the spring of 2010, he organized the Stockholm International Music
Competition (SIMC) — the only international music competition of its
kind in Sweden, combining professional focus and excellence with a
democratic approach and accessibility for children of all skill levels.
Simultaneously, as part of the competition, Dmitry organized and hosted
the International Scientific and Practical Conference, "Innovations in the
Music Education System at the Secondary Level," designed to expand the
boundaries of collaboration and exchange of experience between Russian
and international music educators, as well as to foster more intensive and
fruitful communication between professors from higher education
institutions and teachers from regional music schools.
The competitions founded by Dmitry Mikhaylov have become firmly
established in the musical life of St. Petersburg and Stockholm and have
become popular among a wide range of musicians worldwide.
For several years, Dmitry regularly taught cello masterclasses at
international seminars at the invitation of Klaipeda University (Lithuania).
He also conducted masterclasses in Sweden and served on the jury of
international competitions in Lithuania and Germany.
Beste Tiknaz Modiri, viola
Beste Tiknaz Modiri, -violist- winner of national and international prizes and awards, a soloist with orchestras and recitals throughout the World, an active Chamber music player and viola professor.
Began her musical education with Ani Inci at the Istanbul University State Conservatory where she also studied with Venyamin Warshavski. She received her Master’s Degree from Istanbul University , a Performance Diploma from the Boston Conservatory with Leonard Matczynski, and DMA from Istanbul University, Chamber Music diploma from University of Performing Arts Vienna (MDW) with Johannes Meissl. Most Successful Student two years in a row and received scholarship from Istanbul University and full scholarship at the Boston Conservatory. Meanwhile She worked with world known violists such as;
Y. Bashmet, N. Imai, Prof. M. Bucchholz, P. McCarty, M. Ruth Ray, P. Farulli, M. Tenenbaum, Prof.
T. Masurenko, R. Gunes, B. Guiranna, R. Diaz, R. Tapping, M. Thompson, C. Phelps in master classes and workshops. Tıknaz is the winner of: ICMEC Competition (Gold Medal), BO.CO [2]. String Idol, MTNA Young Concert Artists State and Eastern Competitions, BO.CO [2]. Concerto Competition, 9 Eylul University national viola Competition, Playing for Peace award, President award and Donizetti Chamber Music Award.Her performance venues including halls such as Bonn Beethoven Halle, Berlin Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall , Queen Elizabeth Hall (Bruselss), Ongaku Do (Japan), Berlin Philarmoniker Grosser Saal, Berlin Philarmoniker Kammer Saal, Gewandhaus (Leipzig) Boston Symphony Hall, Harvard Sanders Theatre, Enescu Hall and Crr, İŞ sanat concert hall, Ataturk Cultur Cente(AKM), Lutfi Kırdar, Aya Irini (Hagia Irene ) in Turkiye. The Prestigious festivals she attended is including Aix end Provence (France), Associazione Mozart Italia, Istanbul International Music Festival, Beethoven Fest (Bonn), BBC Proms (London), Salzburg Festival, FIMU Festival (France), Budapest Spring Fest, Apple Hill Chamber Music
Festival and Mediterranean Contemporary Music Days. In addition to being a prize-winning soloist, Beste is also an active chamber music player. She was a member of the Kibele, Sospiro, Semplice, Winsor Music Quartets and currently is a member of the, Borusan Virtuosi, ViolAria Trio, Orient Ensemble and the Sion Soloists. Summers are spent teaching at Youth and Muse Festival in Boston, Point Counter Point in Vermont, Apple Hill in New Hampshire, the Chichibu Festival in Japan and, Associazione Mozart Torino, Italy. She has performed the Turkish Premier of many pieces such as Forsyth Viola Concerto with Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, B. Güneş, M. Sakpınar, M. Uzunarslan, O. Dülger and many others .
She works with many chamber and symphonic orchestras where she worked with Well known conductors such as: Yoel Levi, Sacha Goetzel, K. Penderecki, Alexander Rahbari, Bruce Hangen, Nikos Haliassas, Rengim Gökmen, Cem Mansur, Hakan Şensoy, Betin Güneş, Gürer Aykal, John Axelrod, Helmut Rilling, James Judd, Peter Gülke at various Orchestras such as: German National Orchestra (Principal), The Orchestra of the Swan (co.Principal), Emmanuel Music, Boston Chamber Orchestra (principal), Turkish Chamber Orchestra, Cemal Resit Rey Symphony Orchestra (principal), Akbank Chamber Orchestra, Tekfen BlackSea Soloist Philarmony Orchestra and Orchestra Sion(Principal) Borusan Istanbul Philarmonic Orchestra (Principal). She is curently holding a Professor position at Istanbul University State Conservatory and the principal violist of the Borusan Philarmonisches Kammerorchester Berlin. Throughout the year she give concerts under the name of the Project she started as “Beste Tiknaz and Peace Stars and “She plays with ‘1883 Gand and Bernardel’ viola.
Yucheng Shi, viola
“Deep Contrast, Magnificent Music Understanding and Interpretation, and with noble artistic sense in Shi Yucheng’s playing.” - Commend by German Major Press Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Shi Yucheng
Viola faculty member of Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Master degree of Music from both Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Mozarteum University Salzburg.
He started to study Violin when he was 4. He swiched to learn Viola playing when he was 12. He was studying with Prof. Liu Nian ,Prof.Xidi Shen, Prof.Lam Horn-Sin and Prof.Thomas Riebl .
He was the second prize of 67th ARD International Music Competition (2018)in Germany and also awarded at the Brahms competiton in Austria(2011), Hongkong international string competition(2012),Lionel Tertis competiton (2018)
As a solist ,he has performed with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai conservatory of music Symphny Orchestra and Shanghai Opera Symphony Orchestra.
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Alexandra Acatincai, violin
Alexandra Acatincai comes from a family of musicians. Consistent with the passion for the training of young violinists, inherited from the family, Teacher Alexandra Acatincai has a successful pedagogical career, recognized by the position of Methodist teacher and head of the Violin Department at the National College of Music "George Enescu" in Bucharest, Romania.
She studied violin at the "George Enescu" National Music College and continued at the National University of Music Bucharest. The professional training was particularly rigorous under the guidance of the great masters Modest Iftinchi, respectively Conf. Univ. Dr. Ioana Croitoru.
She participated in Masterclass events supported by international soloists, such as Remus Azoiței, Silvia Marcovici and others.
Distinctions obtained by Alexandra Acatincai
She was a laureate of numerous national and international competitions, including "George Georgescu" from Tulcea, "Orpheus" from Târgu Jiu, "Sigismund Toduță" from Deva, "Paul Constantinescu" from Ploiești, the National Instrumental Interpretation Olympiad and many others.
Artistic activity
Violinist Alexandra Acatincai gave recitals on the stages of Hungary, Austria and Romania - in Bucharest, Sinaia, Constanța, Bacău. Also, her artistic activity is highlighted by numerous charity recitals at the Fundeni Hospital in Bucharest, in nursing homes in Bucharest and Brașov, in foster care centers and the "Marie Curie" Pediatric Hospital.
Pedagogical activity
During her more than 18-year career, she guided numerous young violinists who obtained hundreds of Grand Prizes, Trophies, First Prizes of Excellence, Special Prizes and numerous First Prizes at dozens of international and national competitions.
Prof. Alexandra Acatincai was a member of the juries for numerous international (S.E Aphorite Voice- Cyprus, MusicArte – Italy, Scherzo, Magia Colindelor, Talente completite, 4ArtsFestival, etc.) and national (Ștefania și Dan Cumpătă, The National Violin Olympics, Sigismund Toduta Romanian Composers Music Competition, Yannis Xenakis Competition, Corneliu Cezar Competition, etc.) competitions
Zaharia Doina Elena, violin
Zaharia Doina Elena, violin teacher with grade 1 and with a degree of merit. I started studying the violin at
the age of 6 and graduated from the University of Music in Bucharest, Department of Musical
Interpretation - Violin.
Violin teacher since 2002 at the National College of Music "George Enescu" and until now. During these
years I have participated with the students of my class in numerous national and international
competitions (International Appassionatto Competition, International Competition "Citta di Massa" Italy,
International Competition S.E Aphrodite, Cyprus, International Competition Musicarte - Italy, International
Competition Star Bridge - Poland, France, International Schetzo Competition, National Competition "Ion
Dumitrescu", National Competition "George Georgescu" Tulcea, Competitions in Braila, Galati, Cluj,
Bistrita, International Competition "Music Competition" - Finland, etc., taking 1st prize of excellence, 1st
special, 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes, as well as 2nd and 3rd prizes at the National Music Olympiad, National
phase and municipal phase. Member of numerous national and international competitions as well as at
the Olympiads (Iannis Xenakis- Braila, Ana Lupascu - Braila, Festival 4 Arts - Campina, Appassionatto -
Bucharest, Scherzo - Bucharest etc.)
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Mateusz Kasprzak-Łabudziński, violin
Mateusz Krzysztof Kasprzak-Łabudziński was born on 3rd June 1988 in Katowice, Poland.
He graduated master violin class of Prof. E.Zienkowski at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna in 2014 as well as an elite solo studies in the master class of Prof. M.Urbaniak-Lisik at the Hochschule der Künste Bern in 2018 (both with destinction).
He participated in master courses and worked with such excellent violinists as: Prof. Wolfgang Marschner, Prof. Marina Yashvili, Prof. Rainer Küchl, Prof. Roman Lasocki, Prof. Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Prof. Benjamin Schmid as well as Apollon Musagete Quartet.
He graduated an additional studies in specialization of Polish music at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the class of Prof. Konstanty Andrzej Kulka and Prof. Roman Lasocki.
From 2016 Assistant of Violin at Hochschule der Künste in Bern and leads Webern Kammerphilharmonie at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. In 2021 appointed on Doctorate research position at K.Penderecki’s Academy of Music in Cracow.
He is the concertmaster and soloist of Lutoslawski Chamber Orchestra (Lomza) as well as the Chamber Orchestra Camerata Polonia in Vienna. Founder and leader of the chamber ensemble Sinfonietta Viennoise in Vienna.
Mateusz Kasprzak-Łabudziński is the winner of prestigious awards at international competitions: IV International Music Competition in Rome- 1st Prize and Special Prize, 44 th Prof. Josef Dichler’s International Music Competition in Vienna- 1st Prize, Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition in Vienna- 2nd Prize, 2. Grand Prix Rising Stars International Competition in Berlin- 3rd Prize, XV Osaka International Competition- Finalist, International Anton Rubinstein Violin Competition in Düsseldorf- Finalist, XXX J.S.Bach Competition in Zielona Góra- 2nd Prize, III G.Ph.Telemann Competition in Poznań- 4th Prize, III Prof. I. Dubiska Violin Competition in Musical Interpretation in Łódź- Finalist.
He has performed at the most renowned concert halls of Europe : Vienna's Musikverein and Konzerthaus, Berlin's Konzerthaus and Philharmony, Tonhalle Maag in Zürich, Marinnsky Petersburg, Tivoli Copenhagen, Musik Casino Konzerthaus Bern, Budapest Philharmony, Gilde Riga.
He took part in the famous international festivals: Murten Classics (CH), Donaueschingen Musik Tage (DE), EU European Opera Sound (IT), Musikfestival Glagolica (SLO), Kärntner Sommer (AT), Usedomer Musikfestival (DE), Goslar-Harz Musikfestival (DE), Internationalen Chopin Festival Gaming-Kartouse (AT), Sacrum et Musica Łomża (PL), Euro Arts (DE), Yehudi Menuhin Forum (CH/DE/PL), Kvarner (CRO), Boulez Integrale (AT), Wien Modern (AT), Muzyka w Starym Krakowie (PL), Muzyka na Zamku Warszawa (PL), Warszawskie Konfronatcje Muzyczne (PL), Międzynarodowy Festiwal Laureatów Konkursów Katowice (PL).
Kasprzak-Łabudziński has collaborated with such eminent artists as: Jerzy Kosek, Massimiliano Caldi, Kristian Järvi, Michael Rot, Czesław Grabowski, Mischa Santora, Jan Miłosz Zarzycki, Andres Estrada-Orozco, Kaspar Zehnder, HK Gruber, Claudio Cohen, Zoltan Kocsis, Neeme Järvi, Utku Usuroglu, Peter Fahey, Alexej Askhenazy , Sławomir Czarnecki, Dieter Schnebel, Helmut Lachenmann.
Mateusz Kasprzak-Łabudziński became artist’s scholarschip granted by Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna (2008), Hirschmann Foundation in Geneva (2015) , K.Bartkowiak Foundation in Lugano (2015/2016) , Rita Zimmerman-Stiftung (2017), Polish Ministry of Culture “Youth Poland” (2021) and a prize “Golden Owl” in category Music (2021).
He plays on violin made by Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin from 1900.
Dimitrinka Tuturilova, violin
Dimitrinka Tuturilova is an accomplished violinist, educator, and orchestral musician whose career spans across Europe, North and South America. Renowned for her expressive artistry and dedication to teaching, she has performed and taught in Bulgaria, Germany, the United States, Austria, and Peru.
A native of Sofia, Bulgaria, Ms. Tuturilova graduated with distinction from the National Music Academy "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov", where she studied under Prof. Evelina Arabadjieva. She continued her studies in the United States, earning an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University under Christopher Wu, followed by a Master of Music in Violin Performance at Carnegie Mellon University, studying with Cyrus Forough. Both institutions awarded her full scholarships in recognition of her exceptional talent and academic excellence.
Her musical development was further enriched through masterclasses with distinguished artists such as Ilya Kaler, Ifrah Neaman, Axel Wilczok, Kevork Mardirossian, and Karl-Heinz Schultz. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has collaborated with ensembles including the Sofia Soloists, the Vidin Philharmonic, the Trio Franzke, and Rheinvirtuosi, and has participated in international recording projects, including releases with Naxos Records.
Ms. Tuturilova's orchestral experience includes engagements with major ensembles such as the Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, Tonkünstler Orchester Wien, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
A passionate and experienced educator, Dimitrinka Tuturilova has taught violin and music at several renowned institutions, including the International Music school in Berlin, the Akademie for Music in Münster, and currently the Music school in Ahaus. Since 2016, she has been a dedicated music teacher at the Waldorf school in Münster, where she teaches music and leads the school orchestra. She has also conducted violin masterclasses at the Condorcunca Conservatory in Peru, sharing her international experience with young musicians.
In addition to her artistic qualifications, Ms. Tuturilova has completed advanced training in Waldorf education in Jena, Evinghausen, and Hamburg, deepening her pedagogical approach and commitment to holistic music education.
Her artistic achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including international competition prizes and the Honorary Citizen Award of Sofia for outstanding musical accomplishments.
Combining artistic depth, educational vision, and international experience, Dimitrinka Tuturilova brings a rich and inspiring perspective to her work as a performer, teacher, and adjudicator.
Yu Wu, guitar
Yu Wu’s musical journey spans multiple continents and has captivated audiences across China, Japan, Singapore, Korea, and the United States. A versatile artist, he maintains an active career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral soloist.
Wu earned his Bachelor of Music degree with distinction from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He completed his undergraduate studies in just three years under the guidance of Brazilian guitar legend Sergio Assad. Upon Assad's recommendation, Wu continued his education at the University of Arizona, completing his Master’s degree under Professor Thomas Patterson and serving as a Teaching Assistant for the School of Music.
Wu is now a faculty member at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China. As a young pedagogue, his passion and dedication have led his students to significant success across the globe. His students have secured top honors in prestigious international competitions in China and abroad, including first prize at the RUST 2025 Alirio Diaz International Competition (Austria), first prize at the Anna Amalia International Guitar Competition (Germany), first prize in the Collegiate Division of the 5th Annual Chicago Guitar Festival (USA), and third prize in the GFA International Youth Competition (USA).
Anzhelika Sidorova, flute
Teacher, member of orchestra
Chuvash Republic honoured culture worker, Honour culture worker of Russian Federation, Teacher of higher qualification, Flute teacher in Cheboksary musical school named after S.M.Maksimov, teacher of Cheboksary musical college named after F.P.Pavlov, senior lecture of the instrumental performance department of the Chuvash State University named after I.N.Ulyanov, senior lecture of the Chuvash State Institute of Culture and Art; actor of the Chuvash State academic symphony chapel.
Being a leaver of the Kazan conservatory conducted expert-classes in Klin, Perm, Uzhgorod, Kazan, Joshkar-Ola, Moscow, Shatarujkhel (Hungury).
Winner of the city competition "Public recognition" under nomination "Person of the year" (2009) - 3-rd place; awarded with the 1st degree diploma of the 1st Republican competition "Teacher of the year: Cheboksary 2003"; laureate of the all-Russia competition "Young Talents of Russia" under nomination "Best Teacher of the art school for children of Russian Federation" (2009, 2014). Winner of the city competition "Public Recognition" under nomination "I give my sole to children" (2011) - 1st place. 1st prize laureate and status of the "Best Teacher of the art school for children" of Chuvash Republic (2014). Diploma of Honour of the Head of Chuvash Republic (2015). Awarded with diplomas of Honour of the Russian Federation Ministry on nationality cause, information policy and archiving of the Chuvash Republic. Head of administration of Cheboksary, of the Head of administration of Cheboksary, of the Union of composers of Chuvashia and editorial staff of encyclopedia "Best people of Russia" , inlisted in "Billboard of Honour" heading of the annual all-Russia encyclopedia "Talented children - Future of Russia".
Cheng-Yu Wu, flute
Cheng-Yu Wu was born in Taichung, Taiwan in 1981. He began his musical education at the National First Senior High School of Taichung under Ms. Li-Ming Chen’s guidance in 1996. He attended National Taiwan University and majored in Philosophy in 1999. Meanwhile, he continued to pursue music career and studied with Mr. Anders Norell and Ms. Yi-Hui Lin. Cheng-Yu was the First Chair flute in the Ministry of National Defense Symphony Orchestra between 2003 and 2004 during the military service. In 2005, Cheng-Yu went to Europe and studied music under Harrie Starreveld, Marten Root, Marieke Schneemann, and Ellen Vergunst at Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In 2011, Cheng-Yu earned his Master’s Degree in Music from Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
Cheng-Yu is known as a flutist and specialized in interpreting variety of music styles. He studied contemporary music with Mr. Harrie Starreveld, and Baroque flute with Mr. Marten Root. He formed his chamber music group, The CVA Trio, with Violist Mr. Victor Gil Gazapo and Harpist Ms. Anna Steinkogler in 2009 and performed in both the Netherlands and Austria. During this time, Cheng-Yu also collaborated with Pianist Harimada Kusuma as Goudsbloemduo in 2008. They have been performing in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Taiwan till today.
In 2012, Cheng-Yu started an experimental solo flute recital project titled "Just Flute?!". The project was well received and soon he was invited to feature in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and Taipei International New Music Festival. Cheng-Yu is well-known for his creativity of playing different types of flutes for various music styles. In additional to concert performance, Cheng-Yu is dedicated to flute and composition education. He formed a modern music ensemble, TimeArt Studio, in 2013. Cheng-Yu's first flute solo album Ten Poems was released in 2014 and was nominated for The Golden Melody Awards for Traditional Arts and Music in Taiwan. His second album Parallaxis was released in May 2018. Cheng-Yu is currently active as a flute soloist and a music educator in Shanghai and various cities in Taiwan.
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Olga Gerasimova, flute
Gerasimova Olga Vsevolodovna was born and received a musical education in the city of Leningrad, now the city of St. Petersburg.
She graduated from the music school at the Leningrad Conservatory. N.A. Rimsky - Korsakov in the flute class of teacher Yu.G. Levin and the Leningrad Conservatory in the class of Professor S.V. Poshekhov.
Over the years, she has prepared a large number of laureates of All-Russian and International competitions. Her students work in the best orchestras in the country and the world.
He is the head of the department of wind and percussion instruments of the art school. G.V. Sviridov, teacher of the Institute of Music, Theater and Choreography. A.I. Herzen.
Awarded government awards.
Alexander Maistrenko, clarinet
Alexander Maistrenko was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in the family of a musician - bass clarinetist and saxophonist of the Leningrad Radio and TV Orchestra. His first clarinet teacher was his father. After studying at a music school with an associate professor of the Institute of Culture Ph.D. G.Kupisok, Alexander entered the music college in the class of the Mariinsky Theater clarinetist Associate Professor N. Kiryukhin. After graduating from college, he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the class of Professor P. Sukhanov, who was his father's teacher.
During his studies, Alexander became a diploma and winner at International competitions and entered the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra Klassika as a soloist, where he was the principal clarinetist for 15 years. Over the years, he has toured numerous countries in Europe, Japan, Korea, USA and Canada, taught master classes in Japan and Korea, and performed сhamber and solo concerts in Finland.
Alexander has repeatedly performed Mozart's Clarinet Concerto with the orchestra, and performed in chamber concerts of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. In 1995 he performed clarinet solo in Cavaradossi's Aria from Puccini's Tosca at the Placido Domingo Gala Concert in Turku (Finland).
Alexander has also been a guest soloist at the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky Theaters, the St. Petersburg Ballet Theater, and the Conservatory Music Theater.
Alexander Maistrenko is a regular participant of the St. Petersburg Autumn International Festival, where he performs solo, in an ensemble and with an orchestra, and is the first performer of many works by contemporary composers, some of which are dedicated to him.
Now Alexander Maistrenko is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Music at Herzen University, where he teaches clarinet and saxophone to students from various countries. He is the author of the monograph Clarinet and Saxophone in Russia and many articles on the history of musical art on wind instruments.
Zhanat Yermanov, clarinet
The Artistic Characterization
Yermanov Zhanat Rahmetulinovich was born in February 28, 1965, Bayan-Aul area of Pavlodar region, Alexander farm.
Education
1984, graduated with honors from Ust-Kamenogorsk School of Music.
1991, graduated from KNC named by Kurmangazy.
1993, finished graduate studies at the KNC named by Kurmangazy.
1997, graduated from the European Academy of Music named by Mozart, Poland.
2000, graduated from the International Summer Music Academy in Nice, France.
2001, graduated from the International Summer Academy of Music in the Prado, France.
2002, graduated from KNC named by Kurmangazy, specialty opera and symphony conducting.
Certificates, diplomas and medals
1. Diploma 1st degree. V National Competition for Young Performers. Ministry of Culture, Almaty 1983
2. Diploma 3rd degree. Competition for Wind and Percussion instruments of the republics of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. Almaty. April 1990 the State Culture Committee of Kazakhstan SSR.
3. Diploma 1st degree. I international contest of wind and percussion instruments from central Asia, Azerbaijan, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. Ministry of Culture. Union of Musicians. State Conservatory named by Kurmangazy, Almaty, 1994
4. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on May 7, 2002 was awarded the anniversary medal "Kazakhstan Respublikasynyn Karula Kushterne 10 zhyl" Astana. 08/05/2002
5. Diploma. Education Foundation by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. For the great artistic achievements in art. Director of the Fund. D.Kulibaev. The city of Almaty. May 17, 2003
6. Certificate of Merit. For an excellent job in educating the young musicians, and due to Teachers' Day. RSSMSHI named by K. Baiseitova. 03.10.2003
7. Due to the 60th anniversary of the KNC named by Kurmangazy for outstanding achievements in the education of youth and concert activities Yermanov Z.R, was awarded the honorary title of "Madeniet қayratkerі."
8. For his great contribution to the development of performing arts and the creation of a state woodwind quintet by Presidential Decree of December 4, 2009, he was awarded the honorary title "Honored Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan."
9. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, dated December 7, 2011, was awarded the anniversary medal "20 years of independence, Republic of Kazakhstan".
He actively gives concerts, combining it with teaching being an associate professor at KNC named by Kurmangazy. His concerts were successfully held in Vienna, Riga, Moscow, Budapest, Warsaw, Krakow, Prague, Marseille, Seoul, Bangkok, London and Odessa. He improves his level of performance, playing music and communicating on joint concerts with such artists like Michelle Letek, Francois Leleu, Ana Casian, Jean Hyenas Keyras, Frederick Baron, John Thomson, Corrado Giuffredi, David Valter and others.
He has a number of scientific and methodological works. Many of his graduates are the laureates of international competitions and working in various musical groups within The Republic of Kazakhstan and beyond.
Currently he heads the department of wind and percussion instruments KNC named by Kurmangazy, the artistic director of the state woodwind quintet created by him
![Andrija Blagojevic [Belgrade, 2018]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/bdb976_5e504895da5444bda573323155150d8b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_128,y_0,w_2254,h_2254/fill/w_160,h_160,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Andrija%20Blagojevic%20%5BBelgrade%2C%202018%5D_edited.jpg)
Andrija Blagojević, clarinet
Serbian clarinettist Andrija Blagojević (b. 1981 in Kruševac, Serbia) is an associate professor of clarinet at the University of Priština in Kosovska Mitrovica and serves as the International Clarinet Association Country Chairperson for Serbia, European Clarinet Association Board member and the president of the Board of Directors of the National Serbian Clarinet Association.
Blagojević performed as a soloist and member of various ensembles and lectured throughout Serbia, as well as in Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Poland and Spain, and was a jury member in the clarinet and chamber music sections at the international competitions held in Serbia and Bulgaria.
Blagojević has published clarinet-related articles in various journals: The Clarinet (USA), Clarinet & Saxophone (UK), ‘rohrblatt (Germany) and Putevi kulture (Serbia).
Andrija Blagojević studied the clarinet with Mihajlo Avramović, Tomislav Nikolić and Milenko Stefanović. During his studies, Blagojević was awarded numerous awards, including the Distinguished Student Award by the Chancellor of the University of Priština, and a grant by the Kingdom of Norway, awarded to the selected best students of the Republic of Serbia. Following his postgraduate studies, Blagojević started his university career as an assistant to Professor Milenko Stefanović, the soloist and former longtime principal clarinettist of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2010 Blagojević became the first Serbian clarinettist accepted into the membership of the European Clarinet Association, having been previously the founder of the Serbian section of the International Clarinet Association. The ICA president, Dr. John Cipolla, remarked, “Through all my interactions with Mr. Blagojevic, he has displayed nothing but the highest professional standards. He has opened opportunities for students and professionals in this region of the world (…). I am very impressed by both the quality and volume of his work and contributions.”
Murat Bissengaliev, trumpet
Bissengaliyev Murat Kumargalievich was born on February 15, 1970 in the village of Dzhambeyty, Ural region.
Graduated from the musical school for gifted children named after A. Zhubanov (1989), the Almaty State Conservatory named after Kurmangazy (1994), and an assistant internship at the Almaty State Conservatory. He studied excellently, was a Presidential scholar.
Concertmaster of the group of trombones in State Wind Orchestra (Almaty) and in SOI - Symphony Orchestra of India (Mumbai). He has worked many times with great conductors such as F. Mansurov, T. Abdrashev, Z. Mehta, С. Dutoit, M. Brabbins, Z. Dalal, A. Chauhan and others.
Repeatedly performed with orchestras and as a soloist in different cities of Kazakhstan, Russia, France, Spain, on the island of Taiwan, India, Switzerland, Great Britain, Germany and Canada.
Bissengaliyev M.K. - laureate of: republic competition (1987), interregional competition (1990), international competitions (1994, 2004), diploma winner of international competitions (1996, 2002).
Successfully teaches at the musical school for gifted children named after A. Zhubanov (since 1996) and at the Kazakh National Conservatory named after Kurmangazy (since 2001). He brought up dozens of laureates and winners of republic and international competitions. His students work in the best orchestras of the Republic of Kazakhstan and abroad.
He is the leader and conductor of wind and percussion orchestras at the musical school for gifted children named after A. Zhubanov and at the Kazakh National Conservatory named after Kurmangazy.
From 2007 to 2010, from 2023 to the present day, he is the head of the wind and percussion department of the MSGC named after A. Zhubanov.
He is also the founder and leader of the "GOLDEN TROMBONES" trombone quartet. The quartet actively gives concerts and workshops. In 2021, the quartet won the "Grand Prix" at the "Grand Music Art" international competition.
He was repeatedly invited as a member of the jury and chairman of the jury to regional, republic and international competitions.
In 2004 he was awarded the distinction "Madeniet Kairatkeri" - Cultural Worker. In 2014, he was awarded the "Y. ALTYSARIN" badge for significant success in teaching and upbringing of the younger generation. In 2024 he was awarded the medal "For meritorious service".
Sun Minghong, oboe
Sun Minghong, Professor of Oboe and Master's Supervisor in the Orchestral Department at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Admitted to the Affiliated Secondary School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1973, he advanced to the undergraduate program in 1978, studying under renowned oboe pedagogue Chen Su'an. Beginning in 1980, he studied successively under Professors Zhou Songshan and Sha Jianlin. He graduated with honors in 1982 and remained at the conservatory as a faculty member. In 1986, he received a full scholarship from the French government to study at the Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison in Paris. He returned to China in 1989 to continue teaching at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Promoted exceptionally to Associate Professor in 1992, he was again promoted exceptionally to Professor in 1996 and appointed Head of the Orchestra Department at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2002, he was appointed as one of the first Discipline Leaders at Shanghai Conservatory of Music.
Teaching and Achievements: In 2016, he established the “Shanghai Oboetown” professional exchange platform and a new oboe teaching team at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, serving as its Chief Professor. Leveraging the advantages of a unified curriculum across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, he developed and implemented multiple internationalized and scientifically grounded teaching concepts and procedures. His students have achieved outstanding results in numerous international and domestic competitions. In 2017, his course “Oboe Performance Art” was designated a Key Course by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. His students have consistently excelled in numerous Category A competitions worldwide in recent years, with dozens winning major awards including second prize at the International Oboe Society's Fox Oboe Competition. He himself has received multiple honors such as the Outstanding Instructor Award from the Ministry of Culture and China Musicians Association, the He Lutian Foundation Award from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Shanghai Literary and Artistic Talent Outstanding Teacher Award, as well as titles including Outstanding Party Member and Outstanding Party Affairs Worker.
Positions Held: Director of the Orchestra Teaching and Research Office, Department of Orchestral Studies; Conductor of the Shanghai Conservatory Symphony Orchestra; Head of the Department of Orchestral Studies; Secretary of the General Party Branch and Vice Principal of the Shanghai Conservatory Affiliated High School.
Social Appointments: Since 2007, Vice Chairman of the China Wind Music Association; Director of the Shanghai Music Association Wind Music Committee; Member of the International Double Reed Society; Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Double Reed Society; concurrently serves as President of the Shanghai Music Association Oboe Research Association; Adjunct Professor at East China Normal University and Tongji University; Visiting Professor at PLA Academy of Art and Shanghai University; Adjunct Professor at Jiaotong University and East China University of Political Science and Law; Member of the Music and Dance Committee of the Ministry of Education's Higher Music Education Guidance Committee.
Published Works: Compiled multiple oboe collections, examination piece anthologies, and translated editions of instructional etudes. Recorded and released solo oboe albums by China Record Corporation and Shanghai Music Publishing House: Roses and Ribbons, and Chinese and Foreign Oboe Works. In 2016, Shanghai Music Publishing House released the album The Joy of Daily Practice: Ferling's 48 Oboe Etudes, featuring him as soloist. In 2020, Shanghai Music Publishing House will also publish Chinese-Style Oboe Duets, edited by him.
Nataliia Nemchenko,oboe
Nataliia Nemchenko was born and studied in St. Petersburg. At the age of 10, she began playing the oboe, and after graduating from music college, she continued her studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. From 1998 to 2016, she was playing as the concertmaster of the oboe section of the Symphony Orchestra Klassika, and since 2016, she has been a soloist with the Andreyev State Orchestra, performing with solo programs and winning award at international competition. She has been recognized by the Government of St. Petersburg for her contributions to the development of culture and the arts. Since 2018, he has been a senior teacher of the oboe class at the Institute of Music, Theatre, and Choreography at Herzen University.
Viktor Karpovich, saxophone
Viktor Karpovich was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) in 1957. In 1983, he graduated from the Leningrad Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory under the guidance of Professor P.N. Sukhanov. For over 20 years, he has been playing as a clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and saxophonist in the orchestras of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theatre, and the Mikhailovsky Theatre. He has also performed extensively in Western European countries. For 25 years he taught saxophone and clarinet in music schools and art schools. Since 2024 saxophone teacher at the Institute of Music, Theatre and Choreography of the Herzen State University.
Vadim Grigoriev, percussion
Grigoriev Vadim Olegovich was born in 1971. After graduating from the ten-year school at the Conservatory in 1990, he entered the Conservatory of St. Petersburg. He studied there in the class of associate professor Mikhailov A. A. in the period 1990-1995. In 1992-1999 he worked in the Symphony Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Capella. In 1999-2001 he worked in the Mikhailovsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra. Since 2000, he has been a member of the "Four Quarters" percussion ensemble. Since 2005, he has been teaching percussion instruments at music schools in St. Petersburg. Since 2020, he has been teaching percussion instruments at the V. A. Gavrilin.
Xu Dongliang, percussion
Xu Dongliang: percussion music teacher of China Conservatory of music, director of International Percussion Education Association (IPEA), signed artist of Adams, freer percossion. He graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of music in 2010, and graduated from Peabody Conservatory of music of Johns Hopkins University in 2013 with a master's degree. He successively studied with Zhao Ji, Yang ruwen, Xue Baolun and Robert van sice.
As an active performer, he has performed and recorded with many percussion and chamber orchestras, and participated in many music festivals as a soloist, such as Beijing Modern Music Festival, Jianli percussion Art Festival, IPEA International Percussion Art Festival, etc.
He began to teach in China Conservatory of music in 2014. After teaching, he went to the Central Conservatory of music, Shanghai Conservatory of music, Xi'an Conservatory of music, Xinghai Conservatory of music and Zhejiang Conservatory of music for exchange and performance. In addition to teaching and performance, he also served as the judge of Jianli International Percussion Art Festival, IPEA International Percussion competition, Hummingbird Music Award and other competitions.
Jiaqian Hu, percussion
Young Percussionist, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra
Board Member, IPEA International Percussion Education Association
Education Council Member, Shanghai Percussion Association
Master of Arts, Department of Modern Instruments & Percussion, Shanghai Conservatory of Music
A versatile performer proficient in a wide range of percussion instruments, Jiaqian Hu is celebrated for her dynamic yet refined stage presence and a style described as “spirited and free.” Media reviews have praised her “exceptional physical control and power” as well as her delicate and expressive artistry. She has also made notable contributions to percussion innovation and education.
Selected Artistic Highlights:
• Served as Percussion Designer for the original drama The World of Lu Yao, a National Art Fund-supported production co-produced by Shanghai Theatre Academy and Yan’an University.
• Performed in the CCTV arts program Scenic Symphony series, premiering A Xí Lǐ Xī for marimba and orchestra.
• Recorded Tan Dun’s 5G 3D version of Twelve Largo of Wuhan with artists from 15 countries, and participated in the Qingdao International Music & Health Week opening concert Ocean Electronic: Rhythm Wave and UNESCO Water Culture Base performance A Drop of Water on the Ceiling.
• Premiered and recorded works including the 2024 International Arts Festival electronic-fusion concert Through the Shan Hai Jing, the Yalong Cultural Tourism Festival opening The Great River Drum, and Zhejiang Provincial Museum’s guofeng music Li Ren Xing.
• Toured Europe in the “2018 Music Republic” concert series and performed alongside international percussion master Prof. Nebojša Jovan Živković in the IPEA “Master Night” concert, featuring his ensemble work Uneven Souls.
• Delivered a marimba solo in the 2020 Shanghai Spring International Music Festival concert Beautiful China: Drinking from the Same River, premiering Colorful Clouds for yueqin, marimba, and orchestra. The concert later received the “Best Production” award at the 6th National Minority Arts Festival.
• Composed and performed the percussion duet Contention & Fusion, which received the “Excellence Award” in the Shanghai Stage Art Works Selection (Small Works) by the Shanghai Culture and Tourism Administration.
Performed across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and participated in major productions with Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, including:
• The Music of China: Born of the Sea
• Chinese Music Singing of China
• Immersive Jiangnan-style music series Above the Clouds: Listening from the East
• AI and Chinese music concert Zero | One: Colors of China
Awards & Recognitions:
• Rising Artist Award, Shanghai Stage Art Works Selection (Small Works), 2020
• Gold Prize, World Percussion (Youth Category), 1st Japan International Percussion Competition
• Gold Prize, Traditional Percussion (Adult Category), PAS 2nd International Percussion Art Festival
• First Prize, Ethnic Percussion Ensemble (Professional Youth Category), 13th National Youth Percussion Competition
• Gold Prize, Marching Percussion (University Category), 10th National Youth Percussion Competition
Liu Zhaolu, bassoon
Currently, he is the dean and professor of the Department of orchestral music of Shanghai Conservatory of music, a national first-class performer, a master's supervisor, the vice president of China bassoon Association, the president of Shanghai bassoon Research Association, and the deputy director of the professional committee of wind music of Shanghai Musicians Association. In 1979, he was admitted to the middle school attached to Shanghai Conservatory of music, and successively studied Da Guan with Wang Guodong and Zhao Zhun. In 1985, he was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of music with excellent results. After graduating with excellent results in 1989, he was admitted to the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and has been the chief of the big tube department of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra for a long time. During his work in Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, he was sent to Australia South Australia Symphony Orchestra and Conservatory of music as a visiting scholar to exchange and study. During his work in the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Liu Zhaolu performed solo Concertos for many times and visited dozens of countries and regions with the orchestra. His performance level was highly recognized by the industry. Since 2000, he has also served as a major teacher of the Shanghai Conservatory of music. In June, 2003, he was invited by the international oboe association to attend the annual meeting in the United States and gave a keynote speech on "bassoon in China". At the same time, he successfully held a solo bassoon concert during the international oboe annual meeting. He has been teaching in Shanghai Conservatory of music since 2004. At the same time, he also served as the chief executive of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra until 2017. Professor Liu Zhaolu is often invited to serve as the judge of major competitions at home and abroad. In 2005, the collection of Bassoon solo sketches was officially recorded and published
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