Dísella Lárusdóttir

Soprano/Iceland

www.disella.org

Described by The New York Times as “reliably breathtaking” and Opera News as having a voice of “bewitching beauty and presence,” Icelandic soprano Dísella Lárusdóttir is quickly gaining international attention for being one of the most promising talents of her generation. With her beautiful voice, compelling artistry, charismatic stage presence, and unusual musical stylistic versatility, Ms. Lárusdóttir is successfully redefining what it means to be an opera singer in this day and age. Following her critically acclaimed performance in the Metropolitan Opera’s 2007 National Council Auditions and the subsequent documentary filmThe Audition, Ms. Lárusdóttir began an important relationship with the company. During the 2011-2012 season, she was invited to cover the roles of Miss Schlesen in Philip Glass’ Satyagraha and Servilia in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito. During the 2012-2013 season, Ms. Lárusdóttir makes her Metropolitan Opera debut as Garsenda in Zandonai’s Francesca da Rimini, starring Eva-Maria Westbroek and Marcello Giordani, and will also perform the role of Woglinde in Wagner’s Götterdämmerung and Das Rheingold. During the 2013-2014 season, she will return to the Metropolitan Opera for its productions of Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Strauss’ Die Frau Ohne Schatten, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore, Dvořák’s Rusalka, Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Bellini’s La Sonnambula, and the Baroque pastiche, The Enchanted Island. Ms. Lárusdóttir currently resides in New York City.

Daniel Bubeck

Countertenor/USA

www.danbubeck.com

American countertenor Daniel Bubeck has emerged as a singer of international distinction in opera and oratorio in repertoire spanning from the baroque to contemporary works. Mr. Bubeck made his professional debut to critical acclaim in the world premiere of John Adams’s El Niño, conducted by Kent Nagano at the Théâtre Musical de Paris-Châtelet. He has since performed the work on four continents with such esteemed orchestras as Los Angeles Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie Orchester-Berlin, Boston, BBC, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Atlanta Symphonies, Radio Filharmonisch Holland, Estonian National and Royal Flemish Philharmonics, and has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Esa- Pekka Salonen, Gustavo Dudamel, Robert Spano, Kent Nagano.

In 2012 he premiered the role of 1st Countertenor in Adams’ newest oratorio The Gospel According to the Other Mary with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and reprised the role with the LA Phil in the Spring 2013 on international tour of a staged version directed by Peter Sellars. Upcoming performances include El Niño with the London Philharmonic and The Gospel According to the Other Mary in Amsterdam and the Ravinia Festival.

A noted Handelian, Daniel has interpreted numerous operatic and oratorio roles for companies including New York City Opera, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Carmel Bach Festival, St. Thomas Fifth Ave and Opera Vivente. Other career highlights include excerpts from Phillip Glass’ Akhnaten with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Henze’s Das verratene Meer with the Tokyo Symphony, the role of Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Princeton Festival, a recital tour in China, Messiah and St. Matthew Passion with American Bach Soloists, Carmina Burana in São Paulo, Brazil and others.

Daniel Bubeck can be heard on recordings of John Adams’ El Niño (Nonesuch CD /Art Haus Musik DVD), The New Four Seasons with Musica Sequenza (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Sony Music) and on the soundtrack of the Warner Brothers thriller, I Am Legend, music by James Newton Howard. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he holds music degrees from Indiana University, Peabody Conservatory and the University of Delaware. He also studied at the Britten-Pears School in Aldeburgh, UK, and at the Salzburg Mozarteum.

Peter Rainer, Concertmaster

Violinist/Germany

Peter is iPalpiti Concertmaster since 1994. In his native Germany, he is a concertmaster and founder of the Kammerakademie Potsdam since 2000, and leads an active career as a chamber musician, soloist, and teacher.

With Kammerakademie Potsdam he also regularly plays concerts as soloist and leader and lead CD productions with the oboist Albrecht Mayer and mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital. He was the founder and leader of the popular Persius Ensemble, focusing mainly on a 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 in 2007. In 2008 he founded the Merlino String Quartet, which is touring throughout Germany, and has been member of the Max Brod piano trio for two years. Since 2007 Peter has been on the faculty of the “Universitat der Kunste” (University of the Arts) in Berlin and of the “Stern Institute” for young talented students. Music-loving children know Peter Rainer through the many interactive concerts he developed for them in the past 15 years, such as Till Eulenspiegel, Ferdinand the Bull, The Horse on the Violin to mention a few. In 2010 he appeared at the “Musikfest Schloss Wonfurt” together with “iPalpiti” alumni Tibi Cziger, Caroline v. Bismarck and Eliah E. Sakakushev. 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. He has worked as the assistant to Professor Schmieder at the Holland Music Sessions and at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Peter has been a member and leader of iPalpiti since 1994. In 2005 he received a commendation from the City of Los Angeles for his leadership of iPalpiti and his contributions to culture.

Catharina Chen

Violinist/Norway

iPalpiti Ambassador

Catharina Chen’s Website

“…beautiful tone, technically brilliant…charismatic and elegant…” — Bergens Tidene

Born in Oslo, Norway in 1985, Catharina began studying violin at the age of 5 with her father. Since the age of 8, she has soloed with all major orchestras in Norway. Well known to Norwegians through television and radio broadcast programs, Catharina is the recipient of numerous awards, and the youngest musician in Norway ever to be awarded the highly respected and prestigious Oslo City Culture Prize (2004).

In 2011, Catharina was appointed and holds position of the concertmaster and soloist of the Norway National State Opera. She has given solo and chamber concerts in international arts festivals in Norway, Italy, China, Malaysia, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, France, and South Africa, and has been a soloist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in Tchaikovsky and Beethoven Violin Concertos in consecutive seasons 2008-09. A Graduate of Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo, a leading institution in Norway, where she studied with Arve Tellefsen and Henning Kraggerud, she continued her music education in the USA with the renowned Professor Eduard Schmieder, earning an Artist Diploma from Temple University in Philadelphia. Catharina is a Grand Prize winner in the third International Gnessin Violin Competition in Moscow, Russia (2003), and the 2nd Prize winner at the Jeuness Musicale International Violin Competition in Bucharest, Romania (2007). An iPalpiti artist since 2004, named iPALPITI AMBASSADOR in 2013, Catharina has performed on the stages of Mozarteum Grosse Hall Salzburg, Carnegie Hall in New York, was a featured soloist at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in 2008, Carnegie Zankel Hall in 2009, and in Israel in 2011. Catharina has been invited as solo recitalist to numerous concert series in California.

In her native Norway, Catharina continues to be an attraction for the important musical and government occasions: in May 2008, she was the only artist invited to perform at the opening of the prestigious Bergen International Arts Festival, with King and Queen of Norway in attendance. Winning the prestigious “Intro Classic” prize from State Concert Norway resulted in 2009-2011 engagements from solo recitals in New York, Washington, Milan to “Live Classical, Catharina with friends” in Tønsberg, Eurovision in Oslo, and tours with The Norwegian Chamber Orchestra” and Oslo Camerata in Spain and Brazil, recitals in Holland, four weeks of touring across Norway, tour across China, India, and world premiere of “the Moon” by Martin Romberg during Expo in Shanghai.

Davide de Ascaniis

Violinist/Italy

Davide de Ascaniis’ exceptional talent and strong, passionate personality place him in line of prominent emerging Italian violinists. As a soloist and chamber musician he has appeared throughout major cities and venues in his native Italy, and toured Asia, Canada, USA and Europe. He has appeared in international festivals such as Nippon Foundation in Tokyo, Asahikawa in Hokkaido (Japan), Festival Bled (Slovenia), Mozarteum Festival in Salzburg, Kurt Mazur’ Chelsea Festival in NY, always to the highest acclaim, often being broadcast on the national radio, performing in the most prestigious concert halls worldwide such as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome, La Fenice in Venice, National Theater and National Concert Hall of Taipei, Merkin Hall in New York, Teatro dal Verme in Milan, Teatro Manzoni in Bologna, Wiener Saal in Salzburg. In 2010 he performed at the Taipei Arena for an audience of 15,000 and received rave reviews from the press. Born in Italy in 1991 to a family of musicians, Mr. de Ascaniis began studying the violin when he was eight years old and in 2000 he made his debut in France playing Bruch concerto with orchestra. After the Master’s Degree cum laude from the Conservatorio Pedrollo in Vicenza at the age of 16, he earned a Diploma at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome Winner of numerous international violin competitions in Italy, he has also participated in master classes with eminent violin professors such as Zakhar Bron, Michael Frischenschlager, Igor Volochine, and since 2012 he resides in New York City, studying with Albert Markov. In 2013, Davide was selected to join iPalpiti. Upcoming engagements include concerts in USA, Mexico, Brazil and Europe as well as his Carnegie Hall debut.

Niv Ashkenazi

Violin/Israel-USA

NIV’s Website

– I fell in love with the violin in Israel while my parents and I were strolling down a cobble-stoned street corner. We stopped in front of a street violinist and listened to his music. I was enthralled. My world shrank to include only the violinist and his music. Even after he stopped playing, I didn’t want to leave. Though I was only two and a half years old, I knew then and there that I wanted to play the violin. I began playing the violin at the age of 6 and by the time I was 13, I knew I wanted a career as a violinist.

Niv Ashkenazi, winner of the 2010 American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, had his Carnegie Hall debut at the Weill Recital Hall in March 2010. He received his M.M. and B.M from The Juilliard School where he studied Itzhak Perlman and Glenn Dicterow.

Highlights of past seasons included a performance at Carnegie Hall, honoring Nobel Prize winner Ralph Steinman, and two recitals at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. As a winner of the 2007 VSA [Very Special Arts] International Young Soloist Award he performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., at the U.S. Department of Education and in front of Members of Congress, and for the 2009 Congressional Arts Breakfast, in conjunction with National Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.

As an orchestral musician, Niv has played at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Royce Hall, Disney Hall, and Alice Tully Hall under the baton of Alan Gilbert, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, John Williams. Niv chamber music coaches included Zvi Zeitlin, Vivian Weilerstein, Earl Carlyss, and he studied violin with Ronald Copes and Linda Rose. In past summers, Mr. Ashkenazi participated in the Perlman Music Program’s Chamber Music Workshop, the Music Academy of the West, the Encore School for Strings, and Keshet Eilon in Israel performing alongside violinists such as Vadim Gluzman, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Itzhak Perlman, Zvi Zeitlin, Shlomo Mintz, Joel Smirnoff, and Monica Huggett. In 2013, Niv was selected to join iPalpiti, culminating in a performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Niv performs for many fundraisers such as the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), and Shanes Inspiration, an organization which builds universally accessible playgrounds for children living with disability.

Irina Chepizhnaya

Violinist/Russia

Born in Ukraine, Irina began her violin studies at the age of six. Between 1996 and 2009 she became First and top-prizes winner in eleven international and national competitions, including Grand-prix at the International violin competition “Forte-Maestro.” In 2007 her name was chronicled in the State book of Ukraine “The Pride of Nation.” She entered the Music College of the famed Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory in 1998, graduating cum laude from the Conservatory in 2007, and receiving postgraduate diploma in 2010 (with Professors Ivanov/violin and Bonduryansky/chamber music).

As a member of chamber music ensemble in duo with pianist Elena Kuznetzova, she won First prizes at the 16th International Chamber Music Competition in Thesaloniki, Greece, International Competition of Slavonic Music in Moscow, Russia (2006), and the 2nd International Chamber Music Competition named after T. Gaydamovich in Magnitogorsk (2009). She participated in summer festivals such as Mozarteum Summeracademie, Holland Music Sessions, “Zeist music days”, in International Master-classes in Weimar, working with Jerusalem and Ysaye Quartets, and eminent violin professors.

Irina was selected to join iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates in 2010 and since, performed with iPalpiti in Los Angeles, Israel, Philadelphia and New York. As a member of “Young Russian Talents” program she is engaged in touring Russia as a recitalist and giving master-classes to gifted children. Named a Soloist with the Moscow Philharmonia in 2010, Irina has performed in major halls throughout Russia, and has appeared as soloist with such renown orchestras as Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and with Moscow Philharmonic.

Conrad Chow

Violinist/Canada

www.conradchow.org

Born and raised in Toronto, Conrad has established himself as a foremost performer and teacher in his native Canada. 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” by the Albany Times Union. 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. Recital performances have included the St. Cecilia Concert Series, University of Toronto’s Hart House Sunday Concert Series, broadcast on CBC Radio, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Qingdao Music Hall in China, New York’s Staller Center for the Arts, Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio and George Weston Recital Hall, 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 and is a presenter of master classes in Canada, the United States, and Asia.

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 currently pursues a Doctoral degree in Music Performance.

He was a member of iPalpiti in its winter East Coast residency and concerts at the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall, its Northern California tour, and iPalpiti festivals in Los Angeles. As a Winner of the American Protege International Competition of Romantic Music 2012 he performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Nora Hapca

Violinist/Romania

Nora Hapca has won awards in many national and international competitions, including second Grand Prize at the “Remember Enescu” International Competition in 2003 and the Special Artist Prize from Young Artists International in 2004. As a result she was invited to participate in that year’s edition of iPalpiti Festival in Los Angeles, and has been an iPalpiti member since, toured the USA, Slovenia, Austria and Israel, performing in prestigious concert halls of Mozarteum in Salzburg, YMCA in Jerusalem, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Carnegie Hall in New York.

Throughout the years, Nora has played many concerts and recitals in Romania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Germany and Japan. Born in 1986, Nora began playing violin at the age of six in her home town Baia Mare, and completed her musical education in Bucharest (Romania) and Cologne (Germany) where she was “Erasmus” award recipient for the academic year of 2006 – 2007 at the Musikhochschule Köln with Prof. Mihaela Martin.

Currently Nora lives in Germany and is playing in the Academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin. She is also a member of the International Mahler Orchestra both as an orchestra player, as well as a regular member of their chamber music concert series.

Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä

Violinist/Finland

Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä’s Website

Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä has recently been appointed as the 2nd concertmaster of the Danish National Chamber Orchestra, prior position being a principal concertmaster in Vaasa City Orchestra in Finland. Next season she will perform as an artistic director, founder and a violinist in TEOS Chamber Music Series in Helsinki.

She has performed as a guest chamber musician with ensembles such as Jakobstads Sinfonietta, Athelas Sinfonietta and DiamantEnsemble and as an orchestra musician in Chamber Orchestra of Europe. She graduated with distinction from London Royal College of Music in 2012, and is a graduate of Sibelius Academy, where she has studied with Prof. Tuomas Haapanen, Mi-Kuyng Lee and Päivyt Meller.

Kreeta-Julia has been a prizewinner at numerous national and international competitions as well as winner of numerous awards, including ‘Kees Wiebenga Prize’ at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Course,’The Young soloist of the Summer Prize’ at Levi Music Weeks, ’The Resital Prize’ at the Suolahti International Music Course and the prestigious Pro Musica and Nordea Awards. In 2003 and 2004 she has been selected as a Young Chamber Musician in Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival. She has played as a soloist with several orchestras such as Danish National Chamber Orchestra, Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra and given concerts as a soloist and chamber musician, not only in Finland, but in several European countries and Russia. Last years she has appeared at festivals such as Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, KuruFest and Helsinki Festival in Finland, Riga New Music Festival and Classica NordicBaltic Conference in Latvia, Ecuentro de musica de Santander in Spain, Music Alp Music Weeks in France, Harmos Festival in Portugal and Lake District Summer Music Festival in the UK. Kreeta-Julia has found inspiration and studied chamber music under Paavo Pohjola, Ferenc Rados (IMS Prussia Cove), Johannes Meissl and Hatto Beyerle (ECMA). She is also a first violinist of Copenhagen based Trio Nord (Jacob Shaw, cello and Kristoffer Nyholm Hyldig, piano). With a Finnish pianist Roope Gröndahl (Duo Teos) she has played concerts in Finland and abroad, concentrating in the repertoire of Finnish chamber music for violin and piano. Heikkilä plays an Antonio Stradivarius (1691), kindly on loan from Sibelius Academy.

Jason Issokson

Violinist/USA

Violinist Jason Issokson began his musical studies at the age of four, and has since performed on concert stages across the world. As a soloist, Jason has appeared with many orchestras in the US, as well as with the orchestras in Italy and with Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan. Recent recital engagements include concerts in Albania, Germany, Japan, New York, and Los Angeles.

Jason completed his undergraduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York and holds a MM degree from the Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California - his principal teacher in both schools was the celebrated violinist, Midori. Jason’s playing has garnered numerous awards and honors, including the top prize at the 16th International Violin Competition ‘Andrea Postacchini’ in Italy, the Rostal Prize at the International Max Rostal Competition for Violin in Germany, and the New Horizon Fellowship and the Dorothy DeLay Fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival.

Jason is the first violinist of the recently formed Argus Quartet, dedicated to challenging the musical status quo through innovative concert presentations and adventurous repertoire.

The quartet – based in Los Angeles - was recently invited to the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, and was also named among the winners of the Beverly Hills National Auditions. Upcoming performances include appearances at several music festivals and concert series in Southern California, including Laguna Beach Live!, Sundays Live at LACMA, and the Amsterdam Cello Biënnale. Jason’s passion for narrative – both musical and otherwise – is unmistakable. The recipient of an Annenberg Graduate Fellowship from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Jason is constantly exploring the intersections of storytelling and music-making. His writing about classical music can be found on Neon Tommy: Annenberg Digital News and the LA Weekly.

Nobuko Kawamura

Violinist/Japan

NOBUKO KAWAMURA was born in Morioka, in Northern Japan. She started playing violin at the age of four, and received a Winner’s Medal at the Children’s Competition of Japan at age ten. She studied at the famous Toho Gakuen School of Music from 1998 to 2001 with Professor Kyoko Suzuki. In 2005 she graduated at the top in her class from Toho Gakuen University of Music in Tokyo, where she studied with Professor Tugio Tokunaga. Nobuko was selected as a soloist for the Graduation Concert, and also named Yomiuri New Young Artist in Tokyo. In 2007 she performed as a soloist with orchestras across Japan. In the Fall of 2006 Nobuko was accepted in the class of Professor Eduard Schmieder at the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas into Artist Certificate Program, and followed him to Temple University in Philadelphia into the Artist Diploma Program. Nobuko is a member of iPalpiti since 2009 and has participated in iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles. As a soloist and chamber musician Nobuko has performed in Switzerland, France, Germany, and Japan.

Alexandr Kislitsyn

Violinist/Russia

Alexandr Kislitsyn was born in Omsk, Russia in a family of musicians, in 1989. He began to play the violin at the age of five with professor Muralev, an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation and the concertmaster of the Omsk Symphony Orchestra. Winner of a number of national and international competitions, including First Prize at the Jyvaskyla International Competition 2011 in Finland, and numerous awards from prestigious Russian organizations, he concertized throughout Russia as a soloist with chamber and symphony orchestras. In 2009, Alexandr toured Finland as a member of a Novosibirsk “Bright Bows” ensemble, and was assistant concertmaster of the International Symphony Orchestra that took part in an International Forum Russia-Asia in Indonesia in 2011 and in Thailand in 2012. That same year he graduated cum laude from Novosibirsk Conservatory (under Professor Marina Kuzina-Koifman) where he was a concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra from 2009. He also took part in Mozarteum International Summer Academy in Salzburg. Currently, he is attending Temple University’ Center of the Arts, continuing his violin studies with Professor Schmieder. Before he moved to the United States, he was a leader of a string quartet which premiered compositions of contemporary Russian composers.

Pablo Rapado Jambrina

Violinist/Spain

The Spanish violinist was born in Zamora, Spain in a musical family. He began his violin studies at age six, with Jesus Ramos at Zamora Music Conservatory. At 14 years of age, and with many solo apperances done, he performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Conservatory orchestra. Pablo continued at the Oviedo Superior Conservatory of Music, also studying baroque music with Zeljko Haliti, performing regularly as a soloist.

During his musical studies, he performed with numerous Spanish and French orchestras, and took part in numerous violin and chamber music master classes with eminent violinists, more recently with Albert and Alexander Markov. In 2006, he was awarded First Prize with honours in Paris, and in 2008 received Cum Laude Bachelor degree from the Maastricht National Conservatory of Music, Holland with teacher Robert Szreder.

Double-laureate of the Sarasate International Violin Competition, Pablo performed as a soloist in the Berlin Konzerthaus with the JOSPA orchestra, in chamber ensembles with Albert and Alexander Markov at the Cordes et Pics Festival (France), and made his recital debuts in Paris in 2008 with pianist Christie Julien. In New York Pablo performed at Merkin Hall (Lincoln Center), WPM Concert Hall, Bargemusic, etc. Pablo began to teach in Spain in 2004, and from 2006 in France, also invited as a teacher at the Cordes et Pics Festival. In orchestral experiences from 2004-2011, Pablo has played at Navarra Symphony, Granada Symphony, Orchestra Les Arts (Valencia) under maestri Zubin Metha, Lorin Maazel, Lopez Cobos, among others. Nowadays he leads Premium Symphony Orchestra in Spain, also keeping residency in Brussels, Belgium, and touring. In 2014 Pablo has won first violin leading position in the WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln, starting his work in August 2014.

Irakli Tsadaia

Violinist/Georgia

Irakli Tsadaia was born into a musical family in Tbilisi, Georgia. His first music training started with Tamaz Batiaschwili and Konstantin Vardeli – both members of the Georgian States Quartet and teachers at the Tiflis Conservatory. Since the age of eight he received regular lessons with Galina Turchaninova in Moscow and Germany, who also was the first teacher of Maxim Vengerov. In 1997, Irakli was accepted as a student at the Munich Conservatory, being only thirteen. While studying at the conservatory, he also attended the master classes of Alexander Brussilovsky, Boris Garlitzky, Felix Andrievsky and Victor Tretjakov. In 2002 he continued his studies with Professor Victor Tretjakov at the “Hochschule für Musik Köln” (Cologne). He received first prize at the music competition “Jugend musiziert” in Germany, diplomas in the Louis-Spohr International Violin Competition in Weimar (1999) and at the Paganini International Competition in Moscow (2006), and the 2nd prize at the International Violin Competition Valsesia Musica in Italy (2008). He was a winner of a competition in the instrumental foundation of the “Hochschule für Musik Köln” that gives young musicians an opportunity to perform on high quality instruments and was awarded with a G P. Maggini violin. In 2007 he recorded a CD of Four Seasons by Astor Piazolla released by Sony BMG, performing as a soloist with “Kölner Klassik Ensemble.” Irakli is performing as a soloist and in chamber music with internationally known musicians and conductors such as Alexandre Brussilovsky, Ivan Monighetti, Lev Markiz and Vakhtang Kakhidze. His concert performances of Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso by Saint-Saens, Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate and the Four Seasons by Astor Piazolla were recorded for Radio and Television and broadcast on ARD, SWR, BR (Bayerischer Rundfunk), and in Tbilisi, Georgia. He was selected to join iPalpiti in 2010. In 2012, he was a selected Prizewinner among ten from 1003 participants at the Mozarteum Summer Academy Salzburg, and concluded the finale concert of the Salzburg Festspiele. In 2013, Irakli was appointed Concertmaster of Georgian Chamber Orchestra.

Akhmed Mamedov

Violinist/Turkmenistan

Akhmed 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, where currently he works toward his Master of Music degree in the class of Professor Schmieder.

Joseph Kauffman

Violinist-violist/USA

Joseph Kauffman was born in Oakland, California. He began studying the violin when he was five with Dejin Sun, and later with Yayoi Numazawa of the Philadelphia Orchestra. During the summers, Joseph participated in international music festivals such as Interlochen, Luzerne, Music in the Mountains, Kinhaven, and Recontres Musicales International des Graves where he worked with many fine musicians and teachers.

Joseph graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2008 with a BM in Violin Performance, and was honored to receive the Creative Achievement Award given out to one exceptional student. Joseph was a winner of the Beene, Kroulik, and Brewster competitions in Pennsylvania, and in 2008, received first prize in the PSU Philharmonic Concerto Competition where he performed the Sibelius Violin Concerto. He returns to Penn State every summer for the Penn’s Woods Music Festival under the direction of Maestro Gerardo Edelstein. Joseph founded “Valens” Piano Quartet which earned 2st Prize in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. Kauffman was accepted into the class of Professor Eduard Schmieder in 2008 where he began his studies in the master’s degree program at Temple University, where he is currently is in DMA program. With Prof. Schmieder’s encouragement, he began playing viola and was invited to join iPalpiti as violist for its Los Angeles festivals and on the east coast. As violinist, he often serves as concertmaster for Temple Orchestra in opera and symphonic performances. In 2010 Joseph was violin soloist with the Wayne Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, and his newly formed piano trio premiered a new commissioned work for violin, piano, and horn. He is on the faculty at NBSM and actively performs in ensembles, including Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra.

Can Sakul

Violist/Turkey

Born in 1987 in Ankara, Turkey, Can is a member of Eskisehir Greater Municipality Symphony Orchestra. His M.A. in Viola is from Lausanne Conservatory (Bruno Pasquier’s class) and B.M. in Viola from Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, where he has been awarded with 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 2005- 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 in summer 2008, as the Principal Viola in the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy. 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, Cyprus and 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.

Midori Maruyama

Violist/Japan

Midori Maruyama started playing violin at the age of four and has studied at the Tokyo college of Music from 2004-2010 with Prof. Takashi Shimizu and Saiko Azuma. During these years she attended many master classes in Japan, Portugal, Italy, and Austria. In 2008 she won the third prize at the Japan Players Competition and also began to study the viola and play a lot of chamber music. She won the 2nd prize at the Osaka International Competition and received a Special award at the Japan Ensemble Competition with quartet.

Since 2010 Midori continues her studies at Scuola di musica di Fiesole in Italy with Antonello Farulli and Felice Cusano as a scholarship student in Corso di Perfezionamento. In 2011, she was awarded the “Grand Prix d’Honneu” at the Concours International de Musique Léopold Bellan in Paris, France, with piano quintet, followed with the invitation to perform at the “Julita Music Festival” in Sweden. As a soloist, Midori received First Prize at the 4th Concorso Musicale Europea Città di Filadelfia and 10th International Music Competition Premio Vittoria Caffa Righetti in 2012.

In 2013, as a member of chamber music ensemble in duo, Midori received First Prize at Concorso Internazione di Musica “Euterpe” di Corato and VII Concorso Internazionale di Musica da Camera Città di Chieti. She participated in master class of Jürgen Kussmaul and in summer course of Jurij Bashmet at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. As Mozarteum Summerakademie “praistreger”, Midori performed in prestigious concert halls in Salzburg Festspiele.

Adelya Shagidullina

Violist/Tatarstan

Adelya Shagidullina is a prizewinning Russian violist. Her numerous awards include First Prizes at the Andrey Korsakov International Music Competition, Eugen Coca International Music Competition, All Russian International competition, and a First Prize and special prize for the best performance of a commissioned work at the International J.S. Bach Competition. Named Fellow of the Art Ministry of Russia and Russian Performing Art Foundation (2003-2006), Adelya has performed in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, her native Kazan, and throughout other large cities in Russia. Selected as a principal violist of numerous youth international orchestras under direction of prominent conductors, Adelya has been working professionally in the Kazan State Chamber Orchestra “La Primavera” and the Kazan State Symphony Orchestra. Adelya was selected to join iPalpiti for its east coast residency in 2009, and has since performed as an orchestra member and soloist in concerts throughout America, including the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

A graduate of the Kazan State Conservatoire, she has been studying in the United States since 2009 in the international studio of Professor Eduard Schmieder of Temple University’s Boyer College of Music, where she received an Artist Diploma, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. In the spring of 2013, Adelya Shagidullina was accepted into the Doctoral program at Temple University where she currently studies with Professor Daniel Avshalomov, violist of the eminent American String Quartet.

Lars Hoefs

Cellist/USA

Originally from Appleton, Wisconsin, LARS HOEFS is currently professor of cello and music history at Sao Paulo State University in Campinas (UNICAMP), consistently ranked the 2nd or 3rd best university in Latin America. In Brazil Lars has performed as soloist with orchestras in Barra Mansa, Campinas, Campos do Jordao, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sorocaba, and has been a frequent guest at the Rio International Cello Encounters and Festival Virtuosi in Recife. With pianist and Polish Music Center director Marek Zebrowski, Lars has concertized in New York, London, France, Italy, Prague, and across Poland and the Ukraine. As cellist of the Blue Rose Trio Lars performed in Jerusalem, Shanghai, and Hong Kong; and as a member of the California Quartet he collaborated in residencies with composers including William Bolcom and Michael Daugherty.

Lars has established himself as a leading expert on the cello repertoire of Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. Formerly assistant principal cello of the Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira in Rio de Janeiro, Lars was invited to perform the complete works for cello and piano of Villa-Lobos in 2012 for the 50th annual Festival Villa-Lobos at the Villa-Lobos Museum in Rio. Recently he was the first cellist ever to perform the complete works for cello and orchestra of Villa-Lobos together in one program. Currently, he is planning a Villa-Lobos festival for 2015 in conjunction with the University of California, Riverside.

He received his high school diploma from the North Carolina School of the Arts, a Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University studying with Hans Jorgen Jensen, and Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, studying with Piatigorsky Chair and former LA Philharmonic principal cellist Ronald Leonard. Lars joined 2011 joined iPalpiti orchestra on its tour to Israel, and performed in numerous concerts.

Yoni Draiblate

Cellist/Israel

Born in 1986 to a family of musicians, Yoni Draiblate began his musical education at the age of five. Since the age of 9, he has won numerous prizes and scholarships, including America-Israel Cultural Foundation prestigious scholarships. As a soloist he has appeared with orchestras such as: the Israel Philharmonic, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata, Tel-Aviv Soloists, has collaborated with renowned artists such as Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, Kurt Mazur, and has appeared in numerous live recordings for Israel’s main classical music radio station Kol Israel. During 2008, Yoni was the Principal Cellist of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. After completing his mandatory 3-year service in the IDF under the title “outstanding musician”, Yoni continued studying in the Tel-Aviv University, graduating with Bachelors degree in Music Performance. He received Master of Music Degree from New England Conservatory in May 2011 working with Prof. Lawrence Lesser. His other major teachers include Neomi Enoch, Schmuel Magen, Hillel Zori, as well as master classes with eminent cellists and artists as Bernard Greenhouse, Janos Starker, Natalia Guttman, Uzi Wiesel, Gary Hoffman, Wolfgang Boetcher, Alban Berg Quartet, and Amadeus Quartet. A diverse musician, Yoni enjoys a career playing various genres of music including Rock, Folk, Jazz and more. He has performed numerous times in well known music scenes today such as “Rockwood Hall of Music”, “the Red Fish” (Le Poisson Rouge), and “Songs from a room” (‘SOFAR’), New York. This includes a Television performance for NBC network with Andrew Lipke, who was voted Philadelphia’s best singer-songwriter for the year of 2012. Yoni is playing on a 1849 “Jacout” Cello, on loan from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Jacob Shaw

Cellist/UK-Denmark

Jacob Shaw's website

Award-winning British cellist Jacob Shaw has given concerts across Europe, USA and Asia, establishing himself as one of the most prominent young soloists based in Scandinavia. His program ideas, style, and enthusiasm have gained support and admiration from the public and professional colleagues alike. In 2013, Jacob was appointed “Music Ambassador” for Dulwich College International dedicated to helping youth talents in classical music. Jacob Shaw has performed in some of the worlds greatest concert halls: Berlin Konzerthaus, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Guangzhou Opera House, Salle Gaveau, Royal Albert Hall; at top music festivals: Lockenhaus, Kronberg, iPalpiti; as well as with orchestras and conductors such as Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Harbin Symphony Orchestra, Portuguese Radio Orchestra, Michael Sanderling and Adrian Leaper.

Jacob works with contemporary composers, including Sofia Gubaidulina, who described his playing as “wonderful sensitivity, just perfect, absolutely perfect…” Last season Jacob gave one of the first Danish performances of Sir John Taveners piece “The Protecting Veil” for cello and orchestra, the world premiere of a new cello concerto in Beijing by Philip Henderson, and in 2014 he will give the Danish premiere of “Herma”, a concerto for cello and strings by Hafliði Hallgrímsson. Together with his family, Jacob Shaw in 2009 founded the “Festival International de Musique de Chambre en Charente”. It has grown steadily, and is now the most important festival dedicated to chamber music based in south-west France. He frequently gives masterclasses at conservatories and universities all over the world for both cello and chamber music, recently giving classes at CCOM (Chinese Conservatory of Music, Beijing), Sage Concert Hall (Newcastle), Royal Irish Academy of Music (Dublin), Royal Scottish Conservatoire (Glasgow), Shanghai Conservatory, etc. Jacob is a jury member at the FLAME international competition in Paris.

During his studies in London, Paris, Augsburg and Copenhagen Jacob Shaw became a laureate of numerous national and international prizes – 1st prize and 2 special prizes: FLAME international competition (France), Silver Medal: David Popper International Competition (Hungary), First prize: Andreas Stein Wettbewerb (Germany), and many other awards and prizes. Jacob Shaw plays a cello by Carlo Giuseppe Testore, kindly on loan to him from the collection of the Royal Danish Academy of Music (presided by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark).

Hans Kristian Goldstein

Cello / Norway-USA

Hans Kristian was born in Drammen, Norway in 1988, and began playing the cello at the age of eleven. He made his orchestral solo debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra after winning their concerto competition at age sixteen. He was featured in the STRAD Magazine’s ”Fresh Faces,” named “New Artist of the Month” by Musical America (April 2010), and his solo recital was cited as one of Baltimore’s ten top musical events by the Baltimore Sun. Hans has performed in Sweden, France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, South Africa and throughout the United States in concert halls including Weill at Carnegie Hall, Merkin, Chicago Cultural Center, Steinway, Shriver, Disney, and the Grieg Hall in Norway. His performances have been broadcast on television/radio in Norway on NRK, WFMT-Chicago, WQXR-NY, and Pretoria Radio in South Africa.

Winner of the international competitions, he received First Prizes at the Schmidbauer International String Competition (2013), Alexander and Buono International String Competition (NY 2009), National Young Artist Competition in Midland-Odessa (2009), and the Lennox Young Artist International Competition (2008). He has received numerous scholarships and grants in Norway including the American-Scandinavia Award, the Kavli Prize in Norway, the Violoncello Forum Award (Madrid), the Salon de Virtuosi Award (New York City), and in 2014, named among ten winners in the Beverly Hills Auditions receiving series of recital engagements in California.

As a soloist with orchestras in the US and Europe, he has appeared with the Trondheim Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, Aspen Philharmonic, Peabody Symphony and Richardson Symphony, among others. As orchestral musician, Hans has completed his internship at the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, and has been principal cellist of the festival orchestras such as Aspen and Sarasota, and of the orchestras at Peabody and USC. Mr. Goldstein’s teachers include Hans Jensen (Chicago), Amit Peled (Baltimore), Torleif Thedeén (Stockholm) and Ralph Kirshbaum (Los Angeles).

“…Virtuoso experience” – Norwegian Østlands Post

Mariechen Meyer

Bassist/Republic of South Africa

South African bassist Mariechen Meyer was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa in 1989. She started her double bass studies with Peter Guy in Bloemfontein, and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Stellenbosch in 2011 on the string scholarship under the Dutch pedagogue and performer, Roxane Steffen. From a young age she was appointed principal bassist of several orchestras such as the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of South Africa, the World Youth Symphony Orchestra in USA, and the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra. Mariechen has been invited to numerous international chamber festivals, among which are the International Chamber Festival in Stellenbosch (South Africa), MUSICA MUNDI International Chamber Music Course and Festival for Young Musicians in Belgium, the Stift Festival in The Netherlands, and the Interlochen Summer Camp in Michigan, USA, where she worked with Leon Bosch, Lawrence Hurst, Jack Budrow and Zoran Markovic. As a soloist Mariechen has performed with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra (2004) and the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (2008).

Currently, Mariechen pursuing her Doctoral Degree at the University of North Texas in Denton, where she also completed her Master’s Degree, studying with the world-renown double bass pedagogue and soloist Jeff Bradetich. In 2013 she was a winner of the University of North Texas Concerto Competition, second prize winner of the Mid-Texas Symphony Solo Competition and a semi-finalist in the prestigious solo competition if the International Society of Bassists. She plays on a modern Rumano Solano bass, owned by Gudrun Raschen. This is her second season with iPalpiti.

Timothy Durkovic

Pianist/Guatemala-USA

www.timothydurkovic.com

Born and raised in Guatemala City, Timothy Durkovic began his piano studies at the age of five. Making his first solo appearance when he was eleven, he entered the National Conservatory of Music of Guatemala to study with Consuelo Medinilla, received Bachelor of Arts in piano performance with highest honors at 17, and made his debut with the Guatemala Symphony Orchestra performing the Brahms D-Minor piano concerto. Received in his homeland with national pride, he has been hailed by critics as “Guatemala’s grand national revelation of the twentieth century” and named “Man of the Week” by Crónica–the Guatemalan equivalent to TIME Magazine.

Accepted to the Juilliard School in New York, Timothy continued his musical education under Jacob Lateiner, followed by studies at the University of Southern California with Barbara Lister-Sink, Daniel Pollack, and Kevin Fitz-Gerald. He holds a summa cum laude Master of Music degree from the USC Thornton School of Music where he was honored with both the Keyboard Ensemble Award and the prestigious Outstanding Master’s Graduate Award. Specializing in teaching the Lister-Sink Method of well-coordinated, injury preventive piano technique, Mr. Durkovic has served as Director of Keyboard Studies at Long Beach City College, Guest Lecturer at the Thornton School of Music and on the faculties of the Orange County High School for the Arts and the University of La Verne.

Winner of many competitions nationally and internationally, the Gold Medal at the 1996 Los Angeles Liszt Competition took him to Budapest, Hungary for his European debut where he performed at the original Liszt Academy. He also won both the 2001 San Diego Duo Piano Competition and the 2001 IBLA Grand Prize Duo Piano Award (Sicily, Italy). Mr. Durkovic has performed in recital and as soloist with orchestra in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Central and South America. He has made guest appearances on various series including the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Series (Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles), and numerous international festivals such as the Banff Festival (Canada), SMU in Taos (New Mexico), and collaborated with acclaimed artists as Lynn Harrell, Martin Chalifour, Ida Levin, Richard O’Neil, Kazuhiro Takagi, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, the Quartet Casal, the Calder Quartet and the Miró Quartet. His performances have been broadcast on the International Voice of America and NPR. His Latin American Premiere of Lowell Liebermann’s Gargoyles brought him acclaim directly from the composer as “incisive and exciting performance,” and is available as the title track of his new CD recording. His classical recordings are available on CDBaby and iTunes, and he also can be heard as the sound track on international television commercials that have featured Christina Aguilera.

Mr. Durkovic serves as the Director of Music and Organist at Church of the Good Shepherd, United Methodist in Arcadia, California. He maintains a private teaching studio, is the Vice-President of the Lister-Sink Foundation and has served on the Executive Board of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers. He is also a founding member of the Los Angeles based Piano Quartet, CENTRAL4, and a Real Estate Broker with Dilbeck Real Estate. For more information as to Mr. Durkovic’s activities, availability and recordings, please visit his website at www.timothydurkovic.com.

Sonya Kumiko Lee

Piano/USA

www.sonyakumikolee.com
www.facebook.com/SonyaLeePianist

A graduate of The Juilliard School, Sonya has performed as a soloist at world-renowned concert halls including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, The Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado, Create Center Hall in Osaka, Japan, the Salle des Colonnes in France, and many others. As a chamber musician, Sonya has collaborated with members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Ottawa Symphony, and illustrious colleagues from The Juilliard School, Curtis, Yale, and Carnegie Mellon’s School of Drama in performances in cities throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Sonya’s affinity for rock music and theater has led to collaborations with esteemed artists in these fields, including Tony Award-Winning actor Roger Bart, punk-ska giant Mike Park of Asian Man Records, and Rivers Cuomo, the brilliant lead singer of the alternative rock band Weezer. Her performances with Mr. Cuomo have aired on Fresh Air with Terry Gross on NPR, Sirius Satellite Radio, I Heart Radio for Clear Channel, and on Weezer’s album, “Hurley”.

2013-2014 seasons included her 12th appearance at the Colly Soleri Music Center in Arizona at the architectural marvel Arcosanti by the renowned Italian architect, Paolo Soleri, and performances throughout Southern California. Sonya holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from The Juilliard School where she studied with pianists Emanuel Ax and Oxana Yablonskaya.

Harpsichord & Organ/USA

Arthur is a specialist in historical keyboard instruments. He studied organ repertoire of the Baroque under Charles Rus in San Francisco, modern technique under Dr. Ladd Thomas at the University of Southern California, and harpsichord repertoire under Dr. Lucinda Carver at the USC, where he received his Master’s Degree. He traveled to the Boston and Berkeley Early Music festivals and gave numerous performances as a member of the Early Music Ensemble. Omura keeps an active performance schedule as an organist and continuo player. He has worked with MicroFest, wild Up, Horizon Music Group, and the Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute. Omura can be heard on several recordings, most recently on a Yarlung Records release Featuring Soprano Sasha Cooke and the Colburn Orchestra. His interest in instrument making led him to work with harpsichord builder Curtis Berak, whom he has assisted in restoring several instruments, and with organ builder Manuel Rosales.

Sidney Hopson

Percussion/USA

SIDNEY HOPSON is an orchestral, studio, and solo percussionist from Los Angeles, CA. He performs frequently with the Jacaranda Chamber Ensemble, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Opera Santa Barbara, Southeast Symphony, West LA Symphony, and musicians of the LA Phil, LA Opera, and London Symphony Orchestras. He has premiered chamber works of John Williams, Philip Glass, John Adams, John Corigliano, Steve Reich, Peter Eötvös, and Kaija Saariaho. Sidney currently serves as director of percussion at the California State Summer School for the Arts, hosted by the California Institute of the Arts. He is also on faculty at the Young Musicians Foundation in Los Angeles, CA. Since 2009, Hopson has served as a freelance cultural policy analyst. As such, he has consulted hundreds of artists and institutions nationwide on progressive methods of financial, social, and infrastructural capital development. In 2013, he accepted the post of vice president of cultural development for Gigantic Worx.

Aaron T. Smith

Percussion/USA

AARON T. SMITH is a freelance percussionist in Southern California, where he has performed with such groups as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra, and the Pacific Symphony. He has performed as a soloist in Los Angeles and New York City, and has given solo recitals throughout Southern California. Mr. Smith has recorded with the Los Angeles Master Chorale on the Decca label.

Aaron performs in a variety of contemporary music ensembles and enjoys working with composers during the creation of new works. In 2007 he gave the world premiere of RIDE by Ryan Dorin at the Look & Listen Festival in New York City. In 2010 he participated in the world premiere of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino with the Los Angeles Opera in an on-stage role conceived with him in mind.

Mr. Smith is on the faculty of California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and Loyola Marymount University; he maintains a private teaching studio in West LA, and serves as a clinician and adjudicator. Mr. Smith attended the University of California at Los Angeles (BA, MFA).

DR. NICHOLAS TERRY

Percussion/USA

Dr. Nicholas Terry is a percussionist specializing in contemporary classical music. In 2008, he founded the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet, who in 2012 was nominated for Best Small Ensemble Performance in the 55th Grammy Awards, and who were featured performers at the 2013 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. In 2005, Terry cofounded Ensemble XII, an international percussion orchestra to which Pierre Boulez asserts, “…represents the next generation in the evolution of modern percussion.” He additionally performs with the Grammy-nominated PARTCH ensemble, and brightwork newmusic, a Pierrot-plus sextet. He is a five-year alumnus of the Lucerne Festival Academy, where he worked extensively alongside members of Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez, Peter Eötvös, Harrison Birtwhistle, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Fritz Hauser. Terry is a graduate of the University of Southern California, the California Institute of the Arts, and Eastern Illinois University. He is the Director of Percussion Studies and Assistant Professor of Music in the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music at Chapman University’s College of Performing Arts.

Derek Tywoniuk

Percussion/USA

Derek Tywoniuk is a Los Angeles based composer and percussionist. As a performer, he has appeared with the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Colburn Orchestra, and Spoleto Festival USA under conductors such as Pierre Boulez, David Robertson, Matthias Pintscher, and Gustavo Dudamel. An avid advocate of new music, he is a member of the LA-based new music collective wild Up, as well as the Smoke and Mirrors Percussion Ensemble. With the latter, he has recorded two albums on the Yarlung Records label. As a composer, his music has been published by C.F. Peters, recorded on the Bridge and Yarlung Record labels, and performed by soloists such as Nancy Zeltsman and Beverley Johnston, as well as groups such as wild Up and Trio Céleste. Derek holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied under Paul Yancich and Richard Weiner, and currently studies with Jack van Geem at The Colburn Conservatory of Music in the Master of Music degree program.

Kevin Schlossman

Percussion/USA

Kevin Schlossman is a Los Angeles born percussionist. He is currently pursuing his Artist’s Diploma at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In San Francisco, he played with the American Bach Soloists, was assistant principal percussion of Symphony Parnassus, and was a founding member of the Bay Area Rainbow Percussion Ensemble, which frequently played in and around the city. He has had the privilege of working under and alongside such esteemed musicians as Gustavo Dudamel, John Adams, and James Conlon. An ardent proponent of chamber music, Kevin is currently a member of the Smoke and Mirrors Ensemble, a percussion group that strives to familiarize the public with the multi-faceted nature of percussive music.