Peter Rainer, Concertmaster

Violinist/Germany

Peter has been iPalpiti’s Concertmaster since 1994. In his native Germany, he is a concertmaster and a founder of the Kammerakademie Potsdam, and leads an active career as a chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. Since 2007, Peter has been on the faculty of the “Universität der Künste” (University of the Arts) in Berlin and of the “Stern Institute” for young talented students. Since 2018, Peter is the Head of the string department of “Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach at the “Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik," a school for highly talented musical kids in Berlin. He is the founder and leader of the Persius Ensemble, focusing mainly on repertoire written for the classical nonet, and has released three CDs; a CD with nonets by Spohr, Clementi and Mozart was chosen by Berlin-Brandenburg Radio (RBB) as one of the best releases of 2007. In 2008, he founded the Merlino String Quartet and has been a member of the Max Brod piano trio from 2012. In 2016, the piano trio released a CD of compositions by Robert Kahn, a wonderful discovery of romantic music in style of Johannes Brahms. Peter has worked as the assistant to Professor Schmieder at the Holland Music Sessions, at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas and at Temple University in Philadelphia. Music-loving children know Peter Rainer through the many interactive concerts he developed for them in the past 20 years, such as Till Eulenspiegel, Ferdinand the Bull, The Horse on the Violin, to mention a few. In the past 3 years, he has appeared at the Festival International de Musique de Chambre en Charente together with iPalpiti artist Jacob Shaw, and continues to collaborate with iPalpiti alumni on international musical projects. Peter studied violin in the U.S. with Professor Eduard Schmieder at the Meadows School of the Arts, where he received his Artist Certificate in 1994 and his Master of Violin Performance degree in 1995. Upon his return to Germany, he was concertmaster of the Brandenburgische Philharmonie in Potsdam from 1996 to 2000. In 2005, he received a commendation from the City of Los Angeles for his leadership of iPalpiti and his contributions to culture.

Boris Borgolotto

Violinist/France

Boris began playing the violin at the age of seven at the National Conservatory of Toulouse and continued at the National Conservatory of Boulogne-Billancourt, where he was awarded a unanimous first prize with a special mention from the jury and prizes of Chamber Music, Analysis and Musical Culture. He entered the Paris Conservatory (CNSM) in 2009 where he received the Violin 1st prize and honors unanimously, and parallel courses of chamber music with Itamar Golan. He continues mentoring with Dora Schwarzberg and Patrice Fontanarosa at the Vienna University of Arts and Paris, and participated in the master classes of prominent musicians. Prizewinner of numerous competitions including "Jascha Heifetz" Special Mention at the IBLA foundation of New York International Competition in Italy (2011), in 2012 he made his Carnegie Hall debut, followed by USA Recital tour. He was invited as a Rising Star at the Great Mountains Music Festival in South Korea in 2011-2013 seasons, and has played with the Academy of the Radio France Philharmonic under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung.
Boris performs internationally as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musicians, and in festivals at important venues in France such as Radio France, Cite de la Musique, Salle Cortot, Salle Gaveau, Carnegie Hall in New York City, theaters throughout Europe and Asia. Beginning 2015 season, Boris became an artist in residence at Queen Elisabeth Chapel with his piano trio "Zadig." Boris was selected and joined iPalpiti in 2016.

Conrad Chow

Violinist/Canada

Born and raised in Toronto, Conrad has established himself as a foremost performer and teacher in his native Canada. Currently, he is a Director of the Community Lab School|String Pedagogy at the University  of Toronto and the Violin Faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music. A review in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald praised “the full, sweet, seductive intensity of Chow’s sound”, and his performance alongside Ani Kavafian with the Columbia Festival Orchestra was hailed as “ornate and satisfying”. He is a prize-winner of the 2006 International Stepping Stone Competition in Quebec and the David G. Whitcomb Foundation’s Young Artist of 2003. Conrad began his violin studies at the age of three at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. His Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are from Indiana University’s School of Music, studying with Miriam Fried. Conrad completed his DMA from the State University of New York, Stony Brook (under noted violinists Pamela Frank, Ani Kavafian, and Philip Setzer), and later pursued further post-doctoral work with Eduard Schmieder at Temple University in Philadelphia. He studied chamber music with the Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet and is appearing in chamber music performances with Paul Biss, Christina Dahl, David Finckel, and Miriam Fried. His string quartet was winner of the Indiana University Kuttner String Quartet Competition, performing as the quartet-in-residence for the 2001-2002 seasons. As soloist, he appeared with numerous orchestras, in recitals, broadcasts, and on international stages including Mozarteum in Salzburg, Qingdao Music Hall in China, and 2010 Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut. As a member of the prestigious iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates since 2008, he performed at Carnegie Zankel Hall, Disney Hall in LA, Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, and Israel. Being a teacher of one of the leading precollege private violin studios in Canada; his students are winners in many important national and provincial competitions and have made solo debuts with Canadian orchestras, in 2010 he has been appointed to a faculty position at the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music's elite pre-college academy. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Violin at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the 2006-2007 seasons, and was member of the faculty at the Summit Summer Music Festival in New York in 2010. Dr. Chow has served as jury member and adjudicator of various Canadian competitions, at the international “Remember Enescu” in Romania, and is a presenter of master classes in Canada, the United States, and Asia. www.conradchow.org

Azer Damirov

Violinist/Azerbaijan

Azer began his musical studies at the age of eight. At 14, he was accepted in the Musical College of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in the class of Professor Maria Keselman from which he graduated in 2007 at the age of 20 with an equivalent of a Bachelor Degree Diploma. Azer participated in master classes and festivals in Dortmund in Germany, Britten-Pearce Orchestra in Great Britain, and Volga Regional Young Symphony festival. Recipient of the Ministry of Culture Russian Federation’s Stipend, Azer is a Laureate of numerous national competitions. In 2007 Azer received a Diploma at the 14th Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Fermo, Italy, and a special iPalpiti prize for participation in the iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles. In the fall 2010, Azer was accepted into Bachelor of Music Program at Boyer College at Temple University in the class of Professor Schmieder, where, subsequently he completed his Master's degree in 2013, and, this year completed his Doctoral degree in Music Performance. Active performer in Philadelphia, Azer formed the Philadelphia-based The Amaranth Piano Trio with several performances in its debut season. In 2012, he performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as a winner the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music. Highlights of the last two seasons were special invitation by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan for solo recitals and master class in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, and a series of concerts in Southern California as a winner of the Beverly Hills National Auditions. Azer is a member of iPalpiti since 2009, including East Coast residency and in concerts at the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall, and Los Angeles festivals.

Sara Dragan

Violinist/Poland - Spain

Sara Dragan was born in 1999 in Poland and began learning to play the violin at the age of 7, under the tutelage of her parents, Konrad and Alicja Dragan. She attended the Music School in Legnica and concurrently studied with Prof. Zakahr Bron in his Meisterklasse Interlaken in Switzerland, continuing with him at the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid. Despite her young age, Sara won first prizes/Grand Prix in about 50 violin competitions in Europe and the USA, including International Violin Wieniawski & Lipinski Competition, New York International Artists Association Competition, International Telemann Violin Competition, and International Violin Young Paganini Competition. Sara made her debut as the soloist with orchestra at the age of 7 playing Wieniawski's Obertas and since, performed with many orchestras including the Orchester Berlin, RRCMC Moscow Orchestra, Ukrainian National Orchestra, Uzbekistan National Symphony, important Polish philharmonic orchestras, with virtuosi repertoire such as Paganini’s Concerto No.1 and Carmen Fantasie by F. Waxman when she was only 12. At 15, she made her United States debut at Carnegie Hall (NYC) where she played Wieniawski's Concerto in F-Minor and The Last Rose of Summer by Ernst, and gave concerts at the Berlin Philharmonic, Rachmaninov Concert Hall in Moscow, Polish Royal Palace in Warsaw, Auditorium Sony in Madrid, touring around Europe and the United States. Sara has participated at prestigious festivals including Schleswig-Holstein and Mozarteum in Salzburg and is a laureate of many awards. For her outstanding artistic achievements she received "Young Poland" scholarships from the Ministry of Culture and the National Heritage, is a multiple grantee of the National Fund for Gifted Children in Warsaw. She is engaged in many charity events performing for promotion of talented children, as well as taking part in charity auctions for children with Down's syndrome. Sara was given opportunity playing on instruments of the best Italian luthiers by Guarneri, Vuillaume and Gagliano. Currently, Sara is playing on Nicolo Amati (1666) on the generous loan from Florian Leonhard Fine Violins. This is her second season with iPalpiti.

Kornelia Grądzka

Violinist/Poland

Kornelia is a graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in prof. Roman Lasocki’s violin class and in chamber music with Professors Katarzyna Jankowska and Maia Nosowska. She is a laureate of several national and International competitions: III prize at National Competition for Young Violinists in Lublin (Poland), III prize at „A. Januszajtis” National Violin Competition in Gdańsk (Poland), II prize at International Chamber Music Competition in Jurmala (Latvia). Kornelia participated many masterclasses and orchestral workshops among others: in Łańcut (Poland), Bremen (Germany), Moscow (Russia), Paris (France) having opportunity to work with such renowned artists as Marcin Baranowski, Andrzej Bauer, Wolfgang Marschner, Alexander Gebert, Edward Zienkowski, Andrzej Bauer, Jose Gallardo, Janusz Wawrowski. Kornelia joins iPalpiti festival as member of the new “Splot” string quartet with iPalpiti’s violist Agnieszka Podłucka.

Karolina Gutowska

Violinist/Poland

A graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw (class of prof. Jan Stanienda), Karolina is a violinist of the Sinfonia Varsovia, a leading Polish symphony orchestra and an ambassador of Polish culture around the world. Karolina is a winner of numerous solo and chamber competitions, including 2nd prize at II Tadeusz Wroński Youth Competition for Solo Violin and 1st prize at the III Grażyna Bacewicz National Competition of String Chamber Ensembles. As a recipient of the Yamaha award for Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien scholarship, she participated in International Summer Academy in class of Dora Schwarzberg. During the studies, she was chosen with her string quartet to represent the University in concert exchange with Universität der Künste Berlin, on the Warsaw Spring Festival in Tallin, and at International Festival of Contemporary Music. She has also participated in numerous festivals like International Academy of Art in Zakopane, Princess Daisy Ensemble Festival in Książ castle, Musethica Festival - editions in Zaragoza and Berlin and workshops, during which she worked with such names as Krzysztof Jakowicz, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Wanda Wiłkomirska, Leszek Brodowski, Marcin Markowicz, Krzysztof Meyer, Alexander Gebert, Simon Cartledge, Tomoko Akasaka, Jose Gallardo. Karolina joins iPalpiti festival as member of the new “Splot” string quartet with iPalpiti’s violist Agnieszka Podłucka.

Lorenzo Mazzamuto

violinist/Italy

Born in Catania in 1986, Lorenzo graduated in 2005 from the Vincenzo Bellini Musical Institute of Catania with cum laude as a student of Professor Vito Imperato, with a solo debut with an orchestra at the age of 11. In 2013, he graduated from the famous Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory with the highest scores in the class of the People’s Artist of Russia Sergey Girshenko. Lorenzo has taken part in over 25 national and international musical competitions, obtaining in all either first prize or absolute first prize. Under the patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, at the age 14, he received a special merit admission to study with Maestro Salvatore Accardo at the Senior Specialization Course of the Walter Stauffer Academy of Music; the honor which is given only with a performance degree, exempts younger students who are deemed by to possess exceptional talent. Lorenzo’s talent has on many occasions been encouraged by famous international musicians, such as Igor Oistrach, Michail Kugel, Rocco Filippini, Katia Ricciarelli, Giuliano Carmignola, Glenn Dicterow, Bruno Canino, Vladimir Skanavi, Irina Bochkova, etc. Lorenzo has given recitals for many important concert associations in Italy, Europe, Russia and in the U.S.A. As a soloist with orchestra, he performed the Ploesti Symphony Orchestra, the Kiev's Camerata, the Russian chamber orchestra and others. Since October 2004, he has been first violinist with "L'offerta Musicale Ensemble." The ensemble, under the guidance of Riccardo Insolia, focus in 20th century and contemporary music. In Russia he has played in White Hall, Rachmaninov Hall, Small Hall and Big Hall of the Moscow conservatory. He plays a Claude Lebet Violin of 2010. This is his second season with iPalpiti.

Samuel Nebyu

Violinist/Hungary

Samuel Nebyu is the winner of numerous national and international competitions including Grand prizes at the National ASTA (American String Teachers Association) Solo Competition (2015), “Remember Enescu” International Violin Competition (Romania, 2013), Flame International Violin Competition (Paris, 2008), and a winner of the Beverly Hills National Auditions (CA, 2014). Born in Hungary of Ethiopian-Jewish descent, Samuel spent most of his early childhood in Asia. Starting playing the violin at the age of six, at fifteen, he was admitted to the Young Talents Program at the Brussels Royal Conservatory where he received tutelage from renowned musicians, including Igor Oistrakh. He was a violinist-in-residence for several years at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium. Currently, he is in DMA program at Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University working with Eduard Schmieder who is a Distinguished University Carnell Professor of Violin and Artistic Director of Strings. Samuel has performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Brussels Philharmonic and with the iPalpiti orchestra in Los Angeles at the Wallis Annenberg Center (2015) and at Walt Disney Concert Hall (2017) and at important international music festivals and in venues such as the Centre of Performing Arts in Brussels (BOZAR), Peles Castle in Romania, the Wiener Saal in Salzburg, Alice Tully Hall in New York. In 2016, he received the prestigious Clifton Emerging Artist Award, gave a recital at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, and became a prize winner of the Mozarteum Salzburg Festpiel competition – the only one of 291 violinists to be selected as one of the eight prize winners – and was further honored to conclude the winners concert at the Mozarteum Grosse Saal. His new CD “Violin Gems from Black Composers” was released on BCM+D label in 2018, selected for Grammy nomination, and named Best Album of the Year by numerous classic radio stations across the nation, including KUSC-FM. Since 2017, Samuel teaches at the Community Music Scholars Program at Temple University. Highlights of this spring were featured soloist at Kimmel Center Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, performing Concerto for Violin with Choir and Orchestra by Jennifer Higdon and a recital with Professor Lambert Orkis, long-time piano partner of violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. This summer, Samuel was a featured soloist at iPalpiti festival in Los Angeles, and in the fall will join Mutter’s Virtuosi on her sixth tour with the exclusive soloist ensemble of Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation, performing through South America. Samuel is the 3rd iPalpiti artist chosen by the great violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter; prior artists were Kian Soltani - Cellist and bassist Roman Patkolo.

Semyon Promoe

Violinist/Russia

Named a principal soloist of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Society in 2015, giving concerts throughout Russia, Finland and Israel, from 2019, Semyon also serves as a Concertmaster of the Tomsk Symphony Orchestra  and a Violin Faculty at Novosibirsk College of Music. As a member of the ensemble of violinists “Bright Bows” Semyon performed in numerous international festivals, including the Summit Music festival in New York. Promoe is an Honors Graduate of the Novosibirsk Glinka State Conservatory (with the qualifications of Life Performer, Orchestral Performer, Ensemble Performer, Teacher of Instrumental Performance Majoring in Instrumental Performance) from the class of Professor and Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation Marina Kuzina. He has also completed Postgraduate studies in performance and musicology. He taught a violin class at the Novosibirsk Music College from 2011 to 2013 and participated in the International Forum Musical Performance and Pedagogy in Jyvaskyla, Finland. As a soloist, he has performed with numerous symphony orchestras throughout Siberia’s major cities such as Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Barnaul, and his home city of Novosibirsk. He is a founder of the string quartet Phaeton. Semyon was selected to iPalpiti in 2017 summer festival, and toured with iPalpiti in Israel and Mozarteum Salzburg. This is his 4th season with iPalpiti.

Takamori Arai

Violinist/Japan

Winner of numerous prizes in international and national competitions, Takamori is a graduate of The Tokyo University of Arts with the top score and the Acanthus Music Prize for such outstanding academic achievements. During his college years he was selected numerous times as a soloist with the university symphony orchestras, and play under baton of such conductors, as Prof. Kazuki Sawa, Prof Douglas Bostock, and Prof. Ken Takaseki. He studied with Prof. Eduard Schmieder in his international class Artist Diploma program at the Boyer College of Music at Temple University in Philadelphia as a recipient of the scholarship. Currently he is in the doctoral degree program in Tokyo, working with Prof. Takashi Shimizu and Prof. Sung Yang. In 2014 he was selected as a soloist of the Musical Activity Supporting System by YAMAHA Music Foundation, and has been performing in concerts and music festivals in Europe. This is his second season with iPalpiti.

Xuan Shirley Yao

Violinist/China

Xuan Yao began to learn violin at age four, studying from 2004-2010 with Weijian Tang in the middle school of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. While in Beijing, Xuan was actively performing as soloist, in string quartet, piano trio and was an assistant concertmaster of Chinese Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, Xuan was accepted to Temple University in Philadelphia on a full scholarship to study with Professor Eduard Schmieder in his select international violin class at Boyer College in the Center of Performing Arts, receiving Bachelor degree in 2015 and Master degree in 2017. A recipient of the Garrigues Scholarship, Xuan currently is DMA student at Temple University, where she is a teaching assistant in Prof. Schmieder studio. While in Philadelphia, she performs actively as a chamber musician and in Symphony in C. Xuan is a prize-winner of national competitions in her native China including First Prize of Hunan Province Soloist Competition in 2002, First Prize of Chinese Junior New Artist competition, and Grand Prize of Changsha Soloist competition (2003). In USA, she received 2nd prize in Pi Kappa Lambda Competition in 2017 and was a First Prize winner of Young Talents World Festival of Performing Arts in 2018. Xuan performs in numerous international music festivals, including Mozarteum Salzburg and Summit Music Festival in New York. This is her second season with iPalpiti.

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Meet the Artists 2020

• ALUMNI •• PREVIOUS ARTISTS

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Violins

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[ipalpiti_popup id="1114"] Peter Rainer Concertmaster/Germany [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="2502"] Boris Borgolotto** France [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="1144"] Conrad Chow Canada [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="1146"] Azer Damirov Azerbaijan [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5740"] Sara Dragan** Poland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="9434"] Kornelia Grądzka Poland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="9435"] Karolina Gutowska Poland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5372"] Lorenzo Mazzamuto Italy [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="3731"] Samuel Nebyu Hungary [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="4198"] Semyon Promoe Russia [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5735"] Takamori Arai Japan [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="9122"] Xuan Shirley Yao China [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id=""] Tian Yuan China [/ipalpiti_popup]

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Violas

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[ipalpiti_popup id="1158"] Joseph Kauffman USA [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="2110"] Akhmed Mamedow Turkmenistan [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5757"] Agnieszka Podłucka** Poland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="1159"] Can Sakul Turkey [/ipalpiti_popup]

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Violoncelli

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[ipalpiti_popup id="9447"] Dobrawa Czocher Poland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5763"] Marc Girard-Garcia* France [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="3874"] Jaani Helander Finland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="9469"] Dylan Lee Malaysia [/ipalpiti_popup]

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BASS

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5773"] Justin Smith USA [/ipalpiti_popup]

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PIANO

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5778"] Ian Barber** France [/ipalpiti_popup]

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Festival’s Ensemble-in-residence

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[ipalpiti_popup id="5819"] Trio Zadig France [/ipalpiti_popup]

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[ipalpiti_popup id="9475"] "Splot" Quartet Poland [/ipalpiti_popup]

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*Principal **Solo and Chamber ensembles concerts [/wolf_col_9] [wolf_col_3 class="last"]

Critics around the world say

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“iPalpiti provides polish for talented young professional musicians from around the world.” Los Angeles Times

“…a fitting name for the vibrant string orchestra from which the conductor Eduard Schmieder elicited a lively pulse…the ensemble was particularly noteworthy for its unity of purpose and blend. It was as if the musicians’ hearts were beating to the same buoyant rhythm…lustrous, polished tone and graceful phrasing.” New York Times

“…rich sonorities [of iPalpiti] audibly took the audience’s breath away – especially whenever concertmaster Peter Rainer, whose technically immaculate tone throughout the night was sweet and thrilling, had a few bars to play – showed that iPalpiti had charms to soothe a hall well filled with music lovers of all ages.” STRINGS Magazine

“This was an invigorating world-class performance by young players with technique to burn and a palpable desire to live every note.” Los Angeles Times

“…the highlight of this astonishing musical odyssey was the sold-out performance at Disney Hall with elegant Maestro Eduard Schmieder at the helm, conducting this world-class group with a brilliant sense of balance, tension and phrasing.” Beverly Hills Outlook

“…The musicians played with vivid unanimity and committment… The playing was masterly…” Los Angeles Times

“iPalpiti played with striking unity and spirit and had an infectious way of making music…All [artists] clearly stimulated each other musically, showing mutual inspiration and respect.” The Strad Magazine

“…cool display of virtuosity… unified to an often a startling degree…” Los Angeles Times

“[iPalpiti] performance can be called righteously overwhelming…” Noord Holland Dagblad

“Exhilaration, thrills, and awe conquer audiences…. These are the stock and trade of Young [iPalpiti] Artists International.” Los Angeles Times

“When one hears these musicians play, one realizes there is a connection between the title and the musical outcome…when it comes to 24 very talented string players (some have independent successful careers) and a conductor who leads them with great musicality, the result is naturally captivating and exciting.” Ora Binur, Ma’ariv Daily, Jerusalem

“…an astounding demonstration of seamless and beauteous string playing… memorable, luminous, deeply moving performance…” Los Angeles Times

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Joseph Kauffman

Violinist-violist/USA

Born in Oakland, California, Joseph began his violin studies at the age of five. He has studied with Yayoi Numazawa of the Philadelphia Orchestra, James Lyon and Max Zorin of The Pennsylvania State University, and Eduard Schmieder of Temple University. A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, he was honored to receive the Creative Achievement Award, given to only one exceptional student. Winner of many competitions in Pennsylvania, Joseph received first prize in the PSU Philharmonic Concerto Competition performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto (2008). He returns to State College every summer for the Penn’s Woods Music Festival under the direction of Maestro Gerardo Edelstein. Kauffman founded and performed with the “Valens” Piano Quartet, which received First Prize in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. Most recently, Kauffman (along with his iPalpiti colleague, cellist Yoni Draiblate) founded a chamber music concert series in Wayne, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb. As a chamber musician – both as violinist and violist - Kauffman was featured live on classical radio in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In 2008, Kauffman was accepted into the international class of Prof. Eduard Schmieder in the Master’s Degree program at Temple University, which he completed in 2011, with distinction and received the Albert Tashjian Prize for excellence in performance. He frequently served as concertmaster for the TU Symphony Orchestra and TU Opera Theater. In 2010, Kauffman was selected to join the acclaimed iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international musicians. He has performed on major concert stages including Disney Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kimmel Center, and the Kennedy Center, among others. He has participated in master classes with world-class soloists and ensembles, including Jaime Laredo, Philip Setzer, Martin Chalifour, the Shanghai, Emerson, the American, the Tokyo quartets, and many others. Currently, Joseph is continuing his violin studies in the DMA program at Temple University, where he is also a teaching assistant. He teaches a talented class of students at the NBS School, maintains a thriving private violin studio, and leads an active performance career. Together with iPalpiti alumnus and cellist Yoni Draiblate, he founded the MUSIC TRANSFORMS concert series in Philadelphia.

Akhmed Mamedov

Violinist-violist/Turkmenistan

Ahmed Mamedov started to play violin at the age of seven and graduated from the Sobinov Saratov State Conservatory in 2005, actively performing in solo, chamber ensembles, and string quartet concerts. Among his awards are the Grand Prize in the Fourth Regional Goldenberg Violin Competition, stipend from the “Russian Performing Art” foundation, Diploma at the 5th Demidov International Violin Competition, and an award from the VI “Golden Talent.” In 2006 Akhmed was selected to join “Youth Symphonic Orchestra of CIS Countries” and through 2009 toured the cities of CIS, Europe, and USA, under such conductors as Yury Simonov, M. Gorenshtein, Vladimir Spivakov. In 2010 Akhmed was accepted into Artist Diploma Program at Temple University in Philadelphia, completed his Master of Music degree in violin performance (2014) in the class of Professor Schmieder, and MM as a second major in viola (2017). He plays both as violinist and violist at Symphony in C, New Jersey Capital Philharmonic Orchestra,Vox Ama Deus Orchestra, Wayne Presbyterian Oratorio Society, and Bach Festival Orchestra of Bethlehem. Ahmed Mamedov is a co-founder and active performer of the Blue Line Quartet. Since 2018, he enjoys teaching at the Perkins Center for the Arts Conservatory in New Jersey. Ahmed is a member of iPalpiti since 2013.

Agnieszka Podlucka

Violist/Poland

Agnieszka was born in Łódź in 1994. She started her violin education at the age of seven and since, has been awarded First Prizes at numerous national and international violin, viola and chamber music competitions, including ARD International Music Competition in Munich (2018), Michał Spisak XI International Music Competition (2017), Intercollegiate Viola Competition (2017), II Baltic Competition for String Duos (2016), II Chamber Music Competition in students category (2015), XX International Johannes Brahms Viola Competition (2012, semifinal); IV Tadeusz Wroonski Young Solo Violin Competition. She was awarded the “Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage” scholarship and continues her studies at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in violin and viola with professors Jan Stanienda and Piotr Reichert. Agnieszka has been a participant in many festivals as violinist, violist, chamber musician and orchestral player, including International Summer Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Musethica International Chamber Music Festival in Spain, Sweden and Germany, International Chamber Music Festival in Wałbrzych, International Chamber Music Festival “Quarto Mondi” in Poznan, Warsaw Festival, Summer Academy of Music from Berliner Philharmoniker, and in master classes worked with Tabea Zimmerman, Jerzy Kosamala, Wolfgang Boettcher, Jose Gallardo, and others. Agnieszka has performs extensively as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in her native Poland in as well as in Europe, Japan, South Korea, United States. She was a member of Sinfonia Varsovia Academy as a violist. Upon return to Poland from iPalpiti festival in 2019, Agnieszka accepted principal viola position in the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, joined the faculty of the viola class at the Fryderic Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, and founded new ensemble: string quartet “Splot.” This is Agnieszka’s second season with iPalpiti. Just as she was recommended by iPalpiti alumni Maria Machowska (2004-2009) who is a Concertmistress of the Warsaw Philharmonic [Filhamonia Narodowa/Sinfonia Varsovia] since 2008, this season Agnieszka returns with her newly formed “Splot” quartet.

Can Sakul

Violist/Turkey

Born in 1987 in Ankara, Turkey, Can is a member of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. His M.A.in Viola is from the Lausanne Conservatory (Bruno Pasquier’s class) and his B.M. in Viola is from the Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, where he was awarded a full scholarship. He also attended master classes of James Creitz, Rusen Gunes, and Tatiana Masurenko at the Ayvalik International Music Academy. Can joined the Bilkent Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2001 and was its Principal Viola from 2005 to 2008. Other leading positions were at Bilkent Youth Virtuosos (2006-2008), touring Turkey and Germany as Co-Principal with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Damiano Guiranna (2007), and as Principal Viola in the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy (Summer 2008). In 2009, he became a member of the Camerata de Lausanne under the leadership of Pierre Amoyal. He has performed in many chamber music and solo concerts all over the world including Turkey, Switzerland, France, Russia, Singapore, Greece, Germany, and Cyprus and has participated in festivals such as the Cannes Festival, the Montebello Festival, the Saint-Riquier Festival, the International Students Chamber Music Festival in Stuttgart, the Youth Composers and Youth Performers, World Music Day, the Festival of Castle of Ankara, and VEKAM Art Festival. He has also performed at television and radio broadcasts on Mezzo, Radio Suisse Romande (La Tribune des Jeunes Musiciens) and Turkish National Television and Radio. Member of iPalpiti since 2011.

Dobrawa Czocher

Cellist/Poland

Dobrawa began studying the cello at the age of seven. A graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, both in Bachelor and Master Studies, in 2018, Dobrawa won an audition to Szczecin Symphony Orchestra and started her tenure as solo cellist. She also completed Master Solo Studies of the Hochschule fur Musik Detmold (Germany) in Prof. Alexander Gebert's cello class. During her time in Germany, Dobrawa was a member of Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and principal cellist of the Neue Philharmonie Berlin (Germany). Winner of eight national solo music competitions in Poland, she has won in several chamber music competitions, including the 2nd prize in National Chamber Auditions in Sochaczew, 1st prize at the International Music Competition Julius Zarebski in Lomianki, finalist of the VI International Competition for Chamber of Johannes Brahms in Gdańsk, and a 2nd prize in 2014 as a member of Sillage Piano Quintet at International Chamber Music Competition in Jurmala (Latvia), winning distinction with the same ensemble in National Chamber Music Competition in Bydgoszcz (Poland). Dobrawa has participated in numerous master classes with renowned cellists and participated in chamber music festivals, collaborating with artists such as Kevin Kenner, Paul Gulda, Jakub Jakowicz. During 2008 - 2010 she was a scholar of the National Fund for Children On. Since 2012 she is a member of duo "Hania Rani & Dobrawa Czocher" where she combines her interest in classical and contemporary music. The Duo’s debut album "Biała flaga," released in 2015, was a bestseller in Poland. Dobrawa performed in many prestigious concerts halls in Poland and abroad (Germany, Lebanon, Serbia, Austria, Turkey, Portugal). She joins iPalpiti festival as member of the new “Splot” string quartet with iPalpiti’s violist Agnieszka Podłucka.

Marc Girard-Garcia

Cellist/France

The cellist Marc Girard Garcia captivates audiences with the depth, elegance and warmth of his performances. Born in 1990 in San Francisco, Marc began his cello studies at the Toulouse Conservatoire in France, and graduated with highest honors at age 16. He then obtained his Masters degree at the Paris Conservatoire under the tutelage of Marc Coppey in 2015. Over the years, Marc received numerous awards, including the International Competition of Contemporary Hungarian Music in Ballassagiarmat, the International Competition of Epernay, the International Competition of Vatelot-Rampal, and was also invited by the soloists of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to perform chamber music at the Musikverein. Marc studied with cellists Gary Hoffman, Philippe Muller, Arto Noras, Roland Pidoux, Xavier Phillips, Jerome Pernoo and Robert Nagy, and participated in festivals like the Wiener Philharmoniker Musikforum Trenta, the Maurice Ravel Academy of Saint Jean-de-Luz and the Pablo Casals Academy at Prades. In 2014, together with the American pianist Ian Barber and his childhood friend Boris Borgolotto, Marc created the Zadig Trio. Since its foundation, the Trio has won 11 international prizes in France, the USA, Austria and Italy, and is regularly invited to play in great halls worldwide. The Zadig Trio is currently a resident of the Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel, under the tutelage of Artemis Quartet. It is also the first trio resident of ProQuartet in Paris, and is generously supported by the Banque Populaire Foundation. Marc Girard Garcia plays a Frank Ravatin cello, generously loaned to him by the El Pasito association.

Jaani Helander

Cello/Finland

Member of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and a faculty member at the Sibelius Academy, Jaani is an active and passionate soloist, chamber musician and teacher.  Graduate of the Sibelius Academy in 2013, he has been a  laureate of many competitions: in 2010 he was the first prize winner in the string competition at the ISA-festival in Austria and a second prize  winner in the Turku National Cello Competition in Finland.  He has been a soloist with many orchestras in Finland and in Austria with the Spirit of Europe.  In 2013, he gave the Finnish premiere of Uljas Pulkkis’s “Dragonfly”concerto with the Nya Tidens Ensemble.  Jaani has studied with Prof. Martti Rousi in Finland, Prof. Christoph Richter in Essen, Germany, and Prof. Natalia Gutman in Florence, Italy.  Chamber music is Jaani’s true passion and he has performed at several festivals in Finland and abroad, in the USA and Greece, among others.  He joined iPalpiti in 2016 as an “emergency” cellist, after being recommended by iPalpiti’s Finnish violinist Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä; “plucked” from his vacation in Zagreb, arriving on a day’s notice, Jaani was an instant, perfect fit.  He and Kreeta-Julia launched the Helsinki Chamber Music Festival with its first season July 2017.  Jaani Helander plays a Vincenzo Postiglione cello (1914), on loan to him from the Finnish-Swedish Instrument Foundation. WEBSITE

Dylan Lee

Cello/Malaysia

Praised for his poetic and engaging performances, Dylan is a graduate of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, completed his Master’s studies with Professor Julius Berger at the Leopold Mozart Zentrum in Augsburg, and currently based in Basel, Switzerland, studying in the School of Excellence at the Musik-Akademie Basel under Danjulo Ishizaka. Most recently, Dylan was the soloist playing Schumann Cello Concerto with the Uzbekistan State Symphony Orchestra as the Grand Prize winner of the Global Music Partnership Concerto Competition. Numerous international awards include 1st prize in the 2019 Andreas Stein Wettbewerb and a Meißterkonzert at the Mozarteum Summer Academy Salzburg. Dylan was among founders in the KL String Project - alongside members of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra - of a chamber orchestra based in the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. As a founding member of the contemporary music quintet, Dylan has premiered chamber music works by young composers from the Asia Pacific region, performing in Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, Ensemble GO. In 2014, he was invited to and attended the Seiji Ozawa Chamber Music Academy held in Japan. Solo masterclasses include those with artists such as Gavriel Lipkind, Norman Fischer, Natalie Clein, Johannes Moser and Sebastian Comberti, and as a chamber musician, he has played in masterclasses by the Julliard String Quartet, Belcea Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, and Fournier Piano Trio.

Justin Smith

Bassist/USA

  Justin Smith is an aspiring double bassist from Smithtown, NY with a goal to a professional career as an orchestral musician. He began playing the double bass at age 8, continuing his studies at The Juilliard School pre-college division, and now is a fourth-year student in The Juilliard college division, working with Professor Eugene Levinson. He is recipient of the Ann S. Alderman & Harold Alderman Scholarship, Homer & Constance Mensch, and Jim Wargowsky Scholarships. Since acceptance into the College Division at Juilliard, Justin was offered a mentoring position in the Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra, where he continues to mentor and teach Pre-College students today. Outside of Juilliard, Justin has worked with Nassau Pops, Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island, The World Youth Alliance, and also as a session musician. Justin also was granted a full scholarship to both the Miami Music Festival, and Summit Music Festivals. Justin is a laureate of numerous competitions, including the Bottesini International Competition in Italy in 2017. In the same year he became a winner of the Camerata Artists International Competition and gave a solo recital in Merkin Hall, New York. For the past three seasons Justin participated in the Summit Music Festival Chamber Orchestra under direction of the Maestro Schmieder who invited him to the iPalpiti. This is his second season with iPalpiti.

Ian Barber

Pianist/France

Ian Barber started studying piano at age seven in Colorado with Patricia Chen, continuing with Larry Graham and Rodney Mobley in high school. He has also worked with several prestigious teachers including Jullian Martin and Yoheved Kaplinsky from the Juilliard School of Music, Emilio del Rosario from the Music Institute of Chicago and French pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Jean-Claude Pennetier. Winner of several national competitions, he was twice chosen to serve a two-year term on the Young Musicians Foundation Roster. After winning Yamaha Piano Competition in 2004, he was selected to perform with the National Repertory Orchestra in the Breckenridge Music Festival, and the following year, as a winner of the Denver/Steinway Piano Competition, he was the soloist with the Colorado Symphony and reinvited to perform with the National Repertory Orchestra playing Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto. In 2008 he won Indiana University's concerto competition and performed Brahms 2nd piano concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra. With French violinist and cellist Boris Borgolotto and Marc Girard Garcia, Ian founded the Zadig Trio. Since its creation in 2014, the Trio has won 11 international prizes in France, the USA, Austria and Italy, and is regularly invited to play in great halls worldwide. The Zadig Trio is currently a resident of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the tutelage of Artemis Quartet. The Trio’s first album, called “Something in Between”, was released in March 2019. It features music by Leonard Bernstein, Benjamin Attahir and Maurice Ravel.

Trio Zadig

Trio/France

Founded in 2014, Trio Zadig gained critical praise for their impressive 11 international competition prizes, including First Prize at the Fnapec Competition and second prize at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in the US. The Zadig Trio is currently a resident of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel alongside the Artemis Quartet. It is also the first trio resident of ProQuartet and is supported by the Banque Populaire Foundation. Friendship is at the core of the Zadig Trio’s strength and authenticity. Boris Borgolotto and Marc Girard Garcia are childhood friends who studied together at the Paris Conservatoire National de Musique and at the University of Music in Vienna. Upon their return to France, they crossed paths with Ian Barber, an American pianist from the renowned studio of André Watts at the University of Indiana. The chemistry between them is immediately apparent; in a strong desire to unite their talents, they found the Zadig Trio. The name comes from Voltaire’s eponymous character, Zadig (from the Hebrew for the ‘just’ and the Arabic for the ‘truthful’). Much like the music that the Trio performs, the story of Zadig is fantastically entertaining, while touching upon universal and uncompromising truths about the nature of reality. Trio has performed all over the world, from the USA to the Republic of Congo, as well as in prestigious halls like Wigmore Hall, Shanghai City Theater, Paris’ Philharmonic and the Salle Cortot. In parallel with this demanding schedule, the Trio has met with great artists who have contributed to the development of its musical expression, most notably Ivry Gitlis and Menahem Pressler. Due to its auspicious beginning, the Zadig Trio has been invited to several broadcast shows: “Génération Jeunes Interprètes” and “Le nouveau Rendez-Vous” on French Public Radio (France Musique) as well as “Puisque vous avez du talent” on Musiq’3 (RTBF) in Belgium. From Haydn to contemporary composers, the Zadig Trio’s audacity and freshness gives youth and vitality to the piano trio repertoire. The depth and sincerity of their interpretations, as well as their vivid, poetic sound, make them the creators of captivating performances. Their DC debut at the Phillips will include Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor, Bernstein’s Fantasy on themes from West Side Story, and some works from Toulouse-born composer, Benjamin Attahir. Just like Voltaire’s hero, the Trio promises to have a long and adventurous life.

Splot

Quartet/Poland

  “SPLOT” is a string quartet formed in 2019 by four graduates of Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, Poland. Once upon a time Karolina Gutowska (violin), Kornelia Grądzka (violinist of the Sinfonia Varsovia), Agnieszka Agnes Podłucka (Principal viola, National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra) and Dobrawa Czocher (principal solo cellist, Szczecin Symphony Orchestra) had an opportunity to play a project together and while having so much fun and pleasure of making music, a decision to go further and create an ensemble was clear to each of them. Authenticity, freedom, curiosity, open-mindedness, yet precision and understanding of composers’ musical language are core values of the “Splot” quartet. Their technique and feminine sensitivity are a base for beautiful and meaningful interpretations of the greatest pieces in classical music literature. Each musician in “Splot” quartet has its own busy musical career, but priority stays the same for all - joy of playing together and spreading love for music.