Chairman

Francesco Filidei

An organist and composer of international renown. He graduated from the Luigi Cherubini Conservatory in Florence and from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. 

Filidei’s music is very expressive but, at the same time, unobtrusive. He is a master of building up tension and deftly manoeuvring orchestration.

He has mastered the exceptional capability of employing sounds of any kind in his compositions. Not only that, but he can also create a beautiful piece with the use of animal sounds, mechanic ones, or silence.

Filidei is a laureate of such prestigious awards as: Siemens Förderpreisträger, Abbiati Award, Les Grands Prix Internationaux du Disque - Académie Charles Cros, or the Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation’s 2018 Commande awarded by the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Filidei has also been composer-in-residence for numerous ensembles and music festivals. 

He has been played with a number of world-class orchestras, including WDR, SWR, RSO Wien, ORT, RAI, the Tokyo Philharmonic, Bayerischen Rundfunk, LaVerdi, and numerous modern music ensembles. 

Filidei also teaches composition. He has taught at the Royaumont Foundation’s Voix Nouvelles program, the University of Iowa, Takefu, the International Academy in Tchaikovsky City, Darmstädter Ferienkurse, and many other distinguished institutions worldwide.

Agata Zubel

A composer and vocalist. As an artist, she breaks down stereotypes and enjoys international recognition, both as a creator of her own music and as an interpreter of the most challenging works of the vocal repertoire. 

She delivers a fascinating blend of the 50s’ and the 60s’ musical means with contemporary electro-acoustic elements. The New York Times has called her one of the greatest composers and vocalists in the world.

She has worked with multiple prestigious philharmonics, such as Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Musikgebouw in Amsterdam, Musikverein Wien, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Philharmonie in Berlin, in Cologne, Luxembourg, Moscow, Essen, Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall in London, Casa da música in Porto, National Sawdust in New York, Seattle Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, L’Opéra de Reims, National Philharmonic in Warsaw, and many more.

Her discography consists of more than a dozen titles, including the “Fryderyk” Award-winning Cascando and Apparition, Dream Lake, Blots on the Sun, Not I, or Poems with her vocal interpretations of songs by Copland, Berg and Szymański.

The artist has been honoured with such prestigious awards as: “Passport” Award of the “Polityka”, Coryphaeus of Polish Music, European Composer Award, Erste Bank Kompositionspreis, “Gloria Artis” Medal, and many more. 

Agata Zubel is also active in teaching, she is a lecturer of the Academy of Music in Wroclaw. What’s more, she and Cezary Duchnowski perform as the ElettroVoce duet.

Daniel Cichy

A musicologist and director-editor-in-chief of the PWM Edition.

He graduated from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, where he also obtained his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Alicja Jarzębska, and Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg. 

He worked at the Institute of Music at the Silesian University in Cieszyn. Currently, he is a lecturer at the Institute of Musicology at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow.

Daniel Cichy is a laureate of the Ray E. & Ruth A. Robinson Musicology Award, the Deutscher Musikrat and Ernst-von-Siemens-Musikstiftung scholar, and other recognized awards.

In 2009 he released his book Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik w Darmstadcie. Dzieje, rola i znaczenie w myśli teoretycznej, praktyce kompozytorskiej i życiu muzycznym drugiej połowy XX wieku.

Moreover, he is active as a music critic and journalist. 

The PWM is our strategic partner, preparing editions of the awarded compositions for performances in the performing part of the Competition.

Yann Robin

A composer and artistic director of the Ensemble Multilatérale. He actively promotes modern music, e.g. by organizing Controtempo Festival in Rome. 

The artist simultaneously studied jazz at CNR in Marseille and composition and analysis at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse, and later he continued education at IRCAM Institute.

His compositions have been performed by such ensembles and orchestras as: Klangforum Wien, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Seattle Symphony, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Intercontemporain, and more.

His albums are well recognized with such awards as: Diapason d'Or, "Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik" and "Coup de Cœur" Académie Charles Cros. 

He has composed for numerous institutions like: Ircam, Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Casa Da Musica w Porto, and festivals like Aix-en-Provence.

An important part of his work is education. He is often invited to various conferences, courses, or master classes worldwide.

Rozalie Hirs

A composer and a poet. She graduated from Columbia University and the Royal Conservatoire of the Hague. Moreover, she holds a degree from Twente University, where she studied Chemical Engineering.

Her art works, both literature and music, are imagination stimulating. They are described as lyrical and experimental. She creates vocal, orchestra, and electronic compositions, often blending traditional instruments with electronic sounds. 

Hirs’s compositions have been performed by such ensembles as: Amsterdam Sinfonietta, ASKO|Schönberg, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Klangforum Wien, Musikfabrik, and the artist herself as she performs at international festivals. 

She has been invited by the Nieuw Ensemble to develop a program for the OpenMusic and contemporary compositional techniques course, which later she ran at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She has also worked at Columbia University and has given guest lectures at Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Helena Tulve

An Estonian composer. She studied at the Tallinn Secondary Music School, the Estonian Academy of Music, and the Conservatoire Superieur de Paris.

Drawing inspiration from Gregorian chant, oriental melodies, spectral music, and the avant-garde experiments of IRCAM, Tulve creates compositions that perfectly reflect the cultural richness of her country of origin. The sonic center of her works is not only timbre, but also intonation tensions, harmonic structures or melodic shapes, and the axis of her entire oeuvre - the constant transformation of life energy, which takes many forms and contains within itself numerous contradictions.

The composer has participated in Darmstadt International Summer Course for New Music, International Bartók Festival in Szombathely, and electronic music course at IRCAM in Paris.

Currently, she is a professor of composition at the Estonian Academy of Music and art director of the Estonian Music Days. The artist has been honoured with the Estonian Order of the White Star and French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Chairman

Szymon Bywalec

Joanna Freszel

Emilia Sitarz

Anna Kwiatkowska

Grażyna Draus

Andrzej Kwieciński

Karol Nepelski

1st place

Pablo Borrás

2nd place

not granted

3rd place

Hyunsu Kim

distinction

Bartosz Witkowski

distinction

Michał Janocha

1st place

Amer Ali

2nd place

Jinwook Jung

3rd place

Manolis Ekmektsoglou

Manolis Ekmektsoglou

distinction

Andrea Nassivera

distinction

Pasquale Punzo

1st place

Maria Vincenza

2nd place

Hed Bahack

3rd place

Hyunsu Kim

distinction

Dario Michelon

distinction

Andrea Mattevi

1st place

Noemi Conti

2nd place

Alejandro Mata

3rd place

Krystian Neścior

Chairman

Daniel Stabrawa

Jakub Jakowicz

Jennifer Pike

Peter Herresthal

Barnabás Kelemen

Qian Zhou

Szymon Krzeszowiec

Szymon Krzeszowiec

Piotr Tarcholik

Łukasz Błaszczyk

Abigel Kralik

Listed in 2020’s Forbes Hungary “30 under 30” list, Hungarian-American violinist, Abigel Kralik is quickly gaining attention as “a shooting star in the truest sense of the word” (MRK). As a passionate soloist and chamber musician she has appeared as a featured artist at the Verbier, Budapest, Krzyzowa and Moritzburg Festivals, as well as the Perlman Music Program. Abigel began her studies in Budapest after which she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from The Juilliard School under the tutelage of Itzhak Perlman and Laurie Smukler where she was a proud recipient of the Kovner Fellowship. She is now Artist in Residence at the Queen Elisabeth Chapel in Belgium.

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.  

Barbara Żołnierczyk

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 September 2000, Elise Bertrand began her musical studies with the piano at the age of 5 and, in parallel, with the violin, at the age of 8, then composition at 11. Elise passed her master’s degree in violin at the Paris Conservatoire where she is currently studying composition and chamber music in master degree. She is also Artist in residence at the Queen Elizabeth Music Chapel in Augustin Dumay’s violin class. Since 2023, Elise plays a violin from Joseph Gagliano, Napoli, 1796, a loan from Fondation d’entreprise Société Générale C’est vous l’avenir. Since she was 16 Elise has received commissions and recorded in 2021 her first CD "Lettera Amorosa" around her works.

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. She has been awarded first prizes in the Ewha Kyunghyang Competition, TBC Music 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, and Gyeonbuk Provincial Symphony Orchestra. She has performed in concert halls including Lincoln Center, Seoul Arts Center, and Berliner Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal. Hyeon is currently pursuing her M.M at New England Conservatory with Donald Weilerstein.

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”.

Jakub Staszel

Julia Mirzoev

Julia Mirzoev has been featured on CBC’s “Top 30 Classical Musicians Under 30”, and classical 96.3 FM. Her awards include top prizes at the Klein international competition, the OSM competition, the Yale University Broadus Erle prize, and grand prize at the Canadian Music Competition. Julia has also performed solo with the Scarborough Philharmonic, Sinfonia Toronto, the Canadian Sinfonietta, the University of Toronto Symphony, Orchestra Toronto, and the Toronto Symphony. As a chamber musician, Julia has been a winner of the Yale Chamber Music competition, and has been invited to the Perlman and Yellow Barn Music festivals. Her teachers include Ani Kavafian, Jonathan Crow, and Andrew Wan.

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.

Kryštof Kohout

Kryštof Kohout is an emerging Czech violinist based in London. Having recently made his solo debut at the Barbican Hall playing the Berg Violin Concerto, he has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at concerts and festivals throughout Europe and in the USA. As a soloist he has appeared with orchestras such as the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra, Moravian Chamber Soloists and London Classical Orchestra and has worked with violinists including Leonidas Kavakos, Midori and Anne-Sophie Mutter. He has recently received awards from the Hattori Foundation, Harrison Frank Family Foundation and was the youngest finalist and prizewinner in the 70th Royal Over-Seas League Competition.

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 is an Estonian violinist. From 2019 she studies in the Sibelius Academy with prof. Réka Szilvay. During 2022/23 she is an exchange student at the Norwegian Academy of Music with prof. Peter Herresthal. 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 and others. In her free time Triinu enjoys playing folk music from different countries.

Qianru Elaine He

Based in New York City, Qianru Elaine He is a violinist who has participated and performed in music festivals such as Verbier Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Music Academy in the West, Bach Virtuosi Festival, and Juilliard Focus! Festival. She is also humbled to have participated the International Music Seminar of Prussia Cove, and performed in the masterclasses of Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Donald Weilerstein, Itzhak Perlman and so on. Ms. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School as recipient of the Irene Land Scholarship and the Dr. & Kassie Biros Neuman Scholarship, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts at Manhattan School of Music

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

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.

Șimonca-Oprița Ștefan

Bachelor student of the Hochschule für Music Saar, studies violin with David Grimal since 2016. He graduated from the "Sabin Drăgoi" College of Arts in Arad, Romania. He was the soloist of several Romanian orchestras, as well as the prestigious PKF orchestra, in a concert in Prague. He is a member and occasionally the concertmaster of Les Dissonances orchestra, founded by David Grimal, with whom he participated in several tours in France, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Romania ("George Enescu" International Festival in Bucharest) and is still invited to participate in future tours. He won the Grand Prix at the "Remember Enescu". He is also winner of several scholarships around Europe.

Sofia Manvati

Wojciech Niedziółka

Wonbeen Chung

Wonbeen Chung was born in 1997 in Daejeon, South Korea. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at the age of 21 with Prof. Mi-kyung Lee at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich, Germany and master’s degree with Prof. Pierre Amoyal at the University Mozarteum Salzburg. Wonbeen Chung has won numerous national competitions and 2015 she made recital debut in Korea at the Kumho Arthall as Kumho Young Artist. She was a finalist of the 6th International Violin Competition Henri Marteau. 2019 she won the 2nd prize in the Postacchini international violin competition. Since 2021 she is a scholarship student of Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now Salzburg.

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.

Chairman

Kevin Kenner

Sinae Lee

Jonathan Plowright

Joanna Domańska

Mikhail Rudy

Janusz Olejniczak

Ewa Pobłocka

Magdalena Lisak

Andrzej Pikul

Joanna Domańska

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.

Aleksandra Świgut

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.

Bella Schütz

Born in Paris in 2002, Bella Schütz is currently pursuing Master studies at the UdK Berlin with Björn Lehmann as well and in the class of Jan Jiracek von Arnim at the mdw (Vienna). She was first trained by Branka Balevic and then graduated from the Mozarteum Salzburg in the class of Jacques Rouvier. Bella has won awards in various international piano competitions : Piano Campus, Jeunes Talents en Normandie, Lagny-sur-Marne. She has followed masterclasses with renowned pedagogues such as Tatiana Zelikman, Lilya Zilberstein, Matti Raekallio and Michel Béroff. Bella regularly appears in festivals such as the Nohant Festival Chopin, the Chigiana Festival, the Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise.

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

Canadian pianist Carter Johnson’s most recent competition awards include being the first prize laureate in the 2021 International Competition of Polish Music as well as first prize winner of the 2020 Valsesia International Competition. Venues in which he has performed concertos or solo recitals include the Maison Symphonique in Montreal, the Shenzhen Concert Hall, and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Hall. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Music from the Juilliard School (under Joseph Kalichstein and Matti Raekallio), and is completing a Master of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music where he currently studies with Wei-Yi Yang.

Daniel Aulak

Darya Dadykina

Darya was born in Kiev. She graduted from National Tchaikovsky Music Academy of Ukraine (Prof. V. Kozlov) and HfM "Hanns Eisler" Berlin.She is Prize Winner of numerous competition as V. Krainev's Competition for Young Pianists (Ukraine, 2008), "New names" (Russia, 2008), Bremen European Piano Competition (Germany, 2012). She played as soloist, chamber musician and soloist with orchestra in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, China, Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain. Currently Darya is making her Postgraduate Diploma by Prof.Koehler in Musikinstitut der Martin-Luther- Universitaet Halle-Wittenberg. Darya is co-founder of the International Medtner Society (Berlin 2017).

Derek Hartman

Derek Hartman is a pianist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the Yale School of Music, where he studies with Boris Slutsky. Derek received his Bachelor of Music in piano performance and music theory at Northwestern University in 2019 under the instruction of James Giles. He has appeared as a soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and he was awarded top prizes in the Music Teachers’ National Association Young Artist Piano Competition, the PianoArts North American Competition, and the Thaviu-Isaak Endowed Piano Scholarship Competition. Derek is also a dedicated music educator and an avid chamber musician.

Diana Ostrolutska

Francesco Maccarrone

Graduated with honors from the G.Verdi Conservatory in Turin, Francesco Maccarrone is currently attending the Master of Music at the HfMT in Hamburg, with A. Madzar. His studies also benefited from meeting A. Vardi and R. 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. A "De Sono" Scholarship Holder 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 P. Gililov.

Jeffery Andy Macsim

Jeffery Macsim is the recipient of the Grand Prix of the 2018 Concours International de Piano S.A.R. la Princesse Lalla Meryem in Morocco. Recent engagements include a tour of solo recitals across Morocco, courtesy of Institut Francais in 2019, as well as performances in the Mafra Music Festival in Lisbon & Terceira, Portugal - May/Oct 2021. His interests include new music - recent performances include a Manson Ensemble concert under Timothy Weiss and a Riot Ensemble concert - March 2022. He frequently works with and premieres works by living composers - for example, 'Metanoia' for piano & flute by Wojtek Chalupka (ISCM 2021 Polish selection). He studies with Prof. Christopher Elton.

Jung Chanyeon

2022 Joongang Music Competition 1st Prize Seoul National University “SNU Piano Duo Concert” 2021 Kumho Young-Artist Recital Korea Liszt Competition 1st Prize 2020 Korea Chopin Competition 2nd Prize 2019 Concours ‘Piano Campus’ Prize jejouedupiano.com 2018 Ehwa Kyunghyang Music Competition 2nd Prize Korea Chopin Competition 3rd Prize Sunhwa Arts Middle, High School (Graduate) Seoul National University (Bachelor)

Kacper Żaromski

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 by on-campus selection in 2021 and graduation concert in 2022. She became the Aoyama Music Foundation Scholarship Student in 2021. She studies the piano with Makoto Ueno and studies the Harpsichord with Sakurako Mitsuhashi at the Kyoto City University of Arts.

Kevin Chow

Australian pianist Kevin Chow is currently based in Europe, completing his Konzertexamen studies with Alfredo Perl at the Detmold Musikhochschule. Kevin was recently a finalist in the Maj Lind International Piano Competition Kevin has also given concerto performances that include Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev with orchestras such as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Thailand Philharmonic, Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra, Fremantle Symphony and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestras. His teachers have included Boris Berman, Boris Slutsky, Peter Serkin, Yoon Sen Lee and Glenn Riddle.

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.

Krzysztof Wierciński

Lily Phee

A protégé of Mrs Rena Phua, Lily Phee is a graduate at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. She is currently studying in the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music with Andrzej Pikul. Wins from her home country are the First Prizes at the Singapore International Youth Piano Competition and the Singapore International Classical Piano Competition. She was also the ‘Yamaha Artist’ in 2018. She played recitals in Denmark, Russia, Hong Kong and Thailand, getting exposure. She won First Prizes at the Isaac Albéniz Summer Music Festival, and Recondite Armonie III international Piano competition. Lately, she debuted with the Częstochowa Philharmonic Orchestra through the ‘Gram z Orkiestrą’ competition.

Mateusz Tomica

Michał Basista

Mikołaj Sikała

Nao Mieno

She graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts, that postgraduate school and master’s program at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. She has won numerous awards including second prize in the PTNA Piano Competition and Gold prize in the Chopin International Piano Competition in ASIA. She got the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition’s diploma. In Japan, she has performed in numerous recitals. In Poland, She invited to the Chopin concert at the Royal Łazienki in 2022. She has performed with renowned orchestras including the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Witold Lutosławski Chamber Philharmonic. She studied with Bronisława Kawalla, Hiroshi Arimori, Chiharu Sakai.

Natalie Schwamová

She completed her studies at the Prague Academy of Music with Frantisek Maly and in Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid with Dimitri Bashkirov, currently studying with Milana Chernyavska. She has been awarded in more than 20 international competitions. Among them the 2nd prize in the Pilsen Smetana Competition, 1st prize at the Fryderyk Chopin Competition in Marienbad. Performed with the Buenos Aires Symphony, Symphony Orchestra of Prague, Prague Chamber Philharmonic, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra etc.She has performed in Rudolfinum in Prague, National Auditorium in Madrid, Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, Hall of the Warsaw Philharmonic among others.

Otal Josquin

Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth Teacher: Louis Lortie Avedis Kouyoumedjian 2010 / 2015 Vardhuie Yeristan) - Denis pascal Awards Conservatoire of Marseille (CRR) Teacher : Bruno Rigutto) Conservatoire of Lyon (CRR) Laureat of the Bluthner Fondation and « Révélation de l’adami » International competition anf Festival piano en Mayenne (France) : 3rd Prize Concours international piano Campus (France) : 3rd Prize 5th International Piano Competition arte con anima in Rhodos (Greece) : Finalist Alain Marinaro Grand Prix International Competition Piano Claude Bonneton (France) : 3rd Prize and Special Prize contemporary music Promusicis prize

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.

Riito Shimata

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany in 2001, he spent time in Japan from the age of two and started playing the piano at the age of six. Major awards include the Chopin International Piano Competition in ASIA, first prize in Student Music Concours of Japan, and third prize in PTNA piano competition G category in 2017 and many other awards in Japan. He also won the 2nd prize at the Wiener Danubia Piano Talents Competition in 2020. He is currently studying piano at Tokyo University of The Arts under Chiharu Sakai. He has performed in concerts in Japan, Taiwan, Austria, and Germany, and is also active as a concert organizer, composer, and director of video works.

Robert Maciejowski

He comes from a family with deeply rooted musical tradition, son of musicians. Robert started to play the piano at the age of seven, under pianist Teresa Jarosz where for next six years he continued to gain the basics and skills in piano. Then he continued his artistic education in Tarnow music school, making his solo debut concert at the very young age of 10. After many excellent presentations on the national arena he demonstrated promise and was enrolled at age 13 in prof. Miroslaw Herbowski’s piano class from the Music Conservatory of Cracow. In that time music becomes his true passion in life. Currently he is studying with adt dr Hubert Salwarowski.

Sofya Menshikova

Sofya Menshikova is a student of professor Konstantin Scherbakov at the Zürich University of Arts. In 2020 she graduated from the Central Music School at the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory, professor Mira Marchenko. She is a Prize winner of Second International R.Schumann competition in Dusseldorf, of Duttweiler Hug competition in Zürich, scholar of Landolt Foundation as the best student at the entrance exams, scholar of Patenschaft Stipendium ZHDK. Sofya works with world famous conductors and takes part in different musical festivals and academies. She has performed in different concert halls around the world, such as Tonhalle Zürich, Carnegie hall, Robert Schumann hall, Theater Gütersloh.

Thomas Gaspard

Born in 1997, Gaspard Thomas earned several awards at international competitions (1st Prize at the France-Amériques Competition 2019 in Paris, quarter finalist at Jaén 2021). He is Artist in residency at the Singer-Polignac Foundation. He performed as soloist Chopin both concertos, Rachmaninov No. 1, Beethoven No. 4. He was invited at Festival Chopin in Nohant, Festival Chopin in Bagatelle, Lisztomanias in Châteauroux. He plays recitals with cellist Stéphanie HUANG (France, Milan, Brussels) or violonist Élise BERTRAND (Sommets musicaux, Gstaad). He worked with artists as Andras SCHIFF, Bertrand CHAMAYOU, Bernard d'ASCOLI. He graduated a Master at the CNSMDP (Prof. Claire DÉSERT).

Zuzanna Pietrzak

She is currently studying Konzertexamen with Prof. Hubert Rutkowski at the HfMT in Hamburg. As an 18- and 24-year-old, she performed at the Chopin Competition in Warsaw. So far she has given concerts in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. Her recent artistic endeavors include winning the Elyse Meyer Competition in Hamburg, making her debut with the Lublin Philharmonic Orchestra, winning the title of laureate of the 56th Polish Piano Festival in Słupsk and winning the 2nd prize at the Theodor Leschetizky Int. Piano Competition. She is also deeply involved in chamber music activities, co-performing at festivals such as Chopin Festival Hamburg, WarszeMuzik, Kyoto Music Students Festival.

Chairman

Peter Schuhmayer

Arkadiusz Kubica

Kyril Zlotnikov

Izabella Szałaj-Zimak

Guy Danel

Jonathan Brown

Piotr Reichert

Arkadiusz Kubica

Justyna Duda-Krane

Artur Rozmysłowicz

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 and has since been interpreting quartet repertoire with presence and curiosity at chamber music festivals, masterclasses, competitions and concerts. The quartet consists of Clara Glasdam, Gustav Ranum, Kirsten Wilbrandt Kjær and Oskar Reuben Friis-Hansen. As AKELA they strive towards being a caring ensemble and have played around 50 concerts of different characters - both in nursery homes and in prominent concert halls. AKELA has participated in masterclasses with teachers such as Hatto Beyerle (Alban Berg Quartet), Johannes Meissl (Artis Quartet) and DSQ. In 2022 the quartet was selected to join Le Dimore del Quartetto.

Atenea Quartet

The internationally awarded Atenea Quartet was founded in 2019 in Barcelona, from the desire of four passionate musicians to discover and deepen the immense string quartet repertoire. The Quartet has received several national and international awards since its founding, such as the “Prix Credit Suisse Jeunes Solistes 2023”, the first prize in the Competition el Primer Palau 2022, and the first prize in the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition in 2021. Despite its youth, the ensemble has been invited to various festivals, such as the second Barcelona String Quartet Biennial, the Palau de la Música de Catalunya, the Wissembourg Music Festival, and the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence.

Erinys Quartet

The Erinys Quartet was formed by an international group of musicians in Finland at the Sibelius Academy. Erinys has made appearances at festivals and concerts in Finland, Spain, and Italy, as well as the USA where they attended the 2022 Dover Quartet Workshop at Curtis Institute of Music. In 2021 Erinys participated in the Trondheim Int’l Chamber Music Competition. Erinys Quartet has primarily studied with Marko Ylönen, receiving additional guidance from Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartett) and the Pacifica and Dover Quartets. They have also worked with members of the Jerusalem, Meta4, Vermeer, and Chilingirian, Quartets. Since 2021 Erinys has been supported by Le Dimore del Quartetto.

Nerida Quartet

Passion that overcomes boundaries: the "Nerida Quartet”, inspired by the Nereids of Greek mythology, embodies the symbol of water as a strong yet flowing element that can always take on new forms in their music making. Achievements of the international quartet (Switzerland/Italy/Bulgaria/Germany/New Zealand) include 1st prize at the ORPHEUS Competition, the sponsorship prize at the Boris Pergamenschikow Competition Berlin, and prizewinner at the Schenk Foundation Competition. Invitations to festivals include Festival Musikdorf Ernen, Gent Festival van Vlaanderen, and Heidelberger Frühling. The ensemble currently studies chamber music with Patrick Jüdt at the Bern University of the Arts.

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.

Quartet HANA

The HANA Quartet was founded in April 2019 at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts.  Since 2021, the HANA Quartet has been studying with Prof. Raphaël Merlin, Prof. Hariolf Schlichtig and the Quatuor Ébène. The musicians are regularly having musical lessons from Prof. Eberhard Feltz and Prof. Dirk Mommertz. They have participated in masterclasses by Prof. Oliver Wille and Quatuor Voce. In 2020, the HANA Quartet received 3rd prize at the "Felix Mendelssohn University Competition" in Berlin and played in the Konzerthaus Berlin. In September 2022, the quartet received a special prize “Förderpreis Jeunesses Musicales Deutschland” at the ARD competition in Munich.

Quartet Infinito

1stVn Mako Ochiai

2ndVn Kentaro Konishi

Va Moeko Kikuta

Vc Soichiro Matsutani

This Quartet founded in 2021, is formed by 2nd year students of the Tokyo University of the Arts. Studied under Toshihiko Ichitsubo, Katsuya Matsubara, and Yukiko Yoshida, they joined master classes of Daniel Gaede, and the Ensemble Tenka Toitsu Academy led by Kota Nagahara, Yasuhiro Suzuki, and Kenji Nakagi. Participated in Chapter 20 of Project Q in 2022. They are appointed as 7th Fellow of the Suntory Hall Chamber Music Academy.

Quartetto Eos

Formed in 2016 in Rome, the Quartetto Eos immediately caught the attention of the musical world winning in 2018 the "Farulli Prize" awarded by the Italian Music Criticism within the "Franco Abbiati" prize. Eos Quartet is a pupil of the Ebène Quartet at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München. The Quartet won the Anton Rubinstein Competition in Düsseldorf, the Sergio Dragoni Competition in Milan and the Orpheus Competion in Winterthur. The Eos Quartet collaborates with Calogero Palermo, Jerusalem Quartet, Cremona Quartet, Aron Chiesa, Enrico Dindo, Enrico Pace. Eos Quartet is "Artist in Residence" at the Singer Polignac Foundation in Paris and recorded for Brilliant and Da Vinci labels.

Quiron Quartet

Founded in late 2020, the ensemble has performed in countries such as Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal, in festivals such as Poitou International Chamber Music Festival, Musica em Si Maior Festival, A Corda Caminhos Conjuntos II Chamber Music Cycle, Storioni Festival, Blaricum Music Festival and Crans-Montana Classics. They have worked with masters such as Eberhard Feltz, Mathieu Herzog, Joseph Kluson, Guy Danel, António Saiote, Van Kuijk Quartet and Jerusalem String Quartet. It also integrates the Nederlandse Strijkkwartet Academie, and a Postgraduate degree in String Quartet at the Royal Conservatoire Brussel under the tutelage of Eric Robberecht.

The Fluss Quartet

The Fluss Quartet is a new Quartet, which was founded in Essen, Germany in March 2022. In May 2022, they already made their debut in Antwerpen, Belgium. Currently, Fluss Quartet is having lessons with Professor Andreas Reiner in the Folkwang Universität der Künste, and they currently study Master Kammermusik in Hannover HMTMH with Professor Oliver Wille. The members of the quartet are originally from South Korea and Russia where they began their musical studies. They met in Germany for their advanced studies, and this is where they decided to share their knowledge of chamber music by creating the Fluss Quartet. From June 2022 Fluss Quartett is a member of Dr. Carl Dörken Scolarship.

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.

Turicum Quartet

Turicum Quartet is an ensemble based in Switzerland. Some months after their founding they were awarded second prize at the Kiwanis Competition in Zurich. Invitations followed right away: 2023 includes their debut in Tonhalle Zurich with music of the Japanese composer T. Hosokawa, a performance alongside the renowned Gringolts Quartet at Mizmorim Festival and a series of concerts in Germany for Villa Musica. Recently they were invited by Arosa Music Academy, where they had the honour to work with H. Schlichtig (Cherubini Quartet) and M. Fleck (Casal Quartet). The members met at the Zurich University of the Arts and receive guidance and support from Ilya Gringolts and Thomas Grossenbacher.

Chairman

Thomas Hampson

Francesca Zambello

Ulrike Sych

Jadwiga Rappe

Marcin Habela

Peter Mario Katona

Ewa Biegas

Jadwiga Rappe

Urszula Kryger

Ewa Biegas

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.

Artur Plinta

Student of the K. Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice in the class of Prof. Ewa Biegas and M. Łukasz Gaia.

Laureate of vocal competitions of national and international rank. He made his debut in W. Stępień's opera "Black Mirror" as Little John. He created the character of Damon in Händel's opera "Acis and Galatea" and Boy in W. Stępień's musical "Captain Who".

He worked with such conductors as M. J. Blaszczyk, T. Tokarczyk, S. Bywalec, A. Żarska, S. Chrzanowski, M. Świątkiewicz, T. Kozłowski, M. Pastuszka.

He honed his vocal workshop under the guidance of such singers as M. Rzepka, O. Pasiecznik, M. Kwiecień, J. Freszel, P. Beczała Scholarship holder of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

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 studied at the Royal College of Music in London. She is an Opera Prelude Young Artist and an Associate Artist with OperaUpClose, for whom she will cover Senta in 2023. She has performed in the Glyndebourne Chorus and sung solos from Mozart’s Requiem for Glyndebourne’s outreach work. At RCM, Catherine covered the Queen of the Night with the RCM Opera Studio and in opera scenes performed La Contessa and Donna Anna and Alcina. She performed Vixen Sharp-Ears and Miss Jessel with Byre Opera in Scotland. Catherine has been a soloist for a number of major works, including Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Petite messe solennelle (Rossini), and Mass in D Minor (Dvořák).

Colum Donovan-Paterson

Born and raised in Scotland, Colum is a graduate of the Master’s programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is an alumnus of both The Sixteen’s and the Dunedin Consort’s young artist programmes. He was highly commended at the Leonie Kaiser Prize 2020 and won 3rd place in the Hugh S Roberton Prize 2019. Opera appearances include chorus in L’elisir d’Amore (NGF, Florence) and Götterdämmerung (Sir Andrew Davis & RSNO). Colum has performed alongside The Sixteen in the world premiere of James McMillan’s, 5th Symphony at the Usher Hall, and on tour with the Dunedin Consort. Colum also appears in the Netflix feature film, Outlaw King.

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.

Hailing Piao

12.2022. Als Chorsängerin in Staatstheater Kassel 10.2019- 07.2022 Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg, Master Studium 03.2016- 02.2018 Chung-ang University in South Korea, Bechelor of Musik 03.2013- 02.2016 Inha University in South Korea, Master of Mechanical engineering 09.2008- 02.2013 Inha University in South Korea, Bachelor of Mechanical engineering

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.

Łukasz Kostka

Magda Górniak

Magdalena Lucjan

Magdalena Lucjan graduated from the MUK in Vienna, gaining a diploma with distinction, and is currently doing her MA degree in Vocal Performance under the tutelage of Claudia Visca at the MDW in Vienna. Since October 2022 Magdalena is a member of the opera studio at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. Magdalena was in the final rounds of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition and advanced to the Semifinals. Magdalena made her Switzerland debut as Clorinda in Rossini’s Opera “La Cenerentola” at the Ticino Musica Festival. In December 2022 Magdalena sang the roles of Sandmann/Taumann in “Hansel and Gretel” by E. Humperdinck at the Schlosstheater Schönbrunn.

Marta Huptas

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.

Shaina Martinez

Roles include: Violetta (La Traviata), Gianetta and Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore), Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), Donna Elvira and Anna (Don Giovanni), Susannah (Susannah), Cendrillon (Cendrillon), Saffi (Der Ziegeunerbaron), Salud (La Vida Breve), Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte), and Marie (La fille du Régiment). Awards: Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Elizabeth Connell Prize, National Federation of Music Clubs, Loren L. Zachary Society, Opera at Florham, Vero Beach Opera Rising Stars Festival, Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, Talents of the World International Competition, Washington International Competition, XXI Concurso Internacional de Canto Lirico.

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.

Stanisław Napierała

Since October 2019 he studies and continues his vocal education at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, in the singing class of prof. Ewa Biegas and Łukasz Gaj MA. He has been awarded with main prizes at many significant, international competitions, among others: 2nd prize on the 55th International Vocal Competition 's-Hertogenbosch, 3rd prize and four special pizes on the XIX Ada Sari International Vocal Art Competition. Regarding stage experience, the young tenor has already performed onstage roles like Young King in Karol Szymanowski's opera „Hagith”, Don Ottavio in „Don Giovanni” by W.A. Mozart and Acis in „Acis and Galatea” by G.F. Haendel.

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 a 26 years old lyric soprano. Currently she belongs to Slovakia's most talented singers of the youngest generation. 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. Her career started after winning many international competitions such as Galina Vyshnevskaya in Moscow, Elizabeth Házy in Budapest, A.Dvorak competition in Karlovy Vary ,Mikulas- Schneider Trnavsky in Slovakia among others.

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