Meet the Artists 2022
SOLOIST
Alumnus Soloist: Pavel ŠporclViolinist / Czech Republic
Pavel Šporcl,
violin/Czech Republic
"I am thankful for my place in this world; from here I can contribute to enriching other people's lives, not just by playing the violin, but also by sharing my positive attitude towards life -which I really enjoy-" Pavel Šporcl
Pavel Šporcl and his blue violin are celebrated around the world. He is considered in the ‘royal line’ of Czech violinists, having been taught by the legendary teacher Vaclav Snítil (himself taught by Jaroslav Kocian) as well as by Itzhak Perlman, Eduard Schmieder and Dorothy DeLay. Šporcl, whose iconic blue violin was created by leading contemporary instrument maker Jan Špidlen, has done a great deal to popularise classical music in his country – having sold more than 230,000 CDs and frequently appeared on television, including his recent documentary series on the great Czech violinists of yesteryear, and his regular top-rated program introducing children to music.
Šporcl records for Hanssler Classic and for Universal Music (previously for Supraphon or Cedille Records). His recordings including the Dvořák and Tchaikovsky Violin Concertod with the Czech Philharmonic under Vladimir Ashkenazy, Richard Strauss’s and Korngold’s concertos with the Prague Symphony Orchestra under Jiří Kout, and the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas. Of his recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, Gramophone magazine wrote, “Pavel Šporcl has established himself on disc as the most charismatic of Czech violinists, spontaneously imaginative and individual in everything he does...” His last album, “Christmas On The Blue Violin'” (with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing, for Universal Music Group) went platinum within eight weeks and even made the top 10 bestselling pop albums chart of its year (the only classical album to do so).
In addition to his classical activities, Šporcl leads a hugely successful gypsy music ensemble that has played more than 400 concerts internationally and recorded two successful albums.. He is the Artistic Director of the Kocian Usti Festival, Ameropa Music Summer Academy and also Patron of the Music Festival Znojmo.
During the pandemic-hit 2020-21 season Šporcl was a tireless innovator and cultural leader – being the first classical musician to perform a ‘drive in’ concert, the first to give a concert on a lake (to socially distanced audience members in boats!), and giving livestreamed full concerto performances with pre-recorded backing tracks from his living room for The Strad and The Violin Channel. He also tirelessly and successfully lobbied members of the Czech government, in meetings with the Prime Minister, President of the Senate and ministers, to restore concert performances and for the government to be considerate of the plight of locked-down musicians.
Šporcl regularly performs internationally, in recent years including London’s Cadogan Hall with the English Symphony Orchestra (“This may just be the finest account of Mendelssohn’s E minor Concerto that I have heard” – Musical Opinion), sell-out concerts in Japan, festivals in Europe and tours of the US.
PAVEL HAS BEEN PRESENTED WITH SRI CHINMOY TORCH BEARER AWARD AT THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK FOR HIS WORK BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH MUSIC (2018), AND IS A RECIPIENT OF THE MEDAL OF MERIT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
Pavel’s first year with iPalpiti was 1999: both as a member and a soloist on the stage at the Ford Theater;
He returned as featured soloist in 2012 at Disney Hall, has returned to LA to support iPalpiti’s events through the years, and we welcome his special return on this 25th season celebration.
Violins
Peter RainerGermany
Peter Rainer
Violinist/Germany
Peter has been iPalpiti’s Concertmaster since 1994. In his native Germany, he is a concertmaster and a founder of the Kammerakademie Potsdam, and leads an active career as a chamber musician, soloist, and the teacher. Since 2007, Peter has been on the faculty of the “Universität der Künste” (University of the Arts) in Berlin and of the “Stern Institute” for young talented students. In 2018 Peter has been appointed as the Head of the string department of “Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik" in Berlin, a school for highly talented musical kids in Berlin.
He was the founder and leader of the Persius Ensemble, focusing mainly on repertoire written for the classical nonet, and has released three CDs; a CD with nonets by Spohr, Clementi and Mozart was chosen by Berlin-Brandenburg Radio (RBB) as one of the best releases of 2007. He has been a member of the Max Brod piano trio from 2012 -2017. In 2016, the trio released a CD of compositions by Robert Kahn, a wonderful discovery of romantic music in style of Johannes Brahms. Music-loving children know Peter Rainer through the many interactive concerts he developed for them in the past 20 years, such as Till Eulenspiegel, Ferdinand the Bull, The Horse on the Violin, to mention a few. For many seasons he has appeared at the Festival International de Musique de Chambre en Charente together with iPalpiti artist Jacob Shaw, and continues to collaborate with iPalpiti alumni on international musical projects.
Peter Rainer studied violin in Würzburg with Max Speermann and in the U.S. with Professor Eduard Schmieder at the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, Texas where he received his Artist Certificate in 1994 and his Master of Violin Performance degree in 1995. Upon his return to Germany, he was appointed first concertmaster of the Brandenburgische Philharmonie in Potsdam from 1996 to 2000. Peter has worked as the assistant to Professor Schmieder at the Holland Music Sessions, at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas and at Temple University in Philadelphia. In 2005, he received a commendation from the City of Los Angeles for his leadership of iPalpiti and his contributions to culture.
During the “corona crisis” he rediscovered string quartets by Johannes MaRhias Sperger, an almost unknown composer today, who lived in the north of Germany at the same as Mozart and Haydn. The CD of these quartets will soon be released by the label JPC. This year Peter celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Kammerakademie Potsdam with a series of 8 concerts in 9 days.
Juliya Kuzmina
Russia
Juliya Kuzmina
violinist-violist/ Russia
Trained in the Russian violin tradition, a graduate of the Novosibirsk State Conservatory, Julia made her solo debut at the age 7. In Novosibirsk she studied under the tutelage of the prominent professor Marina Kuzina-Koifman. As soloist and an experienced orchestral musician, Julia has performed with orchestras for diverse and distinguished audiences worldwide, including major venues in South Korea, China, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, and, in the United States, at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Julia is a winner of top prizes in numerous national and international competitions, including the West-Siberia-East (2015, 2018), the national competition of young ensemble music performers Siberian Musical Assemblies (2013) and the World Art Games (2020) International Music Competition. Also, she has been invited to participate in the Trans-Siberian Art Festival, founded and led by the renowned violinist Vadim Repin, in 2016 and 2017, and in XII & XIII International Violin Music Festival. As orchestral musician, Julia served as first violinist in the Symphony Orchestra of the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (2018 to 2021), guest artist of the Khakass Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, assistant principal of the Variety Orchestra of Novosibirsk State Philharmonic, as a member of the string ensemble “Bright Bows”, as a soloist with Collegium Musicum Orchestra in New Jersey, and as concertmaster of Temple University Opera Orchestra. Since the fall 2021 Julia has been pursuing her Artist Diploma from Temple University on full scholarship, in an international class of Professor Eduard Schmieder. This is her first season with iPalpiti.
Takamori AraiJapan
Takamori Arai
Violinist/Japan
Winner of numerous prizes in international and national competitions, Takamori has been performing in concerts and music festivals in Japan and Europe. This May 2022 he gave a debut solo performance at Weill Carnegie Hall in New York as a First Prize winner of IBLA Grand Award Japan international violin competition, with comments “…his tone production reminds the sound of the great vinyl records which are from violinists in the last century such as Oistrakh.”
A graduate of The Tokyo University of Arts with the top score and the Acanthus Music Prize for the outstanding academic achievements, Takamori was selected numerous times as a soloist with the university symphony orchestras, and played under baton of such conductors as Professors Kazuki Sawa, Douglas Bostock, and Ken Takaseki. In 2014 he was selected as a soloist of the Musical Activity Supporting System by YAMAHA Music Foundation and performed throughout Europe. As participant in international music festivals he performed at Mozarteum Salzburg, IBLA Sicily, and in iPalpiti festival of international laureates in Los Angeles. During his college years he studied with professors Takashi Shimizu, Sungsic Yang, Eszter Perenyi, and Pierre Amoyal. He studied with Professor Eduard Schmieder in his international class Artist Diploma program at the Boyer College of Music at Temple University in Philadelphia. At present, he is an associate violinist at Musashino University of Music in Tokyo.
This is his third season with iPalpiti.
Davide de AscaniisItaly
Davide de Ascaniis
violinist/Italy
Conrad ChowCanada
Conrad Chow
Violinist/Canada
Born and raised in Toronto, Conrad has established himself as a foremost performer and teacher in his native Canada. A review in the Halifax Chronicle-Herald praised “the full, sweet, seductive intensity of Chow’s sound”, and his performance alongside Ani Kavafian with the Columbia Festival Orchestra was hailed as “ornate and satisfying”. He is a prize-winner of the 2006 International Stepping Stone Competition in Quebec and the David G. Whitcomb Foundation’s Young Artist of 2003.
Conrad began his violin studies at the age of three at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. His Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are from Indiana University’s School of Music, studying with Miriam Fried. Conrad completed his DMA from the State University of New York, Stony Brook (under noted violinists Pamela Frank, Ani Kavafian, and Philip Setzer), and later pursued further post-doctoral work with Eduard Schmieder at Temple University in Philadelphia. He studied chamber music with the Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet and is appearing in chamber music performances with Paul Biss, Christina Dahl, David Finckel, and Miriam Fried. His string quartet was winner of the Indiana University Kuttner String Quartet Competition, performing as the quartet-in-residence for the 2001-2002 seasons.
As soloist, he appeared with numerous orchestras, in recitals, broadcasts, and on international stages including Mozarteum in Salzburg, Qingdao Music Hall in China, and 2010 Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall debut. As a member of the prestigious iPalpiti orchestral ensemble of international laureates since 2008, he performed at Carnegie Zankel Hall, Disney Hall in LA, Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, and Israel.
Being a teacher of one of the leading precollege private violin studios in Canada; his students are winners in many important national and provincial competitions and have made solo debuts with Canadian orchestras, in 2010 he has been appointed to a faculty position at the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music's elite pre-college academy. He was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Violin at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the 2006-2007 seasons, and was a member of the faculty at the Summit Summer Music Festival in New York in 2010. Conrad has served as jury member and adjudicator of various Canadian competitions, at the international “Remember Enescu” competition in Romania, and gives master classes in Canada, the United States, and Asia. A member of iPalpiti since 2010, Conrad has been serving as Associate Concertmaster, Principal 2nd Violins, and featured in solo and chamber ensembles.
Kornelia GrądzkaPoland (Splot Quartet)
Kornelia Grądzka
Violinist/Poland
Kornelia graduated from Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw at professor Roman Lasocki’s violin class and at professor Katarzyna Jankowska’s and prof. Maia Nosowska’s chamber music class. She is a laureate of several national and international competitions including 3rd prize at National Competition for Young Violinists in Lublin (Poland), 3rd prize in the “A. Januszajtis” National Violin Competition in Gdańsk (Poland), and 2nd prize at International Chamber Music Competition in Jurmala (Latvia). Kornelia participated in many masterclasses and orchestral workshops: in Łańcut (Poland), Bremen (Germany), Moscow (Russia), Paris (France) among others, where she worked with renowned international artists. This is Kornelia’s first season with iPalpiti.
Karolina GutowskaPoland (Splot Quartet)
Karolina Gutowska
Violinist/Poland
Wroński Youth Competition for Solo Violin and 1st prize at III Grażyna Bacewicz National Competition of String Chamber Ensembles. She was nominated for Yamaha financial support and is a recipient of Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien scholarship with participation in the International Summer Academy in the class of renowned Dora Schwarzberg. While on studies, she was chosen with her string quartet to represent the University in a concert exchange with Universität der Künste Berlin and participate in the Warsaw Spring Festival in Tallin, organized by the Warsaw Autumn, International Festival of Contemporary Music. She has also participated in numerous festivals such as an International Academy of Art in Zakopane, Princess Daisy Ensemble Festival in Książ Castle, Musethica Festival in Zaragoza and Berlin and workshops, during which she worked with eminent international musicians. This is Karolina’s first season with iPalpiti.
Lina JuknevičiūteLithuania
Lina Juknevičiūte
violinist/Lithuania
Grand Prix and Special iPalpiti prize-winner at the XI International Bialis Dvarionas Violin Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania (2021), Lina’s solo debut took place in Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall when she was ten years old. Lina studied in Vilnius with Inga Gylytė and professor Jurgis Dvarionas and continued her studies at the Purcell School for young musicians in London with Aistė Dvarioanitė-Beržanskienė. Currently, Lina is furthering her musical education at the University of Music Franc Liszt Weimar with Prof. Friedemann Eichhorn and Sönke Reger. Lina is a prizewinner in numerous competitions including “Concours International de Alexandre Glazunov” in Paris, International Georg Philipp Telemann Violin Competition in Poland, ''Marine Iashvili International Competition for string instruments'' in Georgia.
In 2021 Lina received the Grand Prix in "XI International Balys Dvarionas" Competition after performing with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, she won EMCY (European Union of Music Competitions for Youth) prize, followed by performances throughout Europe. In 2019, she performed in Wigmore Hall and the Purcell Room (Southbank Centre). Lina continuously performs in Lithuania and other European countries. As an acknowledgement of her achievements, Lina received official presidential recognition from Her Excellency Dalia Grybauskaitė, the President of the Republic of Lithuania.
Lina has participated in masterclasses, chamber music, and orchestra projects such as Hope Academy, Meisterschüler Meister, Moritzburg Academy, Ticino Musica, and, is a scholarship recipient of the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein and “YEHUDI MENUHIN Live Music Now.”
Gyehee KimSouth Korea
Gyehee Kim
Violinist/South Korea
FEATURED SOLOIST 2017
Gyehee Kim won First Prize and two additional special prizes at the prestigious 2016 George Enescu International Violin Competition, one of which was the iPalpiti Prize to attend the iPalpiti Festival. The winner of the George Enescu International Music Competition, Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition, and Munetsugu Angel Violin Competition, Korean violinist Gyehee Kim has firmly established herself as one of the eminent young rising stars of the international concert stage. Among many honors, Gyehee is also a laureate of numerous other international competitions such as the Guadagnini Stuttgart International Violin Competition, the Isang Yun International Music Competition, Manhattan International Music Competition, Torún International Violin Competition, and the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians. Gyehee has been named as part of “the Rising Star Series” in 2018 by the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation. As a frequent guest artist at music festivals worldwide, she has performed at the George Enescu Festival, Moscow Meets Friends, iPalpiti Festival, Mozarteum International Summer Academy, and Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music. Ms. Kim has been invited as a soloist to perform with the George Enescu Philharmonic, Russian Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic, iPalpiti Orchestra, Toruń Symphony, Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony, and the Korean Chamber Orchestra, Gyeonggi Philharmonic and among others. Recently, she gave the world premiere of Dan Dediu’s Brahmsodia Triple Concerto at the Opening Gala Concert of the 2020 George Enescu International Competition. She has given concerts in prestigious venues such as the Grand Kremlin Palace, Romanian Athenaeum, CKK Jordanki, Seoul Arts Center, and as a soloist with iPalpiti at Mozarteum Solitar Saal, Soka Performing Arts Center, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Ms. Kim has been a member of the contemporary and baroque music ensemble ‘Ensemble Blank’. From 2017-2020 she played the "Rainville" Antonio Stradivarius violin, loaned to her by the Nippon Violin. She is an alumni of Curtis Institute of Music, Seoul National University, and currently, is pursuing her Zertifkarstudium Meisterklasse’s degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany with Professors Christoph Poppen and Lena Neudauer as the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarship holder. Since 2020, Ms. Kim is on the faculty of Seoul Central Conservatory as a visiting professor. This is Gyehee’s 2nd season with iPalpiti.
Taisiya LosmakovaBelarus
Taisiya Losmakova
Belarus
Born in Brest, Belarus in a family of musicians, Taisiya started playing violin at the age of 4. In 2010 she entered the Republican Gymnasium-College at Belarusian State Academy of Music, the class of Professor Eduard Kuchinsky. During this time, Taisiya became the laureate of international and national competitions, and was a soloist with the Belarusian State Philharmonic performing the Bruch Violin Concerto No.1. She also performed with chamber orchestra in Qatar, Germany and Belgium, and at Musica Mundi festival, playing alongside eminent musicians Maxim Vengerov and Misha Maisky.
From 2014 to 2019 Taisiya continued her education at Belarusian State Academy of Music in the class of Professor Regina Krivel, and served as Principal Second Violin of the Chamber Orchestra of the Belarusian State Academy of Music.
In 2016, Taisiya won a position in the ensemble of soloists "Classic-Avantgarde" of the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society under the direction of Vladimir Baidov. In 2019, Taisiya joined the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus, appointed as Concertmaster in 2020, and held this position until her move to the USA in 2021.
Taisiya recorded solos for CDs of Belarusian artists and actively participated in the Tritformat Theater project as a solo violinist. During the last several years Taisiya gained extensive concert experience in various genres - classical music, chamber music, pop music, rock music, jazz and theater music.
At the end of 2021, Taisiya has moved to the USA to start the next chapter of her musical path.
Samuel NebyuEthiopia-Hungary
Samuel Nebyu
Violinist/Hungary-Ethiopia
Samuel is the winner of numerous national and international competitions including Grand prizes at the National ASTA (American String Teachers Association) Solo Competition (2015), “Remember Enescu” International Violin Competition (Romania, 2013), the Flame International Violin Competition (Paris, 2008), and the Beverly Hills National Auditions (CA, 2014). Born in Hungary of Ethiopian-Hungarian descent, Samuel spent most of his early childhood in Asia. He started playing the violin at the age of six; at fifteen, he was admitted to the Young Talents Program at the Brussels Royal Conservatory where he received tutelage from renowned musicians, including Igor Oistrakh. Samuel was a violinist-in-residence for several years at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium. He continued his education in the US in the international violin class of Professor Eduard Schmieder at Boyer College of Music at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he received his BM, MM, and in May 2022, became a DMA. From 2017, Samuel teaches at the Community Music Scholars Program at Temple University. Samuel has performed as soloist with number of orchestras, including the Brussels Philharmonic, at important international music festivals, and in venues such as the Centre of Performing Arts in Brussels (BOZAR), the Peles Castle in Romania, the Wiener Saal in Salzburg, and Alice Tully Hall in New York. In 2015, he was selected as an iPalpiti Junior and was a featured soloist with iPalpiti orchestra in Los Angeles at the Wallis Annenberg Center. Since, he has returned to iPalpiti every season; in 2017 he was featured in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with iPalpiti alumnus violist Juan-Miguel Hernandez at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and in 2019 was a soloist in a West Coast premiere of Alexey Shor “Seascapes” violin concerto at the Conrad Performing Arts Center in La Jolla and at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. In 2016, Samuel received the prestigious Clifton Emerging Artist Award and gave a recital at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia; same year he became a prize winner of the Mozarteum Salzburg Festpiel competition – the only one of 291 violinists to be selected as one of the eight prize winners – and was further honored to conclude the winners concert at the Mozarteum Grosse Saal. Highlights of the recent seasons included performance of a Concerto for Violin with Choir and Orchestra by Jennifer Higdon at Kimmel Center Verizon Hall in Philadelphia, recital with Professor Lambert Orkis (long-time piano partner of violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter), a recital with Prof. Charles Abramovic (the collaborative pianist of Midori) at LACMA’s Sundays Live! Livestream series, and a South America’ tour with Mutter’s Virtuosi. Samuel is the 3rd iPalpiti artist chosen by the great violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter for her foundation (prior artists were cellist Kian Soltani and bassist Roman Patkolo). His CD “Violin Gems from Black Composers” was released on BCM+D label in 2018; selected for Grammy nomination, it was named Best Album of the Year by numerous classic radio stations across the nation, including KUSC-FM. This spring, Samuel performed Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the Temple Orchestra. After iPalpiti festival, he will give a solo recital at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. This is Samuel’s 7thseason with iPalpiti.
Yuan TianChina
Yuan Tian
Violinist/China
Tian was born in Harbin, the city of music. With the unique musical atmosphere and the influence of his hometown and family, Tian began learning violin at the age of three with his father and had his first public performance at the age of four. At the age of seven, he entered the Harbin Children's Palace High School Symphony Orchestra and was considered as the exceptional youngest first violin player there. In 2008 Tian came to Beijing to study with the famous violin teacher Lin Yaoji, continuing at the affiliate primary school of Central Conservatory of Music; there, he received the highest scholarship from Central Conservatory of Music and Hong Kong Brothers Fund. In 2011, Tian gave a solo concert in the Harbin concert hall, performing 11 solo compositions and the virtuosic Vieuxtemps's Fourth Violin Concerto. A critic’s review raved, “ … the pride of the city of music, this warm night, due to Tian Yuan's wonderful string playing made city more romantic, more charming." The highlight of 2012 was the successful performance of the famous violin concerto "Butterfly Lovers" at the Harbin Summer Music Concert. Winner of the Outstanding Performance Award at the Schoenfeld International String Competition in 2014, Tian took part in the Central Conservatory of Music scholarship competition and won third prize (2015), and the following year, won a second prize in the Hong Kong Art Festival violin competition. In July 2017, Tian was selected to the NYO-China Youth Symphony Orchestra concert in the US Carnegie Hall and a world tour with conductor Ludovic Morlot and pianist Yuja Wang. Tian participated in the Karvendel Music Festival in the Mittenwald, Germany, in masterclasses with prof. Viktor Tretyakov, and in SUMMIT Music Festival in New York, performing in festivals’ concerts. As a winner of the First Prize of the Young Talent World Festival of Performing and Visual Art 2019, he had a chance to debut with a solo performance at Carnegie Hall. Selected again by NYO-China again, he performed in Shanghai Oriental Art Center, followed by European tour in Konzerthaus Berlin that broadcast to millions via ARTE, United Kingdom’s Snape Maltings Concert Hall and Italy’s Fondazione Teatro Comunale as part of the 2019 Bolzano Festival. On this tour, he also played in piano trio at the Chinese Embassy in the UK. Tian received his BM degree this May, and will continue his violin studies toward MM in the class of Prof. Eduard Schmieder as recipient of a full scholarship at TEMPLE University in Philadelphia. This is his second season with iPalpiti.
Xuan Shirley YaoChina
Xuan Shirley Yao
Violinist/China
Xuan Yao began to learn violin at age four, studying from 2004-2010 with Weijian Tang in the middle school of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. While in Beijing, Xuan was actively performing as soloist, in string quartets, piano trio and was an assistant concertmaster of the Chinese Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, Xuan was accepted to Temple University in Philadelphia on a full scholarship to study with Professor Eduard Schmieder in his select international violin class at Boyer College in the Center of Performing Arts; she received Bachelor degree in 2015 and Master degree in 2017. A recipient of the Garrigues Scholarship, as DMA student at Temple University, Xuan has been a teaching assistant in Professor Schmieder’s studio. While in Philadelphia, she performs actively as a chamber and orchestral musician. Xuan is a prize-winner of national competitions in her native China including First Prize of the Hunan Province Soloist Competition in 2002, First Prize of the Chinese Junior New Artist competition, and Grand Prize of the Changsha Soloist competition (2003). In the USA, she received 2nd prize in Pi Kappa Lambda Competition in 2017 and won a First Prize at the Young Talents World Festival of Performing Arts in 2018. Xuan has been performing in numerous international music festivals, including at the Mozarteum Salzburg and the Summit Music Festival in New York. In May 2022, Xuan received her Doctor of Musical Arts Diploma. This is her third season with iPalpiti.
Diego ZapataVenezuela
Diego Zapata
Violinist/Venezuela
Born in Carupano, Sucre State, Venezuela in 1993, Diego began his training as a musician when he was five years old. At ten he began musical studies in Caracas Simon Bolivar Conservatory with Professor Eddy Marcano and Efrain Lara; he continued at the School of Music Mozarteum Caracas, with teacher Richard Biaggini. He was part of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel and in concerts conducted by the Director of the Berlin Philharmonic, Sir Simon Rattle. He received bachelor degree in Juan N Corpas University, in Bogotá, Colombia, followed by an Artist Diploma and a Performance Certificate at the Richard Wagner Conservatory in Vienna and the University of Kansas, respectively. In 2021, Diego graduated from the University of Kansas where he was working on his Master’s degree with the violin professor David Colwell. Diego took part in numerous festivals including the seminar on advanced technical development of violin in Merida, 2007-2008, summer courses with professor Yuval Yaron in Santa Barbara, California, and master classes with such violinists as Kristof Barati, and Daniel Austrich (iPalpiti alumnus). Diego has played several times with the National Symphony of Colombia and he was featured in the Documentary Film Foundation Orchestras of Venezuela "Tocar y Luchar." This is his second season with iPalpiti.Violas
Midori MaruyamaJapan
Midori Maruyama
Violist/Japan
Midori started playing violin at the age of four and has studied at the Tokyo college of Music from 2004-2010 with Prof. Takashi Shimizu and Saiko Azuma. During these years she attended many master classes in Japan, Portugal, Italy, and Austria. In 2008 she won the third prize at the Japan Players Competition and also began to study the viola and play chamber music. She won the 2nd prize at the Osaka International Competition and received a Special award at the Japan Ensemble Competition with her quartet. Midori continued her studies as a violist at Scuola di Musica di Fiesole in Italy with Antonello Farulli and Felice Cusano as a scholarship student in Corso di Perfezionamento, and participated in the master class of Jürgen Kussmaul and in summer course of Jurij Bashmet at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena. Midori is a recipient of numerous awards: the "Grand Prix d'Honneu" at the Concours International de Musique Léopold Bellan in Paris, France with piano quintet (2011), First Prize as a soloist at the 4th Concorso Musicale Europea Città di Filadelfia and 10th International Music Competition Premio Vittoria Caffa Righetti (2012), First Prize at Concorso Internazione di Musica “Euterpe” di Corato and VII Concorso Internazionale di Musica da Camera Città di Chieti as member of duo (2013). As Mozarteum Summerakademie "praistreger", Midori performed in prestigious concert halls in the Salzburg Festspiele in 2012 and during the same season was selected to join iPalpiti. Midor has been a leading violist at The Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, Japan since 2014; in 2017, Midori accepted a principal position at the Kyoto Symphony. Midori has been member of iPalpiti since 2012.
Joseph KauffmanUSA
Joseph Kauffman
Violinist-violist/USA
Born in Oakland, California, Joseph began his violin studies at the age of five. He has studied with Yayoi Numazawa of the Philadelphia Orchestra, James Lyon and Max Zorin of The Pennsylvania State University, and Eduard Schmieder of Temple University. A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, he was honored to receive the Creative Achievement Award, given to only one exceptional student. Winner of many competitions in Pennsylvania, Joseph received first prize in the PSU Philharmonic Concerto Competition performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto (2008). He returns to State College every summer for the Penn’s Woods Music Festival under the direction of Maestro Gerardo Edelstein. Joseph founded and performed with the “Valens” Piano Quartet, which received First Prize in the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. As a chamber musician – both as violinist and violist - Kauffman was featured live on classical radio in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In 2008, Kauffman was accepted into the international class of Prof. Eduard Schmieder in the Master’s Degree program at Temple University, which he completed in 2011, with distinction and received the Albert Tashjian Prize for excellence in performance. He frequently served as concertmaster for the TU Symphony Orchestra and TU Opera Theater. He has performed on major concert stages including Disney Hall, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kimmel Center, and the Kennedy Center, among others. He has participated in master classes with world-class soloists and ensembles, including Jaime Laredo, Philip Setzer, Martin Chalifour, the Shanghai, Emerson, the American, the Tokyo quartets, and many others. Currently, Joseph is in the DMA program at Temple University, where he is also an adjunct faculty member. He teaches a talented class of students at the NBS School, maintains a thriving private violin studio, and leads an active performance career. Together with iPalpiti alumnus and cellist Yoni Draiblate, in 2016 he founded and successfully directs the MUSIC TRANSFORMS concert series in Philadelphia. Joseph was selected to join the iPalpiti in 2010, taking principal roles as both violinist and a violist in orchestral ensemble as well as in chamber ensembles. He also has been a dedicated orchestra manager during the festivals.
Agnieszka PodłuckaPoland (Splot Quartet)
Agnieszka Podlucka
Violist/Poland
Born in Łódź, Agnieszka started her violin education at the age of seven. Since, she has been awarded First Prizes at numerous national and international violin, viola and chamber music competitions, including ARD International Music Competition in Munich (2018), Michał Spisak XI International Music Competition (2017), Intercollegiate Viola Competition (2017), II Baltic Competition for String Duos (2016), II Chamber Music Competition in students category (2015), XX International Johannes Brahms Viola Competition (2012, semifinal); IV Tadeusz Wronski Young Solo Violin Competition (2012, distinction).
She was awarded the “Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage” scholarship and continues her studies at the Frederik Chopin University of Music in violin and viola with professors Jan Stanienda and Piotr Reichert. Agnieszka has been a participant in many festivals as violinist, violist, chamber musician and orchestral player, including International Summer Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Musethica International Chamber Music Festival in Spain, Sweden and Germany, International Chamber Music Festival in Wałbrzych, International Chamber Music Festival “Quarto Mondi” in Poznan, Warsaw Festival, Summer Academy of Music from Berliner Philharmoniker, and in master classes worked with Tabea Zimmerman, Jerzy Kosamala, Stefan Kamasa, Wolfgang Boettcher, Peter Riegelbauer, Jose Gallardo, and many others.
Agnieszka has performed extensively as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician in her native Poland in as well as in different countries of Europe, Japan, South Korea, United States. She was a member of Sinfonia Varsovia Academy as a violist and a member of European Union Youth Orchestra. In 2020, Agnieszka joined the Warsaw Philharmonic/Sinfonia Varsovia as its principal violist. This is Agnieszka’s “third” season with iPalpiti. Recommended by iPalpiti alumni Maria Machowska (2004-2009) who is a Concertmistress of the Warsaw Philharmonic [Filhamonia Narodowa/Sinfonia Varsovia] since 2008, Agnieszka joined iPalpiti in 2019, and applied to the 2020 season with her newly formed Splot quartet. Due to COVID restrictions, quartet was not able to travel; we are delighted to welcome Agnieszka and her Splot as quartet-in-residence this 2022 festival.
Zi Zygmund WangChina
Zigmund Wang
Violist/China
Zi Wang was born in Shanghai and started to learn the violin at the age of four. He attended Szechuan Conservatory of Music with Professor Kaixiang Li and at the High School for Gifted Children of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with Professor Mengla Huang.
During 2016 -2018 seasons he was selected to work in violin section of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Shanghai Opera Orchestra, and performed with the Zurich Youth Symphony Orchestra. He participated in numerous music festivals, including Summit Summer Music Academy in New York. In 2018 Zygmund was accepted into Professor Schmieder international violin class at the Boyer College of Music at Temple University where he is currently working toward his Bachelor’s Degree. As the first prize winner of the 2019 World Youth Talent Festival, he performed solo at the Carnegie Hall in New York in the 2020 season. Zygmund’s father is a well-known luthier in China, and for this iPalpiti season, he will be playing a viola made by his father. This is his second season with iPalpiti.
Violoncelli
Dobrawa CzocherPoland (Splot Quartet)
Dobrawa Czocher
Cellist/Poland
Dobrawa began studying the cello at the age of seven. A graduate of the General Music School of Feliks Nowowiejski in Gdańsk at Jadwiga Ewald's cello class, she received her Bachelor and Master degrees at Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, and Master Solo Studies of the Hochschule fur Musik Detmold in Germany in prof. Alexander Gebert's cello class.
Dobrawa is a winner of several solo and chamber music competitions, including: National Competition Luigi Boccherini in Zamość, National Student Cello Auditions I and II degree in Łódź, National Bach Competition in Zielona Góra, tournament for Cellists in Warsaw, National Chamber Auditions in Sochaczew, the International Music Competition Julius Zarebski in Lomianki; and in VI International Competition for Chamber of Johannes Brahms in Gdańsk with a trio (2012), with Sillage Piano Quintet at International Chamber Music Competition in Latvia and at the National Chamber Music Competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland (2014). She has participated in numerous master classes with renowned cellists and with ensemble musicians, including prof. Thomas Herbut, prof. Jose Gallardo; while attending Festival Ensemble in Książ (Poland) for three seasons she has been collaborating with artists such as Kevin Kenner, Paul Gulda, Jakub Jakowicz. In 2008 - 2010 she was a scholar of the National Fund for Children On. In 2017, Dobrawa joined Junge Deutsche Philharmonie and also became the principal cellist of the Neue Philharmonie Berlin (Germany). In 2018 she won an audition to Szczecin Symphony Orchestra as solo-cellist. Founding the duo "Hania Rani & Dobrawa Czocher" in 2012, the duo released their debut album "Biała flaga" in 2015, which was a bestseller in Poland. Dobrawa performed in many prestigious concerts halls in Poland and abroad (Germany, Lebanon, Serbia, Austria, Turkey, Portugal). This is Dobrawa’s first season with iPalpiti.
Josephina KimSouth Korea-USA
Josephina Kim
Cellist/USA
Josephina You-Kyung Kim performs internationally as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician.
Among numerous international competitions prizes, she received top winner prize at the prestigious Heida Hermann’s International Competition, the same contest that launched the cello careers of Amit Peled and Rajan Krishnaswami. As a recipient of a full scholarship award, Josephina attended the esteemed Juilliard Pre-College, where, as a winner of the concerto competition she performed the Korngold Cello Concerto with the Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center. At age 15, she was invited to play solo recital at the Carnegie Hall. Josephina graduated with an undergraduate diploma from the Longy School of Music of Bard College as a student of Dr. Terry King, where she won all of the institution’s top honors; most notably, performing Elgar Cello Concerto at Harvard University’s Sanders Theater under the direction of Leon Botstein. A core member of Lyrica Chamber Music, Josephina has performed with Lyrica, ArtsAhimsa, the Yale Cellos, and Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie, Lincoln Center, Sanders Theater, and Boston’s Symphony halls. Josephina received Master of Music at the Yale School of Music, and currently is at New England Conservatory in the studio of Laurence Lesser. She has been honored to play for cello luminaries such as Yo-Yo Ma, Aldo Parisot, Ralph Kirshbaum, Sol Gabetta, Matt Haimovitz, and Laurence Lesser. Currently, Josephina is a Co-Principal Cellist of the Lyrica Chamber Orchestra.
This is her 2nd season with iPalpiti.
Dylan LeeMalaysia
Dylan Lee
Cello/Malaysia
Praised for his poetic and engaging performances, Dylan is a graduate of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, completed his Master’s studies with Professor Julius Berger at the Leopold Mozart Zentrum in Augsburg, and continued in the School of Excellence at the Musik-Akademie Basel under Danjulo Ishizaka. Most recently, Dylan was the soloist playing Schumann Cello Concerto with the Uzbekistan State Symphony Orchestra as the Grand Prize winner of the Global Music Partnership Concerto Competition. Numerous international awards include 1st prize in the 2019 Andreas Stein Wettbewerb and a Meißterkonzert at the Mozarteum Summer Academy Salzburg. Dylan was among founders in the KL String Project - alongside members of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra - of a chamber orchestra based in the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. As a founding member of the Contemporary Music Quintet, Dylan has premiered chamber music works by young composers from the Asia Pacific region, performing in Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong, Ensemble GO. In 2014, he was invited to and attended the Seiji Ozawa Chamber Music Academy in Japan. Solo masterclasses include those with artists such as Gavriel Lipkind, Norman Fischer, Natalie Clein, Johannes Moser and Sebastian Comberti, and as a chamber musician, he has played in masterclasses by the Julliard String Quartet, Belcea Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, and Fournier Piano Trio. Dylan was accepted to iPalpiti for the 2020 season. We are delighted to welcome him.
Dilshod NarzillaevUzbekistan
Dilshod Narzillaev
Cellist/Uzbekistan
Born in Navoi, Uzbekistan, Dilshod began studying cello in 2007 under the tutelage of Professor Ibragimov at the R.M. Glier specialized lyceum of music in Tashkent, where he also was a recipient of the “Tasanno” Special Award given by Uzbekistan Government (2008-2013). From 2015, he continued his studies in the USA with Daniel Veis at the International Center for Music at Park University in Missouri, and, currently, with Prof. Laurence Lesser in Boston at the New England Conservatory where he earned his MM in 2022 and will continue his post-graduate.
In master classes he performed and worked with eminent cellists such as Garry Hoffman, Frans Helmerson, Ophélie Gaillard, Diana Ligeti, Antonio Lysy, Ralph Kirshbaum, David Geber, Eugene Drucker, and Colin Carr, among others. Grand-prize and top prize winner in numerous international competitions, including 7th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition in Zagreb, Croatia (2020), Alexander Glazunov competition in Paris (2014), Rovere d’Oro Prize in Italy (2011), Special Audience Prize at “Shabyt” International String Competition in Kazakhstan (2012), he also was a selected participant in Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition in Brussels, Belgium (2017).
Narzillaev has performed concertos of Saint-Saens, Dvorak, Haydn with Uzbek National Symphony Orchestra, Shostakovich’s first concerto with the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, and made his New York debut with Kansas City Chamber orchestra in Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in 2016. As a recipient of international awards, Dilshod participated and performed at music festivals such as Heifetz International Music Institute, Ecoles d'art Américaines de Fontainebleau France, “New Names”Moscow, Russia, Orford Music, Canada. Dilshod was “recruited” by fellow cellist Josephina Kim, successfully accepted, and we welcome him to iPalpiti family. 
Francisco VilaEcuador
Francisco Vila
Cellist/Ecuador
“Vila brought out the fervour and vitality…consummate projection.” — The Strad Magazine, April 2012 Francisco Vila began playing the cello at age eight and had his solo debut with an orchestra at age fourteen. Having performed in concerts throughout Europe, North and South America, Vila has been described by cellist Janos Starker as “an exceptionally talented young cellist and musician. He is heading for an important place in the world of music.” As a chamber musician, Francisco has collaborated with Nobuko Imai, Cho-Liang Lin, Gary Hoffman, Martin Chalifour, and others. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Houston Symphony, Liège Royal Philharmonic, the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia, Aalborg Symphonyorkester, the Bolivia Clásica Youth Orchestra, Mexico National Orchestra, South Dakota Symphony and all principal orchestras in his native Ecuador. He has been a participant in Ravinia Steans Institute festival in Chicago, guest artist at the Beaumaris, Santander and the Stavelot Music Festival, among others. As an iPalpiti artist since 2009, he has performed at Zankel Carnegie Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in a radio broadcasted recitals, Mozarteum Salzburg, and on international tours. Francisco was granted Presidential Scholarship to the Boston Conservatory for his Bachelor studies, after which he received a Performance Diploma from Indiana University where his teachers were Janos Starker, Sharon Robinson and Menahem Pressler. In 2012, he was selected to the inaugural cello class at the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, where he earned an Artist Diploma under the famed cellist Gary Hoffman. In the same year he became the second-prize laureate of the Sphinx Competition in Detroit Michigan. Francisco views teaching as an important aspect of music-making. In 2015 he has founded the International Music Festival of Esmeraldas (Ecuador), his hometown – supported by a grant from iPalpiti Artists International - social project of free master classes to young talents from Central and South America. In its inaugural 2015 season, iPalpiti alumnus violinist Daniel Austrich was among its international guest artists. For his work, Francisco also received grants from the US State Department, Tarisio Trust, and the Sphinx MPower Grant. Francisco serves on the faculty at the Longy School of Music at Bard College, MA. He was a Principal Cellist of the Aalborg Symphoiorkester in Denmark – in a happy collaborations with concertmaster Vesselin Demirev and Principal 2nd Alexander Dzyubinsky, both iPalpiti alumni. Francisco performs on a fine 1790 Vincenzo Panormo cello, on generous life-term loan from the “Karl McNutt Family Trust”, as well as the “ex-Janos Starker” E. Tubbs bow.BASS
Blake HilleyUSA
Blake Hilley
Double bass/USA
Blake Hilley is an award-winning double bassist who performs both as a classical soloist, an orchestral bassist, and loves to explore the versatility of the bass, bringing the voice of the instrument to the public. Top winner of the Camerata Artists International Competition 2020, Blake is BM graduate with academic honors from Juilliard this year, and is returning for a Master of Music with Tim Cobb, principal bass of the New York Philharmonic. Blake arrives to iPalpiti straight from his tour across Germany with Juilliard415 and Yale Schola Cantorum as the Principal Double Bassist, as well as a featured soloist.
As a composer, Blake debuted with his original double bass composition "Pride and Steel." His discography includes his EP of classical impressionistic songs "Selections for Double Bass and Piano," original rock song "Fairytales," and a debut Single "Kol Nidrei" which was lauded by Jason Heath from Contrabass Conversations. You can listen Blake’s interview at ContrabassConversations.com podcast discussing his passion for the bass further.
In Juilliard Orchestra Blake performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall and Alice Tully Hall under the batons of Maestro Itzhak Perlman, Maestro John Adams, Maestra Marin Alsop, and Maestro David Robertson; he was a principal bassist of the Juilliard Opera for Mozart's "Cosi fan Tutte" and the featured bassist with the New Juilliard Ensemble under the baton of Maestro Dr. Joel Sachs.
Most recently, Blake's premiered a new work for the solo double bass called "Bass Heart" by Bishu Chattopadhyay; chamber music concerts included Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto arranged for String Quintet and Piano and David Anderson’s Seven Double Bass Duets. Artists Blake has played with include the Goat Rodeo Sessions, featuring Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, and Stuart Duncan. During the pandemic, Blake was honored to be selected to perform with Itzhak Perlman and the Juilliard Orchestra in their virtual performance featured on CBS Sunday Morning.
As an artist who enjoys connecting with his audience, he has played concerts at libraries and retirement homes in Atlanta with his talented sister, cellist Ilana Hilley. They both enjoy demonstrating the power of music not only in the concert hall, but in the everyday moments that can be made to last through music. Blake has also joined quarantineconcerts.tv as a way to bring music to individuals at home during the pandemic. www.blakehilleybass.com
PIANO
Svetlana SmolinaRussia-USA
Svetlana Smolina
Piano/Russia-Belgium-USA
Svetlana Smolina Born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Svetlana performed with orchestras and in recitals worldwide. A recipient of “New Names” scholarship program, her notable appearances with orchestras include Mariinsky Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestra National de France, Dublin Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, South Florida Symphony, Odessa Philharmonic and many others. A frequent guest at festivals worldwide, Svetlana has performed at the Salzburg Festival, Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia Rising Stars, White Nights, Maggio Musicale, Rotterdam Phillips Gergiev, Hennessy Artists Series at Hanoi Opera House, Royal Covent Garden Opera, Mariinsky 3 Concert Hall, Mozarteum, Merkin Hall, Gulbenkian Foundation, Grand Artists Series in Tel-Aviv, Academia Santa Cecilia in Rome, and iPalpiti Festival, to name a few. Recordings include Stravinsky’s Les noces (Valery Gergiev, conductor on Decca/Phillips and on Mariinsky Label which received ICMA award for Best Choral Work in 2011), solo Chopin Album for the Chopin iTunes Project, Benjamin Britten’s Young Apollo live recording with iPalpiti from Walt Disney Hall for BCM+D records and many broadcasts for NPR, WQXR New York, BBC, PBS, RAI, Cultura TV and other networks. Svetlana joined iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles in 2011, with a debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall with iPalpiti Orchestra. Winner of 2014 “Live on Stage” showcases, she was chosen as their only Classical Pianist Artist for 2015-16 season, touring 20 states, and featured in the Keyboard Magazine. Svetlana’s collaboration with violinist Vadim Repin in 2014-19 received an astonishing critical acclaim as they toured Canada, Monaco, London, Washington DC, Repin’s Trans-Siberian Art Festival, and Columbia. Other collaborative highlights included performances and recordings with Christopher O’Riley released on Pentatone Oxingale Records, a Carnegie Hall recital with Lee-Chin Siow, Singapore for the International Women Day, Buenos Aires at CCK Symphony Hall in “The Best Pianists of the 21st Century” series, as well as a duo recital in Basel, Switzerland with violinist Charlie Siem. Collaborations with Dublin Philharmonic featured tour in China’s seven major halls with Rachmaninov concerto, India’s Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, and an orchestra recording of Beethoven Double Concerto with Maestro Derek Gleeson and Pavel Šporcl at Bulgarian National Radio in Sofia, Bulgaria. 2022 performances include Ushuaia International Festival in Argentina as their annual Artist in Residence Pianist, a tour in Brazil, solos with Symphonicity at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Belarusian State Chamber Orchestra, and Nizhny Novgorod Soloists Chamber Orchestra. Svetlana is a Grand Prix Winner of numerous international competitions including Citta Di Senigallia International Piano Competition and the Dranoff International Duo Piano Competition. In the US, she studied at Indiana University with Professor Alexander Toradze, at Oberlin Conservatory with Monique Duphil, at Brussels Royal Conservatory with Eugeny Mogilevsky, and at the University of Michigan with Arthur Greene she received her DMA. Svetlana is a Director of the piano program at the Philadelphia International Music Festival, and, in 2020 was appointed as Program Director at the Piano Academy at the European Academy of Fine Arts, Sofia, a Division of Irish-American University.
Łukasz YoderPoland-USA
Łukasz Yoder
Piano/Poland-USA
Praised by the Los Angeles Opus for his “liquid sensitivity” and “formidable power” as a soloist, and for his “discreet exactitude” as a collaborative pianist, Łukasz is a winner of numerous awards, including the Grand Prize of the Lansum International Music Festival, The Kosciusko Foundations National Chopin Competition in Washington D.C, Claudette Sorel International Piano Competition in New York, The International Chopin Competition in Hartford, Connecticut, and many others. Lukasz has performed extensively on both coasts of the United States, Europe and Puerto Rico, in venues that include Zipper Hall of the Colburn School of Music, the Polish Embassy in Washington DC, the Kosciuszko Foundation’s headquarters in NYC, the Steinway Society of Puerto Rico, the Dzialynski Palace and White Hall of Poznan, Poland, as well as Zelazowa Wola, Chopin's birthplace. He has recorded for Polish Radio and Television, and has been featured in the Polish and American Press. As a winner of Beverly Hills National Auditions 2020, he toured Southern California, performing on the Noontime Concert Series at Los Angeles City City College, the Modrzejewska Club Evening Concerts, The Music by the Sea Concert Series in Encinitas, the Interludes Concert Series in Torrance, as well as the Classical Encounters Concert Series in Orange County and Music in the Mansion in Beverly Hills. In his spare time from music, Lukasz is a model, currently represented in Southern California by Otto Models, and nationally and internationally by Main Line Models and Talent and Iamincover. In between of his musical and modeling endeavors, Lukasz surfs as much as possible. He’s surfed twelve foot Manhattan beach, cracked three surfboards, stepped on five stingrays, seen ten turtles, and around five hundred dolphins. He’s hiked the Sierra Nevadas, off-roaded in Death Valley, rock climbed Joshua Tree, got assaulted by monkeys in the Burmese jungle, and surfed everywhere from Mainland Mexico to Italy. Lukasz is currently studying at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music on a full scholarship, under the tutelage Professor Inna Faliks, Chair of the Piano Department. He continues to be mentored by his mother, Roza Kostrzewska Yoder, as well as American Pianist Garrick Ohlsson. Lukasz had a unique upbringing; he grew up homeschooled, and his mother taught him piano until college and teaches his two younger brothers. He documents his pianistic career, as well as random adventures on his Instagram, where he can be found as @barefoot_pianist.
Splot String QuartetPoland | Festival’s quartet-in-residence
SPLOT STRING QUARTET/Poland | Festival’s quartet-in-residence
“Splot” was formed in 2019 by four graduates of Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw. Winners of competitions, participants of prestigious festivals and members of leading Polish orchestras, the girls had already known each other. On one occasion, all four artists - violinists Karolina Gutowska and Kornelia Grądzka, violist Agnieszka Agnes Podłucka, and cellist Dobrawa Czocher - were brought together for another musical project. They were so delighted with the energy, fun, and pleasure of making music, that a decision not to part was clear to each of them. Thus, “splot” (intertwined, tightly knit in Polish) quartet was born. Each musician in Splot quartet has a busy musical career, but with one priority for all: the joy of playing together and spreading the love for music. The quartet weaves together four musical personalities. Full of female passion and sensitivity, with interpretations of the great classical repertoire, the Splot is open to the unknown and the new. Splot was selected for the iPalpiti 2020 festival, and after two years of “wait” we are delighted to bring the quartet here.
Guest Artist: Alexander MilovanovGuitar / Belarus – USA
Alexander Milovanov,
Guitar / Belarus - USA
Top prize winner of numerous international competitions including the Vienna International Music Competition, the preeminent International Concert Artist Competition of the Guitar Foundation of America, and the Boston GuitarFest International Competition, Alexandr performs internationally and throughout the United States.
Originally from Belarus, Alexander has earned his Bachelor of Music from the Glinka State College of Music. After moving to the U.S., Alexander received his Master of Music from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and the Artist Diploma at the Yale University School of Music under a full scholarship.
In 2017, Alexander completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Currently, Alexandr is on the faculty of the French Conservatory of Music in Beverly Hills, CA, and the instructor at the South Bay Guitar Academy in Torrance, CA, which he has recently founded. A U.S. citizen since 2010, "Alexander Milovanov's playing is simply transcendent..” - Austin Classical Guitar
Alexander also has been a supporting staff of iPalpiti festivals since 2018.