JSFest competition


Jury members

Сhairperson Tadeusz Pszonka
Graduated from the Vocal and Acting Faculty at Karol Lipiński Music Academy in Wrocław.
Was a soloist at the State Opera in Wrocław, the Grand Theatre - National Opera in Warsaw, the Roma Music Theatre in Warsaw and the Vienna Chamber Opera. Has won awards at many vocal competitions.
Has performed at such theatres as: Operhaus in Leipzig, Grand Theatre and Musical Theatre in Łódź, Musical Theatre in Wrocław; has also performed on such renowned stages as: Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Munich Philharmonic, Vienna Konzert Haus, Vienna Hofburg, Tonhalle in Zurich, Kurhaus in Wiesbaden, Brno Philharmonic, National Philharmonic in Warsaw and others. Has travelled to Switzerland, Austria, Australia, Belgium, former Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Holland, Japan, France, Italy, Russia and Norway.
Has made recordings for Polish Television, Polish Radio, Austrian Television ORFF. Has recorded albums in Austria (Wiener Konzert Haus - Recital), France (Requiem by W. A. Mozart, Requiem by H. Berlioz), Poland (Opera Arias and Songs, Liturgia Domestica Op. 79 by A. T. Gretchaninov) and Germany
(Die Grosse Johann Strauss Gala).
Was the Chief and Artistic Director of the Karkonosze Music Festival in Karpacz, the "Szprotawskie Divertimenta" Vocal Festival and Workshops in Szprotowa. Currently, Artistic Director of the International Jan Kiepura Vocal Competition in Krynica-Zdrój, Chief and Artistic Director of Halina HalskaFijałkowska International Vocal Competition in Wrocław and the Festival of Vienna Music in Szczawno-Zdrój, Artistic Director of the National Vocal Competition in Mława, as well as Artistic Director of Jan Kiepura Festival in
Krynica-Zdrój. Conducts many courses and vocal workshops, academic seminars, among others in Wrocław and Kraków. Member of many vocal competition juries in Poland and abroad.
Participant of international programmes (e.g. Norway 2017, 2018 / Trondheim University).
Three-times recipient of the Austrian Government’s scholarship at Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, the University of Vienna (1996/97, 1997/98) and Universität für Musik in Vienna (1998/99).
Awarded the title of Professor of Art pursuant to a decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of 17.02.2015.
Additionally, completed post-graduate studies at the Wrocław School of Banking at the Faculty of Corporate Finance Management, and completed opera studies in Bolzano (Italy). In 2017, was awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda with a silver medal for his multi-annual service, and received a golden badge for his work for the development of the city of Wrocław from the Society of
Wrocław Friends. In September 2018, received a prestigious award – "Merito de Wratislavia - Meritorious for Wrocław" commemorative medal.

Aida Gainanova
Aida Arslanovna Gainanova known teacher, singer, performing works by Russian, Western, preferably composers of the Baroque and modern composers. Associate Professor of Opera singing of the Russian State Specialized Academy of Arts and the teacher of the State musical College named. Music work experience of about 40 years. A great connoisseur of music by composers of Baroque and Early Classicism. Very carefully working on all the strokes, featuring the instrumental and vocal voices, the subtlety of good breathing jet. She's a musicologist in his first specialty, Laureate of International competitions, has trained a large number of performers, UkrOliya theatres and concert halls of Russia and Abroad. Aida Arslanovna has the title of Honored worker of culture of the Republic of Tyva. Awarded honorary diplomas of Ministry of Culture of Russia, signed by Vladimir Medinsky. Many of them are Laureates of International and all-Union competitions, have honorary titles of National and Honored artists of Russia and the Republics.

Nancy Tsui-Ping Wei
Prof. Nancy Tsui-Ping Wei Classical Voice Department, College of Music, Mahidol University Nancy Tsui-Ping Wei is a Taiwanese born American residing in the Kingdom of Thailand. Nancy has been on the Classical Voice faculty at College of Music, Mahidol University since its first establishment in 1995. Teaching and nurturing young vocal talents are her aim and passion. Under Nancy’s studio tutorage, her students have been the recipients of well-respected ASEAN- European Academic University Network (ASEA-Uninet) music scholarships, studying in University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna and Graz campuses, and University of Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Among other scholarships received are HRH Princess Galyani Music Scholarships, Thai Government Talent Scholarships, University Scholarships, and Settrade Competition music scholarships in Thailand.
In the past two decades, her students have been the recipients of the 1st and 2nd prize winners, and the finalists in the international and national vocal competitions, namely Osaka International Music Competition Japan, International Singing Competition of Toulous France, China International Vocal Competition Ningpo China, Berry Alexander International Voice Competition, New York USA, Singapore Lyric Opera Vocal Competition, Singapore, EIMOC International Music Competition Taiwan, Bangkok International Performing Arts Vocal Competition Thailand, International Opera Singers CompetitionAlcamo Italy, and the prestigious Neue Stimmen International Singing Competition in Germany, where her youngest student were awarded full scholarships for the subsequent two-week master classes and final concert in Germany. Since 2007 her students have been the recipients of the 1st Prize, Gold and Silver Medal Awards in Thailand’s well known Settrade Music Competition where the Gold medalists receive cash awards, concert opportunities, and a full year scholarship studying at the College of Music, Mahidol University. Additionally, her students have engaged concerts in Europe, USA, Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia such as Schönbruun Palace Vienna, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall USA, Kitakyushu Performing Art Center Japan, Kosciuszko Foundation Auditorium New York, USA, Chaktomuk Conference Hall Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thailand Cultural Center Concert Hall, Abeno Kumin (Ward) Center Grand Hall Osaka, Japan, Prince Mahidol Hall, Thailand, Bertelsmann Stiftung Concert Hall, Germany, and Schubert Concert Hall Vienna, Austria. As a child, Nancy received awards in singing competitions in Taiwan. She studied at Tainan University of Arts and Technology and later immigrated to USA where she earned her bachelor of music and master of arts degrees at University of Houston, and George Mason University respectively. Her principal vocal teachers include Chen Li-Shiang, Tsai Shun-Mei, Tzung Dau-Shong, Jean Preston and Charles Hausmann, and her composition teachers include David A. White, and Glenn Smith. Nancy has been on judging committees for several regional and international vocal and chorus competitions. In April 2011, she was awarded ASEA-Uninet Austrian-Thai Teacher Exchange scholarships in University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria. She is a National Certified Collegiate Faculty by Music Teachers National Association, USA since 1992. Besides giving voice lessons, Nancy gives master classes, workshops, and vocal training programs

Jie Chen
Jie Chen,Professor at the School of Music, Nanjing Normal University. He was the director of the Vocal Music Department of the Conservatory of Music of Nanjing Normal University. Judges of music competitions such as Sardinia International Vocal Competition(Italy),Singapore International Music Festival, China Golden Bell Award Vocal Music Competition(Jiangsu division).he won the silver prize of the Opera Rinata International Vocal Competition in Italy. He has been invited to hold solo concerts in Italy, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries. He has collaborated with Rossini Symphony Orchestra(Italy), Jiangsu Symphony Orchestra .He released album "Courage”,“Forbidden Music”.In recent years, he has been invited to hold vocal music lectures and public welfare music activities in Shanghai Concert Hall, Jiangsu Grand Theater and some universities, and has been widely praised. In vocal music teaching, the teaching results are remarkable, His students have won many awards in vocal music competitions .Many students are admitted to Shanghai Conservatory of Music(China), Milan Conservatory of Music(Italy),Peabody Conservatory of Music (USA).

Ana Torbica
Ana Torbica is an internationally versatile Baroque violist and soprano. A certified educator and graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Ana's exceptional musicianship has been recognized with prestigious awards and scholarships, including the Christopher Hogwood Scholarship. In 2020, her outstanding contributions to early music earned her the Award for Best Young Musician in Serbia.
Born into a family of musicians, Ana's journey began with the Children's Choir of the Radio-Television of Serbia, where she developed her talents for both singing and violin. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Arts in Niš, Serbia, before honing her craft in Baroque viola under Jane Rogers and Nicolette Moonen, and voice with renowned countertenor Michael Chance at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Ana's academic achievements were marked by numerous accolades, including the Johnathan Julyan Award, the Bikerdike Allen Prize, and the Andreas and Margaret Makris Matching Scholarship. She earned a Master of Arts in Historical Performance and the LRAM Teaching Diploma in 2020, firmly establishing herself as a rising figure in the world of historical music. Thanks to the MacFarlane Walker Trust grant, Ana acquired a Baroque viola crafted by renowned luthier Jan Pawlikowski.
In 2023, Ana became a proud member of both the British Viola Society and the Royal Society of Musicians, further broadening her influence in the international music community. Her captivating performances have graced prestigious stages at the Belgrade Early Music Festival, the Varaždin Baroque Evenings, the Baroque Days in Novi Sad, and the London Festival of Baroque Music. Ana has worked with esteemed ensembles such as New Trinity Baroque (directed by Predrag Gosta), Savaria Baroque Orchestra (directed by Pál Németh), and Musica Antiqua Neoplantensis, among others.
Ana's artistry as both a soloist and ensemble musician transcends the boundaries of Baroque viola. She performs on both modern and Baroque instruments, and her fearless exploration of historical repertoires led to the premiere of the newly discovered J.G. Graun Viola Concerto with New Trinity Baroque. Her interpretive brilliance and dedication to authenticity have made her a leader in early music.
As a soprano, Ana specializes in Baroque and Renaissance music, excelling in roles such as Maddalena in the oratorio Maddalena ai piedi di Cristo. She has collaborated with some of the greatest artists in early music, including Trevor Pinnock, Philippe Herreweghe, Rachel Podger, Sonia Prina, Florian Deuter, Adrian Butterfield, and Bojan Čičić, further shaping her commitment to historically informed performance.
When not on stage, Ana teaches violin, viola, voice, and piano in schools and studios across London, while also coaching Baroque strings at the Novi Sad Baroque Academy, where she integrates innovative teaching methods with historical practice. Known for her deep connection to students and her analytical approach, Ana guides them through a transformative learning process. She has also performed at special events, such as the Queen's Birthday celebrations at the British Embassy in Serbia. Her devotion to sharing music's transformative power as both a performer and educator has made her a pivotal figure in the classical music world.
Ana Torbica's membership in elite societies, award-winning performances, and relentless pursuit of excellence continue to inspire and elevate the world of Baroque music.

Nadezhda Drobyshevskaya
Nadezhda Drobyshevskaya, born in 1967, was a soloist of the State Academic Capella of St. Petersburg from 1989 to 2017. In 1986, she graduated with honors from the Murmansk College of Music, specializing in Choral Conducting, in 1991 - from the Leningrad Conservatory, specializing in Choral Conducting (class of prof. A.I. Krylov), and also in the specialty of Vocal Performance (second degree, class of S.V. Gorenkova). As part of the capella under the direction of People's Artist of the USSR V. Chernushenko, she performed solo parts in the classical choral repertoire, including works by P. Chesnokov, G. Sviridov, V. Solovyov-Sedoy. She performed as a soloist with the renowned Capella, including singing the part of Kupava in a concert production of N. Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Snow Maiden, the solo cantata Stabat Mater by L. Boccherini, the part of Lizchen in J. S. Bach's Coffee Cantata, solo parts in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Paisiello's Coronation Mass, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Liszt's oratorio Christ, etc. She performs solo programs, participates in chamber music concerts (romances by Russian and Soviet composers) and vocal and organ music. Drobyshevskaya is a laureate of international competitions, including: laureate of the 1st prize of the International Festival of Pop Music In Retro Style (St. Petersburg, 2007), laureate of the 3rd prize of the International Competition named after I. Yuryeva (Tallinn, 2007), winner of the Grand Prix of the IV International Open Competition "Angel of Hope" (St. Petersburg, 2007). Laureate of the first prizes of the II All-Russian Open Competition "The Song Has a Woman's Face" (St. Petersburg, 2008) and the III International Festival "Silver Orpheus" (St. Petersburg, 2008). In 2007, the solo album "The Garden of Russian Romance" was recorded and released at the Melodiya recording studio, the accompanist was the laureate of Russian and international competitions and festivals Leonid Eremin. In 2011, she recorded Stabat Mater by L. Boccherini in an organ arrangement, with the organ played by the laureate of international competitions Irina Rozanova. Since 2009, she has been teaching vocals and vocal technique at the Glinka Choral School, where she is a teacher of the highest qualification category and head of the vocal department. Her students have repeatedly become laureates of vocal competitions, actively participate in touring activities, perform in productions of the Mariinsky Theater, performing solo parts in such operas as Mozart's The Magic Flute, Verdi's Macbeth, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, Wagner's Tannhäuser, etc. In December 2019, her student Alexander Palekhov (N. Drobyshevskaya's vocal class) became a finalist of the Blue Bird television competition. With her vocal students, she prepared and staged the performances The Little Prince (music by S. Pleshak) and The Town in a Snuffbox (S. Banevich). These performances were presented on the chamber stages of the Mariinsky Theater, as well as at other concert and theater venues in St. Petersburg and the region. In 2020, the premiere of the children's opera "Boys" by S. Pleshak based on the story "My Dear Boys" by L. Kassil took place, commissioned by N. Drobyshevskaya. In 2013, she defended her dissertation on the topic "Specifics of individual vocal training of a singer in a professional choral group (from the history of the Imperial Choir)" and received the academic degree of candidate of art history. Author of a number of articles, including "Italian roots of Russian vocal art (from the history of training singers in the Imperial Choir)", "Performance of music of contemporary composers by the St. Petersburg Chapel: vocal specificity or special training", etc.

Ewa Iżykowska-Lipińska
Ewa Iżykowska (Soprano, Mezzosoprano) belongs to the group of the most outstanding Polish singers.
She started her professional career at the Opera House in Poznań, Poland in 1981 where she created Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte, Violetta in La Traviata, Micaela in Carmen, Liu in Turandot and many others.
In 1986 Ewa Iżykowska made her debut at the Chamber Opera House in Vienna, Austria, where she sang Nedda in I Pagliacci directed by George Tabori and Countess in Le nozze di Figaro.
In 1987–1991 she was soloist at the Opera House in Lucerne, Switzerland, where among others she sang Poppa in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Countess in Le nozze di Figaro, Tatyana in Eugen Onegin, Violetta in La Traviata, Adriana in Adriana Lecouvreur together with tenor Ramon Vargas, and Marcello Viotti conducting.
Recently she also appeared in multiple European theatres singing many characters in Penderecki’s Die Schwarze Maske, The Devil from Loudaine, (both broadcasted internationally) Paradise Lost, Strauss’ Salome and Rosenkavalier (Marschalin), Puccini’s Tosca, and Giordano’s Fedora.
Ewa Iżykowska is a distinguished oratorio / cantata singer. Her repertoire includes the best known works starting from Baroque through Romantic oratorios to contemporary works like Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 or Górecki’s Symphony No. 3 and the whole Penderecki’s oratorio repertoire.
During her career she performed in the world’s most prestigious opera theaters and concert halls like La Scala, Musikverein, Carnegie Hall, and she was touring around Europe, Americas, Philippines and Russia.
She has recorded with Polish Radio & TV and Austria TV ORF.
In 2000, she started her world-wide tour with two solo recitals: From Baroque to Jazz and Songs of Chopin and Paderewski.
Since 2000 she begun to share her experience with young students at University in Olsten, Poland, Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, and she become a v cue director of Keimyung F. Chopin Academy of Music in South Korea.
Since 2004, she is asked to participate in many international opera workshops, seminars, courses and festivals, like, Schlern Music Festival in Italy, Master Class at the Texas Christian University, Master Class at the Catholic University in Daegu, S. Korea, From Chopin to Górecki Festival at the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw.
Apart from teaching she also works as a director. She presented a performance of Song Books for Home Use by S. Moniuszko in 2010, and a performance entitled Musicale Musicale in 2011.
Ewa Iżykowska gives a lot of concerts. Recently she has given a recital at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. In 2010 she gave a recital of Songs by Chopin in Paris, and it was the first time ever that those pieces were recorded on a Blu-ray disc.
In 2011 she gave a performance in Vatican on St. Peter’s Square during the beatification ceremony of John Paul II.
She fluently speaks 5 languages: Italian, Russian, German, English and French. She holds DA degree and she is Professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw.

Leyla Salman
Leyla Salman was born in Bucharest. She is a R&B and Soul singer and
vocal coach.
In 2017 she won a scholarship at the Scoala de Canto Art Music in
Bucharest, where she is now a vocal coach. She has an experience of 5
years in teaching.
The scholarship continued in 2018 and she was prepared by her vocal
coach to teach vocal technique.
Now she is a student at Complet Vocal Institute of Denmark.
She participated in various important shows such as Eurovision with the
band TMW in 2019, or X Factor Romania in 2021.
She is collaborating with Netflix for dubbing and is currently a vocal
coach at The Voice of Rumania in The Motans team.

Mary Setrakian
Mary Setrakian is a native of San Francisco,California. She has been a resident of New York City for forty years performing professionally, in conjunction with teaching master voice to a variety of artists in New York, Los Angeles,and internationally in Italy, Australia, England, Portugal,Russia, and Armenia.
As a Master Voice Teacher, Mary prepared Nicole Kidman for her Golden Globe Award-winning and Oscar nominated performance in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge. She has been the Master Voice Teacher to Grammy Award winners Michael Bolton and Mary J.Blige, Oscar winners Forest Whitaker and Kate Winslet, Emmy Award-winner Kerry Washington, as well as the stars of John Turturro's musical movie Romance & Cigarettes, including James Gandolfini,Mandy Moore,and Bobby Cannavale. Mary prepared Bella Thorne for her feature film singing debut in Midnight Sun. She was the vocal coach to Ben Daniels for his performance as Pontius Pilate in JC Superstar Live on NBC starring John Legend,and has been Broadway star Sierra Boggess' teacher since Sierra was 17 years old.
Mary been seen on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing.She toured with the Broadway companies of The Phantom of the Opera,Les Miserables, Hello,Dolly!,Evita, and was featured at Carnegie Hall in Jubilee directed by Herbert Ross. Mary holds a Masters in Voice Performance with Distinction from the New England Conservatory,and is a graduate of Stanford University in Music/Voice with Honors. She studied at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Phyllis Curtain, and was a voice student of Joan Heller, Mark Pearson, Marie Gibson, and Corinne Swall. She has studied acting with her mentor, Susan Batson,for over thirty years. Mary's new book,SING, Find Your True Voice, has just been released worldwide to 5-Star rave reviews on Amazon.

Adalyat Yusupova
Yusupova Adalyat Akhmetovna, was born on September 8, 1969 in Alma-Ata (Kazakh SSR)
Graduated from the Tashkent State Conservatory named after Mukhtar Ashrafi (class of professor, People's Artist of the Uzbek SSR, People's Artist of the USSR Kabulova S.K.), assistant internship in the direction of "Chamber singing" (class of Professor S.A.Tsoi).
She combined her training in an assistant internship with work at the Tashkent State Institute of Arts named after Manon Uygur at the Department of Solo Singing, the Republican Specialized Secondary Music School named after R. Glier as a vocal teacher.
During her studies and work, she took active part in solo and general concerts organized by the Tashkent Conservatory and the Embassy of Uzbekistan.
Since 2000, she has worked in Almaty at the Children's Music School, at the P.I. Tchaikovsky Almaty Music College, at the K.Bayseitova Republican Secondary Specialized School, at the Yelebekov Republican Variety and Circus College as a teacher and vocalist-illustrator.
From 2009 to the present, he has been working at the Kazakh National Conservatory named after Kurmangazy. Associate Professor of the Department of Vocal Art. During the period of her pedagogical activity, she brought up laureates of national and international competitions in different age categories. For the preparation of laureates, pedagogical skills and scientific works, she was awarded various medals ("KR Madaniyet salasyn uzdigi", "The best teacher of the CIS") diplomas ("The best in education", a special diploma "For the high level of pedagogical skills and the effectiveness of vocal training of young performers", for the preparation of Grand Prix laureates, etc.) and thank you letters.
Yusupova A.A. is the author of a monograph on management, culture and art, textbooks on vocal art, a textbook on chamber singing, scientific articles.

Tatiana Chivarova
Born in Bulgaria, she has long lived in Italy. She graduated in opera singing from the National Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria, with Prof. Sima Ivanova. She specialized in the Singing Academy of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, with Giulietta Simionato. She has several awards in many international singing competitions. She has sung in many theaters around the world - Staatsoper Stuttgart, Madrid Philharmonic, Opera de Toulon Teatro Regio in Turin, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Teatro Bellini in Catania, New Istaeli Opera in Tel Aviv and many others. A dramatic soprano, she has held roles such as Lady Macbeth, Abigaillle, Odabella, Leonora
( La Forza del Destino), Léonore ( Fidelio), Ariadne auf Naxos, Aida, Tosca, Turandot and others. She still carries out concert activities.
Along with her artistic activity, she is also a Lecturer of opera singing in several Academies, holds masterclasses around the world, such as in China National Opera. She is often invited to give masterclasses at the Accademia del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
