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Duo. Teresa Laiz Monsalve & Marta Casas Vázquez < Back Duo. Teresa Laiz Monsalve & Marta Casas Vázquez Previous Next Teresa Laiz Monsalve & Marta Casas Vázquez 🇪🇸 Spain CASTANETIST & SOPRANO Marta Casas (Soprano, Professor at the Superior Conservatory of Music of Castilla La Mancha) and Teresa Laiz (Professor and Castanets Soloist) are the cornerstone of this project “Compañía Española de Canto y Palillos”. The voice and castanets, which sometimes act as an accompaniment element and others as a solo instrument so unknown in this facet for the vast majority, cover the Spanish geography, as well as the different stages of our History, through fragments of classical music , zarzuela, copla or popular songs.

Victoria Tan < Back Victoria Tan Previous Next Victoria Tan 🇺🇸 USA VIOLINIST Victoria Tan, from the United States, plays the violin and piano, and has performed at numerous music halls, including Carnegie Hall, and was awarded many grand and first prizes in violin and piano competitions. She has performed with the Washington Heights Chamber Orchestra in New York, the NV Chamber Orchestra in New Jersey, and the Metropolitan String Orchestra in Connecticut. Besides her interest in music, Victoria loves reading and writing, and has won several contests for her poetry.

< Back FamTrio FamTrio is a piano trio group established by three family members. They played together for many years for their own enjoyment and as a way to introduce Fedor Ouspensky to the wealth of piano trio music before forming an official group. As Fedor's own interests in music developed, so did the casual pastime turned into a professional performing trio, with its own unique focus on bridging tested classics with contemporary music written in the XX and XXI centuries for a variety of settings such as opera, film, game, ballet. FamTrio performs programs comprised of a mix of established piano trio repertory and their own arrangements and covers and is especially known for creating themed programs such as The Rings, which presents arrangements for piano trio written by Igor and Fedor of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen and Howard Shore's score for The Lord of the Rings. Listen Beethoven - Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 Schumann - Piano Trio No. 3 in G minor, Op. 110 Brahms - Phänomen, Op. 61 No. 3 Previous Next

Calista Case < Back Calista Case Previous Next Calista Case 🇺🇸 USA SOPRANO Calista Case is a young soprano, a musical theatre artist, an actress, and a dancer. She is from Lexington, Kentucky and is currently a first-year studying drama at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York City. This summer, she had the opportunity to train at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria where she specialized her studies in German lieder. She is passionate about many different styles of singing, including musical theatre, art song, opera, and popular music.

Subin Lee < Back Subin Lee Previous Next Subin Lee 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea HARPIST Subin Lee is the Marylin Costello Annual Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studies with Elizabeth Hainen, Principal Harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She won first prize at the Suoni d’arpa International Harp Competition. As the youngest among all contestants, Subin was the winner of the 2017 Lyon & Healy Awards and is also a prizewinner of Szeged International Harp Competition, Germany International Harp Competition, Korea International Harp Competition, and Hudson International Concerto Competition. Subin has been selected as Kumho Prodigy sponsored by the Kumho Asiana Foundation to hold solo recitals in 2014 and 2016. She has also performed solo in Lincoln Center, Seoul Arts Center, and Youngsan Art Center. Subin has performed concerto works with Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra, Romania Timisoara Orchestra, Philharmonians Orchestra, GYO Youth Orchestra, YASP Orchestra, and has performed as student soloist with Temple University Symphony Orchestra, winning the Boyer College Concerto Competition. Subin has participated in monthly volunteer concerts in Cha Medical Center and has also performed volunteer concerts in Joongang University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Samsung Seoul Medical Center, International Bobas Hospital, and I-eum Arts Center for the Disabled. She has also shown exceptional work in her academic studies and has received the Mayor’s Seoul Citizen Award for Creative Science and Arts and Seoul Superintendent of Education Award.

Opportunity to study in Madrid Musical Arts Madrid “Virtuoso Diploma”  (high level masterclass)  Opportunity to study in Madrid Opportunity to study in Madrid Musical Arts Madrid “Virtuoso Diploma” (high level masterclass) Conditions: Musical Arts Madrid “Virtuoso Diploma” in Madrid (Spain), anytime from December 2021 to June 2022 (high level masterclass): 500 € Scholarship - Dates are flexible, length of course to be agreed with professor Cristina Cavalli. The course can be fully online if necessary. Total worth of festival/masterclass: 4150€ Includes: - 30 individual lessons (75 min) + concerts in Madrid and final “Virtuoso” degree. Competitions winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) are exempted from the admission exam. Excludes: - Air tickets - Accommodation Please note that scholarship recipients are responsible for their own travelling expenses and possible visas needed for travelling. The conditions and decision for this award are final and cannot be disputed. If necessary, special arrangements can be made directly with the masterclass/festival professor. Learn more Leon Piano Meeting, in León (Spain) July 2022, 11-24: 100 € Scholarship) Conditions: - Dates are flexible, length of course to be agreed with festival professor Cristina Cavalli. If necessary, the masterclass can be hold entirely online (Total worth of festival/masterclass: 450€) Includes: - 4 individual lessons (60 min) + concerts in León + free Workshop about Self Coaching Excludes: - Air tickets - Accommodation Please note that scholarship recipients are responsible for their own travelling expenses and possible visas needed for travelling. The conditions and decision for this award is final and cannot be disputed. If necessary, special arrangements can be made directly with the masterclass/festival professor. Masterclasses with Cristina Cavalli 20% discount on bulk of 6 hours e-learning lessons (all levels) Six hours lesson bulk at a discounted price of 400 euros instead of 500 (20 % discount); a good internet connection is required. Available in English, Italian or Spanish.

< Back Manhattan Moods These series of albums provide a unique platform for emerging voices in classical composition and performance, offering listeners a journey through both familiar traditions and unexplored musical landscapes. Featured works and artists: Stas Venglevski - Rondo Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra. Stas Venglevski, accordion Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 1. Kate Lee, piano Vivaldi - Summer. Gvantsa Butskhrikidze, violin Gong-Qian Yang - Agitato for String Orchestra Saint-Säens - Concerto No. 2. Ayla Moreno, piano Listen Featured Works: Stas Venglevski - Rondo Fantasy for Accordion and Orchestra. Stas Venglevski, accordion Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 1 Kate Lee, piano Vivaldi - Summer Gvantsa Butskhrikidze, violin Gong-Qian Yang - Agitato for String Orchestra Saint-Säens - Concerto No. 2 Ayla Moreno, piano Stas Venglevski 's bio Acclaimed for his dazzling technical command, expressive artistry, and deep musical sensitivity , Stanislav “Stas” Venglevski has earned international recognition as a master of the bayan — a type of classical Russian accordion. A native of the Republic of Moldova , formerly part of the Soviet Union, Stas is a two-time First Prize winner of the national bayan competition in Moldova. He holds a Master’s Degree in Music from the Russian Academy of Music in Moscow , where he studied under the legendary Russian bayanist Friedrich Lips . In 1992 , Stas immigrated to the United States , where he has since established himself as a performer, composer, conductor, arranger, entertainer, and teacher . Stas's extensive repertoire includes classical, contemporary, and ethnic music from around the world, along with many original compositions . He has toured as a soloist throughout the former Soviet Union, Canada, Europe, and the United States , and has performed with major symphony orchestras across both Europe and North America. His notable collaborations include appearances with Doc Severinsen , Steve Allen , and on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion . Since 2016 , Stas has served as the Artistic Director of the Houston Accordion Orchestra Retreat , and in 2021 , he was named Artistic Director of A World of Accordions Museum in Superior, Wisconsin. A dedicated leader in the accordion community, he is a former President of the Accordionists and Teachers Guild (ATG) and continues to serve on its board. Most recently, Stas joined the faculty of the Music Department at the University of Wisconsin–Superior , where he shares his passion for the bayan and accordion with the next generation of musicians. Kate Lee's bio Kate Lee began studying piano at the age of 4 under the guidance of Dr. Anna Ouspenskaya and Frane Rusinovic, and studies music theory with Fedor Ouspensky. Her musical development has been marked by a series of impressive performances and honors at both national and international levels. In 2019 , Kate received the Judges’ Distinction Award (Plaque Trophy) in the American Protégé International Concerto Competition , as well as First Place in the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music . These achievements led to her debut performances at Weill Recital Hall and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall . In 2020 , she won First Place in the Forte International Music Competition & Festival , further establishing her promise as a rising young pianist. Her success continued in 2022 with: First Place in the American Fine Arts Festival Concerto Competition An Honorable Mention in the William Knabe International Piano Competition An Honorable Mention and the iClassical Academy Excellence Award from the Global Sound Espressivo Competition A return performance at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall , as First Place winner of the American Protégé International Piano & Strings Competition In addition to these accomplishments, Kate has earned awards from other esteemed competitions, including: Glory International Modern & Contemporary / Romantic Music Competition YMIC Metropolitan Music Festival Great Composers Competition series Through her years of study, Kate has developed a passionate, focused, and enthusiastic approach to music. Her commitment to steady practice has nurtured both expressive performance skills and analytical thinking , making her a standout among her peers. Gvantsa Butskhrikidze's bio Gvantsa Butskhrikidze was born in 2002 in Kutaisi, Georgia , and began her violin studies at the M. Balanchivadze Musical School , in the school's Orchestra Department. Early in her musical journey, she was awarded a scholarship to the Art Academy and earned First Prize in a national competition, where she was also recognized as the Judges' Favorite . Gvantsa is a prize-winning violinist at several international competitions , including a First Prize and Grant Award at a prestigious contest in Turkey , and First Place at the “Find Your Star” competition. She has given three solo recitals and has appeared as a special guest performer in concerts across various regions of Georgia. Her orchestral experience includes performing with the Sinfonietta Orchestra , and she is a First Prize winner of the International Contest of Young Musicians . In 2019, Gvantsa participated in the American Protégé International Competition , winning First Prize , which led to her Gala performance at Carnegie Hall . In 2021, she won First Prize in the O. Taktakishvili International Music Competition , further establishing her as one of Georgia’s most promising young violinists. Gvantsa currently studies at the Mikeladze Central Music School under the guidance of Professor Manana Kantaria , continuing to develop her artistry and technique at the highest level. Gong-Qian Yang's bio Gong Qian Yang is a versatile and visionary composer whose music reflects the modern classical style of the 21st century. His compositions span a wide range of genres, including choral works, film scores, television and radio themes, gaming music, soundscapes, and large-scale symphonic pieces such as the Symphonic Poem "Nature and Me" and "Dawn – Awakening." His music is known for being natural, uplifting, easy to listen to, and deeply inspirational. As a composer, producer, and publisher, Yang has released seven original albums, with more on the way: Sonic Poem Sonic Spring by Gong Qian Yang Sonic Wave by Gong Qian Yang Lean on Me Music for Yoga and More Sonic Fusion Space and Stars The album Space and Stars reflects Yang’s intimate connection with nature — inspired by the sounds and essence of birds, forests, seashores, waves, wind, the night sky, moonlight, and twinkling stars. An accomplished violinist, Yang is a two-time First Prize winner of the Starling International Scholarship Foundation in the United States. He studied with the legendary Prof. Dorothy DeLay and Prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus at the Aspen Music Festival and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he earned his Master's Degree in Music. His earlier studies included mentorship from Kathleen Lenski and Prof. Robert Lipsett in California. Yang’s experience at CCM also enriched his path as a composer. He studied composition with Joel Hoffman and was deeply influenced by Gerhard Samuel — a noted conductor and composer who had studied with Paul Hindemith and Serge Koussevitzky. During his time at CCM, Yang had the rare privilege of performing on Prof. Samuel’s Gagliano violin, which further shaped his understanding of sound and expression. Even while enjoying success as a soloist and concert artist, Yang maintained a strong focus on composition and music production. Drawing inspiration from a vast repertoire and the traditions of Western classical music, he has crafted a unique voice rooted in emotional depth, natural harmony, and spiritual connection to the universe. Much of his music emerges from moments of reflection during travel — for example, humming melodies on the road to Nashville or feeling his heart sing while driving through the Appalachian Mountains. Yang believes that music should radiate infinite life energy, glorifying the beauty of the universe and celebrating the spirit of humanity within it. His albums are available on platforms including Apple iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon MP3, Tencent Music, Netease Music, Verizon, Nokia, MySpace Music, Tradebit, Napster, Emusic, and more. His music has been well received in the U.S. and internationally, known for its ability to reach and touch listeners on a deeply personal and emotional level. Ayla Moreno's bio Ayla began studying piano and violin at the age of three and made her orchestral solo debut at six, performing the Berkovich Piano Concerto with the Tucson Civic Orchestra. The following year, she performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 1 with both the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra and the Tucson Repertory Orchestra during their tour in Japan. In 2022, she performed Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra at age 10, followed in 2023 by Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with Orquestra do Algarve of Portugal under the baton of maestro Maurizio Colasanti. She has participated in prestigious music festivals, including the Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Seminar, Chopin Festival in Poland, Philadelphia International Music Festival, Heifetz PEG, Colburn Piano Seminar, Sima Classics in Poland, and the Piano Concerto Festival, where she studied with renowned teachers, gave concerts and appeared as a soloist with orchestras. She also enjoys performing at the annual Tucson Folk Festival. Ayla is a top prizewinner of numerous national and international competitions, including the Chopin International Piano Competition (Hartford, CT), WPTO Spain International Piano Competition, Sound Espressivo Competition, Frantz Liszt Center International Piano Competition, Charleston International Music Competition, and several local concerto competitions. She is a member of the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra and currently studies piano with Dr. Kyungsun Choi and violin with Dr. Laura Tagawa. Outside of music, Ayla enjoys playing chess and taking dance classes. Maestro David Wroe's bio Maestro David Wroe is Music Director of the New Jersey Festival Orchestra , Principal Conductor at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice (NY) , and a regular guest conductor with L’Orchestre Régional de Normandie in France . A frequent presence on international stages, he has conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra , Saint Louis Symphony , Royal Scottish National Orchestra , L’Orchestre National de Lille , New York City Opera , New York City Ballet , and leading orchestras across Europe, Asia, and North America. Formerly Assistant Conductor to Seiji Ozawa at the Boston Symphony Orchestra , Wroe led performances at Tanglewood , Symphony Hall , and collaborated on recordings with Jessye Norman and Itzhak Perlman . His operatic leadership includes positions at Opera Delaware , Oper der Stadt Heidelberg , and Opera Teatro Gratticielo in New York. He has recorded with L’Orchestre National de Lille (TransArt label) and conducted broadcasts for the Austrian Broadcasting Authority (ORF) . In the crossover space, he has performed with artists such as Kristin Chenoweth , Mannheim Steamroller , Joan Rivers , and Jackie Evancho . A committed educator, Wroe has held positions with NYU , Montclair State University , and Brown University , and led youth programs for the Boston Symphony and Taipei Symphony . Honors include the Seiji Ozawa Fellowship at Tanglewood , finalist in the Leonard Bernstein Conducting Competition , and a U.S. Congressional citation for contributions to the arts. He holds degrees from Manchester University (UK) and Northwestern University , and studied with Gustav Meier and Victor Yampolsky . Produced by Sound Espressivo — Vienna, Virginia, USA Edited and Published by Cicerone MA — Utrecht, The Netherlands Production Manager – Anna Ouspenskaya Publishing Coordination – Irma De Jong Sound Engineer – James Welch Editing and Mastering – Gianriccardo Pera Cicerone MA Streams ©2025 Previous Next

< Back The Road to Zlin These series of albums provide a unique platform for emerging voices in classical composition and performance, offering listeners a journey through both familiar traditions and unexplored musical landscapes. Featured Works: S. Rachmaninoff- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2, Op.18 (1st movement) Gong Qian - Strings Attached W.A. Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major, K. 414 (1st movement) Reiner Stegmann - Aprěs la guerre E. Grieg - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 16 (2nd movement) G. Puccini - In quelle trine morbide, from 'Manon Lescaut' F. Mendelssohn - Bartholdy - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 64 (1st movement) Listen Featured Artists: Jennifer Savage (piano) Louise Ting (piano) Zhibin Chiam (piano) Jelena Stefanic (soprano) Kevin Matheson (violin) Gong-Qian Yang (composer) Rainer Stegmann (composer) Artists' Biographies Jennifer Savage Jennifer Savage received her Master Manhattan School of Music, New York, studying piano performance with Arkady Aronov and Efrem Briskin under the Elva van Gelder Memorial and Constance Keene piano scholarship, previously studying at the MSM Precollege with Dr. Anna Ouspenskaya at the Levine School of Music. An avid performer, Jennifer has appeared as a soloist with the Virtuosi Brunensis Orchestra and at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Kaufman Center’s Merkin Hall, historical Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia Italy, the DiCapo Opera Theater in New York, and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Jennifer has won numerous competitions, both in solo and chamber music, performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center in NY, Palazzo dei Priori in Italy, DiCapo Opera Theater in New York, Embassy of Italy, Mexican Cultural Institute, Lyceum in Alexandria, featured on Cable TV: A Holiday Recital, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Netherlands Embassy, Alden Theater Music Friends Concert, and the Kimmel Center in PA as well as giving a lecture-concert in Wuhan, China. Louise Ting Elite International Music Competition First Prize Carnegie Hall, Manhattan NY – January 2023 Golden Classical Music Awards First Prize and Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize and Carnegie Hall Manhattan, NY – July 2022 Windsor International Piano Competition Category A - 3rd Prize – July 2022 International Music Competition Amsterdam "Grand Prize Virtuoso" First Prize plus Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize "Young Musician Category" July 2022 International Music Competition Salzburg "Grand Prize Virtuoso" First Prize plus Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize "Young Musician Category" July 2022 7th Paderewski International Piano Competition Special Online Edition - Honorable Mention – June 2022 10th Concorso Musicale Ineternazionale Citta Di Palmanova Premio UNESCO First Prize Cat E - May 2022 Young Promise International 2021 Piano Competition Second Place – May 2021 Crescendo International Music Competition First Place - January 2021 Zhibin Chiam Zhibin Chiam lives for the magical moments of sharing great music with audiences worldwide. He worked as an accompanist for 12 years before he played for the Belgian American pianist Tedd Joselson and with Joselson’s guidance has been developing his distinctive pianism of sensitivity, refinement and imagination ever since. Season 2024/25 sees Zhibin Chiam performing at Music Fest Perugia in Italy and Season 2025/26 includes a solo recital at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Within 2 years of starting a concert career, Zhibin Chiam has played with the Orquestra do Algarve and the Orchestra delle Cento Città, played with the conductors Marius Stravinsky and Maurizio Colasanti, and has been signed by Price Attractions. His performances have taken him to Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Hong Kong and Singapore. His audiences have included dignitaries from the Embassy of Italy and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Singapore. A pianist of distinctive pedigree, Zhibin Chiam presently studies with Tedd Joselson and is an heir in the lineage of Vladimir Horowitz, Rudolf Serkin and Clifford Curzon. He has studied with Boris Kraljevic who is a postgraduate of the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow in the class of Lev Naumov, a pupil of Heinrich Neuhaus. He has taken masterclasses with Mikhail Voskresenky (who worked with Dmitri Shostakovich), Jean-David Coen, Ian Jones, David Fung, Rixiang Huang, Danijel Gasparovic and Christopher Elton. He also attended a summer school at the Musikakademie Tübingen, Germany where he studied with Wei Tsin-Fu. Zhibin Chiam has garnered multiple awards and prizes including Bronze Hands at the Carles and Sofia International Piano Competition 2024, Distinction at the WPTA Italy International Piano Competition 2024, Gold Award at the Gold Star International Music Competition 2024 Singapore Preliminary, Finalist in the colORCHESTRA Auditions 2024, Career Project Prize at the 5th Swiss International Online Music Competition 2023, Silver Award at the 5th WPTA Singapore International Piano Competition 2023, Special Prize in the 2023 Pacific Stars International Piano Competition, Gold Award in the 1st Ars Nova Fest in Singapore, Bronze Award in the 1st WPTA Singapore International Piano Competition, and Platinum Award in the 1st Le Petit Performers’ Festival in Singapore. Jelena Stefanic Jelena is Croatian soprano performing wide range of roles, spanning from iconic Baroque heroines, to Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and Operetta Diva roles. Jelena is a Croatian soprano performing a wide range of roles, spanning from iconic Baroque heroines to Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and Operetta Diva roles. When she was only 16 years old, she made her debut in Varaždin as Hyale in Acteon under the baton of Laurence Cummings. Through years she appeared at numerous stages such as Vienna Musikverein, State Opera Ruse, Bulgaria, State Opera Maldybayev, Croatian National Theatres in Varazdin, Osijek, Pola. Then NCPA Beijing, Carnegie Hall, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Mythos Opera Festival (Catania, Taormina Teatro Greco), Schlosstheater Schönbrunn Vienna, Vienna Volksoper, Teatro della Ciudad Mexico, Grand Theatre Suzhou, Bridewell Theatre London, Kensington Opera London and many more. Her repertoire include roles: Traviata, Leonora in Il Trovatore, Elettra in Idomeneo, Vitellia in Clemenza di Tito, First Lady in Magic flute, Konstanze, Rosalinde in die Fledermaus, Countess Mariza, Angelica in Orlando, Verdi Requiem, Lady Macbeth, Thais, Donna Anna, Desdemona, Medea, Tosca, Tatyana and many more. She is an alumna of iSING Festival China, under guidance of Hao Jiang Tian and honorary chair Placido Domingo. In 2012 Jelena was invited to participate on Domingo’s Operalia as the first Croatian female singer in the long history of this greatest competition. From 2021 Jelena is a casting director of small Classical Music Festival, Noctes Aquae Iasae in Croatia. Kevin Matheson Violinist Kevin Matheson was awarded first prize in the 2021 Charleston International Music Competition for his performance of Vieuxtemps’ “Souvenirs d’Amérique.” Kevin Matheson, with his brother as violin-viola duo, received critical acclaim at their Carnegie Weill Recital Hall debut as part of the Ibla Grand Prize competition winners’ tour. They have been recognized for their mesmerizing and spirited performances - two perfect virtuosos, playing as one. Their two successful tours to Japan included recorded performances at Yamaha Hall in Tokyo. Kevin performed Vivaldi’s Four Violin Concertos with the Irish Sinfonietta Orchestra in New York City and has performed Bruch and Mozart concertos with the Valley Chamber Orchestra at Hollins University. Matheson is a frequent recitalist and chamber musician on concert series throughout Virginia. He has organized new ballet choreography for his performances of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, selections from Bartok’s 44 Duos for Two Violins and other works with the Roanoke Ballet Theatre and Southwest Virginia Ballet. Kevin Matheson has arranged many Broadway, movie, operatic and orchestral works for his violin-viola-piano trio which tours for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. Kevin Matheson has commissioned and premiered new chamber compositions, recorded five CDs and is a Performing Artist for Young Audiences of Virginia, presenting school concerts throughout the state. He is concertmaster of the Orchestra of Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Adjunct Instructor at Hollins University. Gong-Qian Yang Yang’s music is in the 21st century modern classical music style ranging from Choral, movie soundtrack, TV, radio headlines and gaming music, soundscape, to symphonic works such as "Nature and Me " Symphonic Poem and "Dawn-Awakening", etc. His music is natural, easy listening, uplifting and inspirational. As a composer, producer and publisher, Gong Qian Yang has released seven of his music albums: "Sonic Poem”； "Sonic Spring by Gong Qian Yang”； "Sonic Wave by Gong Qian Yang”； "Lean on Me”； "Music for Yoga and More”； "Sonic Fusion”； "Space and Stars” - Yang's inspiration for communication with nature: Birds, Forest, Seashore, Wave, Wind, Night sky, Moon and twinkling stars. As an accomplished violinist, Yang has been twice first-prize winner of the Starling International Scholarship Foundation in U.S. He pursued his violin study with the legendary violin teacher Prof. Dorothy Delay and Prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus at both Aspen music Festival and Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music (CCM). Yang has been conferred a Master's Degree of Music. Yang also studied with Ms. Kathleen Lenski, and Prof. Robert Lipsett earlier when he was in California. Yang very much enjoyed taking composer Joel Hoffman's class at CCM. He was also very grateful to his music mentor Gerhard Samuel (who studied composition with Paul Hindemith and conducting with Koussevitzky). Yang was coached and influenced by Prof. Samuel on modern music languages and new music for the future. Fortunately, Yang was offered the opportunity to play Prof. Samuel's Gagliano violin during the time while he was studying at CCM. While enjoying a successful career as soloist and concert artist, Yang always kept keen interest in music composition. Focusing on his music production, Yang has studied a wide range of repertoire and a great diversity of music by western masters. As a sensible composer, Yang has often been inspired by the harmony between all the creatures in the universe. A lot of his music ideas came to him when he was on his music tour. He was humming along on the way to Nashville, and his heart was singing when he was driving in the Appalachian Mountains. Yang says he enjoys being close to nature whether it is sunny or rainy; he feels the energy and harmony coming from everywhere. Yang’s music is in the 21st century modern classical music style ranging from Choral, movie soundtrack, TV, radio headlines and gaming music, soundscape, to symphonic works such as "Nature and Me " Symphonic Poem and "Dawn-Awakening", etc. His music is natural, easy listening, uplifting and inspirational. Rainer Stegmann Rainer Stegmann is a concert guitarist, composer and music educator. He studied in Frankfurt am Main at the Musikhochschule and at the Dr. Hoch's Conservatory. Rainer Stegmann performs as a soloist, in various chamber music casts and with orchestra. His musical focus is clearly in the field of new music. He wants to prove that contemporary music is not just for experts. Rainer Stegmann has performed numerous rarely heard contemporary chamber music and solo works for guitar. His CDs 'Soundscapes I, II and III' published by the classical label GENUIN received excellent reviews and established Rainer Stegmann as a globally respected interpreter of contemporary music. Rainer Stegmann has been active in composition since his youth. His teacher at the Frankfurt University of Music was Prof. Jürgen Blume. After that, he continued his autodidactically training, but also in courses, e.g. with Leo Brouwer. In his compositions, he often mixes different musical styles. He loves the strict classical forms as well as the free, quasi-improvisatory of contemporary music, but also rock and jazz. In his oeuvre there are solo, chamber music and orchestral works. www.rainerstegmann.de Previous Next

LOUISA MARIE CORDES < Back LOUISA MARIE CORDES Previous Next LOUISA MARIE CORDES 🇩🇪 Germany VIOLINIST Louisa began playing the violin with five years in the Suzuki Class of Isabel Morey Suau in Kiel, Germany. In 2018 she changed to Ralf Krögers violin Class. During the years she played many regional Competitions in which she won first prizes with distinction in her devision. And some international Competitions with first, second and third prizes. She had Master Classes, with Prof. Lutz Leskowitz (Salzburg), with Prof. Maria Egelhof (Lübeck) and Prof. Andreas Lehmann (Weimar). From October 2019 till June 2020 Louisa was at the Network of the YARO (Young Academy Rostock) at the HTM Rostock. Now Louisa has also lessons with Prof. Daniel Sepec, Musikhochschule Lübeck and has a scholarships, one at the Konservatorium Hamburg.

Zikai Andy Wang < Back Zikai Andy Wang Previous Next Zikai Andy Wang Canada PIANIST Zikai Andy Wang, 9-year-old, started learning piano at the age of 6 with Dr. Olga Chichova. He is self-disciplined, dedicated, and hardworking on practicing piano and won numerous awards in international competitions and local music festivals, Including the OMFA Ontario Provincial, Little Mozarts International Music Competition, Rocky Mountain Piano Competition, Peel Music Festival, etc. Andy is also an award winner of Steinway’s Canadian Young Artist Standards of Excellence Awards in 2021. In addition to music, Andy is also passionate for painting, language math and swimming.

Sean Penzo < Back Sean Penzo Previous Next Sean Penzo 🇺🇸 USACOMPOSER & CELLIST Born in Genova, Italy, and raised outside of Syracuse, NY, Sean Penzo is a composer and cellist known for a wide range of collaborations and compositions. He has enjoyed positions in organizations including: Online PR Chair for Ethos New Music Society and Treasurer for The Improv. Collective. Both roles gave him experience in organizing and running events. Sean has attended several music festivals including Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Alba New Music Festival in Alba Italy, and highSCORE New Music Festival. He’s written for ensembles which have performed his music internationally including Sonic Apricity, Akropolis Reed Quintet, and Quartetto Zuena. Recently graduated from SUNY Fredonia, Sean has studied composition with Dr. Paul Coleman and Dr. Andrew Martin Smith, and cello with Dr. Natasha Farny. He is currently studying composition with Dr. Keith Fitch at the Cleveland Institute of Music. http://seanpenzo.com/

Musica Vitale < Back Musica Vitale Previous Next Musica Vitale 🇺🇸 USA CHOIR Musica Vitale is a professional ensemble presenting a cappella chamber works of Western European and Slavic origin from the last 300 years. The ensemble’s mission is to revive and rediscover rarely performed repertoire of the Classical, Romantic and post-Romantic eras, maintaining the highest artistic standards, preserving the heritage of vocal chamber music, and bringing enrichment to the community through public performances. Vitale--or vital, of life--translates into the choices of the ensemble’s repertoire, emphasizing the works of Romantic and Contemporary periods of Music History, emotionally open and charged with expression. An ensemble of some of San Diego's finest singers offers an audible feast of choral colors and timbres, equally successful in singing with delicacy and finesse as in Robert Schumann’s ‘Romanzen und Balladen’, and with the richness and warmth of Sergey Rachmaninov’s Vespers. Musica Vitale has been bringing music to life since 2005, when a group of professional singers from the San Diego Opera Chorus and Sacred Heart Church came together to perform a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. At this concert, the group revealed its unique potential and Musica Vitale was born. During these years of exceptional music making, the group became one of the premier ensembles in the county and won the hearts of a larger San Diego following.