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.
Yasashi I Evelyn Pangaribuan
Yasashi was born and raised in Indonesia. Since childhood, she started her singing journey as both member and self-taught choir leader at church. She went to University of Indonesia to study nutrition, where she joined university choir then taking vocal training as soloist under the guidance of the choirmaster, Indonesian soprano, Aning Katamsi. Two years after she finished her bachelor in 2013, she went to UK to do Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance at Royal College of Music, London, under the guidance of soprano Patricia Rozario, OBE. After finishing her diploma (2016), she went back to Indonesia to continue her singing career as both teacher and performer. She participated in a vocal competition in Jakarta and won 1st prize adult category of National Singing Competition Catharina Leimena. In the same year, she was also awarded a full scholarship by Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education to continue her study.
Then, a year after (2017), she went back to UK to pursue her master degree in performance (voice) for two years. After completing her study, she went back to Indonesia and going back for her singing career. She’s been actively performing in concert halls and events in Jakarta and also doing workshops, masterclasses, and vocal coaching for music schools such as Bina Musik Jakarta and Jakarta Conservatory of Music. Last year, she was chosen to be the (youngest ) adjudicator for Pesparawi Nasional 2022.
Alisa Katroshi
Alisa Katroshi is an increasingly internationally renowned dramatic soprano from Albania. She performs throughout Europe with special focus on Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Malta as well as the Balkans region. Alisa has cooperated with directors of the calibre of Andrea Battistoni, Jose Cura, Helge Dorsch, Hermann Breuer, Daniela Candiotto, Hans Friedrich Harle, and performed with several leading orchestras such as: The Orchestra of Arena di Verona, the Orchestra of the Albanian National Opera & Ballet Theatre, the Frankfurter Symphoniker Orchestra, Constanta National Orchestra, the Rhein-Main Philharmoniker as well as the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.
She is winner of prestigious singing competitions from “Martinelli Pertile” in Padova to “Antonio Salieri” in Verona; from “Cavalier Davide Vignolo” in Genova to “Anita Cerquetti” in Macerata and more. Alisa graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Academy of fine Arts of Tirana (2005) and from the Verona Conservatory E. F. dall’Abaco (2009). Alisa has studied with masters such as Mirella Freni, Daniela Dessi, Fiorenza Cedolins, Marcello Lippi, Sylvia Sass, Alida Ferrarini, Helga Wagner, Linda Watson and Jose Cura.
Alisa’s dramatic voice, expressive, passionate, vivid and unique stage presence and extensive repertoire make her performances moving and memorable. Some of the roles she has performed with great success include Mimi in La Boheme of G. Puccini; Tosca; Manon Lescaut of G. Puccini; Aida, Leonora of La forza del destino and Amelia in Un ballo in Maschera of G. Verdi.
Alisa is currently Member of the International Jury of three prestigious singing competitions: Stars and Music Awards; Danubia Talents International Music Competition; Danubia Liszt International Music Competition. Alisa is an ex singing teacher of UART (The University of Arts Tirana), currently providing Workshops and Masterclasses of opera singing.
Zoya Zhuravlyova
Born on 23 May 1968.
In 1992-1999 studied at the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatoire
where majored in vocal art, the class of Nina Arsentieva.
In 1996 she was awarded an incentive grant from the Matsuura Fund (Japan) for students of the former Soviet Union, with the selective committee chaired by Yukio Hatoyama. Certificate of Grant Award is dated 3 May 1996.
Laureate of the Fortissimo International Competition of Slavic Music held in Kharkov in 2004.
Zoya V. Zhuravlyova is a leading member of the Russian Tradition Association at the Union of Composers St. Petersburg, Corresponding member of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts, member of the jury of the Open district competition "Romance trembling sounds" for 20 years. She is the vice-director and a vocal teacher of the Boris Tishchenko College of Music.
The singer often performs in concerts of chamber music, both classical and modern. Her Russian repertoire is rich and versatile; she has been the first to perform a number of works by St. Petersburg composers, including A. Ametov, G. Belov, S. Vazhov, P. Gekker, M. Zhuravlyov, A. Nesterov, V. Ogorodnov, T. Ogorodnova-Dukhanina, A. Petrov, V. Radchenkov, A. Sledin, V. Solovyov, D. Stefanovich, B. Tishchenko, V. Uspensky, A. Frolov, N. Khotuntsov, F. Shevtsov, as well as I. Blinnikova (Syktyvkar city), V. Orlova (Saratov city), E. Poplyanova (Chelyabinsk city), A. Chernov (Moscow).
The vocal cycles by V. Uspensky, D. Shostakovich and M. Zhuravlyov became gems of her repertoire, and the program Two Centuries of Russian Romance with songs by A. Varlamov, A. Gurilyov, M. Glinka, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, P. Chaikovsky, S. Rakhmaninov, G. Sviridov, V. Gavrilin, A. Sledin, G. Khanedanyan, and M. Zhuravlyov won popularity with the public.
She performed with the St. Petersburg Cello Ensemble conducted by Olga Rudneva in 2004-2006. In the period from 2006 until 2015 she sang as a soloist with symphony orchestras at the White hall of the Polytechnic University and in the Academic Capella, being the first to render compositions by M. Zhuravlyov, N. Rusu-Kozulina, N. Khotuntsov in the series of events of the “Petersburg Autumn” Russian art festival, as well as the “Russian Music, XXI century” festival.
She continues to perform with various concert programs to this day.
Zoya Zhuravlyova started practicing fine arts in 1995, in particular, designing sheet music, illustrating vocal cycles and collections of poetry (water-color, graphics). Her personal exhibition attached to the concert “The Silver Age” took place in 1999.
Z. Zhuravlyova presented a cycle of concerts under the name “The Portraits Gallery”, took part in the exhibition dedicated to the book Alice in Wonderland by L. Carroll and the “Golden Hands” exhibition of the works by artists and craftsmen of the Russian Union of Cultural Workers (St. Petersburg department).
As an artist she designed a number of music scores at the MADR publishing house (piano reduction of operas by G. Khanedanyan, vocal cycle “Hiroshima Songs” by N. Khotuntsov, cycle of pieces “The Circus” by N. Rusu-Kozulina, children opera “The Zoo” by T. Ogorodnova-Dukhanina), and the Union of Artists publishing house (album of pieces “The Circle” by M. Zhuravlyov).
In 2014 the Compositor publishing house published a vocal education book for children aged 9-17 with pieces by modern composers and music teachers of St. Petersburg, which was edited and illustrated by Z. Zhuravlyova.
Zoya Zhuravlyova coached a number of laureates of international and local competitions, both young and adult.
JSFest 2020-2022
Jury
Sylwia Burnicka-Kalischewski, Poland/Germany
Sylwia Burnicka–Kalischewski, soprano, graduated from the State School of Music of Feliks Nowowiejski in Szczecin in the solo singing class of Andrzej Kwiczała. She graduated from the Faculty of Russian Language and Applied Linguistics at Warsaw University (1996). In 1997 she graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music of Frederic Chopin in Warsaw in the solo singing class of prof. Urszula Trawińska-Moroz. In 2002 she completed her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics and East Slavonic Philology at Warsaw University and she received the academic degree of Doctor of Humanities. In 2012 she received the academic degree of Doctor of Arts of Music in the Arts "Vokalistik" and 2016 the academic degree of Doctor habilitatus at the Academy of Music of Grażyna and Kiejstut Bacewicz in Łódź. She participated in master classes conducted by Ryszard Karczykowski, Maria Fołtyn, Bożena Betley. The first stage experience she gained during numerous tour with the Polish Music Theatre in Warsaw. The most frequently performed roles in a stage andas a concert are: I, II, Lady of "Magic Flute", Donna Elvira in the opera „Don Giovanni”, Countess Almaviva in „The Marriage of Figaro” by W.A . Mozart, Rosalinda in „Die Fledermaus” by J. Strauss, Maggie and Gertrude in „Hänsel and Gretel” by E. Humperdinck, Leonora in „Il Trovatore”, Amelia in „Masquerade ball” by G. Verdi. She has performed as soloist at the Polish stages: the National Theatre in Warsaw, Theatre „Na Woli” in Warsaw, the Grand Theatre in Poznan, Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz, as well as on the stages of opera houses in Germany: Bremen, Hannover, Hamburg, Erlangen, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart , Wuppertal, Kiel, Münster, Mannheim, Regensburg, Dortmund, Hamm, Osnabrück, Schwedt, Lübeck, and many other cities. In 1997-2004 she worked as a soloist in the Powszechny Theatre of Zygmunt Hübner in Warsaw. She played a role of Sophie de Palma, a pupil of Maria Callas, in the „Maria Callas- masterclass” of Terrence McNally. At the same time she was also a soloist in the Warsaw Philharmonic with which she toured throughout Poland. The artist was invited to participate in many important festivals. She had guest performances at the XXXVII Festival of Stanislaw Moniuszko in Kudowa-Zdrój, V Opera Festival in Bydgoszcz, II Opera Meeting in Grudziądz, VII and VIII Festival of Peace in Jawor and Usedomer Musikfestival. She has performed in Poland, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, and France (Paris), Austria (Vienna) and the U.S.A. (Chicago). Sylwia Burnicka-Kalischewski made many recordings for radio and television. Since 2002 she has been teaching solo singing at a music school Kreismusikschule Uecker-Randow in Ueckermünde. In 2004-2005 she collaborated as a teacher of solo singing with a music school Musikschulzweckverband „Kon.centus” in Neubrandenburg. Her students have won German local and international vocal competitions in Germany, Poland, Italy, Estonia, Greece, Finland, Great Britain, Serbia, Portugal, Russia, France, Japan, Latvia, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Hungary, Swiss, Canada and U.S.A. In 2010-2021, she was artistic director of the International Singing Competition of Giulio Perotti in Seebad Ueckermünde. Since October 2013, Sylwia Burnicka-Kalischewski has have a solo singing class at the Academy of Art in Szczecin, and since September 2017 she has been an associate professor at this university. In January 2014, she was honored with the highest distinction of Ueckermünde - Honorary Diploma and Cultural Award - statuette of "UECKERICH für den Bereich Kultur 2013" for outstanding artistic achievements for the city and the region. Sylwia Burnicka-Kalischewski is the authoress of several monographs and many scientific articles in the field of singing, theory of music and linguistics. Since 2021 she is artistic director of the International BEL CANTO Singing Competition online.
Tatyana Rudneva, Kazakhstan
Tatyana Rudneva (soprano) she graduated from Kurmangazy Alma-Ata State Conservatory on class of solo signing in 1985. She got the second higher education on specialty “Psychology” in 2007. She graduated from fellowship of Magnitogorsk State Conservatory (Academy) named after M.I. Glinka (Russia) on specialty “Academic Signing”. Term of pedagogical employment is more than thirty years. At the present time she is docent of department “Vocal Art and Conducting” of the Kazakh National University of Arts (Astana. Kazakhstan).
T.N. Rudneva works with all signing voices, conducts class of solo signing and chamber class, reads lecture courses on methods and history of vocal art. Students of T.N. Rudneva class a lot of times were laureates of international and republican contests. Alumni of her class successfully continue professional activity as soloists of opera theatres, philharmonias in the Republic of Kazakhstan, Russia, Germany, and also as pedagogues of academic and variety vocal in musical colleges and higher educational institutions. Scientific and pedagogic activity of T.N. Rudneva is represented by writing of scientific articles and monographs on issues of history of establishment and development of Kazakhstan’s vocal art.
Concert and performance activity of T.N. Rudneva is represented by solo concerts, creative contests, master classes, recordings on television. She sang solemn “Mass” during the official visit of head of the Roman-Catholic Church Pope John Paul the II in Kazakhstan in 2001. She sang solo concert “Ave Maria” dedicated to victims of terror of the XX century for religious confessions of the CIS countries and abroad in 2002. Ten musical and thematic programs were recorded on the republican television: “A.S. Pushkin and Music”, “A. Akhmatova in Music”, “Musical Heritage of Abai Kunanbayev”, “Romances of P.I. Tchaikovsky”, “Russian Romance of the XVIII-XIX Centuries”, “Evening of Classical Operetta” and others. Foundation recordings “Russian Folk Songs” and “Kazakh Folk Songs” were executed on all-Union radio.
Tatyana Rudneva is laureate of international contests, Honoured Worker of Education of the RK.
Simone Maria Marziali, Italy
Born in 1975 he had his classic studies with high achievement in pianoforte at the Music School of Fiesole, ancient music at the Accademia Filarmonica Romana and Conducting of Lyric Opera at the Accademia Filarmonica of Bologna.
M° Marziali has received first prizes in many national and international piano competitions, among these “ J. S. Bach” in Sestri Levante and “Città di Stresa International Piano Competition”.
For more than12 years principal prompter, repetitor and assistant conductor at the Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago and around the world (Verdi Theatre of Pisa, Goldoni of Livorno, Giglio of Lucca, Donizetti of Bergamo, Avignone's Opera in France, Opera Australia in Melbourne, NHK in Tokyo, “Luciano Pavarotti” in Modena, Palma de Maiorca's Opera, Teatro Campoamor of Oviedo etc etc)
M° Marziali has collaborated with the most famous singers such as Placido Domingo, Raina Kabaivanska, Katia Ricciarelli, Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato, Nicola Martinucci, Patrizia Ciofi, Norma Fantini, Stefania Bonfadelli etc. etc.
He was also assistant conductor of Alberto Veronesi, Kery Lynn Wilson, Roberto Tolomelli, Antonio Pirolli, Massimo de Bernart, Andrea Licata.
Due to his very broad experience he is one of the most appreciated accompanists and vocal coaches for lyric singers coming from all of the world to study with him .
He organizes and teaches in lots of Masterclasses with famous singers and artistic directors (like Stefania Bonfadelli, Cristina Park and Marco Balderi, Franco Trinca, Gundula Hintz etc etc).
Some of his masterclasses were at the Music School Ariadimusica in Roma with Stefania Bonfadelli, at the PLFM Contest in Tallinn, at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, in Roma, Lucca, Gubbio and Andria with Cristina Park and M° Marco Balderi, at the Rahmaninov School in St. Petersburg, in Helikon Opera and Lemeshev School in Moscow etc etc
He conducted Tosca at the Verdi Theatre in Firenze, various lyric recitals in Tuscany and around Italy and La Boheme at the historical Rinnovati Theatre in Siena.
In the summer 2013 he conducted Traviata in Monteriggioni (Siena) at the Openair Summer Festival “La Lirica al Castello”, his very successful and innovative productions, with the direction of Alberto Paloscia (artistic director of the Goldoni Theatre of Livorno).
In november 2014 he conducted Aida in tournèe in the most important theaters of Netherlands in a very prestigious production with the direction of Francesco Bellotto (artistic director of the Donizetti Theatre of Bergamo).
Between his recent successes he conducted Boheme at the Openair Festival of Casole d'Elsa and Butterfly at the Verdi Theater of Casciana Terme (Pisa) with great rewies in the most important Opera Magazines (Opera, Operaclick, etc etc)
Due to his important experience he founded the Lyric Agency Musikos, one of the most successful new realities of the International Lyric Management with contracts and artists in all of the world.
M° Marziali is often in the judging panels of some of the most important italian International
Competitions like “Martinelli Pertile” in Montagnana (Padova), “Marcella Pobbe” in Vicenza, “Federico II” in Andria (Bari), “La Fenice Competition” in Seravezza (Lucca), “Martinelli-Pertile's Prize” in Vicenza, International Competition “Citta’ di Lanciano”, “Rahmaninov Competition” in St. Petersburg, “PLMF Contest” in Tallin, “International Competition T.O.S.C.A.” in Andora (Savona), International Competition Hebrew University in Jerusalem, “Citta’ di Firenze”, “Giovan Battista Rubini” in Romano di Lombardia (Bergamo) etc etc
In 2020/2021 during the pandemic period he partecipated in the online Jury of the Competitions Lemeshev from Moscow and Olga Sosvnoskaya from Krosnadar in Russia conducting also very succesfull online masterclasses.
Gocha Datusani, Georgia
Education: 1990-1995 Tbilisi D. Arakishvili Musical School Choral Conduct Faculty;
1995-2001 Tbilisi State Conservatoire Vocal Faculty;
Work experience:
Since 2020 Tbilisi V. Srajishvili conservatoire-vocal teacher
Since 2011 Kutaisi M. Balanchivadze Opera Theatre soloist;
Since 2002 Tbilisi V. Srajishvili conservatoire opera studio soloist;
Since 1998 Tbilisi Z. Faliahsvili Opera and Ballet Theatre soloist;
1998-2000 Batumi Opera and Ballet Theatre soloist;
Master classes:
P. Burchuladze. B. Maisuradze. V. Brendeli. L. Baumani. F. Havlata.
Languages: Russian; (excellent) German; (good) English; (good) Georgian; (Native)
Additional (Other, Extra) Information:
Took an active part: at Academic and Government Concerts (more than 150)
Opera performances (more than 200);
International Festivals as in Georgia as abroad;
“Autumn Tbilisi” Georgia
“Gut imling” Munchen, Germany
“Rishion Lecion” Israel
“Israel Musical Festival”
F. Shaliapini 26th International Festival
Batumi Musical Festival
Telaviv-Israeli Opera –first performance of DJ.Verdi”Macbett”(banquo)2016
On tour was in: Russia. Israel, Switzerland, Baltic States;
He has taken part in the first World Opera Staging (performance) in the first premiere 13 J. Peri, Ephridike- “Euridice Pluton”
He took part in the charitable play “Aida” with the world famous mezzo-soprano Dolora Zakij; in February 26,28 2015 – With Carmen Giannatassio,Arturo Chacon Cruz , Nino Surguladze and maestro Gianluca Marciano in Beiruth All Bustan music festival sang Oroveso in Norma
Was a partner of such grandees as P. Buchuladze, B. Maisuradze, L. Ataneli, G. Gagnidze, N. Machaidze, A.Rachvelishvili, Mikraideri, K. Giannatassio, Arturo Chacon-Cruz, Nino Surguladze, Lucio Gallo, Maria Piscitelli, Gaston Rivero, Ricardo Zanelatto.
Worked with conductors: J. Kakhidze, G. Marciano. Z. Azmaifarashvili, G. Chichinadze, R. M. Boemi, S. okacu,
Repertoire:
Peri - “L Euridice” pluton
J.S. Bach - Cantata BWV 82, “Ich habe genug”
F.I. Hayoln - Oratorum “jahreszeiten” basso
W.A.Mozart - “Requem” Basso, “Die Zauberflote” Sarastro, “Bastien und Bastienne” Colas,
“Le nozze di Figaro” Don Bartolo, “Don Giovanni” Mazetto, Leporello, If Comendatore.
G.Donizetti -“L’elisir d’amore” Dulcamara, “Lucia di Lammermoor” Raimondo Bidebant, “Don Pasquale” Don Pasquale
O. Nicolai - “Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor” Falstaf
G. Rossini - “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” Don Basilio, “Stabat Mather” Bass
C. Orff -“Die kluge” Peasant
G.Gounod -“Faust” mefistofel
A.Boito - “Mefistofele” mefistofel
G.Verdi - Requem Basso, “Nabucco” Zaccaria, “Ernani “ Conte di Silva, “Attila” Attila, “Luisa Miller” Walter, “Macbeth” Banquo, “Rigoletto” Monterone, Sparafucile,“Il Trovatore” Ferando, “Un ballo in maschera” Tom, Silvano,“La forza del destino” padre Guardiano,calatrava, “Don Carlo” Filippo, Il Grande Inquisitore,”Aida”- Ramfis, Faraon
G.Puccini – “Tosca” IL Sacrestano, “Madama Butterfly” bonzo, “Gianni Schicchi” Betto, Simone
V. Bellini -“Norma” Oroveso,
P.I. Tchaikovsky, “Eugeni Onegin” Gremin, “Iolanta” King Rene
S. Rachmaninoff – “Aleko” Aleko, Old Gipsy
Z. Paliashvili - “Abesalom and Eteri ” King Abio, “Daisi” Tsangala, “Latavra” King Engicher”
V. Dolidze -“Keto and Kote” - Makari
Tatyana Smelkova, Russia
Professor, Honored Worker of Culture of Russia, Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of Russia. Since 2004 - Head of the Department of Solo Singing of the Russian State Pedagogical University named after Alexander Herzen. Member of the jury of a number of international competitions, head of the largest in Russia (over 200 participants) International Boris Shtokolov vocal competition. Her students successfully perform on the stages of the countries of Europe, Asia and America, she has brought up more than twenty laureates of international vocal competitions.
Kirsti Tuominen, Finland
Kirsti Tuominen, a soprano, has graduated as a teacher of classical singing from The Conservatory of Turku. Since then she has taken several master classes, for example with Irina Arhipova, Gerhard Kahry, Silvia Geszty and Eva Blahova. She has also studied further singing in Berlin, London, Vienna and Praque.
She has worked as a teacher of classical singing at The Conservatory of Turku, Turku college of music and Turku High School of Applied Sciences. Currently she teaches at Puolalanmäki High School of Music.
As a Singer Kirsti Tuominen is extremely versatile, she has performed in various operas, operettas and musicals as well as a soloist with numerous orchestras. She has also performed in dozens of recitals, and been working as an actress on numerous theatre productions.
Juliette Galstian, Switzerland
Winner of the Viotti International Singing Competition in Italy, and a Laureate of Maria Calla Grand Prix (Greece) and Julian Gayarre (Spain) international competitions, Juliette Galstian makes her debut in 1996 at the Teatro Regio di Torino as Mimi in Puccini’s La Bohème.
Since 1996 she has performed more than 25 opera roles at the ROH Covent Garden, Opera Bastille, La Fenice, La Scala, Zurich Opera, Geneva Opera, Torino’s Teatro Reggio, New National Opera of Tokyo, Bergen Opera, Salzburg Festival, Prague’s National Theatre, Opera de Marseille, Teatro Galdos of Las Palmas, and others.
She collaborates with symphonic and chamber orchestras all over the world and sings at New-York’s BAM, London’s Barbican, Geneva’s Victoria Hall, Bergen’s Grieg Halle, St Petersburg’s Great Philharmonic Hall, Budapest’s National Philharmonic Hall, Moscow’s International House of Music, Brussel’s Palais des Arts, Paris’ Chatêlet and Salle Gaveau, Colmar Festival, Festivals of Beaune and Ambroney.
Juliette sang under the baton of James Conlon, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, William Christie, Michel Plasson, Armin Jordan, Adam Fisher, Evelino Pido, Zoltan Kocsis, Vladimir Spivakov and others.
Juliette Galstian sang recitals and concerts with a large selection of songs in nine languages in Montreal, Zurich, Dubrovnik, Vienna, Paris, Innsbruck, Prague, Brno, Köln, Geneva, Nantes, Antwerpen, Stuttgart, Moscow, Tbilisi, Yerevan etc.
Music critics of Le Figaro, Le Monde, The International Herald Tribune, The Sunday Times, and numerous other newspapers, as well as of International Opera Magazines, have acclaimed Juliette Galstian’s magnificent, warm and beautiful voice, flawless technique, inborn sense of style, perfect diction, strong acting skills and stage presence.
Her discography includes DVDs of “Iphigénie en Tauride” of Gluck, “Nina” of Paisiello (both from Zurich Opera), CDs of “Theodora” of Handel (under William Christie) and “Juliette Galstian Artist Portrait”.
Since 2014, Juliette Galstian teaches at the Geneva Conservatoire, and since 2018 she is Head of the Voice Department.
She is regularly invited to give masterclasses in Europe, Russia and Armenia, and was a jury member at international singing competitions in Norway and Russia.
Galina Boyko, Russia
Russian soprano Galina Boyko was born in Moscow in the family of musicians.
Galina was a student of Moscow Academy of Music named after Gnessyns (vocal singing – class professor Sheveliova) when she began to sing in opera.
At present Galina Boyko was a soloist of the MOSCOW MUSICAL THEATRE named after STANISLAVSKY and NEMIROVICH-DANCHENKO from 1987 to 2009. She performed in this theatre all leading parts for coloratura soprano. Rosina (IL Barbiere di Siviglia), Iolanta (Iolanta), Ludmila (Ruslan and Ludmila), Arsena (Zigeunerbaron), Konstanza (Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail). From 1997-1999 Galina Boyko worked with Moscow Academic Satz’s Children Musical Theatre. She performed KONIGEN DER NACHT (Zauberflote).
Galina Boyko had a contract with BOLSHOI THEATRE in Moscow from 1994 to 2005. She performed ROSINA (IL Barbiere di Siviglia), QUEEN OF SHEMAKHA (Golden Cockerel), ANTONIDA (Ivan Susanin). She released solo CD with Music Director and Chief Conductor Bolshoi Theatre Alexander Vedernikov.
In 2009, September – signed contract with Moscow Philarmonia.
In May (1998, 1999) Galina Boyko sang concerts in Hague on Birthday of Queen Netherlands. In January 2005 Galina Boyko with delegation from Russia with Vladimir Putin (President of Russia) at the head took part in Days of Russian Culture in Kazakhstan. She sang 2 parts in Opera Theater in Alma-Ata – Rosina (“Il Barbiere di Siviglia”) and Gilda (“Rigoletto”). After these performances she took part in concert in Days Russian and Byelorussian Culture in Moscow. Vladimir Putin (President of Russia) and Alexander Lukashenko (President of Belarus) were on this concert.
Galina has many performances and spectacles at Opera Theatres and Festivals in Russia and abroad. Festival of Modern Music in FRANKFURT, International Music Festival in ST. PETERSBURG, FESTIVAL RADIO FRANCE, “31st MAY OPERA EVENINGS” (Macedonia), “EL JEM” (Tunis), “Larnaca Festival of Classical Music” (Cyprus), “OCHRID SUMMER FESTIVAL” (Macedonia) and other different International Music Festivals.She performed leading parts: ROSINA (IL Barbiere di Siviglia), VIOLETTA (Traviata), GILDA (Rigoletto), MICAELA (Carmen), and others
Galina Boyko sang main female part PAK CHOU HI in first Russian – Korean opera “LI SUN SIN” by Vladislav Agafonnikov. 2003,2004.
Galina Boyko works with TV and Radio.
She released 6 CD: the DECCA RECORD COMPANY LIMITED, CHANT DU MONDE, PHILIPS, CITADEL RECORDS CORPORATION, RUSSIAN DISK
Galina Boyko works with famous conductors such as V. ASHKENAZY, E. SVETLANOV, P. BIANKALANA, A. ELSAEDI, M. ERMLIER, S. STADLER, M. GORENSTEIN, R. HAYRABEDIAN, J. JUDD, A. KAZ, M. MAI, J. PANULA, G. RINKYAVICHUS, V. SINAISKY, P. SOROKIN, M. UROVSKY, A. VEDERNIKOV, D. VOLOSNIKOV and others.
G. Boyko worked with B. POKROVSKY, K. MULLER
Azamat Zheltyrguzov, Kazakhstan
Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Laureate of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Leader of the Nation, Laureate of the State Youth Award "Daryn" of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Laureate of the International Prize "Commonwealth of Debuts", Professor of the Department of "Vocal Art" of the Kazakh National University of Arts (Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan), Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences (Hannover, Germany), Laureate of International and Republican competitions.
2005-2006 – soloist of the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
2006 to present – soloist of the State Academic Philharmonic of the Akimat of Astana (Republic of Kazakhstan)
2007-2013 – soloist of the opera NTOB named after K.Baiseitova (Astana, Kazakhstan)
2009-2012 – Lecturer at KazNUI College (Astana, Kazakhstan)
2012-2017 – Associate Professor, Head of the Department "Vocal Art and Conducting" of KazNUI (Astana, Kazakhstan)
2016-present - soloist of the Central Ensemble of the National Military-Patriotic Center of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan
2017 -present – Professor of the Department of Vocal Art of KazNUI (Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan)
2018-present – soloist of kazakhconcert (Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan)
2020-present - Director of the Opera House
From 2016 to the present time - member of the Council of Creative Youth under the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy N.A. Nazarbayev
From 2017 to the present time - Founder and Chairman of the NGO "Academy of Vocals"
– 2005 – XXVI Republican Competition of Young Performers – I prize (Shymkent, Republic of Kazakhstan); VIII International Competition "The Charm of Romance" – II prize (Shymkent, Republic of Kazakhstan); VIII Republican Vocal Competition named after K. Baiseitova – special prizes "Tilep" and "Nadezhda" (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan); I Interregional Competition named after G. Zhubanova – II prize (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan)
– 2006 – I International Competition "Zhubanov Koktemi" – II prize (Aktobe, Republic of Kazakhstan); IV Youth Delphic Games of the CIS countries – gold medal (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan); IX International Competition "Shabyt" – I prize (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan)
– 2007 – VI International Competition named after S. Moniuszko – Special Prize of the Polish Academy of Music (Warsaw, Poland)
– 2008 – I International Baritone Competition named after P. Lisitsian – diploma and prize "Inception" (Moscow, Russia); I International Competition named after N. Tlendiev – Grand Prix, Akim Prize of Astana (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan); XXIII International Competition "Young Talents" – I prize (San Bartalameo, Italy); International Competition "Golden Oak" – IV prize (Italy); VII International Competition named after N. Sabitov – II prize (Ufa, Russia)
– 2009 – VI International Mirjam Helin Competition – IV prize (Helsinki, Finland)
– 2010 – IV International Competition of B. Tulegenova – Grand Prix (Almaty, Kazakhstan); I International Competition named after A.V. Nezhdanova – I prize (Odessa, Ukraine); V Bul-Bul International Competition – Grand Prix (Baku, Azerbaijan); Laureate of the State Youth Award "Daryn" of the Republic of Kazakhstan
– 2011 – Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Respublikasynyn Enbek sinirgen kairatkeri
– 2012 – Maria Biesu International Competition for Opera Singers – I prize (Chisinau, Moldova)
– 2014 – V International Competition of Chamber Singers named after G. Sviridov – I prize and special prize (Kursk, Russia)
– 2015 – IV International Competition of Chamber Singers and Accompanists named after Rustem Yakhin – I prize (Kazan, Russia);
Certificate of Merit of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev
– 2016 – Laureate of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Leader of the Nation. Laureate of the International Prize "Commonwealth of Debuts" of the CIS (Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic)
– 2016 – Associate Professor of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan
– 2017 – XIII (I) International Competition of Vocalists named after A. Khachaturian – II prize and special prizes (Yerevan, Republic of Armenia)
– 2018 – XV International Competition "Citta di Pesaro", dedicated to the 150th anniversary of J. S. Miller. Rossini – I prize (Pesaro, Italy)
– 2018 – Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences (Hannover, Germany)
Emilia Moraru, Moldova
Emilia Moraru is a doctor of Arts studies (2003), Associate professor (2006), Honored Artist (2019) and conductor of the men’s choir „Gavriil Musicescu” of the Department of Music Pedagogy of the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts from Chișinău, President of the Choir Conductors Section of the Musicians’ Union of Moldova (2012).
She graduated from the State Institute of Arts in Chișinău (1995) and the specialization internship at the Chișinău Academy of Music (both in the specialty of Academic Choir Conducting with prof. T. Zgureanu), master’s degree (specialization: Musicological Synthesis, scientific coord. – PhD, prof. A. Leahu) and doctoral studies (specialization: History of Music, scientific coord. – PhD, prof. V. Iliuț), both at the National University of Music from Bucharest (Romania).
Member of the Musicians’ Union (2004) and of Composer and Musicologists Union of Moldova (2011), Artistic Director of „Gavriil Musicescu” National Choral Performance Festival, organized by the Muscians’ Union (2011 – 2021), Jury member at national and international choral music contests (R. Moldova, Romania).
As conductor of the men’s choir „Gavriil Musicescu”, Emilia Moraru is the winner of several national and international choral music contests and festivals (Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, France, R. Moldova). Laureate of the Republican and Municipal Youth Awards in the field of Arts for the monograph „Astral Bells: Composer and Conductor Teodor Zgureanu” (2005), of the Awards „For High Conducting Performance” (2007) and „For the Best Young Conductor” (2009), obtained at the International choral Music Competition „Gh. Dimitrov” (Varna, Bulgaria).
Svetla Georgieva Kaludova-Stanilova, Bulgaria
Professor, PhD of musicology and music art, vocal pedagogue, conductor, ethnomusicologist.
Graduate of the National School of Music and Dance / NUMTI / "Dobrin Petkov" in Plovdiv and the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts / AMTII "Prof. Asen Diamandiev”/ - Plovdiv, with two specialties: “Folklore Instruments and Folklore Singing” and “Music Pedagogy” including postgraduate qualification. Prof. Stanilova studied folklore singing in the class of prof. Asen Diamandiev and has recordings in the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)
In her professional career prof. Stanilova has worked as a soloist-singer, conductor of Academic Folklore Choir and Folklore Ensemble "Philippopolis". With them she has realized many concerts in Bulgaria and abroad and has published multiple studio recordings. Today she is a professor at AMTII teaching folklore singing and conducting of a folklore choir, alongside being actively involved in research. Prof. Stanilova is author of a number of study programs in leading music disciplines. She teaches in several specialties, in which many foreign students are also taking part. For more than 20 years she has been teaching students from the USA, Australia, Denmark, Macedonia, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Slovenia and others.
Prof. Stanilova is the author of a large number of research papers in the field of song folklore, methodical handbooks, folklore song collections, and textbooks. She has numerous scientific publications in specialized journals, review reports for research papers and dissertations.
Prof. Stanilova holds many prestigious, personal awards such as: Honorary Badge of the City of Plovdiv; "Crystal Necklace" for overall contribution to the development of Bulgarian culture "; "Golden Lyre" from the Union of the Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers; Gold Medal for her achievements in conducting; Honorary plaque from NUMTI "Dobrin Petkov" - Plovdiv - for dedication to teaching; Diploma for high achievements in vocal pedagogy, etc.
Yankelika Sushkova-Irina, Russia
Harpist, candidate of cultural studies, professor,
Director of the Maimonides Academy of the Russian State University named after A.N. Kosygin (Technologies. Design. Art), Head of the Department of Concert Performance on Orchestral String Instruments, Dean of the Faculty of World Musical Culture.
Yankelika Sushkova-Irina is not only one of the brightest and most talented harp performers, but also an experienced leader in the field of Russian music education.
Born in Moscow in 1972. From the age of 4 she began to receive musical education in the piano class of Anna Danilovna Artobolevskaya, from the age of 5 she participated in concerts of Anna Danilovna's class in Moscow and other cities of the USSR. From 1979 to 1991 she studied harp at the Gnessin MsSMS. The first teacher for little Yankelika was Mark Abramovich Rubin (1979−1980), 1980−1988 - the class of Professor Milda Mikhailovna Agazaryan, 1988-1991 - the class of Nar. Art. RF, Professor Natalia Khamidovna Shameeva. Over the years of studying at school, she constantly gave concerts with solo performances and played solo with the orchestra, participated in competitions and reviews in Moscow and abroad. 1991–1992 Gnessin Russian Academy of Sciences (class of Prof. Shameeva N.Kh.). 1992–1996 — years of study at the Maimonides State Academy in the Nar class. Art. USSR, professors Kira Konstantinovna Saradzheva and Zasl. Art. RF, Professor Anna Borisovna Levina. In 1996, she became the first graduate of the Maimonides State Academy of Fine Arts in the harp class. 1996 - 1998 Years of study in the assistantship-internship of the Maimonides State Academic Institution (class of Zasl. Art. RF, Professor Anna Borisovna Levina). In 2001, she received a second higher education in the specialty jurisprudence (the supervisor of the thesis is lawyer Alexander Dobrovinsky).
On December 11, 2009, she was awarded the badge "Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education" by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia.
In 2010, she defended her thesis on the topic "Creators and consumers of modern artistic culture: typological analysis" (supervisor - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Loginova L.F.) in Moscow.
For more than 10 years she successfully headed the Faculty of World Musical Culture of the Maimonides State Classical Academy as Dean. From 2012 to 2016, she headed the Maimonides State Academy as Rector.
Author, organizer and head of a number of projects in the field of musical culture and education, including festivals, forums, conferences, music competitions, performances of opera performances, symphonic and pop-jazz concerts, master classes, summer schools, etc.
Conducts active concert and pedagogical activities, is the head of diploma and candidate works of students and postgraduates of the Maimonides Academy
Josephine Polim, Indonesia
Josephine Polim is an Indonesian-born Soprano. She holds Master of Music Degrees in Voice Performance and Collaborative Piano from The University of Akron in Ohio, United States.
She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Classical Music, majoring in Piano Performance from the UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur. She has won several competitions, such as the Sixth Annual James Tannenbaum Memorial Scholarship Competition, Tuesday Musical Scholarship Competition, and Malaysian Youth Orchestra Festival Diploma Voice Category. As an active performer, she has appeared and performed in several countries such as the United States, Australia, South Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and has performed wide range of music from baroque to contemporary literature.
Josephine has taught at Malone University and also served as Staff Accompanist at Malone University and Malone Opera Theater, The University of Akron Opera Lyric Theater, and Nordonia High School. In addition, she worked with the Vocal Arts Program at Interlochen Center for the Arts in as a Vocal Coach and Collaborative Pianist. Currently, she serves as the head of voice area at Universitas Pelita Harapan and the president/initiator of Indonesian Voice Association, a non-profit organization for the voice user community in Indonesia. She actively gives masterclasses and workshops to raise the awareness of vocal health in the
Indonesian community.
Georgy Migunov, Russia
In 2004 he graduated from Gnesin Russian Academy of Music as a pianist.
Since 2002 he has worked as an accompanyist at Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Center.
Since 2005 he has worked as an accompanyist giving classes with the People’s artists of the USSR Bella Rudenko, Irina Maslennikova, Vladislav Piavko and Makvala Kasrashvily in the Vocal Faculty of Moscow Conservatory. He also accompanied Vladislav Piavko at his concerts.
Since 2006 he has worked as an accompanyist and a vocal coach in the Irina Arkhipova Foundation. Several compact disks with the recorded concerts of the Foundation projects were released. These recordings were broadcast on radio Orpheus.
In 2012 he became a member of the International Union of Musical Statesmen.
In 2017 he worked as an accompanyist and a vocal coach for Mosconcert company.
In 2022 he was elected a member of the Russian National Section of the International Society for Music Education at UNESCO (RussSME)
He participated in a number of vocal competitions and he was awarded diplomas as the best accompanyist.
Georgy Migunov takes an active part in concert life and coaching practice and he has a large and varied repertoire.
Ekaterina Skusnichenko (Vasilenko), Russia
Ekaterina Skusnichenko (Vasilenko) was born in Moscow. She graduated from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Laureate of the International competition “Neue Stimmen“, Laureate of the International competition Bibigul Tulegenova, Laureate of the International competition named after Lysenko.
A third-year student was invited to the Moscow Theater "Helikon Opera" for the part of Maria (Tchaikovsky “Mazeppa”), in the same place she performed the parts of Tatiana (Tchaikovsky “Eugene Onegin”), Antonia (Offenbach “Tales of Hoffmann”) and Aida (Verdi “Aida”).
In 2000 performed the part of Tosca (Puccini “Tosca” in the production of the Vaassan Opera in Finland, the same year performed the part of Tosca as a guest soloist at the Bolshoi Theater of Russia, and from 2000 to 2015 was a full-time soloist of the Bolshoi Theater Opera Company. Performed at various opera houses in Russia and abroad (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Spain, China).
Over the years, the repertoire has included more than twenty different parties, including Emma (Musorgsky"Khovanshchina"), Liu (Puccini "Turandot"), Mimi (Puccini "La boheme"), Martha (Rimsky-Korsakov “The Tsar’s Bride”), Musetta ( Puccini “La boheme”), Leonora (Verdi “The Force of Fate”), Desdemona (Verdi “Otello”) , Zemfira (Rakhmaninov"Aleko"), Lisa (Tchaikovsky "The Queen of Spades"), Cio-Cio-San ( Puccini "Madama Butterfly"), Iolanta (Tchaikovsky “Iolanta”), Kupava (Rimsky-Korsakov “The Snow Maiden”), Fata Morgan (Prokofiev “Love for the Three Oranges”), Refugee (Desiatnikov “Children of Rosenthal”, world premiere, first performer). One of the first to sing the part of Polina in the world premiere of the first edition of the Prokofiev's “Player”, directed by G. Rozhdestvensky.
She performed with outstanding conductors M. Ermler, M. Rostropovich, G. Kun, T. Zanderling, H. Norjanenn, V. Yurovsky, G. Rozhdestvensky, Z. Peshko, M. Pletnev, G. Rinkavichyus, A. Vedernikov, V. Sinaisky, K. Mulds; tookpart in the productions of leading directors, including F. Zambello, G. Wieck, D. Pountney, E. Nyakroshyus, T. Chkheidze, V. Fokin.
Modern activity is associated with touring the cities of Russia, countries of Europe and abroad (Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Holland, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, Great Britain, China).
Professor of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Solo singing department). Over the years, many students have become laureates of international competitions.
Holds master classes in Russia and abroad (Germany, China, Kazakhstan)
Honorary professor of the Heihe Music University (China).
Honorary professor of the Honghy Music University (Cnina).
Member of the International Union of Musical Figures.
The art director of the concert and creative project “Soprano’s area”, which is aimed at the interaction of beginning talented singers and already held professionals - colleagues and mentors, stars of world art.
Founder and General Director of the Association “New Musical Territory”. The aim of the Association is to popularize classical national youth art, develop and disseminate it in the regions of Russia and abroad through joint creativity and exchange of experience of young musicians with stage masters.
Karine Babajanyan, Armenia
Karine Babajanyan completed her vocal studies with honors at the Conservatory of Yerevan ,
later perfecting her technique in Rome with Mirella Parutto and in Stuttgart with Dunja
Vejzovic.
The Armenian soprano's exceptionally wide-ranging repertoire is apparent from guest
engagements that have brought her all over the opera world.
Her repertoire includes Puccini’s masterpieces such as Tosca, Turandot, Madama Butterfly,
La Bohème, Manon Lescaut, Suor Angelica, La Fanciulla del West, as well as Verdi’s Un ballo
in maschera, Otello, Aida, Il Trovatore, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, The Queen of Spades,
Mazeppa and Janáček’s Jenufa. Her german repertoire includes R.Wagners ( Der fliegende
Holländer, Walküre-Sieglinde), R.Strauß (Ariadne auf Naxos), Franz Schrecker (Die
Gezeichneten).
She recently appeared as Tosca and Turandot in Puccini Festival and made her house debut
at the Teatro alla Scala with I. Stravinsky's “Les Noces”.
Alongside a successful operatic career Karine has acclaimed publications such as her
successful solo album (released by EMI Records) and her special appearance on the big
screen in the James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace” as Tosca at the Bregenz Festival.
Further recordings include Tosca at the Wiener Staatsoper (2021), Mefistofele (as Elena) at
the Bavarian State Opera Munich (2015) and Iris of Pietro Mascagni (2021) at the
Konzerthaus Berlin (which brought her a nomination as singer of the year from OPUS Klassik
Awards, a prestigious German award).
Her future engagements: Tosca at State Theatre Košice; Madama Butterfly and Tosca at
Opera Leipzig; Manon Lescaut at Hungarian State Opera House.
Hale Soner, Turkey
Hale Soner was born in Istanbul and studied at the Mimar Sinan State Conservatory in Turkey, graduating, in 2003. While still a student, she sang recitals and concerts, as well as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and 1st Lady in Die Zauberflöte at the Cemal Resit Rey Opera in Istanbul and the Istanbul State Opera.
In 2004 Hale Soner won the prestigious Siemens Opera Singing Competition in Istanbul, which resulted in her being invited to join the opera studio at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe. During this time she continued her studies with Prof. Güzin Gürel and attended master classes with Renata Scotto, Anna Vandi, Alfonso Antoniozzi, Roberto de Candia and Hilde Zadek.
In 2008 she was awarded the Belkis Aran Prize in Turkey, as well as the Lina Pagliughi Special Prize at the 4th Duchi d'Acquaviva Competition.
She has appeared at the Teramo-Atri Duchi d'Acquaviva Festival, Italy, the Festival of Northern Cyprus and the Istanbul Festival as well as in concerts with the Mikkeli Chamber Orchestra in Mikkeli and Savonlinna, Finland.
İn 2016,Hale Soner has been study with Edita Gruberova under the auspices of the Karajan Förderungspreis for Young Artists, which was awarded to Edita Gruberova in 2013. 2009/2016 she was a member in the ensemble of the opera house in Magdeburg, where her repertoire includes roles such as Violetta, the title role in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Lucia di Lammermoor, Queen of the Night, Rosina in The Barber of Seville, Pamina, Musetta in La Bohème and Oscar in Un ballo in maschera. As a guest she has been engaged at the Teatro Comunale Bologna (Elvira in I Puritani), the Opera Bonn and the St. Margarethen Festival, Austria (Donna Anna in Don Giovanni)and in 2018 Eutiner Festspiele, (Violetta in La Traviata) and 2019 again engaged for singing "Oscar "in "İl Ballo in Maschera "and also she engaged for Viva la Musica GALA Concert.
The artist, who started to work in the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet as of 2017, sang the roles of Norina in "Don Pasquale " as "Marzelline" in Fidelio, "Konztanze" in "Die entführung aıs dem Serail" and "Queen of the Night" in the Magic Flute.
The artist, who started her academic career by starting to work as a voice teacher at the "Bau Conservatory" in İstanbul in 2022, and she started to work as a state staff artist at "Mersin State Opera "as of 2020 , and continues her soloist career ,on all the world stages.
Mikhail Kizin, Russia
Professor, Head of the Department of Vocal Skills and Opera Training
Moscow State Institute of Music named after A.G. Schnittke
Doctor of Art History
People 's Artist of the Russian Federation
Singer-actor (baritone), performer of vocal chamber and opera works by Russian and Western European composers. Mikhail Kizin's work is characterized by the universality of repertoire stylistics: songs, romances, arias, church hymns - works of various genres, from ancient music to pop "saturated with rhythm" compositions. The multi-genre vocal programs performed in the studio at the Russian State Radio were included in the contents of numerous CD-ROMs.
Miao Hao, China
Dr. Miao Hao, Mezzo-soprano singer, Associate Professor, Department of
Vocal Music, China Conservatory of Music and a DMA in vocal performance.
Member of the Chinese Musicians Association, Director of the Chinese
Society for Social Research, and standing member of the Young Singers
Academic Committee of the Chinese Traditional Culture Promotion
Association.
She studied under Professor Zhao Jing and Professor Jin Tielin of China
Conservatory of Music, and Mr. Siegfried Jerusalem, the German
meritorious singer Wagner tenor.
She was awarded the 15th Young Teacher Award of Higher Education
Institutions by the Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation. Winner of the
Beijing High-level Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Program for
Young Top-notch Talents. The Ministry of Culture selected them to study
and perform at the Nuremberg-Edinsburg Music and Opera Center in
Germany. She has served as the judge of many vocal music competitions
such as the 41st "Italian "Bellini" International Vocal Competition" and
the "Rome Music Festival Vocal Competition" in Italy. He is often
appointed by the Chinese government to perform in Italy, Germany,
Britain, France, Austria, Hong Kong and other countries and regions as
an art messenger. She has performed several vocal recital in Europe.
Dr. Miao Hao won the first prize in the "Wagner Bayreuth International
Opera Vocal Competition" held in Germany and the 5th "International
Opera Vocal Competition" founded by the famous German soprano Nelize
Thunberger; She won the gold medal in the 6th "Golden Bell Award for
Chinese Music" vocal music competition; She has won major awards in many
international and domestic vocal competitions such as the Voice
International Vocal Competition and the French Toulouse International
Vocal Competition.
Dr. Miao Hao has collaborated with German meritorious Wagner tenor Mr.
Siegfried Jerusalem, one of the world's top ten sopranos, Ms. Katia
Ricciarelli, Mozart's first tenor Araiza and other singers; she has also
collaborated with German Berlin Philharmonic, Hamburg Philharmonic
Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Nuremberg Opera House,
Augsburg Opera House, Central Opera House, China National Symphony
Orchestra, etc. to sing operas and concerts. She has been invited to
participate in the 5th "International Vocal Master Class" of the German
Bertelsmann Foundation Gütersloh, the 6th "China-Europe International
Music Festival" in Beijing, the "International Exchange Opera Exchange
Art Festival" in St. Petersburg, Russia, and the "The Voice of Music" in
China. Concert”, “China-Korea International Exchange Music
Festival”, National Centre for the Performing Arts “Opera Art
Tour” and the opera “The Phantom of the Opera” vocal music
lectures and special concerts. In 2017, she participated in a
performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to
the motherland at the Hong Kong Cultural Center Concert Hall, as the
lead singer of "Beethoven's Ninth Symphony". Miao Hao has performed in
the original operas "The Dawns Here Are Quiet", "Orchid Flower",
Wagner's "Ring of the Nibelung", Verdi's "The Troubadour" (in response
to the famous Austrian conductor Gustav Kuhn) Invited by Mr. Wagner, to
participate in opera performances at the Wagner Festival), Verdi's opera
"Don Carlo" (Munich Opera Festival), Mozart's opera "The Marriage of
Figaro", "Women's Heart", Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly" (European
tour) and other Chinese and foreign operas as the main role.
Dr. Miao Hao’s singing is deeply loved by Chinese and foreign
audiences. Her singing in Europe has aroused enthusiastic response and
praise. In the mainstream music media abroad, Miao Hao has been praised
as "the most charismatic and artistically intelligent singer". Young
Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano". European audiences not only marveled at Miao
Hao’s superb vocal skills and artistic expression, but also shocked
them that this singer who can master Western opera art skillfully came
from ancient China.
Colette Lam, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Born Soprano Colette Wing Wing LAM has performed leading roles inlcuding Micäela in Carmen (Opera Hong Kong), Gilda in Rigoletto (Musica Viva), Violetta in La Traviata (Musica Viva), Juliet in Romeo et Juliet (Opera Hong Kong), Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Maria Stuarda in Maria Stuarda (Musica Viva), Norina in Don pasquale (Musica Viva), Marie in La fille du regiment (Musica Viva), Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (Opera Hong Kong), Pamina in Die Zauberflöte (Opera Hong Kong), Mimi (cover) in La bohème (Musica Viva), Rosina in La finta semplice (Musica Viva) Romilda (HKAPA) in Serse under the baton of François Xavier Roth and also, Belinda in Dido and Aeneas (HKAPA). Other European Operatic appearances include Papagena (Pamina) in Die Zauberflöte in Zeist, Netherlands, Amina in La sonnambula (Brent Opera) in London and Rosina in Il barbiere di siviglia (Opera Lyrica) in Oxford.
Her major concert credits include Mahler's Symphony No.2 in Bristol’s Colston Hall, Shostakovich's 7 Romances on Verses by Alexander Blok in RAM, London, Schnittke’s Requiem and Bach Cantata No.139 in Macau, Schumann’s Dichterliebe in a multi-media project in Taipei and National Chiao Tung University , Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Orff’s Carmina Burana with Hong Kong Bach Choir, Handel’s Messiah in Singapore’s Esplanade, Poulenc’s Gloria with The Learner’s Chorus, guest soloist in Star Bach and Unmasked Vivaldi with Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra, soloist in European tour with Artemisia, soloist in Silk Music Fest with Kazhastan Philharmonic Orchestra, soloist in New Year Concert Tour with Kent Sinfonia, U.K., soloist in Opera Gala in Millennium Centre, Cardiff. Recently, Lam has finished touring with Jockey Club Opera Hong Kong YAP to city numerous major cities in mainland China and with Musica Viva to St. Petersburg. Recent engagement includes Concert in Saigon Opera House, recital with Pianist Dr. Jacqueline Petito in the Argentina Festival, guest at the lunch concert at Hong Kong Museum of Art. Colette has also début numerous new compositions and given song recitals in venues such as Sadler’s Wells Theatre and Westminster Abbey, London, and cities such as Zeist, Netherland, Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong.
Colette Lam obtained her BMus (Hons) at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with Michael Rippon Memorial Scholarship and Jacky Chan Charitable Fund. Upon completion of the Master of Music in Voice (Pre-opera) and Dissertation at the Royal Academy of Music, London on a full scholarship by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, she obtained another Master Degree in Advanced Vocal Studies (Opera) with Distinction at Wales International Academy of Voice, Cardiff on the Li Po Chun Professional training and Postgraduate Scholarship. Colette has been awarded by the Michelle Foundation in Luxembourg 2015. Apart from qualified as a semi-finalist in Montserrat Cabellé International Competition of Singing, she was award with High commended in the Jay Isabel Opera Prize at the Royal Academy of Music.