Adam Suska

Aleksandra Maria Steczkowska

Alena Hove

Alena Hove currently studies at the Colburn Conservatory under the internationally acclaimed Robert Lipsett.  She has performed with the Pacific Symphony, Burbank Philharmonic, San Fernando Valley Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Philharmonic, and more. Her recent accomplishments include being selected as the featured artist of the Colburn Conservatory's upcoming season, where she will be performing the Korngold Violin Concerto with Stéphane Denève and the Colburn Orchestra at the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  

Bjørg Pas

Bjørg first tried the violin at the age of 4. At 5 years old she started her studies at the Barratt-Due Institute of Music, a place she's studied at since. In 2020 Bjørg was a soloist in a concert series with the Oslo Philharmonic for the first time, leading to an experience that led her play 15 concerts. In 2022 she perfored as a soloist with known Norwegian orchestras as well as the festival orchestra for the Mozartmania festival in Spain. Bjørg has taken part in many competitions, among these The Cooper International Violin Competition. She's known as a chamber musician and a composer. She’s received many forms of support and is currently the loaner of a G.B Guadagnini 1773 violin.

Dongyoung Jake Shim

Dongyoung Jake Shim gained international recognition winning 1st Prize/Bach Prize at the Stulberg International String Competition. After winning a prize both at the Irving M.Klein International String Competition and the Zhuhai International Mozart Competition, he was also one of the Laureates at the J.S.Bach Competition. He gave debut performances on three different continents including venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has appeared at chamber music festivals including the The Verbier Festival and Perlman Music Program. He is currently an AD candidate at the Curtis Institute studying with I.Kavafian and S.Ashkenasi. His former teachers include D.Weilerstein at the NEC.

Eimi Wakui

Eimi Wakui is a winner and laureate of a number of international competitions such as Tibor Varga Violin Competition, Euro Asia Competition, Oleh Krysa Violin Competition, Mirecourt Violin Competition, Vaclav Huml Violin Competition, Yankelevitch Violin Competition, Schoenfeld International String Competition, Antonio Vivaldi Competition. And she was a finalist awarded special prizes and given concerts in three competitions in Poland, as International Karol Lipiński Violin Competition, International Violin Competition-Toruń and Mieczysław Wajnberg International Violin Competition and etc. Currently she is studying at University Mozarteum Salzburg with Prof. Pierre Amoyal.

Elise Bertrand

Born in 2000, Élise Bertrand began playing the piano at the age of 5, the violin at the age of 8, and composition three years later, as an autodidact.
After studying at the CRR in Toulon, she entered the CRR in Paris at the age of 14 where she studied the violin with Suzanne Gessner and composition with Nicolas Bacri.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree and her master's degree in violin at the CNSMDP in the class of Roland Daugareil and extended her studies in last grade of composition classes still in the CNSMDP (harmony, counterpoint...)

In 2022, she was admitted for a master's degree in chamber music with the pianist Gaspard Thomas in the CNSMDP and became Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in the class of Augustin Dumay. Since 2023, Elise has been playing a violin by Joseph Gagliano, Naples 1796, on loan from the Fondation d’entreprise Société Générale C’est vous l’avenir.

She participated in the Academy of Villecroze (2019), in the Seiji Ozawa and International Menuhin Music Academy in the summer of 2021 and 2022, in the Jaroussky Academy (2021-2022) in the Tchaikovsky promotion and in the Stauffer Academy of Cremona with Gil Shaham in 2023.

Élise won numerous violin, chamber music and composition competitions.

In the fall of 2019, she won the 2nd Prize of Ginette Neveu International Competition and the Special Prize for the best interpretation of the contemporary piece. A month later, she won the 1st Prize and the special prize at the Léopold Bellan International Competition.
In 2022, Elise won the 1st prize at the Rotary Club Paris competition and, a few months later, the Honor Prize (first prize) at the International Competition for Young Talents in Normandie.

As a violinist, she participated in many projects both as a soloist, chamber musician (La Roque- d’Anthéron, in recital at the Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad and La Roche-Posay in 2022, at the Aix-en-Provence Easter Festival in March 2021) and within orchestras (OPRL, the Douai Orchestra Hauts-de-France region, Les Dissonances, the Idomeneo orchestra, the Ensemble Les Apaches...).

The musician wishes to defend the little-known repertoire, both on the violin and in chamber music, as well as contemporary music, thus mixing interpretation and creation. Published by Billaudot and Klarthe, her pieces are commissioned by ensembles, eminent instrumentalists, competitions, institutions and are broadcasted by France Musique, Radio Classique and ARTE Concert.

In May 2022, Élise was invited to the ClassicalNext international conference fair given in Hannover, giving the floor to three composers. The same year, her Sonate-Poème, Op.11 was rewarded with the medal of the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Arras.
Articles are also dedicated to her in Classica, Diapason, Pianiste, Traversières magazine and The Strad Korea.

Her first CD "Lettera Amorosa" (on Klarthe label) presenting her works is praised by critics and the press. It is notably named "Contemporary disc of the week” in September 2022 by Emilie Munera and Rodolphe Bruneau Boulmier.
Elise is chosen Composer of the year by Classeek Ambassador Program for the season 2023-2024 and has commissions for that season by the Modigliani quartet, Musée de L’Homme (Paris), Concours International de Flute Maxence Larrieu, Festival d’Auvers sur Oise and Festival Les Inouies.

2nd prize

Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev

Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev is a solo concert violinist with a broad and diverse repertoire who is currently pursuing his Konzertexamen degree at Folkwang Universität der Künste in Essen with Prof. Aleksey Semenenko and his second Master’s degree in Instrumentalsolist program of UdK Berlin with Mark Gothoni simultaneously. He holds a Master’s Degree from Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany, where he studied with Professor Krzysztof Wegrzyn, and also a Bachelor’s Degree from Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Spain, from the class of Professor Zakhar Bron.

Helene Freytag

Helene is studying at the UdK Berlin with Prof. L. Honda-Rosenberg. As a scholarship holder of the Int. Music Academy in Liechtenstein she takes part in the intensive weeks with A. Chumachenco, I. Turban and M. Bouchkov. Helene is prize winner of the 15th Int. Violin Competition in Honour of K. Lipinski and H. Wieniawski in Lublin, the Int. Kocian Competition in Usti nad Orlici and the Tibor Varga Junior Competition. As a chamber musician she was awarded with the WDR3-Klassikpreis and several broadcasts in WDR and NDR. As a soloist she has performed with the Staatskapelle Halle and the Sion Festival Orchester. She plays a L. Ventapane violin loan from the Deutschen Musikinstrumentenfond.

Hyeon Hong

Hyeon Hong, violin, has won the Grand Prize in the New York International Classic Competition and 2nd prize in the Vietnam International Competition. In addition, she has been awarded first prizes in the Ewha Kyunghyang Competition, TBC Music Competition, Eumyeon Competition, and has also been awarded major prizes at the Busan Music Competition and numerous other competitions. Hyeon has been concerto soloist with the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Sun Symphony Orchestra, Gyeonbuk Provincial Symphony Orchestra, and the Seoul National University Philharmonic Orchestra.

At the age of 10, Hyeon made her debut at Seoul Arts Center Recital Hall, and was also invited to perform for the Korea Metropolitan Council. At age 16, she performed a recital at the Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal. Hyeon has performed in concert halls including Lincoln Center, Seoul Arts Center, Jordan Hall, TLI Art Center, and Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal. She has served as concertmaster of the Seoul National University Orchestra and the New England Conservatory Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2021-22, she was a full scholarship fellow at the Music Academy of the West Festival. Hyeon is a graduate of Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School and completed her undergraduate at Seoul National University with Professor Kyung Sun Lee. She is currently pursuing her M.M at New England Conservatory with Donald Weilerstein on a Dean’sScholarship.

Hyojin Ellen Kim

Violinist Hyojin Ellen Kim has established a remarkable career, showing great promise as an international performer, culminating in her New York debut with the Mid-Atlantic Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Merkin Hall. Kim has also performed with the Moravian Philharmonic at the Smetana Hall, Prague, and the Dacapo Kammer Philharmonie at Herkulessaal, Munich. After spending her early academic years in Korea, Kim moved to New York and recently graduated from the Juilliard School and now continuing her studies for a Master's degree. Kim currently studies with Hyo Kang and Adele Anthony, and her chamber coaches include Emanuel Ax, Astrid Schween, Jerome Lowenthal, Areta Zhulla, and more.

Issei Kurihara

Issei Kurihara Grand Prix of International Violin Competition Naleczow. 3rd prize of international competition “Uladimir Spivakov” , 1st prize of Yankelevich international violin competition. Top prize and many special prizes of “Rodolfo Lipizer Prize “international violin competition. 1st prize of International Beethoven Competition,1st prize of Joseph Mayseder International Violin Competition.1st prize of Tadeusz Wroński international solo violin competition. He has performed with following orchestras Vienna Camerata Orphica and Altomonte Orc.Linz,National Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Bashkortostan,Brasov Philharmonic Orchestra,National symphony orchestra “Serghei Lunchevici”.

3rd prize

Jakub Staszel

Jakub Staszel was born in 2003. He began his musical education at the age of 7. He is currently studying at the I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznan in the class of Prof. Marcin Baranowski. He participated in music courses in the classes of professors such as Prof. Gil Shaham, Prof. Midori Goto, Prof. Noah Bendix - Balgley, Prof. Ning Feng. He participated in the MorningSide Music Bridge International courses. Jakub's major competition achievements include: - 1st prize at the 7th International "Pulawy and Violin" Competition (2022) - 2nd prize at the 15th International Karol Lipinski and Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (2021).

Karolina Górny

Kristóf Tóth

Born in Budapest, Hungary, Kristof started his violin studies at the age of four. Currently he is a student of Kristof Barati and Peter Kovats at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest. He has won numerous national and international violin competitions including the Ilona Fehér International Violin Competition in 2017.Ever since making his orchestral debut with Budapest Strings at the age of thirteen he is regularly performing with both Hungarian and European orchestras such as the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, the Haydn Philharmonie or the Cluj Philharmonic Orchestra.He is regularly taking part in festivals such as the Festival Academy Budapest, Kaposfest, Auer Festival.

Manuel De Almeida-Ferrer

A passionate young violinist hailing from Lisbon, Manuel has performed on numerous stages in countries such as the UK, Belgium, Denmark and China. He debuted as soloist at the age of twelve with Orquestra Gulbenkian under the baton of Michael Zilm and has performed both as a soloist and chamber-musician ever since, alongside Johannes Schlaefli, the Hermes Ensemble, Tony Nys, Karen Gomyo and Kyril Zlotnikov, and performing with orchestras across his native Portugal. He is a prize-winner in several solo and chamber music competitions, namely Prémio Jovens Músicos, Vasco Barbosa Competition, the Triomphe de l’Art Competition and the Jeunesses Musicales Spain Competition.

Matthew Hakkarainen

Matthew Hakkarainen is the first American violinist to win first prize at the Lipizer International Violin Competition, in Gorizia, Italy. He received his B.M. from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Pamela Frank, and currently attends the Juilliard School, studying with Sylvia Rosenberg and Ronald Copes. Matthew won the New World Symphony Concerto Competition, performing as a soloist with Michael Tilson Thomas and the NWS. He also won the Aspen Music Festival Violin Competition. Matthew has appeared as a soloist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Bulgaria Classic di Plovdiv, and others.

Maya Wichert

Maya Wichert started playing the violin at the age of four. Since 2015 she is student at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, today she is in the class of Prof. Lena Neudauer. In addition, Maya receives private lessons from Prof. Krzysztof Węgrzyn. Maya has already performed as a soloist with such orchestras as Ulm Philharmonic Orchestra, Jena Philharmonic, Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of Liechtenstein and the Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra Konstanz. Maya received numerous awards at international violin competitions and is the winner of the Discovery Award of the International Classical Music Awards (ICMA).

Mira Marton

Polish violinist Mira Marton spent ten years in specialist music schools in her native country before gaining a place at The Yehudi Menuhin School under the tutelage of Lutsia Ibragimova. She now studies with Radu Blidar at the Royal College of Music in London, where she receives the Russell Race Scholarship. Mira’s concert experience includes performing in major venues around the world, among others, Wigmore Hall in London, Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, the National Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw. The violinist’s future engagements include a recording of Matthew Taylor’s Concertino for Violin and Strings with BBC NOW Orchestra and several other concerto performances around the UK.

Piirsalu Triinu

Triinu Piirsalu an Estonian violinist. In 2019 she started her Bachelor studies in the Sibelius Academy with prof. Réka Szilvay. During 2022/23 she was an exchange student at the Norwegian Academy of Music with prof. Peter Herresthal. From autumn 2023 she will start her master studies in the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München with Prof. Mi-kyung Lee. 

Triinu is an active musician who often plays with different chamber music groups and as a soloist with major orchestras in Estonia.Triinu has taken part in several competitions in Estonia and abroad and latest have been in Jan 2023 II edition of Anja Ignatius Violin Competition in Finland - 1st prize. Triinu has taken part in several masterclasses with Mi-kyung Lee, Vilde Frang, Stella Chen, Florian Donderer and others. 

In her free time Triinu enjoys playing folk music from different countries. 

Russell Iceberg

Russell Iceberg has recently won grand prizes at the Golden Violin Competition, the Peter Mendell award, and top prizes at the Allentown Symphony’s Schadt Competition, including the audience award. Russell’s mentors have included Andrew Wan, Blair Milton, Robin Scott and Ian Swensen. Russell has performed as soloist with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, the Northwestern University Alumni Symphony, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra, and L’orchestre I Medici de McGill. Russell has advanced to live rounds and semi-finals of prestigious competitions including the YCA, Wigmore Hall, Premio Paolo Borciani, Trondheim, Chesapeake, and WDAV as a string quartet violinist. 

Sara Dragan

Sara in an award-winning violin soloist. She is playing on A.Stradivarius violin on a generous loan from Florian Leonhard Fine Violins. Currently she studies with Professor Zakhar Bron at ESMRS in Madrid. As a soloist she was touring all around Europe, Asia, USA, Israel and Mexico. Sara performed hundreds of concerts with professional orchestras in the most prestigious venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Hall in LA, Berlin Philharmonie, NFM Wroclaw, Konzerthaus Berlin to name a few. Sara collaborated with Wroclaw Philharmonic, Martinu Philharmonic, Slovak Sinfonietta, Armenian State Philharmonic, Novosibirsk Philharmonic, Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Tel Aviv Soloists Orchestra and many others.

She is 1st prize/Grand Prize winner of 60 violin competitions, among others H.Wieniawski&K.Lipinski, G.P.Telemann, New York International Artists Association and Novosibirsk International Violin Competitions. She is also 3rd prize winner of Wajnberg and Wronski International Violin Competitions.
In 2022 she signed a contract with renowned agency - Columbia Artists Management and went on USA tour with The Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra (31 concerts in 17 states) where she performed Tchaikovsky and Wieniawski Violin Concertos.

1st prize

Seina Matsuoka

She is a Japanese Violinist, based in Vienna.In 2019, was selected as a semifinalist of Queen Elisabeth Competition 2019.In 2022, won 1st Prize at 1st VŠMU International Violin Competition, 1st Prize at 26th International Chamber Music Competition “Giulio Rospigliosi” as Piano Duo, Jury Encouragement Prize at 8th Sendai International Music Competition, and Special Prize at 10th Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition, 2022. She studied in Japan under Prof.Machie Oguri, currently she is studying under Prof. Michael Frischenschlager since 2017 and under Prof. Peter Schuhmayer since 2022, under Prof. Stefan Mendl for chamber music at University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna.

Sherzod Abdiev

Sherzod Abdiev, born in Tashkent/Uzbekistan in 1999 year, began studying the violin at age 6. He attended Academic Music High School under Moscow State Conservatory, under tutilage Lyudmila Slavianova, and currently studies with Professor Qian Zhou at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. He performed a recital with State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan in Tashkent at age 19. He has won 1st prize “Merzlyakovka priglashaet” Moscow (2018). He participated in masterclasses with Shalom Mintz, Krzysztof Wegrzyn, Sergey Ostrovsky, Dora Schwarzberg. He plays a Panormo 1795 violin generously loaned from Rin Collection.

Sofia Manvati

Yurina Arai

Yurina Arai was born 1994 in Japan. She is recipient of numerous awards at both domestic and international competitions. She has won 1st Prize at the 5th International Jascha Heifetz Competition, 2nd Prize at the 69th Prague Spring International Music Competition, 1st Prize at the Arthur Grumiaux International Competition for Young Violinists, and 2nd Prize(1st prize not awarded) at the 32nd Valsesia Musica International Competition. Since graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2017, she has continued her studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna,Austria. She is currently studying with Prof. Christian Altenburger.

1st prize

Seina Matsuoka

She is a Japanese Violinist, based in Vienna.In 2019, was selected as a semifinalist of Queen Elisabeth Competition 2019.In 2022, won 1st Prize at 1st VŠMU International Violin Competition, 1st Prize at 26th International Chamber Music Competition “Giulio Rospigliosi” as Piano Duo, Jury Encouragement Prize at 8th Sendai International Music Competition, and Special Prize at 10th Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition, 2022. She studied in Japan under Prof.Machie Oguri, currently she is studying under Prof. Michael Frischenschlager since 2017 and under Prof. Peter Schuhmayer since 2022, under Prof. Stefan Mendl for chamber music at University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna.

2nd prize

Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev

Elvin Hoxha Ganiyev is a solo concert violinist with a broad and diverse repertoire who is currently pursuing his Konzertexamen degree at Folkwang Universität der Künste in Essen with Prof. Aleksey Semenenko and his second Master’s degree in Instrumentalsolist program of UdK Berlin with Mark Gothoni simultaneously. He holds a Master’s Degree from Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien Hannover in Germany, where he studied with Professor Krzysztof Wegrzyn, and also a Bachelor’s Degree from Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Spain, from the class of Professor Zakhar Bron.

3rd prize

Jakub Staszel

Jakub Staszel was born in 2003. He began his musical education at the age of 7. He is currently studying at the I. J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznan in the class of Prof. Marcin Baranowski. He participated in music courses in the classes of professors such as Prof. Gil Shaham, Prof. Midori Goto, Prof. Noah Bendix - Balgley, Prof. Ning Feng. He participated in the MorningSide Music Bridge International courses. Jakub's major competition achievements include: - 1st prize at the 7th International "Pulawy and Violin" Competition (2022) - 2nd prize at the 15th International Karol Lipinski and Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (2021).

Adrian Hodor

Born in Bilbao, he began to play the piano at the age of 10 at "Artebi" with professor Ireneusz Jagla. He has participated as a soloist in different music festivals, such as: Música-Musika International Festival, in Bilbao, Frederic Chopin International Festival in Duszniki Zdroj, Poland (where he received classes from Joaquin Achúcarro) and International Festival Bieszczady bez granic, Poland, where he won the “Gold Parnas 2020” award as well as the audience award. He has played in Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, and played with orchestras such as the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, Lviv Chamber Orchestra and the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music Orchestra.

Angela Szu-Hsuan Wu

Angela Szu-Hsuan Wu is a Taiwanese pianist currently residing in London. She has obtained a bachelor’s degree in performance with the distinction of “Outstanding Achievement in Piano" in 2016 and an Artist Diploma in 2018 from McGill University. At the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Angela has completed her Master’s in Performance in 2020 and Artist Diploma in 2022 with Distinction. Her teachers include Ronan O’Hora, Martin Roscoe, Kyoko Hashimoto, André Laplante, and Sara Laimon.

Boyang Wu

Wu Boyang, male, 19 years old. He has been admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music majoring in piano since 2022 and studied with Professor Misha Namirovsky. In 2020, he participated in the 15th Shenzhen Double Piano Competition and won the first place in the professional group A. In 2019 and 2021, he participated in the Piano Concerto Festivals held in Taipei and Fuzhou, and performed Rachmaniv's Second Piano Concerto and Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto with the Taipei Youth Orchestra. He was invited by the "Russian Cultural Center" to participate in the Performance of "Classical Concert in Commemoration of the 130th Anniversary of Prokofiev's Birth”.

Carter Johnson

Praised for his interpretive sensitivity, imaginative programming, and ability to make classical music speak to all kinds of audiences, Canadian pianist Carter Johnson is quickly establishing a reputation as one of his generation’s most gifted and multi-faceted pianists. His most recent competition prizes include being the first prize laureate in the 2021 International Competition of Polish Music, the first prize winner of the 2020 Valsesia International Competition and first prize winner of the 2023 Weatherford College International Competition, and he was also recently awarded the Most Promising Pianist not Proceeding to the Final in the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition. In 2018, Johnson won the top prize in two of Canada’s most important competitions, garnering both the grand prize in the Concours OSM and the first prize in the CMC Stepping Stone competition. Other competition experience includes the Santander International Competition, the Shenzhen International Concerto Competition, the Horowitz International Competition Kyiv-Geneva, the Dublin International Competition, and the Hilton Head International Competition. 

Johnson has performed with orchestras including l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, l’Orchestre Métropolitain, the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the Americas, and his playing has been broadcasted by CBC Radio and medici.tv. Venues in which he has performed concertos or solo recitals include the Maison Symphonique, the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, the Music Shed at Norfolk, the Shenzhen Concert Hall, and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall. 
 
Born in 1996 on Vancouver Island, Canada, Johnson began the study of piano at age 5 with Shelley Roberts, with whom he had the privilege of studying both performance and pedagogy for over 12 years. After continuing his studies with Michelle Mares, he completed a Bachelor of Music with Mark Anderson at the University of British Columbia. He then received a Master of Music from the Juilliard School under the direction of Joseph Kalichstein and Matti Raekallio, and continued to the Yale School of Music, where he completed a Master of Musical Arts with Wei-Yi Yang and is continuing there for his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. 

Equally at home in the worlds of solo, concerto, chamber, and art song, Johnson has a particular interest in bringing light to lesser-explored parts of the repertory, most recently championing a collection of works by nearly-forgotten Polish composers. In addition to the music of J.S. Bach (where he feels most at home), he is a special advocate for the music of composers such as Schumann, Grieg, Fauré, Ives, Hindemith, Poulenc, Shostakovich, and Messiaen. His secondary instrument work has included studies in oboe, voice, and harpsichord. 

Trained in elocution as a teenager, Johnson holds an ATCL with distinction in speech and drama from Trinity College London, and he regularly brings this expertise to his recitals in his discussions on the music that is being played — for many audiences, these continue to be a highlight of his performances. This skill was recognized in the 2023 Sydney International Piano Competition, where he was awarded the Best Program Presentation in the Semifinal for his program design and verbal introductions. 

Johnson currently resides in Hamden, Connecticut with his wife Hannah and their young boys Preston and Ambrose, where he maintains a busy schedule as a concert artist, student, and teacher. In his spare time, he and Hannah enjoy both cooking together and watching good films, and spending time outside with their boys enjoying the charms of New England. 

Daniel Aulak

Diana Ostrolutska

Francesco Maccarrone

Graduated with highest honors from the G.Verdi Conservatory in Turin under the guidance of Claudio Voghera, Francesco Maccarrone continued his specialization at the Pinerolo Academy and the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels. He is currently attending the Master of Music at the „Hochschule für Musik und Theater” in Hamburg, with Aleksandar Madzar. His studies also benefited from meeting Pavel Gililov, Arie Vardi, Benedetto Lupo and Roberto Plano.

Winner of the 2021 edition of the Elisa-Meyer competition and first prize in 2019 at the National Competition "La Palma d'Oro," Francesco has given recitals in several halls in Italy and abroad, playing, among others, in Vercelli for the Camerata Ducale, in Pisa for the Contrappunto, in Brescia for the Aldebaran and in Turin, a city where he also took part in several concerts for the Unione Musicale seasons, most recently a Solo Recital in May 2022.

In 2015, he opened the Concert Season of the Turin Conservatory, performing Fryderyk Chopin's First Piano Concerto. Later, he was invited by the Fiat Executives Group to repeat the Chopin Concerto at the Lingotto Theater in Turin for the traditional spring concert.

In 2018, he was invited at the initiative of Bahrain's Ministry of Culture to give a recital in the capital city of Manama.
A "De Sono" Scholarship Holder since 2018, in 2017 he was the winner of the "Talenti Musicali" scholarship of the CRT foundation and since 2018 he has also been selected several times for the scholarship made available by the "International Music Academy" of Liechtenstein, thanks to which he took part in several "Intensive Weeks" held by Maestro Pavel Gililov.

CIDIM artist, he also has numerous chamber collaborations to his credit, including with violinist Valerio Scarano, with whom he recently performed at the Italian Cultural Institute in Oslo, and with the Tovesco Trio, together with cellist Thomas Haas and violinist Veronika Rädler. Togheter with the Tovesco Trio, Francesco won in march 2023 the 5th Prize at the International Chamber Music Competition “ICMC Pinerolo”. At the same competition the Ensemble received also the Public Prize and the Prize for the best performance of the semifinal.

3rd prize

Gaspard Thomas

Born in 1997, Gaspard THOMAS has won numerous awards in international competitions: First Prize at 2019 France-Amériques Competition as well as a Second Prize and 7 special prizes at the 2019 Piano Campus Competition in Pontoise; he is also a quarter-finalist at the 2021 Jaén Competition and selected for the 2019 Long-Thibaud Competition. He is laureate of the "Tchaïkovsky Promotion" of the Philippe Jaroussky Music Academy, and becomes artist in residence at the Singer-Polignac Foundation in Paris in 2021.  

Gaspard THOMAS has performed as a soloist in both Chopin Concertos, Rachmaninov Concerto No. 1, Beethoven Concerto No. 4, Saint-Saëns Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1. He has played with the Orchestre Appassionato conducted by Mathieu HERZOG and the Orchestre Opéra Éclaté with conductor Victor JACOB.  

He is a guest artist in several festivals in France, such as the Festival de la Roque d'Anthéron, the Festival de Deauville, the Lisztomanias, “Les Pianissimes”, the Festival Chopin de Nohant, Piano en Saintonge, the Festival de Saint-Céré. Gaspard THOMAS has performed at the Auditorium de Radio France, the Auditorium de la Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, the Orangerie de Bagatelle, the Fondation SingerPolignac, the auditoriums of the Petit Palais and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Guimet Museum, the Steinway & Sons showroom in Paris, the Polish Embassy and the Liszt Institute in Paris, the Théâtre de Fontainebleau, the Château de Lourmarin, the Abbaye de Pontlevoy. He also participated in the 20th Festival “Nuits Caraïbes” in Guadeloupe in February 2023. 

As a much appreciated chamber musician, he regularly performs with the violinist and composer Élise BERTRAND (Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad in Switzerland, concert tour in Alsace on early 2023, recital at the Auditorium of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France). He also plays with cellist Stéphanie HUANG at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Sala Verdi in Milan. 

In 2023, Gaspard THOMAS is invited to perform at the Festival Chopin de Bagatelle and the Young Talents Europeen Festival in Paris. In December, he will take part in a tour of 7 concerts in New York thanks to the Orphée Musique association.  

At the beginning of 2024, he will play as a soloist at the Salle des Concerts de la Cité de la Musique with the Conservatoire's Orchestra of Laureates under the direction of Lucie LEGUAY. 

Gaspard THOMAS graduated from the CNSMDP with a Master's degree in Piano with honors in Claire DÉSERT’s class and has worked during masterclasses and academies with such artists as Sir András SCHIFF, Bertrand CHAMAYOU, Bruno RIGUTTO, David KADOUCH, Bernard d'ASCOLI, Jean-François HEISSER, Hortense CARTIER-BRESSON, Jean-Efflam BAVOUZET. 

Having studied chamber music, accompaniment, writing and orchestration in the same establishment, his musical career has been enriched by encounters with personalities like Thierry ESCAICH, Fabien WAKSMAN, Anne Le BOZEC, Marc-André DALBAVIE, Jean-Frédéric NEUBURGER, François SALQUE, Emmanuelle BERTRAND. 

He also composed in 2019 "Poème", a piece for 96 pianists which was premiered during a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. 

Kacper Żaromski

1st prize

Kaho Araishi

Kaho Araishi began learning the piano at the age of three. She won the 5th prize at 3rd Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition in 2019. She won the Honor Diploma at Sardoal International Piano Competition in Portugal in 2020. She won the 2nd prize at Danubia Talents 3rd ‘Wiener Klassiker’ International Online Music Competition in Hungary in 2021. She performed at Kyoto City University of Arts Piano Festival and on-campus recital in 2021 and graduation concert in 2022 by on-campas selection. She became the Aoyama Music Foundation Scholarship Student in 2021. She studies the piano with Prof. Makoto Ueno and studies the Harpsichord with Prof. Sakurako Mitsuhashi at the Kyoto City University of Arts. 

Kim Sunah

She won 2nd prize at 10th Johann Nepomuk Hummel International Piano Competition and Schumann competition in Düsseldorf, 1st prize at Orbetello Junior Piano Competition, Special prize at International Tchaikovsky competition for young musicians, and Franz Liszt Competition for young pianists in Weimar. She performed with Manchester Camerata, Slovak Philhamonic, Gunpo prime pillharmonic Orchestera, Heyri symphony Orchestra and performed in Spring Festival with LG in Lincoln Center, Recital in Kumho Prodigy Concert, Yamaha little pianist series, Ceramic palace hall Prodigy Concert and Win art hall. She currently studying in University Mozarteum Salzburg with Prof. Pavel Gililov.

2nd prize

Krzysztof Wierciński

Krzysztof Wiercinski was born on February 22, 2003 in Warsaw. He is currently studying at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the class of Prof. Joanna Ławrynowicz-Just. He is a laureate at national and international piano competitions including: 5th Prize at the XII International Competition for Young Pianists "Artur Rubinstein in memorian" in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and 3rd Prize at the 51st Frederic Chopin National Piano Competition in Warsaw. He has studied with outstanding artists and pedagogues such as Prof. Vanessa Latarche, Prof. Alexander Gavryluk, Prof. Dang Thai-Son, Prof. Nikolai Demidenko, Prof. Janusz Olejniczak, Prof. Andrzej Jasinski, Prof. Tobias Koch.

Lily Phee

Singaporean pianist Lily Phee studied in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts under Mrs Rena Phua. She gained her passion in music when she first kickstarted her journey in musical at the age of 5. 

She is currently studying in the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków with Andrzej Pikul. 

Some awards from her home country include First Prize at the Singapore International Youth Piano Competition, First Prize at the Singapore International Classical Piano Competition, Third Prize at the Cristofori Piano Competition, and Third Prize at the National Piano & Violin Competition. Additionally, she was awarded the title ‘Yamaha Artist’ as part of the ‘I Play Yamaha’ initiative in 2018.  

Lily’s passion for music has also taken her abroad to Denmark, Russia, Hong Kong and Thailand where she performed in recitals and gained valuable exposures from competing. Her notable accomplishments from competing First Prizes at the Isaac Albéniz Summer Music Festival held in Camprodon, Spain, and Recondite Armonie III international Piano competition in Grosseto, Italy. In her latest achievements, she was granted a debut with the Częstochowa Philharmonic Orchestra through the ‘Gram z Orkiestrą’ competition organized by the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, and won Second Prize at the Faust Zadra International Piano Competition in Italy. Recently, she received a prize from Prof. Oscar Macchioni for the best interpretation of Karol Szymanowski’s work (Sonata Op.21 No.2). 

She has also attended masterclasses conducted by Prof Tamás Ungár, Robert Winter and Kenneth Hamilton, Dina Parakhina. 

Mateusz Tomica

Mateusz Tomica is a graduate of the K. Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, as well as the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna. The pianist is currently studying at the Hochschule der Künste Bern in Switzerland in the class of Tomasz Herbut. His recent achievements include 2nd place at the 12th Chopin Competition in Darmstadt (1st place was not awarded) and the prize for the best performance of mazurkas (2022). Mateusz Tomica has collaborated with, among others, Marek Pijarowski and the Apollon Musagète Quartett. The artist has performed at the Royal Łazienki Park, Duszniki-Zdrój, Żelazowa Wola, NOSPR, National Philharmonic, Gorzów Philharmonic, Silesian Philharmonic, Torun Philharmonic, and Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz.

Michał Basista

Paul Williamson

Included in CBC Music’s 2017 edition of “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30,” Paul Williamson is quickly establishing himself as one of Canada’s promising young pianists. He received first prize at the 2014 Canadian National Music Festival and the 2017 CFMTA National Piano Competition, and is also a prizewinner of the 2020 WMC McLellan Competition and the 2022 Shean Piano Competition. As a soloist, he has appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra, and the Fraser Valley Symphony Orchestra. Williamson is an Artist Diploma degree candidate at the Colburn School where he studies with Fabio Bidini.

1st prize

Kaho Araishi

Kaho Araishi began learning the piano at the age of three. She won the 5th prize at 3rd Shigeru Kawai International Piano Competition in 2019. She won the Honor Diploma at Sardoal International Piano Competition in Portugal in 2020. She won the 2nd prize at Danubia Talents 3rd ‘Wiener Klassiker’ International Online Music Competition in Hungary in 2021. She performed at Kyoto City University of Arts Piano Festival and on-campus recital in 2021 and graduation concert in 2022 by on-campas selection. She became the Aoyama Music Foundation Scholarship Student in 2021. She studies the piano with Prof. Makoto Ueno and studies the Harpsichord with Prof. Sakurako Mitsuhashi at the Kyoto City University of Arts. 

2nd prize

Krzysztof Wierciński

Krzysztof Wiercinski was born on February 22, 2003 in Warsaw. He is currently studying at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the class of Prof. Joanna Ławrynowicz-Just. He is a laureate at national and international piano competitions including: 5th Prize at the XII International Competition for Young Pianists "Artur Rubinstein in memorian" in Bydgoszcz, Poland, and 3rd Prize at the 51st Frederic Chopin National Piano Competition in Warsaw. He has studied with outstanding artists and pedagogues such as Prof. Vanessa Latarche, Prof. Alexander Gavryluk, Prof. Dang Thai-Son, Prof. Nikolai Demidenko, Prof. Janusz Olejniczak, Prof. Andrzej Jasinski, Prof. Tobias Koch.

3rd prize

Gaspard Thomas

Born in 1997, Gaspard THOMAS has won numerous awards in international competitions: First Prize at 2019 France-Amériques Competition as well as a Second Prize and 7 special prizes at the 2019 Piano Campus Competition in Pontoise; he is also a quarter-finalist at the 2021 Jaén Competition and selected for the 2019 Long-Thibaud Competition. He is laureate of the "Tchaïkovsky Promotion" of the Philippe Jaroussky Music Academy, and becomes artist in residence at the Singer-Polignac Foundation in Paris in 2021.  

Gaspard THOMAS has performed as a soloist in both Chopin Concertos, Rachmaninov Concerto No. 1, Beethoven Concerto No. 4, Saint-Saëns Concerto No. 1 and Shostakovich's Concerto No. 1. He has played with the Orchestre Appassionato conducted by Mathieu HERZOG and the Orchestre Opéra Éclaté with conductor Victor JACOB.  

He is a guest artist in several festivals in France, such as the Festival de la Roque d'Anthéron, the Festival de Deauville, the Lisztomanias, “Les Pianissimes”, the Festival Chopin de Nohant, Piano en Saintonge, the Festival de Saint-Céré. Gaspard THOMAS has performed at the Auditorium de Radio France, the Auditorium de la Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, the Orangerie de Bagatelle, the Fondation SingerPolignac, the auditoriums of the Petit Palais and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Guimet Museum, the Steinway & Sons showroom in Paris, the Polish Embassy and the Liszt Institute in Paris, the Théâtre de Fontainebleau, the Château de Lourmarin, the Abbaye de Pontlevoy. He also participated in the 20th Festival “Nuits Caraïbes” in Guadeloupe in February 2023. 

As a much appreciated chamber musician, he regularly performs with the violinist and composer Élise BERTRAND (Sommets Musicaux de Gstaad in Switzerland, concert tour in Alsace on early 2023, recital at the Auditorium of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France). He also plays with cellist Stéphanie HUANG at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, the Sala Verdi in Milan. 

In 2023, Gaspard THOMAS is invited to perform at the Festival Chopin de Bagatelle and the Young Talents Europeen Festival in Paris. In December, he will take part in a tour of 7 concerts in New York thanks to the Orphée Musique association.  

At the beginning of 2024, he will play as a soloist at the Salle des Concerts de la Cité de la Musique with the Conservatoire's Orchestra of Laureates under the direction of Lucie LEGUAY. 

Gaspard THOMAS graduated from the CNSMDP with a Master's degree in Piano with honors in Claire DÉSERT’s class and has worked during masterclasses and academies with such artists as Sir András SCHIFF, Bertrand CHAMAYOU, Bruno RIGUTTO, David KADOUCH, Bernard d'ASCOLI, Jean-François HEISSER, Hortense CARTIER-BRESSON, Jean-Efflam BAVOUZET. 

Having studied chamber music, accompaniment, writing and orchestration in the same establishment, his musical career has been enriched by encounters with personalities like Thierry ESCAICH, Fabien WAKSMAN, Anne Le BOZEC, Marc-André DALBAVIE, Jean-Frédéric NEUBURGER, François SALQUE, Emmanuelle BERTRAND. 

He also composed in 2019 "Poème", a piece for 96 pianists which was premiered during a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. 

Daniel Aulak

Lily Phee

Singaporean pianist Lily Phee studied in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts under Mrs Rena Phua. She gained her passion in music when she first kickstarted her journey in musical at the age of 5. 

She is currently studying in the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków with Andrzej Pikul. 

Some awards from her home country include First Prize at the Singapore International Youth Piano Competition, First Prize at the Singapore International Classical Piano Competition, Third Prize at the Cristofori Piano Competition, and Third Prize at the National Piano & Violin Competition. Additionally, she was awarded the title ‘Yamaha Artist’ as part of the ‘I Play Yamaha’ initiative in 2018.  

Lily’s passion for music has also taken her abroad to Denmark, Russia, Hong Kong and Thailand where she performed in recitals and gained valuable exposures from competing. Her notable accomplishments from competing First Prizes at the Isaac Albéniz Summer Music Festival held in Camprodon, Spain, and Recondite Armonie III international Piano competition in Grosseto, Italy. In her latest achievements, she was granted a debut with the Częstochowa Philharmonic Orchestra through the ‘Gram z Orkiestrą’ competition organized by the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Kraków, and won Second Prize at the Faust Zadra International Piano Competition in Italy. Recently, she received a prize from Prof. Oscar Macchioni for the best interpretation of Karol Szymanowski’s work (Sonata Op.21 No.2). 

She has also attended masterclasses conducted by Prof Tamás Ungár, Robert Winter and Kenneth Hamilton, Dina Parakhina. 

Michał Basista

Absalon String Quartet

Absalon String Quartet is a young Copenhagen-based ensemble formed in 2020. The quartet gained recognition after they won Rued Langgaard Competition in 2021. The ensemble played concerts at Rued Langgaard Festival, Bornholm Music Festival and the Oslo Chamber Music Festival. ASQ has also taken part in masterclasses with David Harrington from the Kronos Quartet and with members of the Danish String Quartet. In 2023 the quartet won 1st prize at the Danish Radio Chamber Music Competition. ASQ consists of violinists Thera Ortved and Andreas Larsen, Alva Rasmussen on viola and Olga Chwaszczewska on cello. They study with Professor Tim Frederiksen at the Royal Danish Academy of Music.

AKELA

AKELA was founded in 2019 at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, under the tutelage of Professor Tim Frederiksen, and has since been interpreting quartet repertoire with presence and curiosity at chamber music festivals, international masterclasses, competitions and in concerts all over Denmark.

The quartet consists of Clara Glasdam (violin), Gustav Ranum (violin), Kirsten Wilbrandt Kjær (viola) and Oskar Reuben Friis-Hansen (cello). All four members has since childhood played together, greatly contributed to their strong common musical and personal understanding.

AKELA strives towards the goal of being a caring and inspiring ensemble and has arranged and played concerts of very different character – from school concerts with singing and storytelling, concerts in some of the biggest concert halls in Denmark and side-by-side concerts with music students, to nursing home concerts during the corona-lockdown in Denmark.

Since its formation AKELA has played around 50 concerts and in 2021 they won first prize in the ENKOR International Chamber Music Competition. Recently they also won first prize in the LFN International Chamber Music Competition. Furthermore the quartet has participated in several masterclasses with teachers such as Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg Quartet), Johannes Meissl (Artis Quartet) and the members of The Danish String Quartet. In 2022 the quartet was selected to join Le Dimore del Quartetto - an international network supporting young string quartets.

Individually, the four members are an active part of Danish musical life, both in their soloistic endeavours and as part of many orchestras in Denmark. For all of them, though, their biggest passion is chamber music, which they always approach with creativity and openness.

Atenea Quartet

The Atenea Quartet, born in 2019 in Barcelona, is positioned as one of the most relevant quartets of its generation. Throughout his young career he has won significant awards such as the Prix Jeunes Solistes Credit Suisse 2023, being the first quartet to obtain this distinction, and El Primer Palau 2022 (First Prize, Critics' Prize, JJMM Spain Extraordinary Prize, audience and Catalunya Music Award).

Despite its youth, the ensemble has been invited to perform throughout Europe in venues and festivals such as the Lucerne Festival, the Barcelona String Quartet Biennial, the Vilabertran Schubertíada, the Musikdorf Ernen Festival, the Kulturfest Resonanzen Sils, the Wissembourg International Music Festival, the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence and the Juan March Foundation, among others.

Currently, the ensemble continues its musical training at the Hochschule für Musik FHNW in Basel, under the advice of Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartet), Silvia Simionescu (Gringolts Quartet), Claudio Martínez Mehner, Anton Kernjak and Anna Gebert. Previously, he formed with the Casals Quartet, during his time in Barcelona.

In addition, the ensemble has participated in renowned academies and masterclasses such as the Prussia Cove International Seminar (Claus- Christian Schuster), the Swiss Chamber Academy (Heinz Holliger), Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland's International Chamber Music Campus (Donald Weilerstein) and Festival Aix-En- Provence (Quatuor Diotima).

3rd prize

Neuma Quartet

Neuma Quartet was established in 2022. They have graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Łódź and Bydgoszcz. They have participated jointly in some chamber competitions, achieving very high notes, among others, they have reached the final in the International Rubinstein Competition and qualified for this year's edition of the International Nielsen Chamber Competition. They have debuted at concerts with the laureate of the Chopin competition - Leonora Armellini, with whom had such great opportunity to give jointly the competition’s opening concert at one of the most prestigious chamber competition in Poland - Kiejstut Bacewicz international Chamber Music Competition in Łódź.

Quiron Quartet

Founded in late 2020, the quartet has already performed in countries such as Belgium, France, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal. They have worked in masterclasses with masters such as Eberhard Feltz, Mathieu Herzog, Joseph Kluson, Guy Danel, António Saiote, the Van Kuik Quartet, the Danel Quartet, the Bennewitz Quartet and the Jerusalem Quartet. It also integrates the Nederlandse Strijkkwartet Academie (NSKA) where they are regularly and intensively mentored by the Danel String Quartet, and concluded a Postgraduate degree in String Quartet at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (KCB) under the tutelage of Eric Robberecht. 

The Monbijou Quartet

The Monbijou Quartet is based in Malmö, Sweden. The quartet is relatively newly formed, but has since its start made a name for itself in Sweden and Scandinavia. It is one of the leading, young and promising quartets in Sweden today. The Monbijou Quartet has given concerts and guesting chamber music festivals all over Sweden, and in May of 2023 the quartet participated in the finals in the biggest chamber music competition in Sweden - the biennale Ung & Lovande.

2nd prize

Turicum Quartet

The Turicum Quartet is based in Switzerland, connecting musicians from four different corners of the world. Already some months after their founding, they were awarded second prize at the Kiwanis Music Competition in Zurich (2022). Invitations followed right away: 2023 included their debut in Tonhalle Zurich with music of the Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa, a collaboration with the renowned Gringolts Quartet at the Mizmorim Festival and a series of concerts in Germany for the Chamber Music Academy Villa Musica.

Recently they were honoured to work with Hariolf Schlichtig (Cherubini Quartet) and Markus Fleck (Casal Quartet).

The members of the Turicum Quartet met at the Zurich University of the Arts. They are receiving guidance and support from Ilya Gringolts and Thomas Grossenbacher. They consider their various cultural backgrounds as an enrichment to perform music together, broadening their horizons.

Jiska Lambrecht, violin (Belgium)

Karolina Miśkowiec, violin (Poland)

Amir Liberson, viola (Israel)

Maura Rickenbach, cello (Switzerland)

2nd prize

Turicum Quartet

The Turicum Quartet is based in Switzerland, connecting musicians from four different corners of the world. Already some months after their founding, they were awarded second prize at the Kiwanis Music Competition in Zurich (2022). Invitations followed right away: 2023 included their debut in Tonhalle Zurich with music of the Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa, a collaboration with the renowned Gringolts Quartet at the Mizmorim Festival and a series of concerts in Germany for the Chamber Music Academy Villa Musica.

Recently they were honoured to work with Hariolf Schlichtig (Cherubini Quartet) and Markus Fleck (Casal Quartet).

The members of the Turicum Quartet met at the Zurich University of the Arts. They are receiving guidance and support from Ilya Gringolts and Thomas Grossenbacher. They consider their various cultural backgrounds as an enrichment to perform music together, broadening their horizons.

Jiska Lambrecht, violin (Belgium)

Karolina Miśkowiec, violin (Poland)

Amir Liberson, viola (Israel)

Maura Rickenbach, cello (Switzerland)

3rd prize

Neuma Quartet

Neuma Quartet was established in 2022. They have graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Łódź and Bydgoszcz. They have participated jointly in some chamber competitions, achieving very high notes, among others, they have reached the final in the International Rubinstein Competition and qualified for this year's edition of the International Nielsen Chamber Competition. They have debuted at concerts with the laureate of the Chopin competition - Leonora Armellini, with whom had such great opportunity to give jointly the competition’s opening concert at one of the most prestigious chamber competition in Poland - Kiejstut Bacewicz international Chamber Music Competition in Łódź.

The Monbijou Quartet

The Monbijou Quartet is based in Malmö, Sweden. The quartet is relatively newly formed, but has since its start made a name for itself in Sweden and Scandinavia. It is one of the leading, young and promising quartets in Sweden today. The Monbijou Quartet has given concerts and guesting chamber music festivals all over Sweden, and in May of 2023 the quartet participated in the finals in the biggest chamber music competition in Sweden - the biennale Ung & Lovande.

Quiron Quartet

Founded in late 2020, the quartet has already performed in countries such as Belgium, France, Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland and Portugal. They have worked in masterclasses with masters such as Eberhard Feltz, Mathieu Herzog, Joseph Kluson, Guy Danel, António Saiote, the Van Kuik Quartet, the Danel Quartet, the Bennewitz Quartet and the Jerusalem Quartet. It also integrates the Nederlandse Strijkkwartet Academie (NSKA) where they are regularly and intensively mentored by the Danel String Quartet, and concluded a Postgraduate degree in String Quartet at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (KCB) under the tutelage of Eric Robberecht. 

Aleksandra Blanik

MA student at the Department of Vocal and Acting at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. In both her high school and undergraduate studies she was taught by Prof. Dr. Agata Kobierska. She began her master's studies in the class of Prof. Dr. Ewa Biegas, Dean of the Vocal and Acting Department. Her most recent achievements are: 1st place at the 7th Krystyna Jamroz National Vocal Competition in Kielce; 3rd place at the 1st Monika Swarowska-Walawska International Vocal Competition in Krzeszowice; the Scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage for outstanding artistic achievements in 2021/2022.

Aleksandra Łaska

Aleksandra Wittchen

Aleksandra holds degrees in Music from the University of Cambridge and in Voice & Acting from the Fryderyk Chopin Music University in Warsaw, where she studied with Jolanta Janucik. In 2022, Aleksandra performed the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, which was met with great acclaim and reviews highlighting how she ‘combined a profound dramatic interpretation with a secure vocal performance of the incredibly demanding role’, while her voice was praised for its ‘noble timbre, clear intonation and beautiful legato’. At Cambridge, she sang in the Choir of Gonville & Caius College under Geoffrey Webber, working with Kate Symonds-Joy and Amanda Roocroft.

Alexandra Nowakowski

Polish-American coloratura soprano Alexandra Nowakowski returns to The Metropolitan Opera for the 2022-23 season to cover Barbara/Mrs. Latch in The Hours (Puts), Voce dal cielo in Don Carlo, and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier. She sings Queen of the Night with Opera Popular de Barcelona, and sings Mozart's Exsultate jubilate, K. 165 with the Symphony in C. She sang a solo recital with The Embassy Series. Alexandra joined the roster of The Metropolitan Opera for the 2021-22 season to cover Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Gilda in Rigoletto. She sang Shostakovich's Op. 127 with the Brooklyn Art Song Society, and was a recipient of the Beebe Fund fellowship.

Anna Koehler

Anna Thun

Mezzo-soprano. Already as a child she performed on the stage of the D. Baduszkowa Musical Theater in Gdynia in the play „Król Niechciej…wcale nie bajka”. In 2011 she took up studies at the Faculty of Vocal and Acting at the F. Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. In 2017, she graduated with honors from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in J. Rappe's singing class. Laureate of the 3rd prize and the special prize of the Ostrava Opera at the 52nd A. Dvorakaw Karlovy Vary International Vocal Competition 2017. Laureate of special prizes at the 9th J. Kiepura International Vocal Competition in Krynica-Zdrój 2022.

Barbara Jop

Barbara Skora

A student of the Hochschule für Musik Theater und Medien Hannover in the class of Prof. Marek Rzepka. Previously, she honed singing at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the class of ad. dr. hab. Magdalena Idzik from 2019-2021. She gained her first opera experience at the Staatsoper Braunschweig in 2022, and even before she began her studies, she won a number of prizes at international and national competitions, led by Magdalena Spytek- Stankiewicz. At the same time, she sang for the first time on the NOSPR chamber stage and performed with the Silesian Chamber Orchestra.

Catherine Hooper

Catherine Hooper graduated with distinction from the Royal College of Music in London. She is an OperaUpClose Associate Artist and covered Senta in their recent production of The Flying Dutchman, as well as performing a touring solo production. She is an Opera Prelude Young Artist and a former SongEasel Young Artist. In 2022, Catherine was part of the Glyndebourne Chorus and performed solos from Mozart’s Requiem in their outreach projects. At RCM, Catherine covered the Queen of the Night with the Opera Studio and performed Contessa Almaviva, Donna Anna and Alcina in opera scenes. She previously performed Vixen Sharp-Ears and Miss Jessel with Byre Opera in Scotland and has been a soloist for a number of major concert works, including Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, and Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle.  

Colum Donovan-Paterson

Born and raised in Scotland, Colum is a recent graduate of the Master’s programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

This summer, Colum was a fellow of Music Academy of the West, in Santa Barbara, California, where he covered and performed the principal role of Marcello in La Bohème in concert.

Colum received First Prize at the Charles Wood Song Competition 2023 in Armagh, Northern Ireland. He recently returned to Armagh to perform a solo recital at the gala concert of the annual Charles Wood Festival.

He is an alumnus of The Sixteen’s flagship training programme, Genesis Sixteen, and of the Dunedin Consort’s inaugural young artist programme. He was highly commended at the Leonie Kayser Prize for Singing, 2020 and won 3rd Place in the Hugh S Roberton Prize for Scottish Singing in 2019.

Opera appearances include chorus work in Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore (New Generation Festival, Florence) and Wagner’s Götterdämmerung with Sir Andrew Davis and the RSNO. He also played The Boy in Kurt Weill’s Der Jasager with Scottish Opera Connect.

Colum has performed alongside The Sixteen in the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s 5th Symphony Le Grand Inconnu at The Usher Hall and with The Dunedin Consort on their Golden Age tour and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Colum appears in the Netflix Originals feature film Outlaw King and the official live recording of Le Grand Inconnu at the Barbican Centre in London.

Colum is deeply grateful to Creative Scotland, the Dewar Arts Awards, the McGlashan Trust and Help Musicians UK for their generous support towards his studies and career development.

David Roy

Baritone. He has had many successes in international and national vocal competitions, including 1st prize in the 2nd Bogdan Paprocki National Vocal Competition, 2nd prize in the 19th Ada Sari International Vocal Competition, 1st prize in the 21st Imrich Godin International Vocal Competition IUVENTUS CANTI 2019, 2nd prize in the 3rd Ars et Gloria International Sacred Music Vocal Competition. In August 2022, he participated in the production of Gioachino Rossini's "Il viaggio a Reims" at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. He graduated with honors from the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz in the vocal class of Professor Adam Zdunikowski.

Dominika Noskiewicz

Mezzo-soprano, 5th year student at the K. Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice in the class of Prof. Ewa Biegas and Natalia Skrycka, MA.

She is the laureate of the 1st place at the Imrich Godin International Vocal Competition in Vrablach and 3rd place at the Ars et Gloria International Sacred Vocal Competition in Katowice.

She studied under the tutelage of esteemed artists in workshops including Piotr Beczala, Mariusz Kwiecień, Joanna Freszel, Jan Ballarin, Robert Cieśla, Tadeusz Kozłowski.

Ellada Mashynskaya

Graduated from the vocal department of the Molodechno Music College named after M. K. Oginsky (class of teacher Shibko N. G., 2013). Then graduated from the vocal department of the Belarusian State Academy of Music (class of Professor Lyudmila Yakovlevna Kolos, 2021). As a guest soloist performed with the honored team of the Republic of Belarus, the Symphony Orchestra named after M.K. Oginsky. While studying at the Academy of Music took part in the performances of the opera studio, performed the parts of Pamina (The Magic Flute by W.A. Mozart), Marfa (The Tsar’s Bride by N. Rimsky-Korsakov), Countess (The Marriage of Figaro by V.A. Mozart).

Grzegorz Rubacha

Born on March 3, 2000 in Tarnow, Poland. In June 2018. graduated from the Ignacy Jan Paderewski 2nd Degree Music School in Tarnow, with a specialty in vocal performance. In 2019, he began studies at the vocal and acting department of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, majoring in vocal performance. In 2022 he graduated from the first degree program and began second degree studies in vocal performance. Laureate of 3rd place in the Mikulasz Schneider Trnavsky International Vocal Competition in Trnava, Slovakia 2021. Laureate of 1st place in the XXIII International Vocal Competition named after Imrich Godin "Iuventus Canti" Vrable Slovakia 2022.

2nd prize

Jan Żądło

Graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland, where he received his Doctor of Arts degree in 2022. He was a member of the Opera Academy at the Grand Theater of the National Opera and the Lyon Opera Studio. He won 2nd prize at the Otto Edelmann Singing Competition in Vienna and 2nd prize at the Giuseppe Di Stefano Competition in Trapani. He also received the award for the best performance of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's songs at the Stanislaw Moniuszko International Vocal Competition (2019). He has collaborated with TWON, WOK, TW in Poznań, Silesian Opera, Baltic Opera, and the Glyndebourne on Tour Festival.

Joanna Kędzior

Johanna Will

Johanna Will earned her BA in Hamburg,then received a full scholarship for her Master's in NYC. 2021 she was selected for San Francisco Opera's Merola Program,in 2022 she opened the Viennese Opera Ball NYC.Stage credits include Mimi,Angelica,Contessa,Fiordiligi,Tatyana. She was awarded the Rolex Scholarship to the Georg Solti Academia di Bel Canto, where she worked with Angela Gheorghiu and Richard Bonynge.Current coaches include Gerald Martin Moore and Nadine Sierra. She was District Winner of the Met Opera Competition 2021/22, 1st prize at the G. Mahler and Elise Meyer Competition, 2nd at the Mozart and Strauss competition.The Gerda Lissner Foundation honoured her with their Award in 2021.

Justyna Bujak

She graduated from the K. Lipinski Academy of Music in Wroclaw and K. Szymanowski in Katowice. She is a laureate of numerous National and International vocal competitions, including the National Competition for Duets with Piano in Gdansk, Bogdan Paprocki Vocal Competition, the Jan Kiepura International Vocal Competition in Krynica-Zdrój, Imrich Godin International Vocal Competition IUVENTUS CANTI in Vrablach (Slovakia), International Jean Sibelius Vocal Contest (Finland), International Vocal Competition ZŁOTE GŁOSY in Warsaw, Inter-University Competition for Instrumental Duets and Vocal Duets.

Justyna Khil

Karolina Augustyn

Soprano, since the beginning of her vocal path, she has been mainly associated with early music performance. She graduated from the Faculty of Vocal and Acting at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Cracow in the class of Dr. Ewa Wolak, where she continues her master's studies. She has participated in festivals, i.e. Bach Festival in Świdnica, Opera Rara, Mid Europe Early Music Festival and Bach Days. She has collaborated with, among others, Capella Cracoviensis, the Cracow Philharmonic and the orchestra Baroque Collegium 1685, as well as with the Grand Theater - National Opera in Warsaw in the opening of the exhibition Beyond "Aida": Egyptomania on the Polish stage".

Karolina Borodziuk

Graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. She won first prize in the Rudolf Petrak International Vocal Competition in Žilina, Slovakia (2018); third prize in the Imrich Godin Iuventus Canti Vocal Competition in Vrablach, Slovakia (2018); and third place in the 5th Inter-University Chamber Competition for Instrumental Duets and Vocal Duets (Lodz, 2018).

She has participated in numerous vocal courses under the direction of Ewa Wolak, Jacek Laszczkowski, Thomas Heyer, and others. Her repertoire includes opera parts, sacred music, as well as songs - from the late Renaissance to contemporary works.

Magda Górniak

1st prize

Magdalena Lucjan

Magdalena Lucjan was born in April 1999 in Pszczyna, Poland. She graduated from the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna (MUK), gaining a diploma with distinction. Magdalena is currently doing her MA degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW). Since October 2022 Magdalena is a member of the Opera Academy at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. Lucjan worked with acclaimed singers and teachers such as Olga Pasiecznik, Izabela Klosinska, Melba Ramos, Gabriele Lechner, Vesselina Kasarova, Birgid Steinberger, Angelika Kirchschlager, Claudia Visca, Michael Kraus, Gerhard Kahry, Michał Biel, Maciej Pikulski and Helmut Deutsch. Magdalena made her Switzerland debut as Clorinda in Rossini’s Opera ‘La Cenerentola’ at the Ticino Musica Festival under the musical direction of Umberto Finazzi and staged by Daniele Piscopo. In December 2022 Magdalena sang the roles of Sandmann/Taumann in “Hansel and Gretel” by E. Humperdinck at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn in Vienna. In December 2023 she will sing the role of Gretel in the same production. In June 2023 Magdalena first performed the songs from the cycle ‘Night Scenes’ by Julian Cochran at the Witold Lutoslawski Concert Studio of Polish Radio.

Martin Filipiak

Monika Radecka

Graduate of the Jozef Adamovich Conservatory of Music in Kosice (Slovakia) with two majors, acting and solo singing. Currently a bachelor's student at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice at the vocal and acting department in the class of Dr. Ewa Biegas. Laureate of 2nd prize at the Antonin Dvorak International Vocal Competition v Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic, 2022). Finalist at the Imrich Godin Iuventus Canti International Vocal Competition in Vrablach (Slovakia, 2022).

Natalia Płonka

Graduate of the K. Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice in the voice class of Prof. Ewa Biegas and Dr. Ewa Tracz. She is a laureate of many international and national vocal competitions, including 3rd place at the M. Schneider-Trnavský International Vocal Competition in Trnava, 1st place at the 2nd Tournament of Polish Academies of Music, and 1st place at the I. Godin International Vocal Competition in Vrablach. The mezzo-soprano has so far performed with the orchestra of the Silesian Opera conducted by Tadeusz Kozłowski, the Zabrze Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Slawomir Chrzanowski, or on the chamber stage of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice with the Orchestra of New Music, conducted by Szymon Bywalec.

Paweł Trojak

Graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw in the class of Prof. Jadwiga Rappé. He honed his skills at the Opera Academy at the Grand Theater - National Opera in Warsaw and at the Mascarade Opera studio in Florence, among others. He was also a member of the prestigious Young Singers Project program at the Salzburg Festival. He is currently a member of the Opéra de Lyon Opera Studio. He has performed on many prestigious stages such as the Salzburg Festival, Opéra de Lyon, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, National Opera in Warsaw, Wroclaw Opera and many others. Winner of more than 20 international and national vocal competitions.

Shanley Horvitz

Shanley Horvitz, an American mezzo-soprano, who recently debuted with Opera San Jose as Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff. She has had a fruitful competition season winning 1st place of the: Wagner Society of New York, International Czech and Slovak Competition, International Orpheus Competition, Mario Lanza Institute Competition, and Houston Gilbert & Sullivan Competition. Her recent debuts include: Anacoana in Franchetti’s Cristoforo Colombo with Teatro Grattacielo and the title role in Bizet’s Carmen which she debuted in concert at Carnegie Hall, in the fall she will be debuting as La Gran Vestale in Spontini’s La Vestale.

Swietlana Różycka

Graduate student at the Academy of Music in Wroclaw in the class of Prof. Monika Kolasa-Hladíková. Her education includes participation in numerous master classes (under Mariusz Kwiecień, Aleksandra Kurzak, Robert Nakoneczny, W. Stephen Smith, Ingrid Kremling-Domanski, Kristīne Gailīte, and others). She honed her skills by also taking part in workshops in acting, white singing, traditional singing, and alivot singing. As part of student projects, she created the roles of the Queen of the Night ("The Magic Flute" by W. A. Mozart), Lisa ("Engagement at the Lanterns" by J. Offenbach), Despina ("Così fan tutte" by W. A. Mozart). She also participated in dance and acrobatic performances.

Tatiana Hajzušová

Tatiana Hajzušová is lyric soprano from Slovakia. 

She graduated piano and opera singing studies at the State Conservatory in Bratislava and also finished Master degree under the renowned opera singer Mgr. art. Božena Ferancová ArtD., at the Academy of performing arts in Bratislava.  

She has been a stable guest at the State Theatre Košice (W.A.Mozart - Don Giovanni - Donna Elvira, Klaman- The Duchess of Chicago - Rosemary.. At the Staatstheater Wiesbaden “ Internationale Maifestspiele”  - has sung in project Liederzyklus von Leoš Janáček - “ Tagebuch eines Verschollenen” with Pavol Bršlík to mention few. Her intensive collaboration has been also with the Slovak Philharmonie, Košice Philharmonie or with the Slovak radio, State Televisions etc.  

• 2015 - first prize – Antonin Dvořák International Vocal Competition in Karlovy Vary (Czech republic),  
• 2015- first prize - Vocal Competition for young singers in Olomouc (Czech republic) 
•  2015- laureate of International Competition in Žilina (Slovakia).  

• 2017 - 2nd. prize of International vocal competition in Ostrava (Czech Republic) 
• 2017- 2nd prize of a competition Imrich Godin - Juventus Canti (women category under 24 years) in Vráble in Slovak Republic.  
• 2017- first prize - Mikuláš Schneider – Trnavský in Trnava in Slovak Republic   
• 2018 - she represented the Slovak Republic at the festival in London  
• 2019 - 1st. prize competition of v in Nové Zámky ( Slovakia) 

• 2020 she represented Slovak songs at the festival in Lviv - Ukraine with a renowned Ukrainian artist Lyubov Gunder.  In this year she got a “ high distinction” in category Virtuoso in the International music competition Vienna.  
• 2020 first prize and grand prix - I. International music competition “ Ca Ave Musica.  

She has been also chosen for her debut at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg as a winner of the competition "III.International Music Competition-Debut-Concert 2020".  

In 2021 her recent great successes are debuts at the Hvorostovsky Festival in Krasnoyarsk in Russia,where she made her debut as Donna Elvira in the new production of Don Giovanni directed by M.Sturminger under the baton of Peter Feranec. 

In 2022 she was a finalist of the 13. Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico  “ Omaggio a Maria Callas - Citta di Brescia”.  

Yilin Zhang

Soprano. Doctoral degree: 2019.10-2022.11 The Chopin University of Music with prof. dr hab.Ryszard Cieśla and coach prof.dr hab. Beaty Szebesczyk Master degree: 2015.10-2018.4 Conservatorio Arrigo Boito di Parma, 2022.7 Special Award”the Best performance of a polish composer ” in Monika Swarowska-Walawska International Competiton in Poland 2022.8 First Prize in Bella Voce international competition in Poland. 2022.10 VIENNA BTHVN competition Third prize 2022.12 Poland“viva calisia”international vocal competition，third prize

Zuzanna Ciszewska

1st prize

Magdalena Lucjan

Magdalena Lucjan was born in April 1999 in Pszczyna, Poland. She graduated from the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna (MUK), gaining a diploma with distinction. Magdalena is currently doing her MA degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (MDW). Since October 2022 Magdalena is a member of the Opera Academy at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. Lucjan worked with acclaimed singers and teachers such as Olga Pasiecznik, Izabela Klosinska, Melba Ramos, Gabriele Lechner, Vesselina Kasarova, Birgid Steinberger, Angelika Kirchschlager, Claudia Visca, Michael Kraus, Gerhard Kahry, Michał Biel, Maciej Pikulski and Helmut Deutsch. Magdalena made her Switzerland debut as Clorinda in Rossini’s Opera ‘La Cenerentola’ at the Ticino Musica Festival under the musical direction of Umberto Finazzi and staged by Daniele Piscopo. In December 2022 Magdalena sang the roles of Sandmann/Taumann in “Hansel and Gretel” by E. Humperdinck at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn in Vienna. In December 2023 she will sing the role of Gretel in the same production. In June 2023 Magdalena first performed the songs from the cycle ‘Night Scenes’ by Julian Cochran at the Witold Lutoslawski Concert Studio of Polish Radio.

2nd prize

Jan Żądło

Graduate of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland, where he received his Doctor of Arts degree in 2022. He was a member of the Opera Academy at the Grand Theater of the National Opera and the Lyon Opera Studio. He won 2nd prize at the Otto Edelmann Singing Competition in Vienna and 2nd prize at the Giuseppe Di Stefano Competition in Trapani. He also received the award for the best performance of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's songs at the Stanislaw Moniuszko International Vocal Competition (2019). He has collaborated with TWON, WOK, TW in Poznań, Silesian Opera, Baltic Opera, and the Glyndebourne on Tour Festival.