Valid
Ağayev
Azerbaijan
Conducting Department
From Sand to Symphony
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Saeednezhad
Germany
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- Applications for participation are accepted until October 31, 2023
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Valid
Born in 1983, Conductor Valid Ağayev is originally from Baku, Azerbaijan.
Valid Ağayev attended a specialized music school, and then studied violin at the State Music Academy in Baku and earned a Bachelor of Music cum laude in 2006. In 2008, he achieved Master of Music also with honours. During his studies as a violinist in Azerbaijan, Valid Ağayev took the opportunity to take master classes with world famous musicians, as M. Rostropovich, D. Sitkovetsky and M. Vengerov. From 2004 to 2010, Valid Ağayev was a leading violinist and a soloist of the "Gara Garayev" Azerbaijan State Chamber Orchestra. As part of this activity, he led concert tours to Germany, France, USA, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Sweden, Belgium, Russia and Ukraine.
From 2012 to 2017 Valid Ağayev studied conducting at the High School of Music and Dance in Cologne; first with Professor Michael Luig and later on with Professor Alexander Rumpf.
Since January 2014 until July 2020, Valid Ağayev has been working as a Conductor and Artistic Director of the Attendorn Chamber Orchestra. In this capacity, on numerous occasions he attracted exceptional soloists such as Oleksiy Semenenko (2nd prize Queen Elisabeth Competition 2015), Koryun Asatryan (Echo-prize 2005), Gerhard Vielhaber, Shengzhi Guo...
Alan
Chircop
Malta
Piano Department
Over the past twenty five years, Alan Chircop conducted over thirty-five international orchestras in various theatres, concert halls and festivals in twenty different countries.
Apart from the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, he conducted the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and Westminster Central Hall in London; the London Concert Orchestra at the London Coliseum – English National Opera; the Sofia Philharmonic – National Orchestra of Bulgaria; the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia; the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan; the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Macedonia; the Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra of Turkey; the State Philharmonic Orchestras of Astana and Almaty, the Orchestra ‘Academy of Soloists’ and the Pavlodar Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan; the Symphonic Orchestra of the State National Theatre of Kyrgyzstan; the Karelian State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tavrichesky Orchestra of Leningrad Region - St. Petersburg, the Kuban Symphony Orchestra, the Kislovodsk - Mineralnye Vody State Symphony Orchestra, the Altai Krai State Philharomonic, the Sochi Symphony Orchestra and the Moscow Youth Symphony Orchestra in Russia; L’Orchestra Citta’ di Ravenna and L’Orchestra Sinfonica Duchi d’Acquaviva in Italy; the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra; the Leopoli State Symphony Orchestra and the Kiev Virtuosi of Ukraine; L' Orchestre Lyrique de Région Avignon-Provence in France; the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra in Czech Republic; the Mihail Jora Philharmonic of Bacau in Romania; the Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria; the Westsächsische Philharmonie and the Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy Symphony Orchestra Leipzig in Germany; the Camerata con Cor(d)e of Belgium and various chamber concerts in Croatia and United Arab Emirates among others.
Alexander
Chaushian
UK/Armenia
Cello Department
Now regarded as one of the finest cellists of the younger generation, Alexander Chaushian has performed extensively throughout the world as a soloist with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Academy of St Martin-in- the-Fields, The London Mozart Players, The Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, The Boston Pops and The Armenian Philharmonic, and has given highly acclaimed performances in such venues as London’s Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall, Sala Verdi Milan, Konzerthaus Vienna, Suntory Hall Japan, the main Carnegie Hall New York, and Symphony Hall Boston.
He performs regularly in festivals throughout the world and is the Artistic Director of the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus and the Yerevan Music Festival in Armenia.
After initial studies in Armenia, Alexander Chaushian studied in the UK at the Menuhin School and the Guildhall School, London. He then pursued advanced studies at the Hochschule Berlin, graduating with distinction in 2005. He is a laureate prize winner of many international competitions including the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and the ARD Competition in Germany. As an alumnus of Young Concert Artists, New York, he toured extensively in the USA. Amongst the many distinguished musicians whom he has collaborated with are Yehudi Menuhin, Julia Fischer, Levon Chilingirian, Yuri Bashmet, Diemut Poppen, François-Frédéric Guy, Emmanuel Pahud. His regular chamber music partner is Yevgeny Sudbin.
Aiman
Mussakhajayeva
Kazakhstan
Violin Department
Aiman Mussakhajayeva is the Rector of the Kazakh National University of Arts and the famous violinist. Professor Ayman Kozhabekovna Mussakhajayeva is the winner of many international competitions. Among them are international competitions in Belgrade (1976); the N. Paganini in Genoa (1981), Tokyo (1983), behalf of Sibelius in Helsinki (1985), V111 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1986).
Since 1993, A. Mussakhajayeva is a member of the jury of the International Violin Competition. P. I. Chaykovskiy (Moscow, Russia) and various International Violin Competitions.
Professor of Moscow, Almaty, Bishkek conservatories A. Mussakhajayeva has been active and fruitful teaching career. Among her students are many winners of international and national competitions. She gives master classes in Europe, Asia and America.
For the great achievements in music Aiman Mussakhajayeva was awarded the title "People's Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan" (1986), "International Academy of creativity" (1998), UNESCO's honorary title "Artist for Peace" (1998). In 2000 she was awarded the State Prize in literature, art and architecture. In 2002, the Club of patrons of Kazakhstan has awarded her with "Platinum Tarlan". In 2002, Aiman Mussakhajayeva’s name appeared on the list of the World Honored IBC "2000 outstanding musicians of the twentieth century", published annually by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge University. Center awarded the singer with a medal for her achievements and contribution to the development of world music.
Antonio
Tinelli
Italy/Switzerland
Clarinet Department
".. I am very impressed by the sound beauty, the dynamics quality, the tone colour play, the musical expressiveness and fantasy rendering" [Karl Leister - historical first clarinet of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Berlin conducted by Herbert von Karajan]; “in a word, superbly” [Fanfare Magazine USA]; “perfect musicality” [Musica Magazine]; “masterfully
interpretation” [The Clarinet USA], “admirable coherence, a whole warm, rich and very charming sound” [Journal ofMusic].
Musicians who added a significant contribution to his artistic development are Angelo Clemente, Romeo Tudorache and Karl Leister. His artistic collaboration with Karl Leister, Fabio Bidini, Yuri Gandelsman, Paolo Pollastri, Francesco Pomarico, Ovidiu Balan, Riccardo Ceni, Ivano Battiston, Fabio Di Cásola, Victoria Soames Samek, Aurelian Octav Popa, Mark Clinton, Karen Becker, Angelo Inglese, Landon Baumgard, Patrick Messina,
Enesco Quartet (Paris) and Giuliano Mazzoccante, with which it forms a stable DUO, is remarkable.
Tamas
Andras
Hungary
Violin Department
Hungarian violinist Tamás András is Concertmaster of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1996, he was prize winner of the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition in Denmark and received third prize at the Joseph Szigeti International Violin Competition in Hungary in 1997. Tamás has appeared as a soloist with the Budapest Philharmonia Orchestra, the Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra and the London Mozart Players among many others, and has given recitals and chamber concerts throughout Europe, the USA and Japan. He has also appeared as guest leader of several orchestras in the UK including the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Tamás is currently Co-Leader of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Peter
Adams
UK
Cello Department
Peter Adams gained his first orchestral post at the age of 16 and currently holds the position of Solo Cello of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. His teachers have included Paul Tortelier, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Janos Starker and William Pleeth. At age 21, he was the youngest ever professor at the Royal Academy of Music. In addition to his orchestral work Peter has always been keenly interested in chamber music, having been a founder member of the Rogeri Piano Trio and for 12 years a member of the Bochmann String Quartet. His chamber music collaborators have included amongst others Nigel Kennedy, Robert Cohen, Rafael Walfisch, Jack Brymer, Natalie Clein and Jeremy Menuhin. Sought after as soloist, chamber musician, and principal cellist he has countless broadcasts and recordings to his name.
Anthony
Robb
UK
Flute Department
Described by The Times in 2015 as a player of ‘distinction and intelligence’, Anthony Robb has been a member of the Oxford Philharmonic since its inception and currently holds the position of Solo Flute. He has appeared as soloist with the orchestra in concertos by Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, Mozart and Howard Blake. He has also appeared as soloist with the Hallé, BBC Concert Orchestra and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. His discography includes a disc of chamber music by Jean Francaix for Oboe Classics, and two discs of chamber music by English and French female composers on the Ambache label. His recording of the Tailleferre Concertino was described as ‘shining’ by Gramophonemagazine (April 2016). Anthony is firmly committed to outreach and educational work. He has helped develop and lead hospital projects for Oxford Philharmonic and leads projects for Wigmore Hall’s ‘Music for Life’ working with people living with dementia.
Andrew
Marriner
UK
Clarinet Department
Andrew held the Principal Clarinet chair of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1986 to 2019. During his orchestral career he maintained his place on the worldwide solo concert platform alongside an active role in the field of chamber music. He first played with the LSO in 1977 under Sergiu Celibidache and as guest principal on their 1983 world tour. He later became principal of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, held alongside his LSO commitment until 2008. His extensive solo career has taken him to La Scala, Milan; La Fenice, Venice; Musikverein, Vienna; much of Europe, and across the USA and Australia. His concerto performances have been in collaboration with some of the world’s finest conductors: Leonard Bernstein, Sir Colin Davis, Michael Tilson Thomas, Valery Gergiev, Andre Previn, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sir Antonio Pappano and his father Sir Neville Marriner amongst many. Andrew has worked with some of the most distinguished individuals in the world of chamber music such as Alfred Brendel, Andre Previn, Sandro Vegh, Andras Schiff, Lynn Harrell, Emmanuel Ax, Hélène Grimaud, Sylvia McNair, Edita Gruberova and with many leading string quartets. He currently tours with ‘Magdalena Kožená & Friends’. In addition to hundreds of recordings with the LSO and the Academy of St Martin’s, on disc and for film and television, Andrew has recorded the core solo and chamber clarinet repertoire with various major record companies, principally Philips and EMI. Andrew is in demand as a teacher and woodwind consultant and gives masterclasses, coaches orchestras and adjudicates competitions all around the world. He teaches in London at the Guildhall School and the Royal Academy of Music and is a Buffet Crampon Artist and a D’Addario Woodwinds Artist.
Ashley
Wass
UK
Piano Department
Described as an ‘endlessly fascinating artist’, Ashley Wass’s musical career is one of unusual creativity and variety. Alongside his work as soloist and chamber musician, he is co-founder of Mash Productions, was Artistic Director of the Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival for eleven years, has devoted over 15 years to music education, and is currently the Director of Music at the Yehudi Menuhin School. The diverse list of people and organisations with whom he has collaborated include film festivals, art galleries and animators, children’s television presenters and stars of the stage and screen, illustrators, literary festivals and renowned authors, and mime artists and comedians.
Ashley began playing the piano at the age of five, and studied music at Chetham’s School of Music from age 11. In his teens he studied on a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, where his teachers included Christopher Elton, Maria Curcio and Hamish Milne. His watershed moment came in 1997 when he won the London International Piano Competition (the only British winner this far), a success that led to a recording contract with Naxos, making him the first solo artist to obtain an exclusive deal with the label. His debut recording was a highly praised CD of César Franck piano music, released in 1999. He was also a prizewinner at the Leeds Piano Competition, and is a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist.
Ashley has performed at many of the world’s finest concert halls, including the Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Konzerthaus. He has performed regularly as soloist with all of the BBC orchestras, the Philharmonia, Orchestre National de Lille, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, RLPO, and Bournemouth Symphony under the baton of conductors such as Simon Rattle, Osmo Vanska, Donald Runnicles, Ilan Volkov and Vassily Sinaisky.
He appeared alongside the likes of Sir Thomas Allen, Mstislav Rostropovich and Angela Gheorghiu in a gala concert at Buckingham Palace to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, a performance broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world. He made his BBC Proms debut in 2008 with Vaughan Williams’ Piano Concerto, and returned in following seasons to perform works by Foulds, Stravinsky, Antheil, and McCabe.
Massimiliano
Caldi
Italy
Conducting Department
Massimiliano Caldi (Milano 1967), graduated in piano, composition and orchestra conducting has a big international experience in the felds of symphonic music, opera, operetta and ballet as well as an attention on contemporary music and on the revival of the 19th century opera. he stands out for his high professional preparation and for his bright and linear directorial style.
Among the last commitments of the 2020/2021 season, the debut of Il Don Bucefalo at the Baltic Opera in Gdańsk, the recorded concert at the Teatro alla Scala with I Virtuosi del Teatro alla Scala, the Polish premiere of the cello concert of Castelnuovo-Tedesco with Silvia Chiesa and the inauguration of the 60th Łańcut International Festival. Moreover, during the summer 2021, in Italy he conducted the Roma 3 Orchestra in a tour and he also performed at the closing evening of the frst edition of the International Festival Accordi Musicali. In Poland, he performed at the Mozart Festival and at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw for the Polish Music Competition.
Winner of the frst prize at “G.Fitelberg” International Competition (1999), Caldi i s the Principal Conductor of the "A. Malawski" Precarpathian Philharmonic of Rzeszów. He had been President of the Jury of the International Piano Competition Massarosa - IX and X edition (2018 and 2019), teacher of the Florence Conducting Masterclass (2015-2017), Principal Conductor and Artistic Consultant of "St. Moniuszko" Koszalin Philharmonic(2014-2017), Artistic Director of Silesian Chamber Orchestra (Katowice, 2006-2010) and Principal Conductor of "Milano Classica" Chamber Orchestra (1998-2009).
In the last ten years he took tournées in Israel, Oman, U.S.A. , Chile, Brasil, Germany, Austria, Russia and Turkey.
During the 2018 year, in opera feld, he conducted the prologue from Mefstofele by Boito (Gdansk, June 2018) Cavalleria Rusticanaby Mascagni (Rzeszow June 2018) and Bastiano e Bastiana by Mozart (Oliwa August 2018).
In the recent past, he conducted Gluck's "Orphee et Euridice" and Puccini's "La Bohème" at Bologna Opera House (Italy), Verdi's "Nabucco" and Rossini's "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" at Poznań Opera House (Poland) and he took part at three editions of "Festival della Valle d'Itria" of Martina Franca (Italy) with rediscovered italian masterpieces of the XIX century like Cagnoni's "Don Bucefalo" and "King Lear" and an unusual French version (1907) of R. Srauss' "Salome".
Epifanio
Comis
Italy
Piano Department
Epifanio Comis was student of Boris Petrushansky, Lazar Berman and Pietro Rattalino. He has toured as a soloist throughout Europe, Asia, Russia, and the United States. He has performed with numerous world class orchestras including the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest, the Karlovy Vary Symfonic Orchestra, the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra of California, the Orquestra Sinfonica UANL, Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre Orchestra, Sicilian Symphony Orchestra, the Osaka Symphoniker, the Kyoto Symphony. His recitals in the USA and Asia have brought him great critical acclaim.
Epifanio Comis gives masterclasses in important academies and universities like Manhattan School of Music, Chopin Academy Warsaw, Royal Conservatoire Mons, Ecole Normale in Paris, Tchaikovsky Conservatory Moscow and Bucarest Music Academy. He performed in prestigeous halls such as Discoteca di Stato di Roma, Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre, Sala delle Erbe di Milano, Steinway Hall in New York, Symphony Hall in Osaka, Carnegie Hall in New York and many others. Comis is also active as a conductor. Last concerts he conducted are Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos, Rhapsody and the Second Symphony with Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre Orchestra in Catania and in Moscow.
He is a very acclaimed teacher. His students achieve top prizes in the most important world piano competitions such as Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition, Queen Elisabeth Competition, Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition, International Tchaikovsky Competition Moscow etc. In 2013 he was awarded with the “Sergei Rachmaninov International Award” together with Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev and Nicolai Lugansky by the Moscow Conservatory.
Comis has a varied career as soloist and conductor. He is a professor at Vincenzo Bellini State Conservatory in Catania where he is also director and he is the artistic director of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition
Epifanio
Comis
Italy
Conducting Department
Epifanio Comis was student of Boris Petrushansky, Lazar Berman and Pietro Rattalino. He has toured as a soloist throughout Europe, Asia, Russia, and the United States. He has performed with numerous world class orchestras including the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra of Bucharest, the Karlovy Vary Symfonic Orchestra, the Tulare County Symphony Orchestra of California, the Orquestra Sinfonica UANL, Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre Orchestra, Sicilian Symphony Orchestra, the Osaka Symphoniker, the Kyoto Symphony. His recitals in the USA and Asia have brought him great critical acclaim.
Epifanio Comis gives masterclasses in important academies and universities like Manhattan School of Music, Chopin Academy Warsaw, Royal Conservatoire Mons, Ecole Normale in Paris, Tchaikovsky Conservatory Moscow and Bucarest Music Academy. He performed in prestigeous halls such as Discoteca di Stato di Roma, Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre, Sala delle Erbe di Milano, Steinway Hall in New York, Symphony Hall in Osaka, Carnegie Hall in New York and many others. Comis is also active as a conductor. Last concerts he conducted are Rachmaninov’s Piano Concertos, Rhapsody and the Second Symphony with Catania Massimo Bellini Theatre Orchestra in Catania and in Moscow.
He is a very acclaimed teacher. His students achieve top prizes in the most important world piano competitions such as Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition, Queen Elisabeth Competition, Fryderyk Chopin International Piano Competition, International Tchaikovsky Competition Moscow etc. In 2013 he was awarded with the “Sergei Rachmaninov International Award” together with Vladimir Ashkenazy, Valery Gergiev and Nicolai Lugansky by the Moscow Conservatory.
Comis has a varied career as soloist and conductor. He is a professor at Vincenzo Bellini State Conservatory in Catania where he is also director and he is the artistic director of the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition
Peter
Donohoe
UK
Piano Department
Since his unprecedented success as joint winner of the 1982 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Peter Donohoe has developed a distinguished international career. He is acclaimed as one of the foremost pianists of our time, for his musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique.
Donohoe has performed with all the major London orchestras, as well as multiple European and American orchestras. He made his eighteenth appearance at the BBC Proms in 2012 and has appeared at many prestigious festivals.
Donohoe has an impressive catalogue of recordings. His most recent discs include six volumes of Mozart Piano Sonatas with SOMM Records. Other recent recordings include Haydn Keyboard Works Volume 1 (Signum), Grieg Lyric Pieces Volume 1 (Chandos), Dora Pejacevic Piano Concerto (Chandos), Brahms and Schumann viola sonatas with Philip Dukes (Chandos), and Busoni: Elegies and Toccata (Chandos), which was nominated for BBC Music Magazine Award.
Peter Donohoe was born in Manchester in 1953. He studied at Chetham’s School of Music for seven years, graduated in music at Leeds University, and went on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music with Derek Wyndham and then in Paris with Olivier Messiaen and Yvonne Loriod.
Peter Donohoe is an honorary doctor of music at seven UK universities, and was awarded a CBE for services to classical music in the 2010 New Year’s Honours List.
Pavel
Gililov
Austria
Piano Department
Pavel Gililov was born in 1950 in the Ukraine. As a child prodigy he was supported by Dimitri Kabalewsky. He completed his piano studies at the Leningrad Conservatory with honours.
Still a student, Pavel Gililov won the National Piano Competition in Moscow in 1972. He is the winner of the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw and the International Viotti Piano Competition in Vercelli (1st prize).
In 1978 Pavel Gililov emigrated to the West and continued his concert and teaching activities.
From 1979 to 2013 he was a professor at the Cologne University of Music and since 2007 he is professor for piano at the University Mozarteum Salzburg.
The engagements with the leading orchestras and his numerous performances in the most important cultural metropoles of the world were enthusiastically received by the audience and critics. The CD recordings for Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft, RCA Victor, Toshiba EMI, Orfeo and others established his reputation.
He participated in numerous festivals: Newport (USA), Barcelona, Salzburg Festival, Berliner Festwochen, Edinburgh, Schleswig Holstein and many others.
In addition to his solo career, he also devotes himself to the field of chamber music: Pavel Gililov was a member of the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet. Pierre Amoyal, Dimitri Sitkovetsky, Tabea Zimmermann and Mischa Maisky were his regular chamber music partners.
Stanislav
Ioudenitch
USA
Piano Department
Known for a ravishing technique and his compelling musical conviction, pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch is part of the elite group of Cliburn Gold Medal winners, having taken home the Gold Medal at the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. His profoundly warm and intelligent performances have won him prizes at the Feruccio Busoni, William Kapell, Maria Callas, and New Orleans competitions, among others.
Ioudenitch has performed at major international cultural centers including Carnegie Hall (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.), Gasteig (Munich, Germany), Conservatorio Verdi (Milan, Italy), Mariinsky Theater (St. Petersburg, Russia), International Performing Arts Center (Moscow, Russia), The Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory (Moscow, Russia), Forbidden City Concert Hall (Beijing, China), International Piano Festival of La Roque d’Anthéron (France), Théâtre du Châtelet (Paris, France), Bass Hall (Fort Worth, Texas), Jordan Hall (Boston, Massachusetts), Orange County Performing Arts Center (Costa Mesa, California), and the Aspen Music Festival (Aspen, Colorado).
Ioudenitch has had the privilege to perform with the conductors James Conlon, Valery Gergiev, Mikhail Pletnev, James DePreist, Günther Herbig, Asher Fisch, Stefan Sanderling, Michael Stern, Carl St. Clair, and Justus Franz, and with orchestras including the Munich Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Orchestra, National Symphony (Washington, D.C.), Rochester Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony and the National Philharmonic of Russia. Chamber music partners have included the Takács, Prazák, Borromeo, and Accorda quartets.
Hae-Young
Kim
South Korea
Piano Department
Professor Hae-Young Kim is a graduate of Kyunggi Girl's High School (Korea), Seoul National University (Korea), Musik Hochschule fur Musik (Vienna, Austria), Musikwissenschaft and Musikalische Frueh-erziehung (Germany). She has performed in Korea, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Greece, Bulgaria, Spain, the US and Finland as a solo pianist, chamber music player and a soloist with national and international philharmonic orchestras. Every summer she presents lectures and master classes as well as serves on the jury of the piano competition in the Forum Barcelona Festival (Barcelona, Spain). Prof. Kim is a champion of contemporary music and has premiered numerous 20th century works including pieces of Jeno Takas, Jukka Linkola, and Edmon Tapio in Korea and other countries. Her most recent performances include "Apollo" by Jukka Linkolla at the Contemporary Music Festrival in Terrassa (Spain), Sonata for 2 pianos & percussion by Bartok, and a lecture recital of Piazzolla's "Le Grand Tango" for cello and piano.
Professor Kim has been in demand for master classes throughout South Korea and in many European countries. She regularly serves as a jury member of national and international competitions. Most recently she was a competition judge on the panels of the Vladigerov International Competition in Shumen, Bulgaria and the Young Pianist International Competition in Sofia, Bulgaria. She serves as an international adviser and a faculty member of the Asian International Piano Academy, Festival and Competition in Korea.
Prof. Kim is the President of the Piano Society in Korea as well as a former Dean of Academic Affairs and Head of Graduate School at Chugye University for the Arts in Seoul, Korea. Currently she is a Piano Professor and Head of the Piano Department at Chugye University for the Arts as well as a member of the Development Committee at the Ministry of Education of South Korea.
Giuliano
Mazzoccante
Italy
Piano Department
Born in Chieti, Giuliano Mazzoccante studied under the guidance of Lucia Passaglia at the Conservatory “L. Cherubini” in Florence graduating with highest honours ande later, he studied with Lazar Berman. With him, his concert repertoire deepened and improved with particular attention to the music of F. Liszt. He perfected Chamber Music at the International School of Chamber Music in Duino under the guidance of “Trio of Trieste” achieving a “Diploma with Merit”.
Winner of more than 50 national and international competitions, including “M. Clementi” in Florence, “Agorà 80″ in Rome, “F. Liszt” in Lucca, and “Città di Stresa”, he was awarded in prestigious competitions such as “International Music Tournament” in Rome, “Prix Venice”, “Ecomusic” in Monopoli and he is the winner of the 40th International Piano Competition “Arcangelo Speranza” in Taranto. In 2009 he was awarded in the “4th International Tbilisi Piano Competition” in Georgia (WFIMC).
Mazzoccante has been engaged in a remarkable concert activity both as a soloist and as a chamber musician at major Italian venues and overseas in Europe, USA and Asia. He is regularly invited to hold concerts and master classes at international venues and festivals such as “Mozarteum” in Saltzburg, “ClaviCologne Festival” in Germany, the “Malta International Music Festival”, “VIPA” International Music Festival, ecc.
He has been a regular guest of the “International Sommer-Akademie Schloss Pommersfelden” (Germany) where he has performed as a soloist and in chamber music performances and where he teaches chamber music since 2010. He has appeared as a soloist with different orchestras such Camerata Baltica, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonica Abruzzese, Sinfonica di Lecce, Sinfonica di Bari, Solisti Aquilani.
He plays with prestigious musicians such Karl Leister (historical 1st clarinettist of the Berlin Philharmonic), Francesco Manara and Fabrizio Meloni (1st violinist and 1st clarinettist of Teatro alla Scala in Milan), Dora Schwarzberg, Pavel Berman,, Romain Garioud, ecc.
Marios
Papadopoulos
UK
Conducting Department
Having begun his career as a concert pianist, Marios Papadopoulos founded the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998 and has continued at its helm as Music Director ever since. Under his direction the Orchestra has gone from strength to strength, performing regularly in Oxford and beyond, and forging a strong relationship with the University of Oxford.
Described by The Times at his 1975 piano recital debut as having ‘all the attributes of one of the world’s greatest players’, Papadopoulos has gone on to enjoy an international career both as pianist and conductor.
He has appeared as soloist with and conducted many of the world’s greatest orchestras and worked with a host of eminent musicians including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Hélène Grimaud, Nicola Benedetti, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Maria João Pires, Menahem Pressler, Maxim Vengerov, Renée Fleming, Vadim Repin, Martha Argerich and Lang Lang. His recordings of the Beethoven sonatas have been set on a level with Schnabel, Brendel, Barenboim and Wilhelm Kempff (Daily Telegraph, Classic FM Magazine Critics’ Choice).
Papadopoulos has conducted the complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies and directed from the keyboard the five piano concertos on three separate occasions so far – at the Oxford Philharmonic’s 2008 Beethoven Festival, at the Orchestra’s 15th anniversary celebrations in the 2013/14 concert season, and throughout the Oxford Beethoven Festival 2020 which celebrated the composer’s 250th birthday across two seasons.
Marios Papadopoulos has appeared as guest conductor and soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, European Union Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as well as a 2015 UK tour with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Alison Balsom. In March 2018, Papadopoulos appeared with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Xinghai Concert Hall in China, where he directed a Mozart Piano Concerto Cycle from the keyboard over the course of three weeks. Marios Papadopoulos has appeared as guest conductor and soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, European Union Chamber Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as well as a 2015 UK tour with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Alison Balsom. In March 2018, Papadopoulos appeared with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Xinghai Concert Hall in China, where he directed a Mozart Piano Concerto Cycle from the keyboard over the course of three weeks. In June 2022 he conducted the Oxford Philharmonic in their Carnegie Hall debut in New York City.
Zhe
Tang
China
Piano Department
Zhe Tang is one of the leading pianists and pedagogues of his generation in China. Mr. Tang's performances with the China Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shanghai Symphony were broadcast by the Chinese National Television and Radio reaching approximately 900 million people. He also gave the American premiere performance of the Concerto No.2 for Piano and Viola by Alexander Tchaikowsky. He has presented many solo recitals in the United States, Europe and the Far East. His performances have been heard on radio and television including Chinese National TV and Radio, BBC, Polish National Television, Oriental TV, WQXR of New York, WFMT of Chicago, among others.
Graduated from the Eastman School of Music where he taught and served as teaching assistant to Barry Snyder, Tang is Professor of Piano in Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He has also been appointed as the Vice Dean of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Director of Teaching and Research for the Piano Department, Chair of the Piano Department for the Middle School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Chair of Shanghai Professional Pianists’ Society, Artistic Director of Shanghai Spring International Piano E-Competition, Artistic Director of Shanghai International Piano Festival & Institute, among others.
He has been on the jury for international piano competitions, including Gina Bachauer, Belgrade Jeunesses Musicales, Bonn Beethoven，USASU Bosendorfer，Cleveland, Enescu, Weimar Liszt，Hilton Head, and Malta. Many of his pupils have won first prizes in almost all Chinese national competitions, as well as major and special prizes from International Piano Competitions. He was given the “Grand Award for Excellence in Teaching” by the Chinese government and was featured on the cover of “Piano Artistry”, the most important music journal in China.
Wagner Luis
Rodrigues
Portugal
Violin Department
Soloist diploma summa cum laude from the most important Conservatory in Latin America, in the class of professor Paulo Bosisio, pupil of Max Rostal. He has won and been awarded in seven competitions in Latin America and was chosen by Menahem Pressler as the most promising Brazilian musician representing Brazil in Israel, where he performed as a soloist alongside Guy Braunstein and the Israel Chamber Orchestra. Additionally, he received a scholarship to the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music.
In his professional career, he was the “concertino” of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra, where he worked for 12 years. Currently, he performs with major orchestras in Germany and as concertmaster in Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock, Kammersymphonie Berlin, and Berliner Symphoniker.
Julius
Schwahn
Germany
Violin Department
Julius Schwahn was born in 1976 in Aachen, Germany. After beginning his musical studies at the Musikhochschule Köln/Aachen with Alex Vincent and Prof. Michael Vaiman, he continued his violin training with Prof. Tomasz Tomaszewski in Berlin.
His first orchestral experience came as a member of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, in which he served as the principal violinist for the 2nd violins. He additionally served as the concertmaster in the Berlin Bach Consortium and as the principal violinist with the Kammerakademie Berlin.
Julius Schwahn currently plays in the Berlin Symphony Orchestra as the principal violinist for the 2nd violins.
He also played as a guest with the 1st violins in the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin and in the Komische Oper Berlin.
His musical emphasis lies in chamber music. This has been documented through his CD-recordings of assorted violin sonatas. He can be heard playing works from the Early Music repertoire on his baroque violin and his work on projects with the Ensemble Modern Frankfurt, among others, has also given him experience with New Music.
He has performed violin concertos by Prokofieff, Hartmann, Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, and Bach, among others, with orchestral accompaniment.
He also played for many years in the Irish folk band “Clover“.
Concert tours have led him to perform in India, Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, South America, and throughout Europe.
Since 2014 he teaches violin and leads ensembles in Leo Borchard Musikschule Berlin.
Michael
Schepp
Germany
Violin Department
Born in Alsfeld\Hessen, Michael Schepp received his first violin lessons at the age of 11. He studied with Tibor Varga, Detmold and Petru Munteanu, Hamburg. After a few years in a North German orchestra, he began intensive private studies with the Czech violinist Marta Libalova, lecturer at the Royal Conservatory of Aarhus in Denmark. He owes her decisive violin and artistic impulses. As a chamber musician and in various orchestras, he has performed in Germany, Hungary, France, Holland, Denmark, Korea, Japan and China. In 2005 he became a member of the teaching staff at the Paul Hindemith Music School. He has played regularly with the Berliner Symphoniker since 2003 and has been a member of the regular line-up of the Berliner Symphoniker since 2019. In 2012 he had great success performing Beethoven's Triple Concerto as a soloist with the Schloß Britz Chamber Orchestra.
Further temporary work at the North German Philharmonic Rostock, the Anhaltinische Philharmonie Dessau and the Konzerthausorchester Berlin.
Bogdan Maciej
Szczerkowski
Poland
Violin Department
In 1996 graduated with honors at the Music Academy in Poznan/Poland, later perfected his skills with prof. Valerij Klimov/Moscow and prof. Bernard Roberts/London.
In 1997 he made his solo debut at the Berliner Philharmonic and since then performed in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and the United States.
He made several recordings for broadcast and TV stations, including National Polish Radio, Polish National Television and German NDR3.
In 1999 he gave the world’s first ever performance of Mea Sharim Violin Suite by Pawel Gruenspan.
Currently works as Violin Assistant Professor at the Academy of Arts in Szczecin/Poland.
Marc
Bouchkov
Belgium
Violin Department
Belgian violinist of Russian heritage, Mr. Bouchkov is a sophisticated musician of impeccable aplomb and has carved an international career performing with leading orchestras and conductors across Europe. He is one of the most multifaceted and unique artists of the new generation. His orchestral appearances include performances with the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra and Valery Gergiev, the HR-Sinfonieorchester and Christoph Eschenbach, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Mariss Jansons, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and Philippe Jordan. He has also appeared with the NDR-Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, Hessische Rundfunk Orchestra, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, the Orchestre National de Belgique, the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI in Turin, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, and the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra among others, collaborating with conductors such as Stanislav Kochanovsky, Michael Sanderling, Andrey Boreyko, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Dmitry Liss, Christian Arming, Lionel Bringuier, Maxim Vengerov, James Judd, to name but a few.
As an active recitalist, Mr. Bouchkov has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious concert halls such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Dresden Frauenkirche, Concert Hall of St. Petersburg, Tonhalle Zürich, Munich’s Prinzregententheater, Paris’ Theatre de la Ville, Maison de Radio France, and the Konzerthaus in Berlin among several other venues. A fine chamber musician, he is a regular guest of the Verbier Festival in Switzerland.
Highlights of Mr. Bouchkov’s 2020/2021 season included appearances with Valery Gergiev and the orchestra of the Mariinsky Theater, Philippe Jordan and the Munich Philharmonic, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider and the Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, Stanislav Kochanovsky and the Hessische Rundfunk Orchestra, Gábor Takács-Nagy and the Verbier Festival Orchestra, as well as recitals and concerts at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konzerthaus in Berlin, and the Schubertiade in Hohenems. After a bunch of very successful concerts at the Verbier Festival 2021 in Switzerland, and in Montenegro and Greece, Mr. Bouchkov performed with pianist Mao Fujita in Latvia, at the Riga Jurmala Music Festival, and in Georgia at the Tsinandali Festival, where he played five different programs including performances with the pianist and conductor Lahav Shani and with cellist Mischa Maisky.
Sergei
Dogadin
Austria
Violin Department
After bright successes at the most precious violin competitions Sergei Dogadin acquired international fame as one of the best violinist of his generation.
In 2019 Sergei was awarded First Prize and Golden Medal at the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Among his other significant victories such major contents as IX Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition Hannover and Singapore International Violin Competition.
Since making his major debut in 2002 at the St.Petersburg Philharmonie under Vasily Petrenko and the St.Petersburg Philharmonic orchestra, Dogadin has performed with the leading orchestras on world’s most renowned venues. He has collaborated with such prominent conductors as Valery Gergiev, Yury Temirkanov, Vladimir Ashkenazi, Vassily Sinaisky, Vladimir Spivakov, Yuri Bashmet, Manfred Honeck, Andrew Manze, Juanjo Mena, Shlomo Mintz, Thomas Sanderling, Vasily Petrenko, Muhai Tang, Alexander Sladkovsky, Michał Nesterowicz and many others and shared the stage with outstanding musicians like Elisabeth Leonskaja, Viktor Tretiakov, David Geringas, Boris Kuschnir, Denis Matsuev, Daniil Trifonov, Denis Kozhukhin, Pierre Amoyal, Alexander Kniazev, Narek Hakhnazaryan, Maxim Rysanov, Vadim Holodenko, Alexei Ogrintchouk, Boris Andrianov and others.
Davide
Alogna
Italy
Violin Department
Davide Alogna has eclectic and international music education. He graduated both in violin and piano with honour at Conservatorio “G. Verdi” and he obtain his master diploma in solist violin and chambre music at the Conservatoire de Paris with a “Premier Prix a l’Unanimitè”.
He also studied composition with Luca Francesconi and graduated with a special mention at Accademia Chigiana of Siena with Giuliano Carmignola that describes him as “an amazing talent”.
In 2017, Davide was invited by La Scala Orchestra to play concerts as guest soloist in Europe and on the 29th of October debuted at the Teatro Alla Scala of Milan with the La Scala Chamber Orchestra.
Davide has already debuted in many important halls such as Carnegie Hall (Stern Hall), Teatro alla Scala, Berliner Philarmonie, Suntory Hall of Tokyo, Smetana Hall of Prague, Grand Theatre of Shangai, Salle Cortot of Paris, Gasteig and Herkulesalle in Germany, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Mahidol Hall of Bangkok and the Verdi Auditorium of Milan.
He has been accompanied by some of the world’s leading orchestras, including La Scala Chamber Orchestra, Sinfonica LaVerdi di Milano, Orchestra della Toscana, Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Orchestra Sinfonica ICO di Bari, Sinfonica di Sanremo, Orchestra da Camera di Mantova, Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Thailand Philarmonic Orchestra, Munich Kammerphilharmonie, Tchaikovsky Philarmonic, Northern Czech Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of New York, New England Symphony, Mexico State Symphony Orchestra, Bellas Arte Chamber Orchestra, Monterrey Symphony, Istanbul Philarmonic, Adana State Symphony Orchestra and many others , alongside great soloists and conductors including Natalia Gutman, Eliso Virsaladze, Bruno Canino, Jeffrey Swann, Enrico Pace, Roberto Prosseda, Roberto Plano, Lior Shambadal, Dariusz Mikulski, Giulio Tampalini, Pietro Borgonovo, Hakan Sensoy and Francesco Lanzillotta.
Ulf
Borgwardt
Germany
Cello Department
Ulf Borgwardt, born in Berlin, began playing with renowned orchestras, the Saarland Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, while still studying. From 1997 he was a member of the Bach Collegium at the Bach Academy in Stuttgart. At the same time, his activities also shifted towards the opera, Hamburg State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Stuttgart State Opera, and Deutsche Oper Berlin.
He has been solo cellist with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra since 2017.
Another focus of his work is working as a chamber musician and in chamber orchestras.
Numerous tours took him to South America, North America, Asia and Europe, and he took part in various CD productions.
As a teacher, Ulf Borgwardt is primarily active in preparing students for cellists and as a lecturer for youth orchestras.
Tommaso
Benciolini
Italy
Flute Department
Winner of the 2017 New York Respighi Prize, he made his debut on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York in 2018 and is now the protagonist of an intense and passionate career.
His concert activity has led him to perform as a soloist in many of the most prestigious venues including the Suntory Hall in Tokyo, the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Tonhalle in Zurich, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Seoul Arts Center in Korea, the Herkulessaal in Munich, the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice and many others. He has performed as a guest soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of New York, Berliner Symphoniker, Nürnberg Symphoniker, Munchener Kammerphilharmonie, North Czech Philarmonic, State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Eurosinfonietta Wien, St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Thueringen Philharmonie Gotha -Eisenach, La Habana Chamber Orchestra, Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, Artisee Orchestra Seoul and many others.
Tommaso is also the dedicatee of many contemporary works including the flute concerto "The Garden of Delights. A Flute Concerto after Bosch" by Andrea Battistoni, which he premiered in 2020 on the occasion of his debut at the Großer Saal of the Philharmonie of Berlin.
In 2021 his debut CD was released for the SONY Classical label: a world premiere monograph dedicated to Antonio Vivaldi together with the chamber orchestra L'Appassionata which he founded and which was unanimously acclaimed by journalists, critics and radio . His recordings have been broadcast by RAI, Swiss National Radio, Japanese National Radio NHK, Radio Classica, Venice Classic Radio and many others.
Demetrios
Karamintzas
USA
Oboe Department
Dimitrios Karamintzas is a sought after orchestral musician and chamber music artist. After receiving his Masters Degree with honors from The Juilliard School he has appeared as principal oboist with orchestras such as the Berliner Symphoniker, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Hannover State Opera, to name a few, as well as festivals such as Tanglewood Music Center, Edinburgh Festival, and Vendsyssel Festival in Denmark. Additionally he was part of the team which founded the first Palestinian Youth Orchestra, and taught for 10 years there with the Barenboim-Said Foundation and Al-Kamandjati music schools, as well as guest teaching engagements at the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul.
Mikhail
Kirchhoff
Kazakhstan/Turkey
Conducting Department
Mikhail Kirchhoff is the conductor of Kaliningrad State Symphony Orchestra, principal conductor of Moscow Youth Symphony Orchester, the artistic director and principal conductor of the festival "Eurasian stars”.
Mikhail Kirchhoff was born in 1982 in Moscow.
He begun his education in the Victor Popov Academy of Choral Art. In 2009 he graduated with honours from the Moscow State P.İ. Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
2010-2012 conductor in Istanbul State Opera
2012-2017 conductor in Samsun State Opera
2018-2020 main guest conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra "Academy of soloists" (Kazakhstan)
Performed with various orchestras in Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Latvia, Malta, Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgisistan, Belarusian UAE and many other’s, such as
-İstanbul State Symphony Orchestra
- Izmir State Symphony Orchestra
- St. Petersburg Capella Symphony Orchestra
- Roma Tre Symphony Orchestra
- Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
- Bursa State Symphony Orchestra
- Academic Symphony Orchestra of The Republic of Belarus
- Bursa State Symphony Orchestra
- Kazakh State Philharmonic Orchestra
- National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan
In Russian he performed with states orchestras of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Saratov, Barnaul, Chelyabinsk, Bryansk, Tambov, Astrakhan, Petrozavodsk and many other’s.
Mikhail
Kirchhoff
Kazakhstan/Turkey
Choir Department
Mikhail Kirchhoff is the conductor of Kaliningrad State Symphony Orchestra, principal conductor of Moscow Youth Symphony Orchester, the artistic director and principal conductor of the festival "Eurasian stars”.
Mikhail Kirchhoff was born in 1982 in Moscow.
He begun his education in the Victor Popov Academy of Choral Art. In 2009 he graduated with honours from the Moscow State P.İ. Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
2010-2012 conductor in Istanbul State Opera
2012-2017 conductor in Samsun State Opera
2018-2020 main guest conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra "Academy of soloists" (Kazakhstan)
Performed with various orchestras in Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Latvia, Malta, Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kirgisistan, Belarusian UAE and many other’s, such as
-İstanbul State Symphony Orchestra
- Izmir State Symphony Orchestra
- St. Petersburg Capella Symphony Orchestra
- Roma Tre Symphony Orchestra
- Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra
- Bursa State Symphony Orchestra
- Academic Symphony Orchestra of The Republic of Belarus
- Bursa State Symphony Orchestra
- Kazakh State Philharmonic Orchestra
- National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan
In Russian he performed with states orchestras of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Saratov, Barnaul, Chelyabinsk, Bryansk, Tambov, Astrakhan, Petrozavodsk and many other’s.
Raissa
Mussakhajayeva
Kazakhstan
Professional Development Courses Department
Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Honored Worker of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor at Kazakh National University of Arts. She graduated with honors from the Republican Special Music School named after Kulyash Baiseitova in the class of Professor N. M. Patrusheva and the Saint-Petersburg’s Postgraduate School (Leningrad) State Conservatory in the class of M. Weiman and M.Belyakov professors.
Over the years, she worked as an artist of the State Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Kazakhstan, deputy director of the Republican Music School named after K. Baiseitova.
Since 1998, in the position of Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, she has been actively involved in creating Kazakh National Academy of Music in Astana. Then she was the pro-rector for the concert work and international relations. Students of Professor R.K. Mussakhajayeva are laureates of prestigious international contests: Youth Competition named after P. Tchaikovsky, competition named after A. Yampolsky, named after L. Beethoven in Vienna, named after Michelangelo Abbado in Milan, "Rovere dOro" in Italy, competition of Zakhar Bron in Novosibirsk, “Astana violin”, “Shabyt” and others. They also work in prestigious orchestras and universities in Europe, America and Kazakhstan.
Since 1998 Professor has been conducting International master classes at the festival “Musica in Lagoon" in Venice, Italy, international master classes at the Ost West Musik fest in Vienna, Austria. R.K. Mussakhajayeva is a jury member of international competitions: named after A. Yampolsky in Moscow, named after Eduard Grach in Moscow, "Violin of the North" in Yakutsk, Russia, named after Michelangelo Abbado in Milan, Italy, named after L. Beethoven in Vienna, "Remember Georgi Enescu" in Bucharest, Romania, Astana-Merey in Astana.
Batyrzhan
Smakov
Kazakhstan
Choir Department
Countertenor Batyrzhan Smakov has captivated audiences in many countries including Russia, Italy, France, Poland, Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates. Batyrzhan is a prize winner of the "Grand Prix of Saint-Petersburg" in Russia, and "Concorso della Musica Sacra" in Turin, Italy. He was featured in numerous productions including J. Offenbach “Les contes H”Offmann”, A. Scarlatti “Passione del Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo”, Mascagli “Cavalleria rusticana”, “Tancredi”, Concert for UNICEF, etc. In 2016, received the title of Artist for Peace UNESCO after performing numerous charitable concerts to support children of Syria.
Batyrzhan Smakov is often invited to adjudicate international competitions in Kazakhstan, Italy, and UAE. Currently, he serves as faculty member at the Kazakh National University of Arts, Music Director of Mixed Choir at KazNUA, soloist at Kazakhkonzert, and guest conductor of “Coro lirico Perla Verde” in Italy. He has recorded four solo albums.
Batyrzhan Smakov completed his education at the Kazakh National Academy of Music, International Academy of Opera in Osimo, Italy, and completed his master's degree at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, Italy.
Roberto
Boltri
Italy
Professional Development Courses Department
Roberto Boltri was born in 1946 in Ampezzo (Ud). He then moved to Bologna where he completed his high school and university studies, graduating in Geological Sciences.
From 1972 to 1996 he was in the Marche and worked as an environmental technician.
In those years he frequently went abroad to African and Asian countries (Somalia, Algeria, Libya, Uzbekistan) to work on environmental projects.
During the years of his professional commitment he held numerous administrative-political positions (provincial councilor, council group leader, regional parliamentarian).
In 1980 he was a founding member of the international festival Rossini Opera Festival R.O.F. of Pesaro
In 1996, retired, he left Italy to dedicate himself, as an ecologist, to international volunteering working for the United Nations, the European Union and the OSCE in Bosnia Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Somalia, Somaliland, Yemen.
Its main sector of activity is that of international cooperation both in the environmental and social, humanitarian and cultural sectors.
He is the author of three books aimed at intercultural understanding between East and West.
Currently (over seventy years of age) he has reduced his commitment as a soil geologist by dedicating himself to cultural cooperation and to the research and valorization of young talents, especially in the musical field.
It collaborates with various universities by organizing master classes for young people interested in volunteering and international cooperation.
He is married to Altyn Makhanbetzhanova and lives in Kazakhstan in ALMATA.
IN 2018 he was nominated knight of the Italian republic for having brought Italian culture to the world.
Marco
Zupan
Slovenia
Flute Department
Flutist Marko Zupan enjoys a diverse international career as a soloist, chamber artist, orchestral player, improviser, teacher and arranger.
He graduated at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, Slovenia in the class of prof. Matej Zupan. Later he entered the class of Prof. Pierre-Yves Artaud at ENMP “Alfred Cortot” in Paris as well as Conservatoire National de Musique de Créteil “Marcel Dadi” to study with Prof. Georges Alirol. After gaining the Diplôme Supérieur d’Enseignement and d’Exécution, he also achieved the Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste de Flûte. Following his time in Paris he perfected his knowledge as a postgraduate student at the “Mozarteum” in Salzburg in the class of the celebrated slovenian flutist Irena Grafenauer. Additionally he received important musical impulses at masterclasses with renowned flutists such as Emmanuel Pahud, Peter-Lukas Graf, Michael-Martin Koffler, Felix Renggli and Sophie Cherier. Most notably, he had the chance to participate in the last three masterclasses held by the legendary Prof. Aurele Nicolet in Paris, Hvar and Weimar.
During his studies he became prizewinner of several Slovenian national competitions as well as the International music competitions in Trieste (2000, Italy), Picardie (2004, France), Belgrade (2005, Serbia) and Braunschweig (2011, Germany).
His work as a principal flutist include orchestras such as Berliner Symphoniker, German National Orchestra, Brandenburger Symphoniker, Filharmonia Sudecka, Philharmonisches Orchester des Staatstheaters Cottbus, Evian Festival Orchestra, Mozart Sinfonietta Salzburg, Neues Kammerorchester Potsdam, Philharmonie der Nationen and others.
In 2010 he started teaching at the Academy of Music in Split, Croatia. Seeing the lack of possibilities for orchestral experience there, he started working on Flute orchestral excerpts arranged for flute quartet, which in 2013 he published with the Svitzer editions in Kopenhagen. The book achieved international recognition. As a part of his pedagogical activities, he is also giving masterclasses all over Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Romania and also Japan. Since 2013 he has regularly taught at the Summer music school in Kastela, Croatia. Since 2018 he also gives courses at “Ardea” International Music Masterclasses (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Youngmasters Samobor International Young Musician’s Summer Class (Croatia).
Joe
Atkins
UK
Trumpet Department
Joe Atkins was appointed Principal Trumpet of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in 1999. He made his professional debut with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16 and, after studying at the Royal Academy of Music, joined the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1984. He is now a member of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, having been appointed sub-principal trumpet in 2010. He has performed as guest principal in most of the orchestras throughout Britain including the BBC Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields and London Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a former member of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, and has been a member of the London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble over the past 25 years.
James
Pillai
UK / Sri Lanka
French Horn Department
British/Sri Lankan horn player James’ interest in music started at an early age, taking up the tenor horn at 7 years old. At 10 he moved onto the French horn, soon joining the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department where he studied with Susan Dent before gaining a scholarship to the RCM where he studied with Simon Rayner, Nigel Black and John Ryan. For the past 10 years James has led a busy and varied freelance career, appearing as guest principal with all the major London orchestras. A passionate chamber musician, James has collaborated with ensembles Ensemble 360 and Orsino and recorded with Mark Simpson for Orchid Classics (Gran Partita/Geysir 2020) as well as regularly being invited to festivals such as Southwell, Aldeburgh and Highgate. James lives in South London with his wife, a bassoonist, their 3 children and cat, Cheryl. Outside of music James’ passions include cricket, coffee and wine.
Bence
Boganyi
UK/Hungary
Bassoon Department
Bence Bogányi studied as a post-graduate student at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin, where he studied with Klaus Thunemann. In 1997, Bogányi won the First Prize at the International Crusell Competition in Finland, and in 2006 the First Prize at the International Fernand Gillet/Hugo Fox Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana. His first orchestral position brought him to the Finnish State Opera in Helsinki as principal bassoon in 1997; in 2002 he joined the Helsinki Philharmonic, and in 2004 he became the principal bassoon of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. He served as Principal Bassoonist of the Münchner Philharmoniker from 2007 until 2013 when he began his bassoon professorship at the the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover. He was a member of the PMF Orchestra in 1999.
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