COMPOSER
BIOGRAPHY
Alexey Shor was born in Kiev in 1970, immigrated to Israel in 1991, and now lives primarily in the USA.
His compositions have been performed at some of the most prestigious concert halls, including Wiener Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Mariinsky Theatre (St. Petersburg), Kremlin Palace (Moscow), The Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Gasteig (Munich), Wigmore Hall (London), Teatro Argentina (Rome) and many others. Concerts with his music have been broadcast on MediciTV, Mezzo and Euronews. Mr Shor’s music has been showcased on Fox Business News and the websites of Bloomberg News, the New Yorker, Yahoo and the Huffington Post. The Overture to his ballet “Crystal Palace” was performed at the 40th Gramophone Classical Music Awards ceremony in London. In 2018 he has been awarded an honorary professorship at the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan.
Mr. Shor’s scores are published by Breitkopf & Hartel and P.Jurgenson.
CDs with his compositions have been issued by Warner Classics, DECCA, SONY Classics, Delos, Berlin Classics, and Melodiya.
Mr. Shor is the Composer-In-Residence for the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra Academie and Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.
Many internationally acclaimed artists have performed Mr Shor’s music, including (in alphabetical order) Behzod Abduraimov, Salvatore Accardo, Ray Chen, Steven Isserlis, Evgeny Kissin, Denis Kozukhin, Shlomo Mintz, Mikhail Pletnev, Gil Shaham, Yeol Eum Son, Yekwon Sunwoo, Maxim Vengerov, Nikolaj Znaider and many others.
He also holds a Ph.D. in mathematics.
Conductor | UK
Alexander Shelley succeeded Pinchas Zukerman as Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in September 2015. The ensemble has since been praised as “an orchestra transformed … hungry, bold, and unleashed” (Ottawa Citizen) and Alexander’s programming credited for turning the orchestra “almost overnight … into one of the more audacious orchestras in North America.” (Maclean’s Magazine).
Born in London in October 1979, Alexander, the son of celebrated concert pianists, studied cello and conducting in Germany and first gained widespread attention when he was unanimously awarded first prize at the 2005 Leeds Conductors' Competition, with the press describing him as "the most exciting and gifted young conductor to have taken this highly prestigious award. His conducting technique is immaculate, everything crystal clear and a tool to his inborn musicality”. In August 2017 Alexander concluded his tenure as Chief Conductor of the Nürnberger Symphoniker, a position he held since September 2009. The partnership was hailed by press and audience alike as a golden era for the orchestra, where he transformed the ensemble’s playing, education work and international touring activities. These have included concerts in Italy, Belgium, China and a re-invitation to the Musikverein in Vienna.
In January 2015 he assumed the role of Principal Associate Conductor of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he curates an annual series of concerts at Cadogan Hall and tours both nationally and internationally.
Described as “a natural communicator both on and off the podium” (Daily Telegraph) Alexander works regularly with the leading orchestras of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia, including the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Bamberg Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony, Stockholm Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic and Orchestre Metropolitain Montreal. This season Alexander makes his debut with Toronto Symphony and Colorado Symphony and returns to Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Sao Paul Symphony and the Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand symphony orchestras. He also embarks on an extensive tour of Germany and South Africa with the German National Youth Orchestra.
Highlights of the previous season include debuts with the Sydney Symphony, Orchestre National de Belgique, Orquesta Sinfonica de Valencia, and Milwaukee Symphony; alongside returns to Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg and Tasmanian Symphony. Alexander also led National Arts Centre Orchestra on a critically acclaimed tour of Europe with concerts in cities such as London, Paris, Stockholm and Copenhagen.
Alexander’s operatic engagements have included The Merry Widow and Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet (Den Kongelige Opera); La Bohème (Opera Lyra/National Arts Centre), Iolanta (Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen), Così fan Tutte (Opéra National de Montpellier), The Marriage of Figaro (Opera North) in 2015 and he led a co-production of Harry Somers’ Louis Riel in 2017 with the NACO and Canadian Opera Company.
Alexander was awarded the ECHO prize in 2016 for his second Deutsche Grammophon recording, “Peter and the Wolf”, and both the ECHO and Deutsche Grunderpreis in his capacity as Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen’s “Zukunftslabor”, a visionary project of grass-roots engagement, which uses music as a source for social cohesion and integration. Through his work as Founder and Artistic Director of the Schumann Camerata and their ground-breaking “440Hz” series in Dusseldorf, and through his leadership roles in Nuremberg, Bremen and Ottawa, inspiring future generations of classical musicians and listeners has always been central to Alexander’s work. He has led the German National Youth Orchestra on several tours of Germany and works with many thousands of young people a year in outreach projects. He regularly gives informed and passionate pre- and post-concert talks on his programmes, as well as numerous interviews and podcasts on the role of classical music in society. He has a wealth of experience conducting and presenting major open-air events - in Nuremberg alone he has, over the course of nine years, hosted more than half a million people at the annual Klassik Open Air concerts - Europe’s largest classical music event. Visit alexandershelley.com for more info.
For the most up-to-date biography, please contact us. This biography should not be edited without permission from Askonas Holt. AUGUST 2019
Conductor | Uzbekistan
Born in 1984 in Tashkent, Alibek Kabdurakhmanov graduated from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with a Bachelors in Percussion Instruments in 2006, a Masters in the same field in 2008, and a Masters in Opera and Symphonic Conducting in 2019.
Since 2007 he has been an accompanist of the percussion group of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, becoming conductor of the orchestra in 2014, and its main conductor in 2018.
As conductor, he has worked with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, State Academic Symphony Orchestra Almaty, Musical theater orchestra - studio at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, Ensemble of contemporary music “Omnibus” Orchestra named “Kurmangazy”, and Youth symphony orchestra of Uzbekistan, among others.
He appeared in many festivals including the International Contemporary Music Festival "Turbulence"; 33 International festival "Moscow Autumn" Sessions of the Youth Orchestra of the World (JMWO); International Festival “Musical Summer Evenings”; International Festival "Euro-Orchestra"; International festival “Drums of the World”; International "Easter Festival", and International festival "Ilkhom-XX".
He has won various awards, including Laureate of the Tasanno Prize in the Field of Culture (2005, 2007); Grand Prix at the Shabyt International Competition (2007); Special prize "for best performance with an orchestra" in the International Competition "EMCY Art for Music Prize" (2006); 2nd prize of the International Competition “EMCY Art for Music Prize” (2006).
Conductor | Russia
Alexander Sladkovsky is a Russian conductor, the People's Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan, the People's Artist of Russia, who graduated from Moscow and Saint Petersburg conservatories. He is a winner of the III International Prokofiev Competition. In 2001, he conducted in a concert at the Hermitage Theater in honor of the visit of Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. He assisted Mariss Jansons and Mstislav Rostropovich and from 2006 to 2010 he was a conductor of the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Yuri Bashmet. Since 2010 Alexander Sladkovsky is an Artistic Director and a Chief Conductor of the Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra in the city of Kazan (Tatarstan, Russia), which he transformed into one of the finest orchestras in Russia.
Working with the Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra for 11 years, he has significantly enhanced the status of the orchestra in the musical life of the Republic of Tatarstan and the whole country. He expanded the range of its creative capacities, effectively putting into practice the latest formats of professional work at the international level. Concerts featuring TNSO under the direction of Alexander Sladkovsky are very popular in Tatarstan, and every performance is usually sold out. Perm, Omsk, Tyumen, Irkutsk, Saint Petersburg, and Moscow are among those Russian cities, where Sladkovsky and his orchestra are known and appreciated.
In 2014, the TNSO conducted by Alexander Sladkovsky performed at the La Folle Journée festival in Japan. In 2016, for the first time in the orchestra's history, it gave concerts during a European tour in the Brucknerhaus (Linz) and in the Golden Hall of Musikverein (Vienna). In December 2018, the TNSO and Maestro Alexander Sladkovsky made the first tour in China.
The TNSO under the direction of Alexander Sladkovsky is the first Russian regional orchestra recorded by Medici.tv and Mezzo channels. Moreover, one of the concerts at the La Folle Journée festival in 2019 in Nantes was recorded and broadcasted by ARTE channel.
Orchestras under Alexander Sladkovsky took part in various important national and international projects and festivals, such as Musical Olympus, Musical spring, Yuri Temirkanov Arts Square festival, Wild Cherry Forest, All-Russian Irina Bogacheva Young Opera Singers' Competition, Rodion Shchedrin's Self-portrait festival (held in 2002 for the 70th anniversary of the composer), Young Euro Classic festival (Berlin), XII and XIII Easter festivals, Crescendo festival, Schleswig-Holstein Musik festival, Kunstfest Weimar, Budapest Spring festival 2006, V Festival of the World's Symphony Orchestras, XI Wörthersee Classics Festival (Klagenfurt, Austria), Hibla Gerzmava Invites…festival, International Festival of Vocal Music Opera Apriori, Russian Day in the World (Victoria Hall, Geneva), International Tchaikovsky Arts Festival in Klin, International Piano Festival La Roque d'Anthéron and La Folle Journée in France.
Alexander Sladkovsky collaborated with internationally renowned artists such as D. Matsuev, Y. Bashmet, M. Pletnev, R. Honeck, K. Penderecki, R. Buchbinder, B. Berezovsky, B. Douglas, Y. Yokoyama, N. Lugansky, A. Toradze, E. Mechetina, K. Bashmet, V. Tretiakov, R. Capuçon, J.-Y. Thibaudet, G. Kremer, V. Repin, V. Gluzman, N. Znaider, F. Dumont, L. Kavakos, J. Rachlin, P. Tsukerman, S. Krylov, A. Baeva, D. Sitkovetsky, D. Geringas, A. Knyazev, M. Brunello, A. Rudin, M. Caballé, I. Bogacheva, O. Borodina, H. Gerzmava, S. Kermes, A. Shagimuratova, A. Garifullina, D. Alieva, Sumi Jo, R. Alagna, P. Domingo, D. Hvorostovsky, I. Abdrazakov, L. Debarg and the others.
In October 2013 Maestro Sladkovsky was invited by Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia to conduct works of Sergei Rachmaninov during the anniversary concerts dedicated to the composer. In the same season, he was re-invited to conduct several concerts with a Tchaikovsky program. Previous collaborations have included the Bolshoi Theatre, State Academic Symphony Orchestra "Evgeny Svetlanov", Russian National Orchestra, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic of Russia, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, Niedersächsisches Staatsorchester Hannover, Orchestra of Theatro Municipal De São Paulo, orchestras of the Moscow, Novosibirsk and Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, Concerto Budapest Orchestra and Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Russo-German Music Academy Orchestra.
In April 2014, the TNSO under the direction of Alexander Sladkovsky performed at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris at the ceremony, where Denis Matsuev was awarded the title of "Goodwill Ambassador". In the 2014/15 concert season, Alexander Sladkovsky with the TNSO performed at the Bolshoi Theater of Russia during the concert, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Crescendo festival, and in Saint Petersburg within the first orchestra's subscription at the Mariinsky Concert Hall.
Alexander Sladkovsky is the founder and the artistic director of the Rakhlin Seasons, Miras, White Lilac, Kazan Autumn, Concordia, Denis Matsuev Meets Friends, and Creative Discovery festivals. In 2012 Sony Music and RCA Red Seal released a three-CD album entitled "Anthology of music by composers of Tatarstan" and a CD "Enlightenment". In 2016 in cooperation with the Melodiya record label several global musical projects were realized: the recording of three symphonies of G. Mahler (Nos. 1, 5, 9) and also recordings of all symphonies and concertos of D. Shostakovich. In May 2020, the digital release of the "Tchaikovsky-2020" box set took place — a recording of all symphonies and instrumental concerts by P. I. Tchaikovsky on the Sony Classical label.
The Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Alexander Sladkovsky is currently the first and only regional orchestra that has been honored to have its own annual subscription in the Moscow State Philharmonic Society.
In June 2015 Maestro Sladkovsky was awarded the medal of the commemorative badge "Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov", and in October 2015, the President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov presented him the Duslyk Order ("duslyk" in translation from the Tatar language means "friendship"). In 2016, Alexander Sladkovsky was awarded the prize "Conductor of the Year" by the national newspaper The Musical Review and "Person of the Year in Culture", according to the magazine Delovoi Kvartal and the Kazan-based online newspaper Business Online.
In 2019, Alexander Sladkovsky has been awarded the Sergei Rachmaninov International Award in the nomination "Special Project in the Name of Sergei Rachmaninov" for special attention to his legacy and organizing the Sergei Rachmaninov International Festival "White Lilac" in Kazan. In the autumn of 2019, Alexander Sladkovsky established an annual scholarship at the Moscow Conservatory for students of the Opera and Symphony Conducting Division aimed at supporting and developing the talent of young conductors.
Conductor | USA/Spain
Grammy nominated conductor, cellist and conductor Dmitry Yablonksy was born in Moscow into a musical family. He began playing the cello when he was 5 years old and was accepted to the Central Music School for gifted children. At the age of 9 he gave his orchestral debut playing Haydn’s cello concerto. Since then, his career had taken him to the most important stages in the world, such as the Carnegie Hall, La Scala, Moscow Great Hall, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall, Taiwan National Hall, Theatre Champs Elysees, Tokyo Opera City Hall among others. He has collaborated with many world renown artists as Monserrat Caballe, Roberto Alagna, Olga Borodina and many more. Dmitry started to conduct at age 26 and has conducted more then 50 orchestras all over the world including The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he made 4 cd’s.Dmitry Yablonsky has studied cello with Isaak Buravsky, Lorne Monroe, David Soyer, Aldo Parisot and Zara Nelsova. He also took master classes with Mstislav Rostropovich, Janos Starker, Andre Navarra, Maurice Gendron, , Misha Schneider among others. His conducting teachers have been Otto Werner Muller, Yuri Simonov and Gennady Rozhdestvensky. He has participated in many festivals all over the world including Marlboro Festival. He has recorded more then 90 CD’s as cellist and conductor to great critical acclaim. He is an Artistic Director of Gabala Music Festival, Puigcerda Music Festival and Wandering Music Stars Festival. Dmitry Yablonsky is Music Director of Kiev Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra. Since fall 2016, he is teaching cello and chamber music at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University and has been recently named Head of International Relations of the same University.Dmitry plays two cellos: a Joseph Filius Andrea Guarneri and a Matteo Goffriller.
Cello | Armenia · UK
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.
Alexander’s recordings include several highly acclaimed CDs for the BIS label in which he is partnered by Yevgeny Sudbin, and his recently released concerto CD with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, also on BIS, received rave reviews and was selected ‘Album of the Week’ by the Independent. His many concerts during this season include performances in France, Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, China and Japan.
“Alexander Chaushian firmly establishes himself in the echelons of international cellists” — The Strad
Violin | Kazakhstan
Aiman Mussakhajayeva - outstanding violinist, People's Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan," Kazakstannyn Enbek Eri", Rector of the Kazakh National University of Arts, "Artist for Peace", professor, prominent public figure.
She studied at a violin from 6 years at the Republican music school named after K. Bayseitova in Professor N.M. Patrusheva’s class.
She graduated with honors out of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory from the class of Professor Valeriy Klimov.
She is the laureate of the International Competition in Belgrade (Yugoslavia, 1976), N.Paganini International Competition in Genoa (Italy, 1981), Tokyo International Competition (Japan, 1983), Ya.Sibelius International Competition in Helsinki (Finland, 1985), P.Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow (Russia, 1986).
She released two CDs on the famous label “Deutsche Grammophon” one with pianist Pavel Gililov and another one with the orchestra Wiener Symphoniker, conducted by Manuel Hernández Silva with the violin concertos of Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev.
Aiman Mussakhajayeva - holds the Honorary title of UNESCO “Artist for Peace” (1998); Academician of the International Academy of Art (1998), Cavalier of “the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic” awarded by the President of Italy, Holder of the Silver Medal Gustav Mahler, the Vatican Award, Santa Cecilia Silver Cup for contribution to the development and strengthening cultural ties between two countries, Cavalier of the Order of “Friendship” (Russia), laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of literature, art, architecture (2000), laureate of independent award of patrons of Kazakhstan “Platinum Tarlan” (2002).
For outstanding achievements in the field of musical art A. Mussakhajayeva was awarded the State Prize of Peace and Progress of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and international Prize “Stars of the Commonwealth”. Member of the Laureates Association of Tchaikovsky International Competition.
In 2002 the name of Aiman Mussakhajayeva was entered in the list of World Honorary IВС “2000 Outstanding Musicians of the 20th century”, and also in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of the University of Cambridge “Outstanding musicians of the 20th century” (2002), the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge awarded the honorary title “International Musician of 2003”.
Aiman Mussakhajayeva cooperates with well-known musicians, including Mischa Maisky, Bruno Canino, Victor Tretyakov, Eduard Grach, Paul Gililov, Vladimir Spivakov, Sergei Raldugin, Christian Schulz, Gudni Emilsson etc.
In different years, has performed with leading symphonic orchestras and chamber orchestras of the world - Wiener Symphoniker, Royal Philharmonic orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, the National Symphony Orchestra of Russia, the European Youth Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles under management of Vladimir Fedoseyev, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Mikhail Pletnev, Paul Kogan, Vladimir Spivakov, Saulius Sondetskis, Mikhail Yurovsky, Fuat Mansurov and many others.
Aiman Mussakhajayeva performs in the best concert halls of the world: Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory (Moscow), Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Centre, Avery Fisher Hall (New York), Musicverein (Wien) Gaveau, Cortot and Pleyel Concert Halls (Paris), Santa Cecilia (Roma), Queen Elizabeth Hall, Vigmor Hall, Barbican Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Guildhall (London), Konzerthaus (Berlin, Wien).
Concerts are performed by Aiman Mussakhajayeva on the violin by Antonio Stradivari (1732).
Piano | France
Winner of the prestigious Cleveland International Piano Competition 2016, pianist Nikita Mndoyants was able to convince with his elegance, his technical prowess and the transparency of his playing. In 2007, the young Nikita also won First Prize at the Paderewsky International Piano Competition Poland. Nikita Mndoyants, trained at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, has performed under the direction of renowned conductors such as Charles Dutoit, Leonard Slatkin, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Vassily Sinaisky or Mario Venzago. He has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the “Evgeny Svetlanov” State Academic Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra de Mulhouse, the Philharmonie de Strasbourg and many more. . In recital, he has traveled to the greatest stages in the world and was applauded in particular at Carnegie Hall in New York, at the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, at the Salle Cortot and at the Auditorium du Louvre in Paris, at the Opéra de Strasbourg , at the Philharmonie du Luxembourg and at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. Nikita Mndoyants is also a regular guest at the Ruhr Piano Festival (Germany), the Chopin Festival in Duszniki-Zdroj (Poland), the Freiburg International Piano Series (Switzerland) and since 2012, the International Music Festival of Wissembourg (France). After performing with the illustrious Borodin Quartet in 2004, he continued to cultivate his passion for chamber music alongside fabulous ensembles such as the Brentano, Ebène and Zemlinsky Quartets. Recognized composer and orchestrator, Nikita Mndoyants likes to share his own compositions with the public of his recitals. Nikita Mndoyants is well known on the airwaves of France-Musique as well as Polish Radio; he has resided in France since 2018.
Violin | South Korea · Germany
Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is an artist of supreme musicality, impeccable refinement and poise as borne out by the many awards and accolades she has received, since she first burst on the scene as winner of the Indianapolis International Violin Competition in 2010, hot on the heels of her successes at the Seoul Violin Competition (2009) and the Sendai Violin Competition (2010). Her cycle of Beethoven Violin Sonatas with pianist Sunwook Kim, released on Accentus last season, has received outstanding reviews and been nominated for an Opus Klassik Award 2022 (Instrumentalist of the Year).
Recent and current highlights include her debut at the BBC Proms with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under Ryan Bancroft performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, tours with the Munich Philharmonic and BBC Philharmonic under Myung-whun Chung and Juanjo Mena respectively, and performances with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and the Deutschekammerphilharmonie Bremen. In 2023 she will also tour Australasia for performances with the Melbourne Symphony, Auckland Philharmonic, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and KBS Symphony Orchestra.
She made her concerto debut in Hamburg at the age of five and has since performed with orchestras including the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, and the Belgian National Orchestra with conductors such as Chung, Xavier-Roth, Petrenko, Paavo Järvi, and Yamada.
Further afield, her performances have taken her to the USA with the Atlanta, New Jersey, Indianapolis and Santa Fe Symphony Orchestras, as well as Asia with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestras. She was selected as one of the top 100 'Most promising and influential people of Korea' in 2012 by major Korean newspaper Dong-A Times, and was awarded the Daewon Music Award (2012) for her outstanding international achievements, as well as Kumho Musician of the Year (2015).
Kang has recorded two albums for Decca: Modern Solo, featuring works including Schubert Erlkönig and Ysaÿe Sonatas, and a Brahms/Schumann album with Yeol-Eum Son. A dedicated chamber musician, she is a member of the Spectrum Concerts series at the Berlin Philharmonie and a regular visitor to festivals across Asia and Europe.
Born in Germany to a musical family, Clara-Jumi Kang took up the violin at the age of three and a year later enrolled as the youngest ever student at the Mannheim Musikhochschule. She went on to study with Zakhar Bron at the Lübeck Musikhochschule and at the age of seven was awarded a full scholarship to the Julliard School to study with Dorothy Delay. She took her Bachelor and Masters degrees at the Korean National University of Arts under Nam-Yun Kim before completing her studies at the Munich Musikhochschule with Christoph Poppen.
Intermusica represents Clara-Jumi Kang worldwide, excluding Spain, South Korea & Japan.
Piano | JAPAN ∙ FRANCE
First prize at the National Piano Competition in Japan, launched her international career as the winner of the 2nd Grand Prix in the Long/Thibaud Competition in Paris with 4 special prizes given by A. Rubinstein, Emile Sauer, Prince Rainier Ⅲ of Monaco. Laureat at the 10th Fryderyk Chopin International Competition in Warsaw. She studied with A.Ciccolini (Paris Conservatoire), V. Perlemuter, C. Hansen, L.Kentner, C.Zerah, S.Nagai & T.Matsuura.She has performed throughout the world in 36 countries, at Berlin Philharmony Hall, Gewanthaus concert Hall, Suntory Hall, Teatro Colon, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Salle Pleyel, Salle Gaveau, Wigmore Hall, with outstanding orchestras and conductors such as Skrowacewski, F.Bruggen, Janowsky, Sinaisky, Foster, Sado, Inoué, Gushulbauer, P.I.Calderón etc. Her Duo Concert with M. Argerich has been broadcasted many times in the world. She performed often with M.Argerich, A. Dumay, R.Pasquier, A.Noras, A. Hewitt, with the Quintets as Moragues, Parisii, Via Nova etc. She appears regularly at festivals in Warsaw, La Roque d’Anthéron, Menton, Echternach, Verbier, Nantes, Nice, Lugano, Lisbon, Toledo, New York,Tokyo, Salt Lake City etc. Her discography includes Chopin, Ravel, Dynam-Victor Fumet (world first recording). Also works by Fauré, Franck, Grieg, Lekeu, Pierné, Webern. She was awarded twice Grand Prix d’Or for her recordings of Hikari Ōe. For her services to French music, Ebi was named a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 1993 in France, and in 2002 she received Japan’s prestigious ExxonMobile Music Prize.She is often invited to give master classes in many countries as France, Belgium, Germany, England, Italy, Spain, Russia, Finland, many cities in USA, Canada, Argentine, Japan. Jury member at many international major competitions such as Chopin in Warsaw, Long, Haskil, Bachauer, Santander, Montreal, Hamamatsu for which she was the president of jury in 2012 & 2015.
Soprano | USA · Australia
Danielle de Niese has been hailed as “opera’s coolest soprano” by New York Times Magazine and “not just a superb performer, but a phenomenal one” by Opera News. A multi-faceted artist, de Niese has gained wide recognition for her superb stagecraft, assured singing and her ability to communicate on every level. She regularly appears on the world’s most prestigious opera and concert stages and is a prolific recording artist, TV personality and philanthropist.
In the 2019/20 season de Niese makes a highly anticipated debut at Teatro alla Scala as Cleopatra in Robert Carsen’s new production of Giulio Cesare, one of her signature roles. She also returns home to Los Angeles, where she made her operatic debut at the age of 15 to sing the title role in the world premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s highly anticipated new opera Eurydice as well as making a hugely exciting role debut as Blanche in Barrie Kosky’s new production of Dialogues des Carmélites at Glyndebourne.
In the previous season she returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago, to sing Musetta La bohème in Richard Jones’ acclaimed production, a role for which she garnered huge acclaim at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. She also starred as Norina in Laurent Pelly’s production of Don Pasquale at La Monnaie and made her role debut as Cendrillon at Glyndebourne in a new production by Fiona Shaw. De Niese also made a hugely successful west end debut in as Aldonza and Dulcinea Man of La Mancha alongside Kelsey Grammer at the London Coliseum. On the recital platform she appeared at the Cheltenham Festival in their 75th anniversary season.
Recent highlights include a sensational debut as Hanna Glawari with Opera Australia in a new production of Merry Widow, first presented in Melbourne and reopening in Sydney with a gala performance on New Year’s Eve; a return to Royal Opera House where she sang her first Musetta to huge public and critical acclaim; Norina Don Pasquale at Wiener Staatsoper; the hugely successful Wonderful Town with Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, which was subsequently released on CD and for which she was nominated for the Opus Klassik Female Artist of the Year. Other concert appearances include successful solo tours in the Middle East and in Asia; an opera gala with the RTE National Symphony Orchestra; headlining the BBC Biggest Weekend at Scone Palace in Perth; and a chamber music evening curated by De Niese, part of the reopening of the Queen Elisabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre where together with her guests Menahem Pressler, Sir James Galway, Mark Simpson and the Navarra String Quartet she performed music by Roussel, Schubert and Chausson.
Further successes include a double header for the BBC Proms, singing at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Jonas Kaufmann, broadcast worldwide, and at Proms in the Park in Hyde Park as well as appearances at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and gala concerts with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and in St Petersburg at ‘Classics at the Palace Square’. Audiences in the UK have heard her in recital with Julius Drake at the Barbican, the Snape Proms and at the Birmingham Conservatoire as part of the Celebrity Recital Series. Her operatic engagements included the world premiere of Jimmy López’s Bel Canto at Lyric Opera of Chicago conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, her role debut as Donna Elvira Don Giovanni with Semperoper Dresden, Norina Don Pasquale in her company debut with Wiener Staatsoper, Adina L’elisir d'amore at the Opera national du Rhin, Rodelinda and Poppea Agrippina at Theater an der Wien and the new production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia as Rosina at the Glyndebourne Festival and BBC Proms. Further operatic appearances include Concepción L’heure espagnole and L’Enfant L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Norina Don Pasquale, Adina L’Elisir d’amore at Glyndebourne Festival Opera; Susanna Le nozze di Figaro, Ariel The Enchanted Island, and Despina Così fan tutte , all at the Metropolitan Opera New York; the title role L'incoronazione di Poppea at Teatro Real Madrid; Partenope and Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro at San Francisco Opera; the title role of Semele at Theâtre des Champs-Elysees; the title role of La Calisto at Bayerische Staatsoper; and Poppea Agrippina at Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona.
Born in Australia to parents of Sri Lankan and Dutch heritage, de Niese, became at the age of eighteen, the youngest ever singer to enter the Metropolitan Opera’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. One year later she made her Metropolitan Opera debut under James Levine, as Barbarina in Jonathan Miller’s acclaimed new production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. On the strength of her performance, de Niese went on to make major debuts at the Opéra National de Paris, Saito Kinen Festival and Netherlands Opera. In 2005 de Niese made her Glyndebourne Festival debut as Cleopatra in Sir David McVicar’s production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare and was catapulted to international fame. She has since reprised the role in the 2009 Glyndebourne revival, and in 2013 at the Metropolitan Opera, always to critical praise.
A prolific recording artist, her debut recording for Decca, Handel Arias, was awarded the prestigious Orphée d'Or from and the much-coveted ECHO Klassik award, as well as earning her a Classical Brit Award nomination for Female Artist of the Year. The Mozart Album, Diva, and Beauty of the Baroque followed.
A TV and media personality, De Niese won her first Emmy at the age of 16, when hosting a weekly arts showcase for teenagers at a Los Angeles local television. Her many TV appearances received widespread attention whilst her BBC documentaries such as Diva Diaries, The Birth of an Opera and the most recent and highly praised Unsung Heroines attest her extraordinary passion for the artform she represents and tireless commitment to bringing new audiences to it.
Offstage, de Niese is an advocate for children’s rights and a passionate philanthropist and has been named by Marie Claire magazine on its influential list of “Women on Top”. She is an Ambassador for HRH The Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Children and the Arts, a patron of Future Talent, which assists young musicians and singers with financial support and guidance and is an Artist Member of the Mannes Board of Governors. For the past year, de Niese has also been serving as an official Ambassador Voice for the International Rescue Committee.
Violin | Sweden
Violinist Daniel Lozakovich’s majestic music-making has left critics and audiences spellbound. “Perfect mastery. An exceptional talent,” observed *Le Figaro* after a performance at the Verbier Festival, while the *Boston Globe* praised the “poise, tonal purity, and technique to spare” during his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons at the Tanglewood Festival in July 2017.
Daniel was born in Stockholm in 2001 and began playing the violin when he was almost seven. He made his solo debut two years later with the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Vladimir Spivakov in Moscow.
At the age of 15, Lozakovich signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, and in 2018 released his debut album of Bach’s two violin concertos in collaboration with the Kammerorchester des Symphonieorchesters des Bayerischen Rundfunks, along with the solo *Partita No. 2*. The album reached number 1 in the all-music category of the French Amazon charts and topped the classical album charts in Germany.
“None but the Lonely Heart,” Lozakovich’s second album, was released in 2019. Dedicated to Tchaikovsky, it includes the Violin Concerto, recorded live with the National Philharmonic of Russia and Vladimir Spivakov. *Grammophone* magazine named this recording as the “Top choice” spanning 70 years of the best recordings of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.
Lozakovich’s third album, released in 2020, focuses on the Beethoven Violin Concerto, recorded live with the Münchner Philharmoniker under Valery Gergiev. The project was released both as an audio album and e-video during the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, a project significant to Lozakovich, who considers the concerto one of the greatest ever written.
On *Spirits*, his latest 4th Deutsche Grammophon recording, Lozakovich celebrates some of his forebears in the hope of passing on their style and repertoire to younger generations. Partnered by pianist Stanislav Soloviev, Lozakovich performs favorite encores by Elgar, Debussy, Falla, Gluck, Brahms, and Kreisler.
Lozakovich studied at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe with Professor Josef Rissin from 2012 and graduated with a Master’s degree in 2021.
He plays the “ex-Sancy” 1713 Stradivari, generously loaned by LVMH / Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Piano | South Korea
Yeol Eum Son’s graceful and timeless interpretations, crystalline touch and versatile, thrilling performances have caught the attention of audiences worldwide. Praised for her widely eclectic concerti repertoire, ranging from Bach, all-Mozart, early German and Russian Romantic to Gershwin and Ligeti, Yeol Eum has collaborated with major ensembles worldwide such as Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Dresdner Philharmoniker, The Tonkunstler Orchestra at the Grafenegg Festival, Bergen Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Seoul Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Moscow Virtuosi among many others.
Yeol Eum performs with conductors such as Dmitri Kitayenko, Valery Gergiev, Vasily Petrenko, Vladimir Spivakov, Andrew Manze, Susanna Mälkki, Omer Meir Wellber, Cristian Măcelaru, Pietari Inkinen, Jonathan Nott, Mikko Franck, Nicholas Collon, Joshua Weilerstein, Joana Carneiro, Pablo González, Case Scaglione, Roberto González-Monjas and Yan Pascal Tortelier.
Across the 20/21 season Yeol Eum serves as Artist in Residence with the Residentie Orkest from the Hague. In front of the Dutch audience and under the baton of conductors Nick Collon, Pablo González and Joshua Weilerstein, Yeol Eum presents a selection of some of the finest concerti of the piano repertoire including Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.4, Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Ravel's Piano Concerto in G. Beyond Zuiderstrandtheater in the Hague, her residency will take her to some of the major venues across the Netherlands including Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, Apeldoorn's Orpheus and Utrecht's TivoliVredenburg, Yeol Eum also gives a recital at the Hague's Nieuwe Kirk and a Masterclass at the Hague's conservatory.
In summer 2019 Yeol Eum made her Royal Albert Hall and BBC Proms debut with the BBC Philharmonic interpreting Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 15. Her most recent debut with the Liverpool Philharmonic (Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto) was met with high acclaim for which Johanna Roberts wrote: Yeol Eum Son throughout demonstrated the technical excellence partnered with lyrical sensitivity that have made her one of the most sought-after concert pianists in a virtuoso performance that was much appreciated by the audience. During her recent UK tour with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Yeol Eum returned to London’s Cadogan Hall and debuted at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and at Basingstoke’s the Anvil Concert Hal (Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the left hand). Following her hugely successful debut with Aurora orchestra earlier in 2019, Yeol Eum © 2017 IMG Artists; Please do not make alterations to this biography without contacting IMG Artists. was instantly re-invited and features as a soloist on their March 2020 tour under Nick Collon (Mozart Piano Concerto No.23) with concerts taking place at King’s Place in London as well as at St George’s concert hall in Bristol and at the Apex concert hall in Bury St Edmunds. Yeol Eum subsequently makes her debut with Aurora Orchestra at the opening of the Heidelberger Frühling festival.
A distinguished Mozart interpreter, in the recent concert seasons, Yeol Eum made major UK debuts with the CBSO in Birmingham (Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 21) and at London’s Cadogan Hall with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (Mozart’s Piano Concerti No’s 8 & 21). Her London debut coincided with Onyx CD release of a highly acclaimed all-Mozart recording featuring Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21 with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner for whom it was the very last recording. According to The Times Yeol Eum Son is a model of clarity and fleetness whilst Gramophone called the recording an uncommonly fine Mozartian debut.
Further concerti debuts across the 19/20 season and beyond include collaborations with Budapest Festival Orchestra (Rachmaninov No. 2); West Australian Symphony Orchestra (Mozart No. 21); New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Mozart No. 27); St Paul Chamber Orchestra (play-direct of Beethoven No.4); Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven No.4); Liège Philharmonic (Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue and Variations on I got Rhythm); Helsinki Philharmonic (Yashiro Piano Concerto); WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne at the RadiRo Festival in Bucharest (Rachmaninov No. 2); Philharmonie de Paris debut with Orchestre National d'Île-de-France (Rachmaninov No.2); RTVE Symphony Orchestra (Szymanowski Sinfonia Concertante) and a tour of Belgium with the Flanders Symphony Orchestra (Liszt No.1). Following her previous successful collaborations, Yeol Eum returns to Gävle Symphony Orchestra (Chopin No.2), Bergen Philharmonic (Rachmaninov No.2), Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne (Prokofiev No.2) and Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken (Prokofiev No.3).
A sensitive, emotional and powerful recitalist, Yeol Eum gives frequent solo and chamber performances across the globe. Most recent recitals include debuts with San Francisco Chamber Music Society, The Phillips Collection in Washington DC, Helsingborg Piano Festival, International Piano Series Fribourg, Istanbul Recitalleri, Moscow's House of Music, Welsh debut at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Scottish recital debut at the East Neuk Festival for which The Scotsman presides Yeol Eum for having found that vital emotional connection with the music and physically embracing its raw energy and dynamic extremes with ferocious virtuosity. In the 19/20 season and beyond Yeol Eum makes recital debuts in Luzerne's KKLSaal, Bern's Paul Klee Centre, Porto's Casa da Música, Belgrade's Kolarac Concert Hall and at the Tallin Piano Festival.
An avid chamber musician, in 2018 Yeol Eum was appointed Artistic Director of Music in PyeongChang, the biggest music festival in her native Korea. Yeol Eum is responsible for programming both summer and winter festivals at the Olympic site in PyeongChang. Further chamber highlights in 2020 include appearances at Philharmonie Cologne for collaborations with the principle players from WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 arranged for Piano and String Quintet) and with Quatuor Modigliani. © 2017 IMG Artists; Please do not make alterations to this biography without contacting IMG Artists. Yeol Eum’s new releases include two DECCA albums: recital CD Modern Times- featuring solo piano music written between 1910-1920 by Berg, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Ravel, and Schumann and Brahms CD with violinist Clara-Jumi Kang. Previous albums include debut CD of complete Chopin Etudes (2004); Chopin Nocturnes for Piano and Strings (2008); prize-winning Cliburn Competition live performance (2009) and a multi-channel SACD O’ New World Music (2012).
Yeol Eum is Honorary Ambassador of the Seoul Arts Center and her home city of Wonju. A double Second Prize winner at the Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in 2011 and at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, Yeol Eum Son was a student of Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany, where she now lives. She holds a degree from the Korean National University of Arts.
Violin | Ireland
The violinist Daniel Hope has toured the world as a virtuoso soloist for 30 years and is celebrated for his musical versatility as well as his dedication to humanitarian causes. Winner of the 2015 European Cultural Prize for Music, whose previous recipients include Daniel Barenboim and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Daniel Hope appears as soloist with the world’s major orchestras and conductors, also directing many ensembles from the violin. Since the start of the 2016/17 season Hope is Music Director of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra – and from the 2018/19 Season also Music Director of the New Century Chamber Orchestra in San Francisco.
In 2019 he became Artistic Director of the Frauenkirche Cathedral in Dresden, and from 2020 he will assume the role of President of the Beethovenhaus Bonn, an honorary position following in the footsteps of Kurt Masur and Joseph Joachim.
Daniel Hope was raised in London at Highgate School and the Royal Academy of Music, studying the violin with Zakhar Bron, Itzhak Rashkovsky and Felix Andrievsky. The youngest ever member of the Beaux Arts Trio with whom he performed over 400 times during its final six seasons, today Daniel Hope appears at all the world’s greatest halls and festivals: from Carnegie Hall to the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, from Salzburg to Schleswig-Holstein and from Aspen to the BBC Proms and Tanglewood. He has worked with conductors including Kurt Masur, Valery Gergiev and Christian Thielemann, and with the world’s greatest symphony orchestras including Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Paris, London, Los Angeles and Tokyo. Devoted to contemporary music, Hope has commissioned over thirty works, enjoying close contact with composers such as Alfred Schnittke, Toru Takemitsu, Harrison Birtwistle, Sofia Gubaidulina, György Kurtág, Peter Maxwell-Davies and Mark-Anthony Turnage.
Daniel Hope is one of the world’s most prolific classical recording artists, with over 25 albums to his name. His recordings have won the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, the Diapason d’Or of the Year, the Edison Classical Award, the Prix Caecilia, the ECHO-Klassik Award and numerous Grammy nominations. His album of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Octet with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe was named one of the best of the year by the New York Times. His recording of Alban Berg’s Concerto was voted Grammophone Magazine’s “top choice of all available recordings”. His recording of Max Richter's Vivaldi Recomposed, which reached No. 1 in over 22 countries is, with 250,000 copies sold, one of the most successful classical recordings of recent times. Hope has been an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2007.
In 2017 the documentary film “Daniel Hope – The Sound of Life” was screened in European cinemas as well as in Movie Theatres in Australia and North America.
Daniel Hope has penned four bestselling books published in Germany by the Rowohlt publishing company. He contributes regularly to the Wall Street Journal and has written scripts for collaborative performances with the actors Klaus Maria Brandauer and Mia Farrow. In Germany he presents a weekly radio show for the WDR3 Channel and curates, since the 2016/17 season his own salon “Hope@9pm”, a music and talk event with guests from culture and politics at the Konzerthaus Berlin.
Daniel Hope plays the 1742 “ex-Lipínski” Guarneri del Gesù, placed generously at his disposal by an anonymous family from Germany.
He holds both Irish and German citizenship and resides with his family in Berlin. January 2020
Oboe | Germany
When the subject turns to oboists, his name is now de rigueur: Albrecht Mayer. His playing has both listeners and critics raving, with expressions like “divine spark” or the “miraculous oboe” that the German player has elevated to become an “instrument of seduction”. He studied with Gerhard Scheuer, Georg Meerwein, Maurice Bourgue and Ingo Goritzki and began his professional career in 1990 as principal oboist of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Since 1992 he has occupied the same position with the Berlin Phiharmonic. It’s no wonder that Albrecht Mayer ranks today among the most sought-after oboists and has appeared as a soloist with Claudio Abbado, Sir Simon Rattle and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Along with his solo projects, Mayer considers it important to find time for chamber music. He has no dearth of requests and opportunities, and performs regularly with partners such as the pianist Hélène Grimaud, Leif Ove Andsnes and the bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff, with whom he recorded a CD of Bach cantatas.
In his search for new repertoire for his instrument, he is constantly fascinated by the idea of lending his voice (that of the oboe) to “foreign” works — pieces written for other instruments or for singers. Having sung as a child for many years in the Bamberg Cathedral Choir, he is especially attracted to the human voice, as the most “natural” of all instruments. He’s already provided convincing proof of that claim in the recording Lieder ohne Worte — Bach transcriptions for oboe and orchestra, in which the Baroque style and bel canto are delightfully combined. The CD immediately entered the German classical charts at number 2. His CD In search of Mozart recorded with Claudio Abbado and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra made it to the top of the German classical charts, the recording New Seasons presents music by George Frederic Handel in a stunning new light. In August 2008, the oboist’s album In Venice was released by Decca, featuring Baroque oboe concertos from Venetian composers. Another CD with works by J.S. Bach has been released by Decca in autumn 2009, followed by “Bonjour Paris” in autumn 2010 and his CD “Songs of the Reed” in January 2012, both also released by Decca. His album “Let it snow” with the King’s Singers has been released by Deutsche Grammophon in autumn 2013. His albums “Lost and Found”, “Bach – concertos and transcriptions”, “Vocalise” and “Tesori d’Italia” for Deutsche Grammophon came out in spring/autumn 2015, winter 2016 and autumn 2017. His latest, extremely successful Mozart album was published in 2021.
Albrecht Mayer has been elected “Instrumentalist of the Year“ and was rewarded with an ECHO Klassik Prize by the German Phono-Akademie in 2004, 2008 and 2010; in December 2006 Albrecht Mayer was awarded the E.T.A.-Hoffmann Prize by his German hometown Bamberg. Last year he entered the Gramophone „Hall of Fame“ and received the Kulturpreis Bayern.
Albrecht Mayer plays an oboe and oboe d'amore by Mönnig.
Viola | USA
Recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award, First Prize Winner of the Walter E. Naumburg Viola Competition and the Avery Fisher Career Grant, David Aaron Carpenter is widely considered one of the most talented and charismatic musicians of his generation.
David is a former Rolex “Protégé” for which he was mentored by Pinchas Zukerman. David made his solo debut at the Kennedy Center after winning the Presidential Scholar Award and the first-ever Gold Medal Award at the National Foundation For Advancement In The Arts. Since then he has performed with leading musicians and orchestras around the world, from the Philadelphia Orchestra to the Philharmonia, the Dresden Staatskapelle to the Lucerne Symphony.
As a chamber musician, David has collaborated with such renowned artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, Sarah Chang, Leonidas Kavakos, Gidon Kremer, Alan Gilbert, Julian Rachlin, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Jan Vogler, and Yuja Wang. He is a regular guest artist at the Verbier Music Festival, and was proud to be an integral part of their 20th anniversary season. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Salomé Chamber Orchestra, which he co-founded with his brother Sean and sister Lauren.
David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Relations from Princeton University in 2008. David was featured in The New Yorker article “Musical Gold” by Rebecca Mead in July, 2014, on the cover of The Strad magazine in August 2013, and a few months earlier was the subject of a three-page article in The New York Times. Along with the Salomé Chamber Orchestra, David released his Warner Classics recording featuring Vivaldi, Piazzolla and Shor's Twelve Seasons. His newest release on Warner Classics features the Bartok, Walton, Shor and Dvorak Concertos with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestros Vladimir Jurowski, David Parry, and Kazushi Ono.
David plays on a viola made by Michele Deconet, Venice (1766).
UK
Since 1998, the Oxford Philharmonic has brought exciting and inspirational classical music performances to Oxford and beyond. Praised as ‘remarkable’ by The Spectator, the Orchestra prides itself on creating exceptional and unique musical experiences, bringing new and engaging interpretations to well-loved works in the classical repertoire.
In June 2022 the Oxford Philharmonic made its Carnegie Hall debut, in a concert ‘enmeshed in soul-enriching playing’ (Oberon’s Grove) of ‘world-class quality’ (Blogcritics).
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra is dedicated to the highest standards of artistic excellence and musical integrity, and strives to create bold musical statements with every concert it presents. Its continual search for excellence is underpinned by the uncompromising standards of its Founder and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos and maintained by some of the finest musicians, whom ‘Papadopoulos has moulded into a stunning group’ (ConcertoNet).
The Oxford Philharmonic attracts some of the world’s greatest artists to appear in concert, including Maxim Vengerov, Angela Gheorghiu, Sir Antonio Pappano, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Martha Argerich, Sir András Schiff, Lang Lang, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Evgeny Kissin and Sir Bryn Terfel.
In addition to its annual concert season in Oxford, touring performances across the UK, family concerts, annual Oxford Piano Festival, and Chamber Music Series, the Orchestra is proud to present a growing list of international engagements including its debut at the Tivoli Festival in Copenhagen in June 2019, US debut at Carnegie Hall in June 2022, Munich with pianist Martha Argerich in April 2023, and Haydn’s The Creation in September 2023 at St Thomas Church Fifth Avenue New York, joined by the Choir of Merton College.
The Oxford Philharmonic was appointed the Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford in 2002, the first relationship of its kind between an orchestra and a higher education institution.
World-renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov became the Oxford Philharmonic’s first ever Artist in Residence following his remarkable debut with the Orchestra in 2013. Over an unprecedented four-season collaboration, Vengerov performed with the Orchestra across the UK, recorded the violin concertos of Brahms and Sibelius as well as Mendelssohn’s Octet. In July 2018 Vengerov appeared at Cheltenham Music Festival and Saffron Hall with the Soloists of the Oxford Philharmonic – a tight-knit group of musicians described by Jessica Duchen as ‘a line-up to match any top-notch international chamber ensemble and probably beat them on their own turf’.
In February 2023 the Orchestra celebrates its 25th anniversary in a special concert at the Barbican with Maxim Vengerov playing Mendelssohn Violin Concerto and a new commission from John Rutter.
In December 2020, the Orchestra recorded a concert in a tribute to all those working on developing a vaccine for Covid-19 at the University of Oxford, including the world premiere of John Rutter’s Joseph’s Carol, commissioned by the Orchestra for the occasion. In addition to Rutter, the Orchestra were joined in their tribute by Sir Bryn Terfel and the Choir of Merton College, Oxford. The film was presented by John Suchet, and also included a special performance by Maxim Vengerov alongside tributes from Anne-Sophie Mutter, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford Louise Richardson, and the Orchestra’s Royal Patron HRH Princess Alexandra.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has been firmly committed to outreach work from its earliest days, with projects taking music to areas of social and economic disadvantage, including hospitals, special schools, and partnerships with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. In December 2021 the Orchestra’s Sub-Principal Violin Jamie Hutchinson was awarded the prestigious Salomon Prize, a joint prize between the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) and Association of British Orchestras (ABO), in recognition of the educational initiatives she spearheaded with the Orchestra’s education team during the pandemic.
As Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford, the Oxford Philharmonic frequently collaborates with the Faculty of Music in educational programmes with various tuition and performance opportunities for talented young musicians, including the Side-by-Side scheme, which provides an opportunity for young musicians to perform within the ranks of a professional orchestra.
The Oxford Philharmonic has appeared on several recordings including works by Nimrod Borenstein for Chandos, cello concertos by Shostakovich and Mats Lidström (Solo Cello of the Oxford Philharmonic), both conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy, on BIS Records, A Merton Christmas with the Choir of Merton College, Haydn’s The Creation with the Choir of New College, and the Handel/Mendelssohn Acis and Galatea with Christ Church Cathedral Choir. The Orchestra’s most recent disc The Enlightened Trumpet with soloist Paul Merkelo was released on Sony Classical in September 2019.
A partnership with J & A Beare provides the Orchestra’s distinguished members with opportunities to play on Stradivari instruments, adding a new dimension to the sound of the Orchestra.
The Orchestra and its Music Director were awarded the City of Oxford’s Certificate of Honour in 2013, in recognition of their contribution to education and performance in Oxford.
Armenia
Emerging from a group of lovers and devotees to classical music, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra was created in 2005 by Sergey Smbatyan, the present Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the orchestra. From the very onset of its existence, the orchestra has been home to bright and energetic musicians, assembled around the shared vision of amplifying the cultural awareness in Armenia and elevating the spiritual excellence of human nature by the power of classical music.
The orchestra performs over 50 concerts annually, with a rich and multifarious repertoire covering multiple music genres and performance formats. Today, the 15-year-old orchestra has accrued both local and international reputation for its orchestral virtuosity and performing precision and has been spotlighted with many uplifting reviews by renowned critics and art reviewers.
The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra has been hosted by many reputable concert halls around the world, including Opera Garnier (Paris), Konzerthaus (Berlin), Dr. Anton Philipszaal (Hague), Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Great Hall of Conservatory (Moscow), Palais des Beaux-Arts (Brussels), Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Royal Theatre (Madrid), Dubai Opera House and others. It has been profiled a multitude of times with such world-class composers as Krzysztof Penderecki, Sir Karl Jenkins, Giya Kanchelli and Tigran Mansuryan as well as a number of highly distinguished performing artists. A remarkable chapter in the history of the orchestra was the 2020 European Tour with the renowned violin virtuoso and the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra artist-in-residence Maxim Vengerov with whom brilliant performances were hosted on famous stages around Europe- Berliner Philharmonie, Vienna's Musikverein, London's Barbican Center, Prague's Dvorak Hall, Salzburg's Grosses Festspielhaus, Moscow's Zaryadye Concert Hall and elsewhere.
The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra has a history of close relationships with world-scale artists, such as Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Spivakov, Maxim Vengerov, Denis Matsuev, Vadim Repin, Vag Papian, Boris Berezovsky, Zakhar Bron, stemming from the orchestra’s lifelong endeavor to bridge Eastern and Western musical traditions through its performances and networking with prominent figures of classical music.
Led by Sergey Smbatyan, the orchestra released its first CD under the title 'Music is the Answer' in 2011. Recorded with the Sony records label, the CD includes works by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich and Eduard Hayrapetyan.
Aside from the extensive concert activity in Armenia and overseas, the orchestra also enjoys recognition and is highly esteemed for its increasing role in educating young people in Armenia. Since 2018, in the framework of DasA educational-cultural project the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra has been sparking interest and liking for classical music in high-school students across Armenia, with an attempt to galvanize a larger movement for cultivating noble insights and taste for classical music among the young generation. True to its commitment to foster access to classical music among all parts of the society and taking ownership of its social responsibilities, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra frequently organizes charitable events and special projects in an attempt to engage people from different communities in the cultural life that largely unfolds away from them.
A number of orchestra’s concerts have been broadcast by Medici.tv, Euronews, and Classic.fm. In 2019, a documentary was released by Mezzo TV, featuring Sergey Smbatyan and the history of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra.
The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra is represented worldwide by Only Stage.
Germany
For more than five decades, the Berliner Symphoniker have been an integral part of Berlin's musical and cultural life and have enriched the German orchestra landscape. Since 1990 they have been the orchestra for all Berliners.
In addition to the popular and long-established symphony concerts that take place in the Berlin Philharmonic, the Berliner Symphoniker perform throughout Berlin and the surrounding area: They are regular guests at the Konzerthaus Berlin, the University of the Arts, the Berlin Cathedral, the Kulturbrauerei and the Chorin Monastery, among others. With guest performances in Europe and tours to North and South America, Africa and Asia as well as appearances at international festivals (including in France, Italy, Austria, Spain and Israel), the Berliner Symphoniker have presented themselves successfully worldwide and see themselves as Berlin's cultural ambassadors.
In addition to the classical, wide-ranging and popular range of concerts, the repertoire of the Berliner Symphoniker also includes special rarities - unknown and forgotten works as well as contemporary compositions.
Music communication as a special focus has always been a trademark of the orchestra. It was the Berliner Symphoniker, for example, who were the first orchestra in Berlin to develop a music education profile with school concerts and children's and family concerts and who established and promoted work with young people in the long term. Numerous CD recordings and television recordings round off the multifaceted work of the Berliner Symphoniker.
Turkey
Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra which was established under Directorate General of Fine Arts of Culture and Tourism Ministry of Republic of Turkey is the fourth Symphony Orchestra which was established following Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO), İstanbul State Symphony Orchestra (İDSO) and İzmir State Symphony Orchestra (izDSO). Our Orchestra was officially established in 1988 and firstly started its working at the end of 1991 with a very small staff consisting 17 people under the direction of Emin Güven YAŞLIÇAM who was the General Director of Music and Conductor of the orchestra. It gave its first concert in 1992, on the 5th January which was the day celebrated as the celebration day of Adana for liberation from the enemy occupation.
After that, orchestra expanded its musician staff through examinations which were conducted in the following years. Moreover, it still sustains its concerts with the assistance of the guest musicians from other Symphony Orchestras, Opera and Ballet Orchestras and State Orchestras also with the contribution of Cukurova Philharmonic Association. In addition to this kind of works, Willy Claes who is Secretary General of NATO and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium conducted the Orchestra in the first part of a special concert. With the assistance of Adana 6th Corps Command, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture was vocalized in Open Air Theater of Cukurova University accompanied by real cannon shots.
Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra has had lots of domestic and foreign tours since its foundation. Some of these destinations are Tarsus, İskenderun, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Trabzon, Mersin, Gaziantep, Antalya, Ancient Theatre of Aspendos, Ankara, istanbul, Cyprus, Syria, Germany and Japan. During Japan tour, Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto and 5th Symphony was recorded in CD.
It carefully organizes its concert schedule every season and carries out its works in order to promote polyphonic universal music to Adana public. Moreover; many music pieces are vocalized for the first time in Turkey and in the world.
Between 2000 and 2006, it organized concerts regularly to the domestic and foreign tourists in May and September in Antalya Aspendos Open Air Theater. It also still organizes such special concerts as "Memorial of Hacı Sabancı" concert for Adana audience.
Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra carries out its concerts under the light of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's idea of "CULTURE IS THE BASIS OF REPUBLIC OF TURKEY" in order to be in His running.
Germany
In the shadow of the First World War, committed citizens in Landau met in September 1919 to decide on the formation of a travelling state symphony orchestra. After the founding concert on 15 February 1920, the orchestra set out on an initial concert tour through the Palatinate and Saarland. This was the start of the history of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, which in the meantime can look back on a more than 100-year tradition.
Even in the initial years the orchestra attracted transregional attention under the conducting of Richard Strauss and Hermann Abendroth. Principal conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach and Leif Segerstam, today honorary conductors, helped the orchestra to achieve international recognition. Michael Francis, who is also principal conductor of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz this season, will provide considerable fresh impetus and thus continue the orchestra’s tradition.
As an orchestra without a permanent domicile, providing the federal state with symphonic music is the most important task of the State Philharmonic Orchestra. It brings the music to the people with over 100 concerts per season. Guest performances at home and abroad as well as collaboration with internationally renowned conductors and soloists bears witness to the excellent reputation that the orchestra enjoys. Arrangement and family formats enhance the offer for young people. Even the very youngest are introduced to the world of classical music with visits to rehearsals and concerts for children. Regular concert recordings by SWR (“Southwest Broadcasting”) and Deutschlandfunk Kultur (German World Radio Service, Cultural Programming) as well as numerous CD productions round off the State Philharmonic Orchestra’s diverse range of activities.
Not only wanderlust and awakening characterise the orchestra in geographical terms. The State Philharmonic Orchestra also repeatedly hits the road in the figurative sense. As far as the orchestra is concerned, brining music to people not only means being on site, but also reaching people directly. So 101 years after formation the orchestra is also an integral part of cultural life, and more than ever a cultural beacon for the State of Rhineland-Palatinate and beyond.
Kazakhstan
The Eurasian Symphony Orchestra is the leading musical ensemble of the Republic of Kazakhstan, consisting of a highly professional roster of musicians, with a brilliant virtuoso technique, rich sound palette, and a dedication towards developing the best traditions of chamber music.
The orchestra, consisting of 90 talented musicians, performs works from different epochs and styles and is skilled in interpreting baroque, classical and contemporary music. Performances of national music, with orchestral arrangements of folk songs, as well as performances of works by contemporary Kazakh composers occupy a significant place in the group's work.
The orchestra successfully represents the musical art and performing traditions of Kazakhstan abroad and develops international cultural ties. The creative team has collaborated with world-famous performers from Russia, Austria, Israel, Germany, USA, Norway, Sweden, and many others.
The orchestra carries out special concert programs with the invitation of leading conductors. The recognition of the mastery of the Kazakh orchestra is evidenced by performances led by a variety of famous foreign conductors, including I. Suk, V. Chapek, E. Schmider, O. Schmidt-Gertenbach, J. von Bertoli, V. Fedoseev, K. Orbelyan, Rin Yong Yang, D. Bartolossi, G. Emilson, etc. With the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the orchestra has performed with great success in the best concert halls in Europe, Asia and America. The ensemble also takes part in many international classical music festivals.
The orchestra was established in 1991 on the initiative of the world famous violinist, People's Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Hero of Labor of Kazakhstan, professor, rector of the Kazakh National University of Arts, artistic director of the orchestra Aiman Musakhadzhayeva. The chief conductor of the orchestra is the Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan, professor of KazNUA Bakhytzhan Musakhodzhaeva.
