iPalpiti 2011 Artists

PETER RAINER 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. 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. The latest 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. Since 2007 he has been on the faculty of the “Universitat der Kunste” in Berlin and of the “Stern Institute” for young talented students and is assistant to Prof. Uwe-Martin Haiberg. Music-loving children know Peter Rainer through the many interactive concerts he developed for them in the past 10 years. His upcoming children project is a new concert-version of “Ferdinand the Bull” commissioned by the Kammerakademie Potsdam. 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 been a faculty member at the University of Potsdam since 1997 and 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. During recent seasons Peter led iPalpiti in a special concert at the Nestle Center in Vevey, Switzerland, on its US East coast tour at the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall, and to the Bay Area in Northern California.

VESSELIN DEMIREV currently is a concertmaster of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra in Denmark. Born in Varna, Bulgaria, he was introduced to the violin at age of 3. Winner of prestigious national competitions, he has performed to critical acclaim with major orchestras, in concerts, and solo recitals on concert stages in Austria, Hungary, Holland, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico and the United States. From 1990 – 1992 Vesselin Demirev was the First Concertmaster of the New Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria, while simultaneously working on his Master’s Degree which he obtained in 1992 from the National Academy of Music in the class of Prof. Dora Ivanova. The next year he was awarded a full scholarship in Professor Schmieder’ international violin class at the Meadows School of the Arts, SMU in Dallas. Upon completing his Artist Certificate Program in 1995, Vesselin established himself in the greater Dallas as concertmaster of the Irving Symphony and Plano Chamber Orchestra. From 1996-2006 he also was a member of the string faculty at the Meadows School of the Arts of Southern Methodist University teaching violin, chamber music, and orchestral repertory class. Before accepting his post as a concertmaster of the Aalborg Symphony in Denmark, Mr. Demirev has been is a guest Concertmaster of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Galicia in La Coruna, Spain (2007-2010). One of the original iPalpiti members, Vesselin re-united with iPalpiti in March 2011 on a short notice (stepping in as a leader to fill for Peter Rainer who had broken his wrist) for the iPalpiti residency at the 6th Eilat International Music Festival in Israel. Mr. Demirev appeared live in numerous radio broadcasts, both in Europe and the USA, and has recordings on the “Gasparo” label in New York, “Well Tempered” in San Francisco and the “Balkanton” label in Sofia.

Born in Seoul, Korea, YESEUL ANN has been awarded the Prize of Honor in Bellan International Competition, 3rd prize FLAME Music Competition in France and prizes in various competitions in Korea. Yeseul studied with Roland Daugaréil at the Conservatoire National de Région de Paris, at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with Régis Pasquier, Philippe Aiche. Yeseul received her MM degree at the Yale School of Music with Ani Kavafian, and from this fall will continue with Professor Schmieder at Temple in the professional studies program. She has also worked under mentorship of the Ysaye Quartet, Itamar Golan and Vladimir Mendelssohn, and has attended master classes with Ida Haendel, Mauricio Fuks and the Julliard Quartet. Yeseul has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in New York at Steinway Hall and in Paris at Salle Cortot, Palais Bourbon Assemblée Nationale, l’Eglise d’arménie, Salle Pléyel, and Cathédrale Saint-Louis. As orchestral musician, Yeseul has participated in numerous Festivals in France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany, including the Ensemble Intercontemporain with Pierre Boulez. She has participated in academies at l’Orchestre de Paris with Christophe Eschenbach, Paavo Jarvi, Essa Pekka Salonen; with the Asian Philharmonic Orchestra; and with the soloists of the Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra with Myung-whun Chung.

DANIEL AUSTRICH, born in 1984 in St. Petersburg, Russia, began study the violin at the age of five. He entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory Academy in 1993, where he studied with Alla Aranovskaya, the leader of the acclaimed St. Petersburg String Quartet. In his native city he soloed with the St. Petersburg Camerata in the Grand Philharmonic Hall in St. Petersburg, Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" with the St. Petersburg State University Orchestra, and has performed in city's most prestigious concert venues. Daniel and his family moved to Hamburg, Germany in 1997, where he studied with Roland Greutter, the concertmaster of the NDR Symphony Orchestra, and with Albrecht Breuninger at Hamburg's Musikhochschule, After winning First Prize at the Hamburg Instrumental Contest in 1999, he was invited by the famous cellist David Geringas to perform in the Festival of Russian Music in Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, sharing the stage with Bruno Canino and Ulf Hoelscher. As the first prize winner at the German competition "Jugend musiziert" (2001), he was invited to record for the NDR (North German Radio) and Berlin’s "Deutschlandradio". From 2001-2004 Daniel received a full scholarship to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio, which he graduated under Ms. Aranovskaya. Solo engagements have included appearances with Zurich Chamber Orchestra in the Tonhalle Zurich, Hamburg's Mozart Orchester in the Musikhalle Hamburg, and in the US with Charleston and Auburn Symphonies, recitals in well-known music series "St. Petersburg Dagen" in Holland, Arizona Friends of Chamber Music in Tucson (where he also taught his own Masterclass), “Piccolo Spoleto” in SC, South Shore Music in CT and Davos Festival of Switzerland, where the "Neue Zurcher Zeitung" praised "his noble tone". Daniel is a recipient of special grants from the "Lyra" Foundation in Zurich, and "Die Zeit" foundation in Germany. He was invited to record for “Energia”, the new album of José Carreras, where he plays in a duet with a great tenor. As a prize-winner of the Deutsche Musikinstrumentenfonds contest in Hamburg, in 2002, Daniel Austrich was granted the use of a rare Andrea Guarneri violin form 1663. Daniel is a member of iPalpiti since 2004.

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. A soloist 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). 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). As participant in different international arts festivals she has given solo and chamber concerts in Norway, Italy, China, Malaysia, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, France, and South Africa. She 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. An iPalpiti artist since 2004, she 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, including THE PREVIEWS in Manhattan Beach, Sundays Live! Broadcast series in the Bing Theatre of the Los Angeles County Art Museum, and Music in the Mansion in Beverly Hills. 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.

Born in Ukraine, IRINA CHEPIZHNAYA 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.” In 1998 she entered the Music College of the famed Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, 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 is a grant-recipient of the “Russian Performing Art” Foundation and the music foundation by Elina Bystrizkaya. Irina has received full scholarships and participated in summer festivals such as Mozarteum Summeracademie, Holland Music Sessions, “Zeist music days”, in International Master-classes in Weimar, 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. Irina has performed in major halls throughout Russia, and has appeared as soloist with such renown orchestras as Russian National Orchestra and Moscow Chamber Orchestra (under Maestros Pletnev and Nikolaev), and with Moscow Philharmonic. Irina has been named a Soloist with the Moscow Philharmonia in 2010.

Born and raised in Toronto, violinist CONRAD CHOW is establishing himself as 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. Recent 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 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. 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 festival of international laureates in Los Angeles.

AISHA DOSSUMOVA was born in 1980 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She started studying violin in 1987 at K. Baiseitova under Professor Alma Abatova, and from 1998 to 2002 she continued at the Kazakh National Academy of Music, which she graduated under Professor Aiman Mussakhodjayeva. In the USA, Aisha continues her studies in the class of Professor Eduard Schmieder: in 2006 she received an Artist Diploma from the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, and currently is in the Master Degree Program at the Temple University in Philadelphia.
In 2002 Aisha won second prize in the Michelangelo Abbado International Violin Competition in Italy, first prize in the Shabyt International Competition in Kazakhstan, and a diploma in the W. A. Mozart International Competition (Austria). From 1998 until 1999 she was a Concertmaster of the Kazakh National Symphony Orchestra and the Kazakh Chamber Orchestra Academy of Soloists from 2000 to 2002. She soloed with Kazakh National Symphony Orchestra, with the Academy of Soloists, conducted by Robert Canetti (Israel). Aisha is an avid chamber musician and has also participated in summer festivals at the Mozarteum Summer Academy Salzburg, the Ost-West Musikfest (Austria), Musica in Laguna (Italy), and the International Laureates Festival in Taos, New Mexico and Los Angeles. As a member of iPalpiti since 2004, she performed in Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Carnegie Zankel Hall in New York, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Eilat International Music Festival in Israel, and toured Northern California. As soloist with orchestras and as recitalist she performed in Austria, Italy, France, England, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Aisha is a 1st violinist in Philadelphia Chamber Players, and in demand of important chamber music projects in Philadelphia.

ALEXANDR DZYUBINSKY Born in 1986 in Kishinev, Moldova, Alexandr began playing the violin at the age six, and at ten, performed Kabalevsky Violin Concerto with the Moldova Symphony Orchestra. In 2004 Alexander was accepted to the Juilliard School on a full scholarship in the class of Professor Massao Kawasaki, continuing graduate studies with renowned violinist Sylvia Rosenberg. Alexandr also has attended master courses at Mozarteum Salzburg with Professor Eduard Schmieder and Rencontres Musicales d'Enghien in Belgium with Professor Zakhar Bron. In New York he has performed at the Merkin Concert Hall, Naumburg Concert Series, on "The Listening Room" NY WQXR, and in special appearances for the mayors Michael Bloomberg and David Dinkins, including invitation to perform Bach's Sonata in D minor at the World Trade Center Memorial Ceremony. Winner of the second prize and the special jury prize at the IV International Competition of Jewish Culture in Berlin (2005), Alexandr was a semi-finalist in the 2nd China International Violin Competition in Qingdao (2009) and 17th Brahms International Violin Competition in Austria (2010). Upcoming engagements include performances of the Sibelius violin Concerto with the Bronx Symphony Orchestra in New York, and Moldova Radio Symphony Orchestra in Kishinev. Equally at ease as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral leader, Alexandr’s 2009-2011 seasons included performances with Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Summerville Symphony Orchestra at the Piccolo Spoleto Music Festival, WMP Concert Hall Strad for Lunch and Chamber Music Series, at Bargemusic and the New York Society for Ethical Culture Holiday Concert Series, Kneisel Hall Music Festival – in music from Haydn and Beethoven to Dankner’s Quartets with the Caloroso String Quartet. His multifaceted musical interests have taken to pop performances with the Gorillaz and world renowned Croatian pop-singer Oliver Dragojevic. As a member of the iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates since 2009, he performed in Carnegie Zankel Hall, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and Israel’s Eilat International Music Festival.

Nora Hapca has won awards in 20 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 and 2005. As a soloist, Nora has soloed with numerous Romanian orchestras, and has given concerts and recitals in Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, and Romania, and in France. In May 2006, she was invited to represent her country in the “National Music Students Festival” in Kyoto, Japan. Born in Romania in 1986, she began playing violin at the age of 6, at the Music High School in Baia Mare, under Prof. Ludovic Gebe. From 2000 to 2004 she continued at the “George Enescu” Music High School in Bucharest, with Prof. Mihaela Tomescu. Currently in the last year of her studies at the National Music University in Bucharest, Nora was “Erasmus” award recipient for the academic year of 2006 – 2007 at the Musikhochschule Koeln with Prof. Mihaela Martin. Nora took part in master classes of Liviu Ghitea, Sherban Lupu, Semion Yaroshevich and Alexandru Tomescu. As an iPalpiti member with iPalpiti Artists International since 2004, Nora 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.

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.

Robert Kowalski was born in Gdansk, Poland in 1985. He began his music education at the age of 7 and at 11, gave his orchestral debut performing the Mendelssohn concerto with the Polish Baltic State Opera orchestra. In 2003 he graduated from the Academy, and continued at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts, also participating in master courses with renowned violin instructors. As a soloist, Robert is a winner of numerous awards such as the First Prize in the International Contessa Tina Orsi Anguissola Scotti Chamber Music Competition in Italy (2005), Alexander Tansman International Competition in Lodz, Poland (2004), First Prize of the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage's Young Artist and Scientist Award, and has received support from the government-sponsored National Foundation for Gifted Children throughout the years. At home and abroad, he gives recitals and has performed with orchestras such as the Capella Gedaniensis and the Baltic States Opera House, at music festivals in Switzerland and Italy, and has made numerous recordings for television and radio. Robert has played chamber music with such artists as Bernard Greenhouse, Michael Flaksman, Joshua Epstein, and Jose Gallardo. 2007 highlights include solo appearance with Kurpfalzisches Kammerorchester in Germany which was live-broadcasted by Croatian Radio, live-broadcast Duo concert in Zagreb, and a recording of his debut CD in Poland. Selected by Young Artists International in 2004, he was featured in chamber ensembles, and performed with iPalpiti on tours to Israel and Austria, at Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Carnegie Hall in New York.

JULIA SAKHAROVA, Assistant Concertmaster of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra since 2008, began her violin career as a soloist with the Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of eight, following with concert tours on behalf of the Vladimir Spivakov Charity Foundation and solo performances with various orchestras throughout the former Soviet Union. Graduating from Moscow’s prestigious Central Special Music School of the renowned Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1999, Ms. Sakharova moved to the U.S. to continue her education at Oberlin College, studying with Taras Gabora, Almita Vamos and Milan Vitek. A year later she made her West Coast solo debut at the Getty Center with composer and conductor John Williams and the Oberlin Orchestra. She was a founding member of the acclaimed Erato String Quartet, which won the first prize of the 2001 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition. While earning a master’s degree from the Juilliard School under Donald Weilerstein, she made her New York City orchestral debut with the Juilliard Orchestra and chamber music debut at Alice Tully Hall. Subsequently, she received a certificate for orchestral performance from the Manhattan School of Music working with Glenn Dicterow of the New York Philharmonic. Ms. Sakharova recordings include Rachmaninoff Piano Trios on the Tavros label, Naxos Records’ release of works by the New York-based composer Sean Hickey, who dedicated to her Ampersand, a work for violin and piano, which she debuted at a Steinway Hall recital. Her competition credits include first prize at the International Competition for the Music of Eastern & Central Europe, Top Prize at the Olga Koussevitzky Competition for Strings, and a top prize at the Jeunesses Musicales Montreal International Competition. Ms. Sakharova has participated in such festivals as the Music Academy of the West, Festival International de Colmar, the Verbier Festival & Academy, Keshet Eilon Violin Mastercourse, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and Bowdoin International Music Festival. She is a regular substitute with both the New York Philharmonic and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestras and is frequently invited to perform with orchestras in the Southeastern region such as the Tupelo, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa Symphonies. Julia’s performing schedule included tours, festivals, and competitions throughout her native Russia, Western and Southern Europe, Japan, Venezuela, and the United States. Most recently she has appeared with the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto and gave master classes at the University of Iowa School of Music. As a teacher, Ms. Sakharova is presently on the faculty of the Miles College and the Alabama School of Fine Arts, as well as a musician mentor at Carver High School in Birmingham. Julia has been with iPalpiti since 2004.

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 for its 2010 annual Los Angeles Festival of International Laureates.

DANIEL TURCINA is a First violinist of Trondheim Soloists and Trondheim Symphony, Norway and chamber music teacher at NTNU Institute of Music since 2009. Born in 1983 in Dolny Kubin in the north of Slovakia, Daniel started taking violin lessons at the age of 7. Very soon he received a Gold Medal at the Children´s Interpretation Contest of Slovakia, and became a Laureate at the International Kocian Violin Competition in Czech Republic. As a prize-winner in the Slovak Conservatories Students’ Competition and the National Violin "Award of Karol Dobias" competition he soloed with the Symphony Orchestra of Conservatory in Bratislava, and with the Bohdan Warchal Slovak Chamber Orchestra. In 2003, Daniel received Master degree in violin performance Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava. From 2003 to 2005, he was a member of the prestigious Bohdan Warchal Slovak Chamber Orchestra. In 2006 he joined Solistes European Luxembourg and Capella Istropolitana for several concert performances and recording projects in Europe and Asia. Daniel regularly performs solo and ensembles in music festivals and special events in Slovakia, and featured as a soloist with the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Kosice, VSMU Symphony, State Chamber Orchestra and Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Furthering his international education, Daniel was accepted at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna, Austria (2005), participated in international master courses in Netherlands and Austria and studied in class of Professor E. Schmieder at the Temple University in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, he was a member of the Philadelphia Chamber Virtuosi, Symphony in C, New Jersey. In Europe, he was a member of the Bratislava Chamber Soloists and the Solistes Europeens, Luxemburg. As a member of iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates since 2007, he performed internationally in such venues as Carnegie Hall in New York and Disney Hall in Los Angeles.
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Violinist/violist ALFIYA LATYPOVA was born in 1988 in Sochi, Russia. She started to play the violin at the age of 5 in the Children’s Music School (Prof. A. Lukiyanenko). At the age of 15, Alfiya moved to Kazan for studying in the Secondary Special Music College (Prof. Vadim Afanasiev). First Prize winner in the 2007 International Music Competition in Bulgaria “Hopes, Talents, Masters,” Alfiya also received top prizes in the Bach Music Competition 2006 (2nd prize) and the All-Russian Khalida Akhtyamova Competition 2008 (3rd prize). In 2007 Alfiya became a student of the Kazan State Conservatory where she was a concertmistress of the Kazan Chamber Student Orchestra with its own season series at the Big Concert Hall in Kazan, and toured throughout Russia, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. An active performer and recognized for her talent, Alfiya took part in the Mozarteum Summer Academy in Salzburg, and beginning in the fall of 2009 she entered the Boyer College of Music at Temple University in the international class of Professor Eduard Schmieder, graduating this spring with Bachelor’s Degree. During 2009-2010 seasons she has performed with iPalpiti in its annual Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles and in San Francisco. While in Philadelphia, she actively performs in outreach, ensemble, and orchestral concerts.

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. 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 plays viola by Philadelphia violin-maker Christopher Germain, on the loan from the luthier himself.

CAN SAKUL, born in 1987, Ankara, Turkey, 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.

A graduate of the Kazan State Conservatoire, Adelya Shagidullina is a First Prize winner of the International Music Competition in Toglliatty, Russia (2007), winner of the second prize at the All Russian Music Competition (2005), and a First Prize winner and special prize at the international J.S. Bach competition (2003), among others. Named Fellow of the Art Department of Russia (2003-2006), and Fellow of Russian Performing Art (2007-2008), Adelya has performed in Moscow, Paris, and extensively throughout her native Tatarstan and its capital, Kazan. Selected as a principal violist of numerous youth international orchestras under direction of prominent conductors such as Yuri Simonov, most recently in International Youth Symphony of Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Russian and European Symphony Orchestra, 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 since, performed in concerts at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and Carnegie Hall in New York, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and on tour in Northern California. Adelya is a student of Professor Schmieder at Boyer College, where she received Artist Dimploma in 2010,  Bachelor’s Degree, and from the fall of 2011 is enrolled in the Master's Degree Program.

VLADIMIR DYO has won awards in numerous competitions, including First Prize in the Michelangelo Abbado International Competition in Milan, Grand Prize in the International Violin Competition in Astana, Kazakhstan, and Second Prize in the International Yampolsky Competition in Russia. Born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, he began studying violin at the age of 7 at the State’s Special Music School for gifted children. At 12, he had his first solo appearance with the Kazakh State Orchestra and since, has performed regularly with major orchestras of Kazakhstan, frequently touring the countries of the former Soviet Union. Vladimir won first prize in the National Competition (being the youngest participant at 14), and was a recipient of a President’s stipend awarded by the State Secretary of the Republic. Other awards include the New Names International Program (Moscow, Russia) and Dubna’s Foundation of Arts for “sincere and artistic” performance, the International Charitable Foundation “Meerim,” and the Tuesday Musical Club in San Antonio, Texas. He has participated in various international music festivals as a soloist and chamber musician, including the Graduates of the Moscow Conservatory, the Ost-West Musikfest, Prague-Wienna-Budapest, the Mozarteum, the Cliburn Institute, the iPalpiti International Laureates Festival in Los Angeles, and has been invited to give master classes and perform in the International Music Festival in Seoul, Korea. As a soloist and the concertmaster of the Kazakh State Chamber Orchestra “Academy of Soloists” Vladimir has toured and performed in many countries including Austria, Italy, France, England, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Russia and the U.S.A. After graduation from Kazakh National Academy of Music in Astana, Kazakhstan, Vladimir continued his education in the US in the class of Professor Eduard Schmieder, receiving an Artist Certificate Diploma in 2004 and a Masters degree in 2006 from the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas. Currently Vladimir pursues a Doctoral degree at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he is a faculty member in the string department.

Lars Hoefs hails from Appleton, WI. He attended high school at the North Carolina School of the Arts, received a B.M. from Northwestern University, and a M.M. from the University of Southern California. Lars earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts, also at USC, studying cello with Ronald Leonard. At USC, Lars was teaching assistant for the Contemporary Music Ensemble, winner of LA Weekly’s “Ensemble of the Year.”  As cellist of the Blue Rose Trio, Lars has performed and taught in China, Israel, Brazil, and France, and commissioned works from young composers. With pianist Marek Zebrowski, Director of the USC Polish Music Center and improvisation-partner to filmmaker David Lynch, Lars has championed rare Polish works in New York, London, and Southern California. He has performed quartets with Midori at Disney Hall, toured with Chamber Music America Founder Peter Marsh, collaborated with members of the Ysaÿe Quartet, and has recently joined the California String Quartet. Lars plays regularly with Camerata Pacifica, “the best chamber music reason to get out of the house” – LA Times. Honors include top prizes in the Fischoff, MTNA, Coleman, and Peninsula Chamber Music Competitions. Lars plays an 1822 Thomas Kennedy cello, on loan from the Peter Mandell Collection of Southern California. In demand as a writer, Lars is the program annotator for the Pasadena Symphony. Also a composer, his works and improvisations reveal an interest in musics of the world, and are shaped by the philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti. Recent highlights included cello/piano works by Villa-Lobos for festivals in Alaska and Texas, and solo appearances with Brazilian orchestras in Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and the Amazonas Filarmônica in Manaus. Lars has performed for iPalpiti’s benefactors events, and in 2011 joined iPalpiti orchestra on its tour to Israel.

Originally from L’viv, Ukraine, MARTA BAGRATUNI has shown a talent as a cellist and soprano at an early age. As a cellist, Miss Bagratuni started performing at 5 and made her solo orchestral and recital debut at age 12. Over the past ten years, she has performed as a recitalist across 5 continents. Most recently, she was a featured performer at the Aspen Music Festival, Kneisel Hall Chamber Festival, Cello Plus Festival, International Music Festival – Garfagnana, Italy. She has appeared as a soloist with the Lansing Symphony, Detroit Civic Symphony and the Leopolis Chamber Orchestra, among others. A child of two cellists, Marta began playing cello at age 4, and continued studying with both parents until entering the University of Michigan on a full scholarship to study with Richard Aaron, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. Currently, Miss Bagratuni is a graduate assistant Master’s Degree candidate, studying again with her father at Michigan State University where she is a principal in the Symphony Orchestra. She is also pursuing a double vocal degree under the tutelage of Molly Fillmore.

Yves Dharamraj's Website Regarded as "a strikingly mature and gifted musician" (Edmonton Sun), the young Franco-American cellist enjoys a career that takes him to major venues across the United States and abroad. Since his professional concerto debut at 16, performing Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations with the Florida Orchestra, Yves has performed with many orchestras, and for the Juilliard School's Centennial Celebration, he was invited to perform William Schuman's A Song of Orpheus at Avery Fisher Hall with James DePriest and the Juilliard Orchestra. Mr. Dharamraj's festival appearances include La Jolla's Summerfest, iPalpiti, Music@Menlo, Canada's National Arts Centre, Ravinia, Banff, Sarasota, and the Museum of Modern Art's Summergarden. He made his radio broadcast solo debut on WFMT 98.7 FM Chicago on the Dame Myra Hess Series. Chosen to attend the Perlman Music Program's inaugural season he recently had the honor of collaborating with the world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium. A founding member of the Moet Trio, in chamber music he has collaborated with members of the Orion, Cleveland, Guarneri and Tokyo Quartets and has performed at the Kennedy Center, 92nd St Y, and Carnegie's Weill and Zankel Halls. He performs regularly in France, recently toured Japan, and had the diplomatic honor of performing and teaching in Thailand in celebration of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana's seventh cycle birthday. Yves began his cello studies at age four and performed in public soon afterward. A Cum laude graduate from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, a Master of Music degree, and an Artist Diploma under the guidance of the renowned pedagogue Aldo Parisot, he has participated in master classes with Yo-Yo Ma, Bernard Greenhouse, William Pleeth, Frans Helmerson, Christoph Eschenbach, Gilbert Kalish, Claude Frank and Pinchas Zukerman, the Beaux Arts Trio, and the Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets. Winner of top prizes in the Ima Hogg, Klein, and Juilliard competitions, he is a DMA graduate of the Juilliard School where he was recipient of the Victor Herbert Scholarship and the prestigious C.V. Starr Doctorate of Musical Arts Fellowship. While at Juilliard, Yves played a 1719 Stradivari cello, the "Duke of Marlborough," lent to him from the Juilliard Rare Instrument Collection, and was a teacher assistant to Mr. Krosnick. Currently, he is on the roster with The Academy – a performance program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and The Weill Music Institute. A member of iPalpiti since 2008, he performed as a soloist and in chamber concerts in Los Angeles, New York, and Israel.

Julie Jung's Website Born in Toronto, Korean-Canadian cellist JULIE JUNG has performed throughout the world, both as a soloist and as a member of the award-winning Jung Trio with her two sisters Jennie and Ellen. The Jung Trio was awarded the Grand Prize at the 2002 Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition and the Bronze Medal at the 2002 Fischoff Competition. A prizewinner in the 2000 Eckhardt-Gramattee Competition, Julie has been presented in recitals by the Debut-Young Concert Artist Series in Montreal and the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC Radio) across Canada and has also performed as soloist with the Toronto Symphony, Canadian Chamber Academy, State Symphony of Tatarstan, Korean Philharmonic, Taejon Philharmonic, University of Toronto Symphony, Korean-Canadian Symphony and East York Symphony Orchestras. She has also performed in Germany, Malaysia and Japan and has participated in festivals including the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Norfolk and Great Lakes Chamber Music Festivals, the Manchester Cello Festival (England), New York String Seminar and the Verbier Academy (Switzerland). Ms. Jung has performed with iPalpiti in the International Laureates Festival in Los Angeles since 2007 and appeared with the ensemble in Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall and the Kimmel Center. The Jung Trio, selected as iPalpiti Debut Artists in the 2007 recently made their European debut with concerts in Germany and Austria. They regularly perform throughout the Los Angeles area and have also performed internationally in Russia, South Korea, Kenya, Mauritius and Canada. The trio completed studies in the Artist Diploma program at Yale and recently recorded their first album on the Groovenote Label that was released in July 2009. They are currently Trio-in-Residence and Head of Chamber Music at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA
Julie received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto where she studied with Shauna Rolston. She received her Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where she studied with Laurence Lesser and completed studies at the Yale School of Music with Aldo Parisot in the Artist Diploma Program. Ms. Jung currently resides in Los Angeles and is on faculty at Vanguard University.

Kian Soltani's Website First prize winner of the First prize winner of the international Karl Davidof Cello competition in Latvia and the National Austrian Competition “Prima la Musica,” he has received numerous awards, including 2nd prize at the international Dotzauer Cello Competition in Dresden, Germany. Born in 1992, Kian had his first cello lesson at the age of four. Currently he is studying at the Musikakademie Basel with Professor Ivan Monighetti. Kian Soltani took part at masterclasses with Wolfgang Boettcher, Gerhard Mantel, Valter Despalj and Frans Helmerson. Since 2006 he has been part of the foundation “Musik & Jugend” at Liechtenstein. Kian has performed in concerts in Mexico, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, and Latvia. His most recent solo appearances with orchestras were with the Georgian Chamber Orchestra under Ivan Monighetti, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, the Zagreb Soloists and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, under David Geringas. He was invited to the Cellofestival 2007 in Kronberg where he worked with Bernard Greenhouse and took part in the Remembrance concert for Mstislav Rostropovich. Kian first joined the acclaimed iPalpiti orchestra ensemble of international laureates in December 2008, when he was selected to perform on its tour of Switzerland, followed by participation in iPalpiti Festivals in Los Angeles and touring Israel.  During 2010-2011 seasons he was the soloist in the Haydn C Major Concerto with the The Zagreb Soloists in Croatia and Switzerland, performed with his mentor Ivan Monigetti in festivals in Switzerland, sharing a concert with renowned cellists Sol Gabetta and Misha Maisky, and was a soloist in Saent-Saens Concerto in the Grosse Golden Musicvereinsaal in Vienna.

Ecuadorian-Spanish cellist FRANCISCO VILA began playing the cello at age 8 and had his solo debut with orchestra at 14. Having performed throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, Vila has been described as “…an exceptionally talented young cellist and musician. He is heading for an important place in the world of music.” (Janos Starker, cellist) The Bloomington Herald-Times said that Vila “…displayed absolute command on stage…perfectly executed technical passages and induced the orchestra with his energy… tenderly revealed to us the romanticism of [this] concerto.” Vila’s interest in new music has paired him in collaboration with Grammy-Award winning composer Osvaldo Golijov and Grammy-nominated composer/classical guitarist Apostolos Paraskevas at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. Recent appearances included Los Angeles County Museum of Art in a radio broadcast recital with pianist Luiza Borac; Carnegie Hall as a member of the New York String Orchestra directed by Jaime Laredo; Carnegie Zankel Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Israel’s Eilat International Music Festival with iPalpiti orchestra of international laureates. Upcoming performances include a recital at the Beaumaris Music Festival in Wales, and iPalpiti Festival in Los Angeles. Prizewinner of the 22nd FLAME International Competition in Paris (2011), Vila has been the recipient of several honors including the Presidential Scholarship at The Boston Conservatory, a National Society of Arts and Letters Award for Performance, the Olimpia Barbera and the Eva Heinitz Fund Scholarships at Indiana University, and a prize winner in the Indiana University Latin American Music Competition. Vila has studied under Janos Starker and Sharon Robinson, and chamber music with Menahem Pressler at Indiana University, where he was the first-prize winner of the ’09-’10 concerto competition as well as the Kuttner String Quartet in Residence Competition of 2010. Prior to Indiana, he studied at The Boston Conservatory with Andrew Mark and was a cellist of the Boston Conservatory Piano Trio in residence. He also participated in master courses of Aldo Parisot at the Banff Centre and Gary Hoffman at Mozarteum Sommerakademie. Vila views teaching as an important aspect in music-making and has taught on occasions at The Boston Conservatory and at Indiana University at the request of his cello teachers. Mr. Vila resides in Spain and continues his mentorship with international soloist Gary Hoffman at the Queen Elisabeth Chapelle in Brussels, Belgium. He plays a 1790 Vincenzo Panormo cello on generous loan from the Saul B. and Naomi R. Cohen Foundation.

Cellist Y. ALVIN WONG has appeared in concerts across five continents. He has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Seoul Arts Center, and Hong Kong Cultural Center; and in music festivals in Aspen, Orford, Fontfroide, Sion, Casals, and Great Mountains. Recent highlights include appearances in the Festival de Carvalho in Brazil, tour with Indiana University New Music Ensemble to the Midwest and East Coast, and chamber music concert series in Hong Kong. He has also given concert-lectures in Korea and the States. A native of Hong Kong, Alvin started playing the piano when he was 3 but did not study the cello until he was 14. After winning some local competitions, he continued his cello studies at the Eastman School of Music while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. He received his Masters from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was also an Associate Instructor in Music Theory. He received the Artist Diploma from Yale, and is currently enrolled in their doctoral program. His major teachers are Aldo Parisot and Janos Starker. Alvin is currently on faculty of Connecticut College and Neighborhood Music School, and is the principal cellist of Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra. He is passionate about bringing live classical music to a broader audience, and continues to regularly perform solo and chamber recitals in hospitals, retirement homes, and public schools. He has been a member of the New Haven Outreach Performers since 2007.

Bassist KRISTOFFER SAEBO is a soloist, chamber musician, and a teacher. In 2008, Kristoffer finished a two year residency teaching and playing chamber music with The Academy – a program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and The Weill Music Institute. He has been fortunate to work with prominent artists, orchestras, chamber orchestras, small chamber ensembles, bands, and performs regularly with The Chris Norman Ensemble, Ensemble ACJW, SONYC, The Carnegie Ensemble, Wordless Music Orchestra, Argento Chamber Ensemble, and Grammy Award-Winner Paul Halley. As the principal bassist of the Star Wars Orchestra, he and members of the Boston Pops and Orchestra of St. Luke’s recently toured North America playing Star Wars in Concert. Since 2005, he is a member of iPalpiti Orchestral Ensemble of International Laureates, performing in festivals and on tours in Slovenia, Austria, the U.S., and Israel, including concerts at the Mozarteum Grosse Hall, Salzburg; Disney Hall, Los Angeles; and Carnegie Hall, New York. He has also performed contemporary music with such groups as Alarm Will Sound, Ikarus Chamber Players, and Metropolis Ensemble. Kristoffer teaches bass privately and in Manhattan at Bloomingdale School of Music. As composer, Kristoffer's work has been featured in the motion picture Sir John Soane: An English Architect, An American Legacy (Checkerboard Film Foundation), as well as in the short firm The Projectionist (Director Michael Bates, Foreign Exchange Film and Music Festival). Born in Australia, Mr. Saebo has lived most of his life in the United States. He received his Master of Music Degree from the Juilliard School in 2006 as a student of Orin O'Brien and his Bachelor of Music degree from The Juilliard School in 2004 under Prof. Homer Mensch.

Pianist SVETLANA SMOLINA, born in Nizhny-Novgorod, Russia, has performed with orchestras and in recitals worldwide. Some recent notable solo appearances with orchestras include Mariinsky Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic at Avery Fischer, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestra National de France, Odessa and Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony, Florida Philharmonic, Shreveport Symphony, New York Chamber and many other ensembles. A frequent guest at festivals worldwide, Ms. Smolina has performed at the Salzburg Festival, Hollywood Bowl Festival in Los Angeles, Ravinia Rising Stars Festival in Chicago, White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg , Maggio Musicale in Florence, Mikkeli Festival, Ruhr Festival, Easter Festival in Moscow, Rotterdam Phillips Gergiev Festival in Holland, International Gilmore Keyboard Festival, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, Festivale di Bologna, Michelangeli Festival in Brescia, Hennessy Artists Series at Hanoi Opera House, Vietnam, festivals in Greece, Philadelphia International Festival, and many others. As recitalist she performed in prestigious halls such as Royal Covent Garden Opera, Mariinsky 3 Concert Hall, Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory Hall, Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Lincoln Theater in Miami, NJPAC Hall in New Jersey, Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, Grand Artists Series in Tel-Aviv, Academia Santa Cecilia in Rome, Vienna’s Sacher Hall, and many others. Recent recordings and broadcasts include Stravinsky’s Les Noces (Valery Gergiev, conductor; Decca/Phillips), a recording of solo `works for the Chopin Project, a recital with violinist Vadim Repin for Deutsche Grammophone in Berlin and many broadcasts for NPR, BBC, PBS, RAI, Cultura TV and other networks. Dr. Smolina is DMA graduate from the University of Michigan, a recipient of “ New Names” Scholarship program in Russia and has been a prizewinner of many international competitions, including Citta di Senigalia International Piano Competition (Italy), Kingsville International Piano Competition, Wideman Piano Competition and the Murray Dranoff International Duo Piano Competition in Miami, Florida. Svetlana‘s principal teachers include Alexander Toradze, Arthur Greene, Evgeny Mogilevsky, Monique Duphil. In the summer of 2011 Svetlana will join iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles, making her debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall with iPalpiti Orchestra (Eduard Schmieder, conductor) and in solo and chamber concerts, and work as collaborative faculty at Mozarteum Summer Academy.