< Back Natalia Preziosi Composition Learn More Videos About Maestro Natalia Preziosi lives in Milan (Italy) Natalia Preziosi , born in Russia, began studying the piano at the age of seven in Hungary. She began writing music at the age of twelve, creating her first composition called " Polka-joke " for the piano. She graduated from the Belarusian State University of Arts and Culture in the city of Minsk in orchestral conducting . She studied composition and orchestral conducting under the guidance of the famous composer, organist and conductor of Moscow, national honourable artist of the Russian Federation Oleg Jancenko . Natalia has worked as a conductor performing numerous concerts and tours in Russia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Poland . But she debuted to the general public with her own music at the age of twenty-five in the "national" theaters of Brest and Minsk with the drama "All about Monica" directed by A.Dolnikov and with the funny opera based on the famous comedy by Oscar Wilde "The importance of being Earnest" directed by E. Milovanov. Since 1993 she lives in Italy with her family . And it is where she studied the aesthetics of composition at the Turin conservatory with the first Italian musicologist Enzo Restagno. Natalia had the fortunate opportunity to merge the great Russian musical culture with the centuries-old Italian musical tradition together with deepening her musical knowledge of lyrical and symphonic works. From this study of both Russian and Italian works she managed to give rise to a new compositional style that mixes the best of the two cultures and thanks to which she managed to compose innovative symphonic works, for chamber and ballet, such as: Concert n ° 1 for violin and orchestra in LA min . dedicated to Pyotr Tchaikovsky published in Italy and Germany in the encyclopedia by Tobias Broecher, as the best works of the twentieth century for a conceptual violin (1894-2006); "Soufflè" - a ballet for a string orchestra, dedicated to Igor Stravinsky. Published in Milan. A Ballet- a Fable "The wooden eagle" in two acts . It is Dedicated to her own son Marcello Massetti and all children of the world. Published in Milan. "Light and Shadow" - a vocal cycle for four voices and piano. Dedicated to W.A.Mozart. Published in Milan. Clavier trio. A Tribute to piano composers. Dedicated to various composers. A String Quarte t . Dedicated to W.A.Mozart. Published in Milan. Symphony No. 1 "Italian" . Symphony No. 2 "Little Symphony" . Songs for flute, violin, guitar. "Gathered the tears of all women" for soprano, mezzo soprano and orchestra. Dedicated to all women in the world. " The figure of Maestro Natalia Preziosi is one of the most important composers and talents of the vast European music scene, thanks to the collaboration with great artists, theaters and concert halls of the highest prestige and level, " a Milanese publishing house writes. Natalia Preziosi is a member of the following institutions and foundations: * the National Committee of Italian Composers CIDIM of Rome since 2006, * of S.I.A.E (music, opera, DOR) since 1994. * The National CIDIM Italian Composers Committee in Rome since 2006. * of the international foundation "Women in music", Rome, since 2005. * She is a finalist and winner of international composition competitions, such as "Women in Music" (200, 2008), T.I.M. Rome (2010). M.A.P. Milan (2014) for Carnegie Hall. "Eurodonne" Rome Award (2016). * Knight of honor of the Federation United European Nobility (2018.) Diploma 2019 SanMarino Republic. Click on photo to enlargeHers music is performed in theaters, auditoriums, houses-museums of the main Italian cities such as Rome, Milan, Turin, Bari, Pesaro, San Sepolcro, Cuneo, Vittorio Veneto, Regio Emilia, Republica San Marino in monographic concerts and in concerts with composers classics: Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Schubert, Mascagni, Clara Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Biset, Fanny Mendelssohn, Debussy, Ravel, Dvorak, Brahms, Albeniź, Coplamd, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Puccini, Britten. Natalia Preziozi periodically works with the singers, pianists, violinists of Carnegie Hall, Berlin Opera, Alla Scala Theater, Arena of Verona, Regio Theater of Turin, the Bolshoi and Moscow Kremlin theatres and Erevan Opera, with Montecarlo Philharmonic orchestra, Eurorchestra, Amadeus of Rome, Geneva conservatory. Duet Dorian. Her music is broadcast by some radio stations including Vatican Radio. The works of Natalia are published in Italy and Germany Newspapers and periodicals such as "La Stampa", "Culture and Entertainment", "Ozero Como", "Basilicata Magazine", Italian TV talk about her. Violin Concert by Natalia Preziosi. (Click on photo to enlarge). She has written in collaboration with Alex Miozi the novel " Cincilla " the history of Russian ballets . The preface is written by madam Marie Stravinsky, great-granddaughter of the Great Composer Igor Stravinsky, granddaughter creator of the Stravinsky Foundation in Geneva. The pool was realised last year and now can be found at the Alla Scala theater, Triennale Museum, Fashion Museum and theater costume in Milan, Igor Stravinsky Foundation in Geneva. It will shortly arrive at the Dante Alighieri Society of Turin, Milan Conservatory. Recently she has started writing the third ballet "Rusalka" on the lyrics of A.Pushkin. English translation: Yulia Turovskaya. Previous Next

< Back Previous Areti Giovanou Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Areti Giovanou is a classically trained pianist holding a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Vocal Accompaniment, as well as a Professional Studies Diploma in Piano Performance from the Mannes College of Music, The New School. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral pianist, she has appeared in many of New York City’s leading venues, including City Hall, Steinway Hall, the Morgan Library, Opera America, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Goethe Institute, and the Grolier Club. Ms. Giovanou has also served as a coach and performer for operas such as Norma and Rigoletto, musicals including My Fair Lady, operettas like The Godson, and theatrical productions including Crisis and The Princess Goes to War. In 2023, she joined Teatro Grattacielo as a staff pianist for La Vestale. Internationally, her performances have taken her to Greece, Italy, and France. She has toured with the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Youth Choir of New York, performing at the Presidential Palace of Cyprus, Zappeion Hall in Athens, and at the White House in Washington, D.C. In 2021, she took part in the worldwide live-stream celebration of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day. Most recently, Ms. Giovanou completed a series of performances featuring excerpts from Cherubini’s Medea with Fusion Theatre Company, where she also served as Music Director. Since 2022, she has collaborated regularly with Alexandra Lynch in various New York venues. A proud recipient of the Hellenic Republic Scholarship Foundation for Postgraduate Studies, Ms. Giovanou is currently an active freelance pianist.

< Back Previous Alan Freiles Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall April 4, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Alan Freiles Magnatta – Conductor & Violinist Alan Freiles Magnatta, born in Florence in 1976, is a conductor, violinist, President of the Cultural Foundation Nuove Assonanze, and Vice President of the association Ami Mozart Firenze. He has conducted nearly 300 performances in Italy and abroad, spanning symphonic repertoire, chamber music, and opera. He has collaborated with major orchestras and opera companies, including the National Theatre Orchestra of Belgrade, Krasnoyarsk State Theatre, Puccini Festival Orchestra, Bohemian Symphony Orchestra of Prague, West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra of Mariánské Lázně, Karaganda Symphony Orchestra, and the Lugansk and Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestras. Working alongside renowned artists such as Dimitra Theodossiou, Rolando Panerai, Susanna Rigacci, and Olga Guryakova, Freiles Magnatta has conducted productions of operas by Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Verdi, Puccini, Bizet, Mascagni, and Leoncavallo. In May 2013, he conducted Tosca at the Salone dei Cinquecento in Florence, in the presence of the President of the Italian Senate, Pietro Grasso. He has served as assistant to Raymond Hughes (former cantor of the Metropolitan Opera, New York) and Alberto Veronesi. From 2009 to 2013, he was Choirmaster of the Cathedral of Prato, promoting nationally recognized educational music projects for schools and universities. A finalist at the Capuana Opera Conducting Competition in Spoleto (2009), Freiles Magnatta was Artistic Director of the OMEGA Association in Florence for ten years. He has served as Official Director of the New Europe Orchestra and frequently participates as a jury member in international vocal competitions, including the Illica and Merighi competitions. He holds degrees in Violin and Music Education from the Florence Conservatory, Orchestral Conducting (with highest honors) from the Venice Conservatory, and Modern Literature and Musical Dramaturgy (with highest honors) from the University of Florence.

< Back Ruben Capriles Conductor Learn More Videos About RUBÉN CAPRILES Venezuelan conductor Rubén Capriles starts this 2021- 2022 Season his third season as Artistic Director of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela, leading with an innovative programming this outstanding organization to the very front page of Venezuela’s musical arena. Praised for his highly energetic and compelling performances that let a consistent and indelible mark in the audience, Capriles’ conducting has been recognized as “the most satisfying… Ensemble remained tight and balanced, making for countless musical thrills…” (Kalamazoo Gazette). As part of his highly sought-after 2021 – 2022 season, Capriles’ upcoming commitments include Cavalleria Rusticana at Teatro Teresa Carreño, Beethoven’s Choral Symphony and Choral Fantasy as part of a Beethoven Cycle at Teatro Municipal de Caracas, and international tours with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Venezuela to Mexico City and to Havana. Other highlights include the world-premiere of the Symphonic Suite “Libertador” by Mexican composer Alejandro Sánchez-Navarro, as well as an especial multimedia production of Antonio Estevez’ “Cantata Criolla” for the 2021 Edition of the Venezuela International Book Fair in Caracas. Capriles’ engagements have included appearances with the German National Chamber Orchestra at the Kammermusiksaal at the Berliner Philarmonie; with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra at Chenery Auditorium in Kalamazoo; and with the Oriente Symphony Orchestra at Sala Dolores in Santiago de Cuba. Capriles has collaborated and recorded with acclaimed international soloists Georg Egger, Axel Strauss, Roberto Valdés, Amit Peled, William Molina, Diethelm Jonas, Omar Ascanio, Dario Ntaca, Carlos Urbaneja, Alba Quintanilla, Idwer Álvarez, William Alvarado, Frederica von Stade, and Sol Musset de Primera. As laureate guest conductor of the Regional Orchestras of Venezuela, Capriles has toured extensively around Venezuela, conducting the entirety of the major Regional Orchestras of the country. He continues as well his guest conducting commitments with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, the Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra. From 2013 to 2020, Capriles’ tenure as Music Director of the Falcón Symphony Orchestra developed this prestigious organization to international acclaim, consistently expanding the vast repertoire of the Orchestra, and developing with the support of the International Conductors Guild a distinguished program for the promotion of emerging conductors to the international arena in Venezuela. Since 2020, Capriles retains his affiliation with the Falcón Symphony Orchestra as its Music Director Emeritus. Capriles’ 2010 to 2013 tenure as President and Music Director of the Baltimore Philharmonia Orchestra expanded significantly the presence and artistic excellence of this organization, promoting also especial concerts with the vibrant community of Ocean City, and introducing as well a series of educational concerts dedicated to the children of Baltimore County Public Schools. His affiliation as Music Director of the Baltimore Flute Choir expanded also his vision of community engagement, contributing to the edification and consolidation of this organization thanks to the commitment and dedicated excellence of its wonderful group of community musicians. Capriles also worked under the mentorship of conductor Marin Alsop, as cover conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Awarded with the 2010 Bruno Walter Conducting Fellowship as Assistant Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Academy, Capriles has been finalist to the First Eduardo Mata International Conducting Competition in Mexico City, and has been finalist to the Sixth Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Capriles has been also recipient of the Mabelle Antionette Leonhardtsen del Mar Scholarship of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and has been recipient of the José Félix Ribas National Order from the Venezuelan government for his contributions to the arts. In 2007, Capriles was also nominated for the Thelma A. Robinson Award of the Conductors Guild as the selected conducting fellow at the 2007 Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. As a committed teacher and advocate for the generations of the future, Capriles served for six years at the Board of Directors of the International Conductors Guild, where Capriles promoted an intensive exchange program with the Falcon Symphony Orchestra promoting the career development of emerging conductors from around the world. Years earlier Capriles developed the span of repertoire of highly talented high-school music students during his tenure as Director of Orchestras at the Baltimore School for the Arts, where Capriles achieved with the entirety of its ensembles outstanding performances of benchmark symphonic repertoire, as well as highly demanding repertoire for chamber orchestra. During two subsequent summers Capriles also prepared the Inaugural Concerts at Hertz Hall of the Young Musicians Program Orchestra at the University of California, Berkeley, and for six years he supported and helped to model the Peabody Preparatory Youth Orchestra Program, preparing and conducting the Peabody Youth Orchestra at the historic Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall in several occasions. Capriles has also recorded award winning orchestral works and chamber works of emerging young composers both in the US and in Venezuela, and serves currently as Principal Instructor of Orchestral Conducting Studies at the Simón Bolívar Music Conservatory at El Sistema in Caracas. With a highly transformational leadership, Capriles started to conduct professionally at 21 as the Music Director of the Zulia Boys Singer Orchestra, and later as the founding Music Director of the Caracas Youth Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to the distinguished members of the diplomatic body of the country, his debut concert with the Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela was widely broadcasted at Venezuela’s national television. Capriles’ five-year tenure as Music Director of the Caracas Youth Symphony Orchestra transformed this Orchestra into a highly developed ensemble, touring internationally and becoming until today a vital part of Venezuela's internationally renowned El Sistema. Immediately after, his tenure as Music Director of the Ciudad Guayana Symphony Orchestra developed across the expansive Guayana region an intensive programming of more than sixty concerts per season, obtaining the national recognition of the Federation of Regional Orchestras of Venezuela. Capriles graduated under the guidance of José Antonio Abreu as the top conductor of his generation at the internationally renowned El Sistema, where he received his pre-college and undergraduate training in Horn, Composition and Conducting. Previous to his conducting career Capriles performed professionally in the horn sections of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela and the Maracaibo Symphony Orchestra. He completed his BM studies in Conducting at the University Institute of Music Studies in Caracas, his MM studies in Conducting at the Simón Bolívar University in Caracas, and his DMA studies in Conducting at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He holds MBA and MPP degrees from IESA in Caracas, and holds a MA degree in Political Science from Columbia University in New York. Internationally acclaimed mentors of Capriles’ conducting career include José Antonio Abreu, Helmuth Rilling, Sung Kwak, Gustav Meier, Marin Alsop and Markand Thakar. 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Tech Information Apply Tech information Recital Gala Auditions Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall All INSTRUMENTALISTS, VOCALISTS, ENSEMBLES, COMPOSERS Concert Season DATES at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2025, at 7:00pm November 25, 2025, at 7:00pm February 16, 2026, at 7:00pm February 19, 2026, at 7:00pm April 28, 2026, at 7:00pm June 28, 2026, at 1:00pm June 30, 2026, at 7:00pm Gala concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall are video recorded Apply Performance costs required, Inquire before applying! Send inquiries regarding current season's performance costs to se.support@soundespressivo.com Scroll down for details for SOLOISTS If you wish to perform a Concerto with NYCPO and Orchestra Manhattan Orchestras click here Composers click here For more performance opportunities click here Apply with a video Selected musicians are invited to the LIVE ONLINE AUDITION SOLOISTS, DUOS, TRIOS, & VARIOUS CHAMBER ENSEMBLES MAY AUDITION Concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall are video recorded Selected Performers receive: Memorabilia Package (poster, certificate, and more) Full color brochure (digital and printed) Complimentary tickets for family An Interview by Steve Robinson, a world renowned producer of classical music radio shows Photos Letters of recommendation and other support (provided upon request for applying for grants, colleges, other programs and competitions) Professional Portfolio packets available upon request Young performers' teachers will receive recognition in publicity and Memorabilia Package Dates and Deadlines Audition Process Steps Apply with a video Selected musicians are invited to the LIVE ONLINE AUDITION. Live Auditions are held remotely via VCHS Internet TV Broadcast. Login to VCHS remote virtual Studio is required Candidates who advance to LIVE Audition will receive a tech preparation session with VCHS Broadcast A/V Engineers who will help musicians prepare their tech. Live auditions are judged in real time. Judges provide participants with immediate on-air feedback. Repertory - FREE CHOICE. No time limit No age limit. Accompanist is not required but preferred. All auditionees' performances will be heard by the Panel in their entirety. No stopping in the middle. - successful candidates will receive an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall • Judges’ decisions are final and may not be contested. • To participate in the live online auditions, each musician must prepare required technical setup Repertory Standard instrumental and vocal repertoire of all periods, including contemporary, Jazz, Ethnic, Art Songs, Opera/Oratorio, “Crossover”, Golden Age Musical Theatre. Memorization is not required but is strongly encouraged for all soloists. Individual movements taken from larger works are acceptable Simplified arrangements and incomplete movements are not accepted Live Virtual Auditions Selected musicians will be invited to audition live on a public Internet broadcast* and will receive a Tech Preparation Session with VCHS Broadcast Engineers Live auditions are judged in real time. Judges provide participants with immediate on-air feedback. During the live audition participants will be able to speak with Judges. • The judges’ decisions are final and may not be contested. • To participate in the live online auditions, each musician must prepare required technical setup *See FEES section for applicable Audition fees View Consent Form Live Finals Schedule October 18-21, 2024. Concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Recordings with Orchestra Manhattan, Lehner Quartet. Soloists, Composers, Ensembles. January 31, 2025 - February 3, 2025. Concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Recordings with Orchestra Manhattan, Lehner Quartet. Soloists, Composers, Ensembles. March 14-17, 2025. colORCHESTRA for performance and recordings opportunities with orchestras worldwide. Soloists, Composers. May 9-12, 2025. Concerts at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Recordings with Orchestra Manhattan, Lehner Quartet. Soloists, Composers, Ensembles. June 13-16, 2025. colORCHESTRA for performance and recordings opportunities with orchestras worldwide. Soloists, Composers. INTERVIEWS WITH STEVE ROBINSON New York City Steve Robinson is an American radio manager, producer and executive producer. He has held senior management positions with numerous American radio stations, including WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network/Chicago, WBUR/Boston, WGBH/Boston, WCRB/Boston, KPFA/Berkeley, WBGO/Newark, Vermont Public Radio and Nebraska Public Radio Network.org. Robinson served as general manager of the statewide Nebraska Public Radio Network (1990-2000) and WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network from 2000 until October 2016. A 50-year radio veteran, he has produced programs ranging from classical music documentaries to public affairs programs and has directed over 100 on-air pledge drives. In 1984, he co-founded AIR, the Association of Independents in Radio, a service organization to assist independent radio producers in the United States. Interviews James Adler Audience Favorite AWARD $250 Piano and Composition "It is very important to have the audience participate in this competition! It engages the listener and encourages our wonderfully talented contestants. I am delighted to co-found the James Adler Audience Favorite Award for the Sound Espressivo Global Music Competition. Sit back, listen, enjoy -- and please vote!" ~James Adler, Pianist and Composer Photo: Frank Gimpaya iClassical Academy AWARDS iClassical Academy provides Recognition Awards to Winners and Participants of Gala Auditions We believe that anyone, at any time, should have access to the wonderfully beautiful world of music Our mission is to provide new generations of musicians, from any part of the world, the possibility to improve their skills and enjoy a wide audience iClassical Academy is based in Netherlands/Italy International Panel of Judges Judges provide immediate on-air feedback to participants during the Live Audition stage. To learn more about the Judges, and to see their bios click here Fees Fees* Application fee $75 per soloist, or per Chamber Ensemble $125 per Large Ensemble (9-18 members) Live Audition fee (if selected based on video submission). Live audition is not required for Large Ensembles. Fee includes a group Technology preparation session Solo - $150 Duo/Trio - $200 Small Ensemble (4-8 members) $40 per member Live Audition requirement is waived for Large Ensembles Performance/production costs (if selected to perform at the Gala) depend on the type of presentation and the length of performance segment. *Inquire before applying! Send inquiries regarding current season's performance costs to se.support@soundespressivo.com

< Back Previous Deirdre Lobo Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall June 28, 2026 WATCH VIDEO Of Indian origin and based in Colorado, USA, acclaimed international concert artist, vocal coach, and consultant Deirdre Lobo comes from an exceptionally artistic family. Her early musical training was under the guidance of her mother, India’s only opera diva, the late Celia Lobo. A Grand Prize winner of the Messiah Soloist Competition in the United States (December 4, 2011) and Second Prize winner of the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition in the United States (December 19, 2011), Deirdre is a versatile artist who has performed more than 100 recitals and concerts worldwide. Her repertoire spans Western classical music, pop, Broadway, and fusion. She has performed with ensembles including the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, San Diego Greater Community Orchestra, Manila Chamber Orchestra, Bombay Chamber Orchestra, and the Symphony of India Chamber Orchestra, among others. In 2009, Deirdre completed a tri-city solo recital tour in India, and in 2018, she appeared as soloist with the Symphony of India Chamber Orchestra in Mumbai under the baton of Maestra Maria Badstue. In November 2025, she performed with the Bombay Chamber Orchestra under Maestro Jörg Zwicker. Her concert appearances have included Handel’s Messiah, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Magnificat, Schubert’s Mass in G, Jenkins’ The Armed Man, Beethoven’s Mass in C Major, and Mozart’s Requiem, among others. On the operatic stage, she has performed the roles of the First Lady in The Magic Flute, Mother in Hansel and Gretel, and the Snake in The Little Prince. With more than 40 years of experience in the music industry, Deirdre has coached and directed singers, choirs, actors, and speakers through master classes, productions, and workshops around the world. Since 2010, she has taught online through her International Vocal Studio and has developed her signature three- and six-month online training programs, Deirdre Complete Vocal Transformation (DCVT). Deirdre Lobo Official Website www.deirdrelobo.com Deirdre is deeply grateful to her mentors — Julie Simson, Raouf Zaidan, Celia Lobo, Marilyn Zschau, Voltaire Verzosa, Phyllis Bryn-Julson, Kathryn Cathcart, Mark Markham, and Katherine Sternberg — as well as to her late parents, siblings, and especially her husband, Neville, and son, Andre D’Cunha, for their unwavering support throughout her career.

< Back Lisa Layman Soprano Learn More Videos About Lisa Layman, is an accomplished operatic soprano, voice teacher and acting coach. Her work within the operatic realm spans nearly thirty years and counting. Her operatic repertoire included the works of Puccini, Verdi, Bellini, Mozart, Bizet, Donizetti and others. At ease on both the operatic stage and the concert and oratorio stage, she has sung at Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center @ Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, and at the Holder’s International Music Festival in Barbados , West Indies. Her work as an administrator includes the assistant management of the Danny Kaye Playhouse Box Office @ Hunter College, NYC, and management of a private HIV friendly dental practice in New York City. During that time, Lisa became keenly aware of how the arts and wellness could and should be more intertwined by way of service for the larger communities involved. As support from her administrative life created space for her passion, the two grew into an extraordinary opportunity when she later became the Ryan White Program Coordinator for NOVA Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL. She supervised management of a fourteen chair, HIV/AIDS Dental Clinic funded solely from the Ryan White Fund of HRSA. This unique and powerful experience ultimately led Lisa back to teaching and the arts, where she has proudly taught voice at SUNY Fredonia for five years, and has served as Executive Director of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra for two seasons. Lisa currently resides in Erie, PA. With her husband of 30 years, tenor, Brent Weber. Previous Next

< Back Previous Karim Said Next Conductor Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 26, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Karim Said is an award-winning pianist, conductor, and composer known for his expressive depth and distinctive artistic voice. Described by The Independent as a “born communicator,” he has been recognized since childhood for his rare ability to connect deeply with audiences. His early breakthrough came in 2009 with major concerto appearances at London’s Barbican Centre with the English Chamber Orchestra under Sir Colin Davis, and at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall with Daniel Barenboim—who, upon first hearing the ten-year-old Said, remarked: “what you cannot learn, he already knows.” Karim has since performed at leading concert halls and festivals around the world, including the Philharmonie Berlin, Philharmonie de Paris, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, the Musashino Concert Hall in Tokyo, and the Aldeburgh Festival in the UK. His affinity for the Second Viennese School inspired a major performance of Schoenberg’s complete solo piano works at London’s Southbank Centre as part of The Rest Is Noise festival. Equally committed to his musical roots, Karim regularly performs in Jordan, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates, maintaining a strong artistic presence in the Middle East. His work bridges eras and traditions, a quality reflected in his critically praised album Legacy—described by The Guardian as “exceptionally thoughtful”—which traces connections between the music of William Byrd and Arnold Schoenberg. His discography also includes Echoes from an Empire (2015) and a 2024 release featuring works by Mozart, Schoenberg, Webern, and Beethoven. Driven by a deep fascination with sound, structure, and artistic collaboration, Karim expanded his work into conducting and composing at an early age. He was featured in the BBC4/Allegro Films documentary Karim’s Journey, following his development at the Purcell School of Music, where he studied on full scholarship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karim founded the Amman Chamber Orchestra as its Principal Conductor and became Director of Music at the newly established Amman Institute of Performing Arts, initiatives of the Bank al Etihad Foundation. His mission is to build a thriving cultural environment in Jordan—one that celebrates both Western and Middle Eastern classical traditions. Karim has been an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (London) since 2017.

< Back Previous Tzu-yi Chen Next WATCH VIDEO “Magnificent,” wrote Frank Daykin in the New York Concert Review about Taiwanese pianist Tzu-yi Chen’s solo debut at Carnegie Hall. “She displayed…not only technical command, beautiful tone, total artistic involvement, deep feeling, stylistic understanding, but most importantly, the feeling of spontaneity, even risk, that makes an evening truly memorable.” The Review praised her 2019 piano-duo recital with Lan-in Winnie Yang as “delightful” and a 2022 collaborative performance as “outstanding.” Tzu-yi is on the artist roster of the New-York-based New Asia Chamber Music Society, appearing on its “Unforgettable Memories” CD, available on Apple Music. Her 2020 collaboration with the group at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery included works by Beethoven as well as compositions by the Taiwanese composers Shi-hui Chen and Ke-chia Chen and arrangements of Japanese folk songs. Recent appearances include recitals in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, performances at national venues in Taiwan, and recitals at Bolzano Conservatory in Italy. She recently served as collaborative pianist for the Robert Spencer Concerto Competition in Virginia and the U.S. Army Orchestra's Young Artist Concerto Competition in Washington DC. Tzu-yi’s upcoming engagements include a lecture on "Liszt and Re-enchantment: Beauty as a Portal to the Sacred" and a performance of Messiaen’s Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus at the 2026 American Liszt Society Annual Conference. At home in Washington DC, Tzu-yi is a teacher and adjudicator, whose students have garnered more than 45 awards in regional and state-level competitions. Tzu-yi holds the Premier Prix from the Paris Conservatory and two graduate degrees from the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, Germany. She earned the Artist Diploma from Columbus State University, where she co-founded the International Friendship Ministries’ Arts Academy. In 2023, she completed her DMA at the University of Maryland, College Park, with a dissertation on "Departure, Conflict, and Rebirth in the Musical Language of Franz Liszt."

< Back Previous Sophie Dunér Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall July 1, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Sophie Dunér is a Swedish singer, improviser, and composer with an international performing career spanning venues from CBGB’s in New York to the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Festival O/Modernt in Sweden. She has served as composer-in-residence with the U.S.-based new music ensemble Present Music and is a four-time award recipient from the Swedish Arts Council. Sophie’s recordings include Strictly Business (2022), The City of My Soul (2013) with the Callino Quartet, The City of Dizzy (2016) with electric cellist Jeremy Harman, Songs Eclectic (2020) with guitarist Gene Pritsker, and The Rain in Spain with Rory Stuart, Matt Penmann, and Kahlil Kwame Bell. She also recorded a duo CD with avant-garde bassist Dominic Duval Sr., set for release in 2024, and her new album Modern Mingus with Bertram Lehman is forthcoming the same year. Trained in jazz improvisation with Hal Crook, George Garzone, and Ed Tomassi, Sophie holds a degree in vocal performance from Berklee College of Music and studied at the Stockhausen Summer Courses in Germany. Her collaborations span contemporary and jazz luminaries, including Guy Livingston, Francis Schwartz, Don McCaslin, Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, Aaron Goldberg, and many others. Sophie’s performances have graced prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Tivoli Vredenburg, Stockholm Jazz Festival, November Music (NL), Getxo Jazz Festival (ES), and Sapporo Snow Festival (JP). Upcoming engagements include a new duo collaboration with acclaimed pianist Steve Beck. For more information, visit www.sophiedunermusic.com

< Back Previous Yifu Peng Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 24, 2024 WATCH VIDEO A bsolute Platinum Winner 2024 US-Canadian International Music Competition Winner of the 2024 Philip Cohen Award Yifu Peng earned the highest score in the inaugural US-Canadian International Music Competition in 2024, receiving the Absolute Platinum Prize and the distinguished Philip Stanley Cohen Prize as the top performer — an achievement that led to his invitation to perform at today’s Carnegie Hall concert. A native of Shenzhen, China, Peng began piano studies at age eight and quickly demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, followed by a Master’s degree from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at Michigan State University under the guidance of renowned pianist Eric Zuber. Peng’s artistry has earned him significant accolades, including the Distinguished Gold Medal at the 2023 Seattle International Piano Festival Classical Series and the Platinum Medal at the 2023 Quebec Music Competition. With his remarkable skill and deep musicality, Yifu Peng is emerging as a compelling presence on the global classical music stage.

< Back Previous Rainer Stegmann Next Gala at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall April 4, 2024 WATCH VIDEO Rainer Stegmann is a concert guitarist, composer, and music educator. He studied at the Musikhochschule and Dr. Hoch’s Conservatory in Frankfurt am Main. Stegmann performs as a soloist, in various chamber music ensembles, and with orchestras, with a particular focus on contemporary music, aiming to show that modern works are accessible to all audiences, not just specialists. He has performed numerous rarely heard contemporary chamber music and solo works for guitar. His CDs, Soundscapes I, II, and III, released by the classical label GENUIN, received critical acclaim and established him as a globally respected interpreter of contemporary music. Stegmann has been active as a composer since his youth. He studied composition under Prof. Jürgen Blume at the Frankfurt University of Music and continued his training both autodidactically and in courses with notable composers, including Leo Brouwer. His compositions often blend different musical styles, combining the rigor of classical forms with the freedom of contemporary improvisation, as well as influences from rock and jazz. His oeuvre includes solo, chamber, and orchestral works. For more information, visit www.rainerstegmann.de .