JURY MEMBERS OF INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION OPUS 2024
MANUEL TEVAR – piano (SPAIN)
MARIUSZ SIELSKI – PIANO (POLAND)
IVAN PERNICKI – PIANO (CROATIA)
MILENA KĘDRA – piano (poland)
VARIN ARTVILAI – violin (THAILAND)
DANUTA AUGUSTYN – VIOLIN (POLAND)
THANAPORN SATHIENWAREE – violin (THAILAND)
Sorin Alexandru Horlea – VIOlin (CYPRUS)
Doros Zisimos – CELLO (Cyprus)
ANA LIGIA MASTRUZZO – FLUTE (ARGENTINA)
NATALIA JARZĄBEK – FLUTE (POLAND)
PAULINA GRAŚ-ŁUKASZEWSKA – FLUTE (POLAND)
Thanawan Thawatviboon – OBOE (THAILAND)
FAN WEI – CLARINET (CHINA)
NADIA SOFOKLEUS – CLARINET (CYPRUS)
EVAN LYNCH – CLARINET (USA)
WŁODZIMIERZ SPODYMEK – Saxophone (polanD)
KRZYSZTOF GUŃKA – SAXOPHONE (POLAND)
SHMAVON GRIGORYAN – BASSOON (ARMENIA)
OSTAP POPOVyCh – TRUMPET (UKRAINE/poland)
Karol Gajda – TROMBONE (Poland)
wIESŁAW OCHWAT – ACCORDION (CHINA)
ZHANG YAN – ACCORDION (CHINA)
MARIOS NICOLAOU – PERCUSSION (CYPRUS)
Bartosz Sałdan – percussion (Poland)
FEDERICo Núñez – GUITAR (argentina)
Žarko Ignjatović – guitar (Croatia)
Elżbieta baklarz– HARP (poland)
BARBARA BOROWICZ – clarinet/artistic director (Poland)
Manuel Tévar pianist, composer and conductor. Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Prize in 2006, only other well-known Spanish composer, Manuel de Falla, has won this important recognition in the History of Spanish music. In addition, Tévar is Guerrero Foundation Award in 2008, Amics del Liceu Foundation Award 2009, First Prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition in New York among others. Manuel Tévar is one of the most complete and internationally recognized Spanish musicians of his generation. He has conducted, among others, Orquesta Filarmonica Marchigiana, CRR Istambul Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Polifónica Siciliana, Orchestra de Chambre du Luxembourg and the United Nations Youth Ensemble. Tévar is the artistic director of the Atlantida Chamber Orchestra, as well as several international music festivals in Spain. As a composer, he has premiered more than 30 works in 10 countries. He has participated in seven recording projects, two as a composer, one as a conductor and four as a pianist with his piano duo Iberian & Klavier. Tévar has performed as a soloist with I&K with the Córdoba Symphony Orchestra, the RTVE Spanish Orchestra, the Valencia Symphony Orchestra , the Indiana Wesleyan University Symphony Orchestra and the Silesian Chamber Players. His wide and versatile repertoire ranges from Renaissance music to contemporary music, offering more than 15 world premieres of pieces. His repertoire is deeply committed to promoting Spanish, Latin American and contemporary music, and his collaborations with other artists and other arts such as dance are also regulars on his agenda. Tévar has made recordings for the Spanish Television and the National Radio, Radio France and the Österreichischer Rundfunk of Vienna. He has performed piano recitals, with and without orchestra, at prestigious venues and festivals in cities such as New York (Carnegie Hall), Indianapolis, London, Paris, Prague (Rudolfinum) , Florence, Lisbon and Berlin, among others, as well as in a large part of the Spanish geography (National Auditorium, Miguel Delibes Auditorium, Monumental Theater, Juan March Foundation, Palau de la Música de Barcelona, Palau de la Música de Valencia, Fundación Botín , etc.), always with an extraordinary success with critics and the public. Tévar has regularly invited to give master classes at American universities, festivals and music schools, and he is regularly invited as a Jury member of prestigious composition, chamber music and piano competitions, such as the Jean Français in Paris. He is a career civil servant professor carrying out his teaching work at the Teresa Berganza Music Conservatory in Madrid since 2004.
Mariusz Sielski studied at the Academy of Music in Kraków with Ludwik Stefański, Ewa Bukojemska and Janusz Dolny (diploma with honours). He also studied for one year at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich. Mariusz Sielski participated in significant masterclasses, working under the tutelage of renowned instrumentalists such as Alexander Jenner, Rudolf Buchbinder, Eliane Richepin, Fausto Zadra. He performs as a soloist and chamber musician, giving concerts in Poland and abroad – in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, Great Britain and Italy. He has 3 CD recordings to his credit. As a professor and habilitated doctor of arts he teaches a class of piano at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow. Among his students there are laureates of piano competitions in Austria (Pörtschach), Spain (La Rioja), USA (Los Angeles), Italy (Castellana Grotte, Finale Ligure, Florence, Brescia, Sogliano al Rubicone), Estonia (Narva) and Poland (Szafarnia, Kielce, Kraków, Żagań, Warsaw, Busko-Zdrój). He gives seminars, courses and masterclasses and is invited as a member of the jury to piano competitions in Poland and Italy.
Milena Kędra Pianist, chamber musician and teacher. In 1999 Milena Kędra graduated with honours from the Cracow Music Academy in the piano class of professor Andrzej Pikul. In 1998 she completed an assistant traineeship in the Department of Contemporary Music of Music Academy in Cracow under the academic supervision of professor Adam Kaczyński.During her studies at the Krakow university, she worked in a chamber class under the guidance of prof. Maria Szmyd-Dormus, winning prizes and distinctions at chamber competitions with trio MK3. In 2001 she completed postgraduate studies in the class of Piotr Paleczny at Chopin Music University in Warsaw. Milena Kędra perfected her skills in solo and chamber music by taking part in numerous master classes and consultations led, among others, by: Halina Czerny-Stefańska, Jan Ekier, Kevin Kenner, Gerardo Vila, Jean-Paul Sevilla, Karl Heinz Kämmerling, Paul Badura-Skoda, Bernard Ringeissen, Elza Kolodin, Andriej Orłowiecki, Silesian String Quarter, Michael Strauss, Bernard Greenhause, Mark Lubotsky, Andrzej Tatarski i Marian Lapsansky. Milena Kędra has been an award winner of Polish and international piano and chamber music competitions. In 1997 Milena Kędra received the art scholarship of the Polish Minister of Art and Culture. She recorded for Polish Radio Opole, Radio Krakow, Krakow Television, BBC and NHK. She has been frequently invited to take part in festivals in Poland and abroad. She has given concerts in Poland, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Moldova, Slovenia, Austria and Portugal. After graduation from Music Academy in Cracow, she began her pedagogical career as an research and teaching assistant in the Piano Department of Music Academy in Cracow. Since 2005 she has led the piano class in Chopin Music High School in Cracow. In May 2008 Milena Kędra received a degree of Doctor (PhD) of Art and a position of assistant professor at the Piano Department of Cracow Music Academy. Since 2008 she has led her own piano class at the Cracow Music Academy. Her students have been winners over 150 prizes at numerous Polish and international competitions. Milena Kędra also works as a piano competitions juror and conducts open classes and piano workshops for children and young pianists. From 2013 – 2019 she was the Head of the Inter-Faculty Piano Department at the Academy of Music in Krakow. In November 2013, together with dr hab. Barbara Łypik – Sobaniec, she founded the Małopolska Manufaktura Sztuki Association, which is the organizer of festivals – Music in Stare Balice, Hebdow Meetings with Art and the concert cycle “MOSTY” co-organized with the Academy of Music in Krakow. Since 2016, he has been the artistic director of the Summer Manufactory of Art in Niepołomice. In 2018 she obtained a postdoctoral degree. From 2019 she is the Head of the Piano Departament of Chopin State High School of Music in Cracow. She is the Artistic Director od the Cracow Young Pianist Festival. In 2020 she received the Award of the Minister of Culture and Art for outstanding achievements in didactic and artistic work, twice the individual award of the Director of the Centre for Artistic Education for a special contribution to the development of artistic education in Poland, and in 2022 she received the Merit for Polish Culture award.
Danuta Augustyn is a violinist and a chamber musician, as well as an Assistant Professor in the Contemporary Music, Jazz and Percussion Department at the Academy of Music in Krakow, Poland. In 1998, she graduated with distinction from the Academy of Music in Kraków, where she studied violin playing under the academic supervision of professor Mieczysław Szlezer. In 2000, she was granted an honours degree at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Sienna under the professorship of Piero Farulli with the Quartetto Italiano. In 2004, she earned an honours degree in the master classes conducted by the Melos Quartet from Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Stuttgart. In 2011she earned a PhD degree inMusical Arts ( Instrumental Faculty) from Academy of Music in Kraków. Since 1997, she has also been a violinist with the Dafô String Quartet. The ensemble has received numerous awards for performing and recording contemporary music in national and international competitions (1999 – the Fryderyk Music Award for the CD album ‘The Polish String Quartets of the 20th Century, Part I, PWM/DUX,’ 2002 – the Fryderyk Music Award for the CD album ‘The Polish String Quartets of the 20th Century, Part II, PWM/DUX,’ an award from Supersonic Pizzicato for ‘Penderecki – String Quartets, String Trio, Clarinet Quartet’ containing the first registration of III String Quartet, Gold Record DVD and the Fryderyk Music Award for ‘CD/DVD Łukaszewski&Bembinow: Christmas carols and songs,’ 2009 – the Fryderyk Music Award in the category ‘Album of the Year Contemporary Music’ for ‘Paweł Mykietyn: Speechless Song’ recorded with the Dafô String Quartet). The Dafô String Quartet has participated in numerous festivals in Poland and abroad, performing with the members of the Melos Quartet, the Silesian String Quartet, Olga Pasiecznik, Janusz Olejniczak, Andrea Nannoni, Krzysztof Meyer, Urszula Kryger, Agata Zubel, Jerzy Artysz, Andreas Higi, and David Krakauer. Dr. Augustyn has toured Europe with the American band Lambchop and participated in the concerts of the Bester Quartet as well as various theatrical projects. Finally, she has been a violinist in the Sinfonietta Cracovia under the baton of Robert Kabara (2007-2014) and Jurek Dybał (since May 2014).
Ana Ligia Mastruzzo Italian-Argentine flutist, she moved to Europe to carry out her academic studies. She trained in the French flute school with the Italian Maestro Luisa Sello at the Trieste Conservatory. There she obtained a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree with honors under her eminent guidance. In Vienna she trained in piccolo with Maestro Raphael Leone (Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Universität für Musik Wien).In Argentina obtained the Postgraduate Degree in Cultural Management and Cultural Policies from UNSAM and the Bachelor’s Degree in Traverse Flute from the National University of the Arts. Throughout her stay in Europe, she received a scholarship from the Italian Government to pursue her undergraduate and postgraduate academic careers, subsequently receiving an extraordinary scholarship from the same Government to develop her Master’s thesis in Austria. She also studied flute performance with the renowned teachers: Nils-Thilo Krämer (Universität für Musik Graz), Janos Balint (Hungary – Franz Liszt Conservatory), Trevor Wye (London), Roberto Fabbricciani (Italy), at the Salzburg Academie, Academia of Imola, Tibor Varga Festival (Sion, Switzerland), Allegro Vivo Festival (Horn, Austria), among others. Participated in “Sócrates-Erasmus” Programm, studying Chamber music with: Prof. Johannes Jess Kropfitsch (Prof. University of Music Vienna), Prof. Michael Flaksman (Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts) , Prof. Nils-Thilo Krämer (University of Music and Performing Arts Graz), Prof. Raphael Leone (University of Music Vienna), Prof. Christian Schweiker, Prof. Jun-Jung-Schweiker (University of Music and Performing Arts Cologne), Domenico Nordio, Simonide Branconi, Luca Simoncini (Quartetto Scala di Milano).Her interest in the production and diffusion of Contemporary Music led her to devise her interventions as a soloist and manager at the Contemporary Music and Art Festival “Stazione di Topolò/ Postaja Topolove” (Udine, Italy): Tiempoespacio/Topoló, Triptych for flute alone (2006), Arrivals and departures, the Sequences of Luciano Berio in the Station (2007), Words in the wind (2008). She is dedicated to disseminating contemporary music for flute in Argentina (Teatro Nacional Cervantes, Teatro Colón, National Music Center) and abroad with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Argentina, she carries contemporary Argentine music for flute to different festivals and international meetings in Italy, Chile, Austria, Slovenia, USA, México. She works in intense collaboration with composers in the development of new music that redefines her instrument by premiering new works dedicated to her. She plays in duo with the guitarist and composer Federico Núñez promoting Argentine music for flute and guitar around the world with the support of the Argentine Foreign Ministry. In 2023 they were selected for the “Argentine Culture to the World ” program to tour in Mexico and in 2022 they went on a concert tour of Italy and Spain. She will soon promote her first solo album for flute alone with the support of Editorial Cayambis Music Press (USA) with the complete works for flute, recitation and Mesoamerican flutes by Federico Núñez.She currently lives in Buenos Aires. She was Traverse Flute teacher at the “Isaías Orbe” Provincial Conservatory of Tandil. She has given master classes in transverse flute and extended techniques at the University of Chile, University of San Juan, at UNSAM (National University of San Martín) for the postgraduate course “Expanded Music”, Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP (São Paulo, Brazil), Ramón Noble Festival of Mexico. She published her essay “Sequenza I by Luciano Berio: The semiotic role of the performer in the open work” for the Magazine of the Spanish Flute Association in 2019. In the same year, the Contemporary Music Diploma of the Manuel de Falla Conservatory organized the “Composition Concourse MEI-MASTRUZZO” of miniatures for bass flutes alone or with electronics. In 2023 published the article “Mesoamerican sound heritage in current Argentine flute music” for the University of Ljubljana.She is a professor at the “Manuel de Falla” Conservatory of Music where she coordinates the Department of Diffusion, Academic Extension and International Relations and serves as Regent.
Paulina Graś-Łukaszewska was born in Poznan and her musical life is connected to this city till now. She graduated from the Mieczyslaw Karlowicz Music Highschool, the flute class of Dorota Karaniewicz-Biedny, then in 2011 she graduated Music Academy in Poznan, she studied by prof. Andrzej Łęgowski and dr Ewa Mizerska. The last two years of her education was devoted to studies at the Musikhögskolan in Malmö, Sweden, where she explored her skills under the tutelage of Prof. Anders Ljungar-Chapelon. In 2010 the flutist started studies again, flute traverso playing, the class of Karolina Zych. She graduated her education in 2016. In 2011, along with the piano quartet she won the third prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Jawor and a year later, the same team was the winner of the Svirel Competition in Slovenia. In 2021 the flutist won the 1st prize award in flute section in World Open Online Music Competition. In 2012, the flutist had taken a part in two recordings: songs and lullabies for children “In the old castle on the rock” and the complete works of Ewa Fabianska – she recorded a piece for solo flute titled “Relever”. In the summer of 2013 she contributed in the stage prformance of Pierrot Lunaire by Arnold Schoenberg. The flutist had to play her usual flute part and also present dramatic abillities-role of the Death. Paulina Graś-Łukaszewska performs in various musical events – including Flute Festival in Poznan, concerts of modern music in the National Scientific Conference Neofonia, Film Music Festival and contemporary music festiwal Poznan Spring Festival. She is a member of contemporary music ensemble Sepia Ensemble. Sepia performs on stage since 2014 and has already recorded three cds, which include different styles of contemporary music. Paulina Graś-Łukaszewska is not only a chamber musician, she constantly plays in orchestras. In the saison of 2014/2015 she was the solo flutist of the Grand Theatre Orchestra in Poznan. Since then she cooperates with The Polish Theatre in Poznan, theatre Atofri and orchestras of Poznan Philharmonic, Zielona Góra Philharmonic and Sinfonietta Cracovia. Beside playing, she teaches how to play the flute in Państwowa Szkoła Muzyczna im Stanisława Moniuszki w Zbąszyniu.
Thanawan Thawatviboon is a Thai oboist and an oboe teacher. She started studying oboe at the age of fifteen with Shigeki Sasaki and Chawatchai Vichaidit. She furthered her education in oboe during her upper secondary years at The Pre-College Program at the College of Music, Mahidol University in Thailand, under the guidance of Dr. Amy Galbraith Ogburn. In 2013, Thanawan went on to study with Chanannat Meenanan at the Rangsit University Conservatory of Music and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Performance with full scholarship in 2016. Subsequently, she was awarded a partial scholarship and successfully earned her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Rangsit University in 2018. Throughout her university years, she won the prizes at the Music Conservatory’s Solo Performance competition for three consecutive years in 2015 – 2017 and she performed as a soloist with the University Symphony Orchestra in the Evening with Concertos concert. Additionally, she was invited by the Thammasat University Symphony Orchestra as guest soloist in 2015. As a performer, Thanawan served as a member of Siam Sinfonietta, participating in prestigious music festivals such as the Young Euro Classic Festival in Berlin (2013), the Festival Junger Künstler Bayreuth in Germany (2015), and the Sound of Spring music festival at Carnegie Hall, New York City, the United States (2016). In 2017, she also joined a competition with an orchestra and secured first place in the 11th Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival Vienna 2017, Austria. In 2023, Thanawan played as a soloist with the Bangkok Philharmonic Society and Open Box Charity Orchestra. So far she has appeared in many orchestras in Thailand, such as Thai National Symphony Orchestra, Siam Philharmonic Orchestra, Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra, etc. Embracing a spirit of community, Thanawan co-founded Oboe’r, an oboe and English horn ensemble, and the Thailand Double Reed Society. She also played a pivotal role as the Volunteer Coordinator in the 52nd annual conference of the International Double Reed Society, held at the College of Music, Mahidol University in Thailand. Since 2021, Thanawan has been dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians by serving as an oboe tutor for the Thai Youth Winds.
Fan Wei is a professor, PhD advisor and the director of the Woodwind Teaching and Research Office of the Orchestral Instruments Department of the Central Conservatory of Music. Fan graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in 1995 and was offered a teaching position at the Conservatory. From 1996 to 2000, Fan served as principal clarinet of the China Symphony Orchestra established in 1996 as a national symphony orchestra that brought together outstanding Chinese and overseas performers, the artistic level of the orchestra represented the highest level of Chinese orchestral performance. Recognized as an outstanding performer, Fan, the youngest principal of the orchestra at that time received an exclusive interview with the China Central Television, which gained much attention. In 1999, Fan was named a national first-class performer by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. In 2000, the establishment of the China Philharmonic Orchestra symbolized another significant milestone in the professionalization and internationalization of the Chinese symphony after the establishment of the China Symphony Orchestra. Fan served as principal clarinet of the Orchestra for 20 years and performed approximately 800 concerts and operas, and engaged in the production of more than 1000 works.
Evan Lynch is the affiliate instructor of clarinet at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and a freelance clarinetist in the central Ohio area. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician nationally and internationally, including performances in Belgium, China, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, and Poland. Orchestral playing experience includes performances with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (OH), ProMusica Chamber Orchestra (OH), Columbus Symphony Orchestra (GA), and he was a finalist for the International Clarinet Association Orchestral Audition Competition in 2014. In conjunction with his master’s degree in administration, he served as summer camp director for the Auburn University Band Department for five years. This administration experience led to him being appointed the Executive Director of the International Clarinet Association for four years, helping to run some of the largest conferences in the organization’s history and bringing financial stability to the association. Currently, he is the executive director of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra. His passion for music education drives him to teach clarinetists of all ages. Recent teaching experience includes a clarinet sabbatical replacement at The Ohio State University as well as teaching clarinet at Otterbein University. He has taught clarinet sectionals for many high school and middle school wind ensembles and band camps throughout Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio. He is also frequently requested to adjudicate high school solo and ensemble festivals, regional orchestra auditions, and honor band auditions. Dr. Lynch holds a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance from Arizona State University, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Auburn University, and a doctorate degree in clarinet performance from The Ohio State University. His principal clarinet teachers include Caroline Hartig, Robert Spring, David Odom, and Jeremy Reynolds.
Włodzimierz Spodymek completed the degree of the Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Studies at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. He also studied at the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, in the saxophone class of Prof. Paweł Gusnar. He graduated from the Karol Szymanowski State Secondary Music School in Katowice, in Bernard Steuer’s saxophone class. He perfected his skills as an active participant in many master classes, working with such eminent saxophonists as Claude Delangle (Paris), Vincent David (Versailles), Ed Bogaard (Brussels), Detlef Bensmann (Berlin) and David Pituch (USA). He cooperated with numerous symphony orchestras, including the National Philharmonic Orchestra in Warsaw, Sinfonia Varsovia, Sinfonia Iuventus, the Opole Philharmonic, the Płock Philharmonic and the orchestra of the Fryderyk Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. He played concerts with renowned conductors, such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Antoni Wit, Marc Minkowski, Frieder Bernius, Tadeusz Wojciechowski, Wojciech Michniewski, and others. In the artistic season 2005/2006, he worked with the Warsaw Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, giving concerts all over the country. He also collaborated with highly esteemed artists, such as Leszek Możdżer, Ewa Podleś, Waldemar Malicki, Adam Makowicz, Silesian String Quartet, playing in Germany, Austria and Italy. He is invited as a jury member at saxophone competitions, and as a lecturer to methodical teaching courses, saxophone seminars and music workshops for teachers, students and pupils organized by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Centre of Artistic Education and the Association of Polish Artists – Musicians. He has taken part in radio recordings. He became an appointed teacher in 2015. In 2016 he received the Individual Award of Director of the Center for Artistic Education for special contribution to the development of arts education in Poland. In the years 2011 – 2014, he was a three-time holder of a scholarship granted to the best doctoral students at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. He is currently employed as a pedagogue at the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz. His students have been laureates of many competitions in national and international solo and chamber music. He is a signed artist of Henri SELMER Paris.
Krzysztof Guńka born in 1990 in Cieszyn. In 2009, he graduated from the Public Music School of I and II degree I. J. Paderewski in Cieszyn in the saxophone class of Tomasz Gmyrek. In 2014, he graduated with honors from the master degree in the saxophone class of prof. dr hab. Andrzej Rzymkowski at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow. In 2015, he graduated from extraordinary studies in the Univ.-Prof. class. Lars Mlekusch at the Konservatorium Wien Privatuniversität in Vienna. In 2018, he obtained the title of Doctor of Musical Art at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow where he is also a teacher in saxophone class since 2023. He has participated in many competitions at national and international level. His most important achievements include: 2nd prize in the 1st National Competition for Wind Instruments in Wrocław – 2007; 3rd prize at the 6th National Saxophone Festival in Przeworsk – 2006; 3rd prize at the 8th National Saxophone Festival in Przeworsk – 2008; semi-final at the 7th International Saxophone Competition “Gustav Bumcke” in Nuremberg – 2010; semi-final at the 1st International Saxophone Competition “Golden Sax of Odessa” – 2013; finals at the 1st University Competition “Debut with Orchestra” at the Academy of Music in Krakow – 2014; semi-final at the VIII International Music Competition Michał Spisak in Dąbrowa Górnicza – 2014. He has participated in many saxophone master classes, incl. with: Arno Bornkamp, Nobuya Sugawa, Lars Mlekush, Günter Priesner, Vincent David, Massimo Mazzoni, Claus Olesen. He is also involved in numerous artistic projects – performs solo, in chamber ensembles, in orchestras and as a soloist with an orchestra both in Poland and abroad (Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia).
Shmavon Grigoryan was born on January 21, 1986. He graduated from Yerevan State Conservatory named afterKomitaswith bachelor’s degree. He continued his education at Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) with Prof. GiorgioMandolesiand MarcKissoczy(minor conduct). In 2009 he earned his PhD (Doctor of Arts) at Zurich University of the Arts. He participated in master classes given by StefanSchweigert(Solo Fagottist of Berlin Philharmonic), Gustavo Nunez (Solo Fagottist of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, SergioAzzolini, etc. He also went to chamber music classes held byprofessorsHrachGrigoryan, MartinFrutiger, Philippe Racine, MatthiasRàcz,ElmarSchmid, GiorgioMandolesi, etc. He worked as an assistant in Chamber Music Class in Yerevan State Conservatory named afterKomitas.ShmavonGrigoryanperformed with such world-famous conductors as KarenDurgaryan, Valery Gergiev,MuheiTang, DavidZinman, Sir ColinDevis,FacundoAgudin, MichaelWendeberg, etc. In the frames of Easter Festival he played with Convergence New Music Ensemble. Now he performs as abassonin Symphonic Orchestra of A.SpendiaryanOpera and Ballet National Academic Theatre and Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.ShmavonGrigoryanis the Founder and Director of A.SpendiarianOpera and Ballet National Academic Theatre Support Foundation and nowisthe Chief Advisor to the Director and Chief Producer at A.SpendiarianOpera and Ballet National Academic Theatre. During the programs of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia, he participated as a guest bassoon. During the programs of the National Chamber Music Center, he participated as a guest bassoon and jointly organized international music festival. He is the author and founder a number of projects: “A.Harutyunyan’sInternational Wind festival, “Concert in the Foyer”, “Orchestra+”, “Opera Art in RA regions andArtsakh“, “Opera Art in Educational Centers”, “Opera Art in Military Units of Border Zones”, “The Tale is Calling” etc.ShmavonGrigoryanalso taught bassoon at “Yerevan Music School No. 13”. Recently he has founded “New Generation project” LLC. The main goal of the project is to make the cultural life of Armenia even more colorful and active by organizing unique concerts. A vivid proof of this was the concerts entitled “Jazz Generation” and “Jazz Generation #christmas” held at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall։fullhall, praises of the audience, non-stop applauses.Also with the invitation of the project recently famous performer ofAznavour’ssongs, LebaneseGhassanYammineperormedfor the first time in Armenia.And now the project continues its activity by organizing similar events. ShmavonGrigoryanwas invited to Germany as a director ofClassicoBallet Napoli tours. For the second time he invited as a jury member of OPUS International Music Competition.
Ostap Popovych, trumpet – Winner of the GRAND PRIXIX International Competition for Wind Instruments in Brno (2013). He comes from a family with musical traditions. From an early age he was appreciated both in the country and on the international music market, as exemplified by awards at such music competitions as: GRAND PRIX at the International Wind Instrument Competition “Kyiv-Vorzel” in 2003, GRAND PRIX at the 1st International Competition for Young Instrument Performers Wind Orchestra in Chernivtsi (2004), GRAND PRIX at the 3rd International Competition for Young Trumpeters. M. Staroweckoho in Tarnopol (2008), distinction at the 6th International Brass Instruments Competition in Gdańsk (2012), 2nd Prize at the National Brass Instruments Competition in Katowice (2013). The above achievements have not gone unnoticed by both the musical and non-musical circles. He was honored, among others, Scholarship of the President of Ukraine for artistic achievements in 2003, in 2004 he participated in the program of the International Charitable Foundation Vladimir Spivakov, in 2008 he received a special scholarship from the Scientific Council of the National Academy of Music in Lviv. Ostap is a graduate of the Academy of Music. M. Lysenko in Lviv (2010) and the Academy of Music. Feliks Nowowiejski in Bydgoszcz, from which he graduated with a master’s degree in 2014, studying early music – natural trumpet – in the class of M.A. Tomasz Ślusarczyk. He also developed his performance skills at the Alfa Jazz Fest (Wynton Marsalis). Despite his young age, he already has 15 years of orchestral experience. He began his adventure with the orchestra in 2005 in his hometown of Lviv, initially as an artist of the Lviv Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, and in 2010 he became the leader of the trumpet group. In 2008, he went on a six-month tour of China with the American Broadway orchestra SOMA. Since 2011, he has consistently held the position of a soloist of Polish cultural institutions: from 2011 he was an artist of the Sudeten Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Wałbrzych, in 2011-2013 a soloist of the Polish Sinfonia Iuventus Orchestra, 2013-2016 a soloist of the Poznań Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. Since 2016, he has been a soloist of the Symphony Orchestra of the Grand Theater – National Opera and since 2018, a soloist of the Warsaw Chamber Opera. During his professional career, he met many musical authorities, including: Valery Giergiev, Lorin Maazel, Sir Neville Marriner, Charles Dutoit, Gabriel Chmura, Krzysztof Penderecki, Marek Pijarowski, Rafael Payare, George Tchitchinadze. He translates the inspirations drawn from working with them into his playing. Ostap, thanks to his charisma, professionalism, artistic sensitivity and impeccable performance skills, is often invited to cooperate by leading cultural institutions. He is known as a great soloist and chamber musician, and is active in concerts.
Wu Hongyi trumpet, associate Professor and Master’s Supervisor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Vice President of the China Trumpet Federation, Deputy Director of the Wind Music Professional Committee of the Shanghai Music Association, President of the Shanghai Trumpet Research Association, Honorary President of the Guizhou Trumpet Society, and External Professor at the School of Music of Suzhou University.
Karol Gajda urodził się w 1991 roku w Wodzisławiu Śląskim. Naukę gry na puzonie rozpoczął w wieku 11 lat. Swoje umiejętności doskonalił pod kierunkiem prof. Zdzisława Stolarczyka w Akademii Muzycznej im K. Pendereckiego w Krakowie i w Uniwersytecie Muzycznym Fryderyka Chopina w Warszawie a także u prof. Jonasa Bylunda w Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien w Hanowerze. Jest laureatem wielu ogólnopolskich i międzynarodowych konkursów. Do jego najważniejszych osiągnięć należą m.in.: II miejsce w Międzynarodowym Konkursie Puzonowym w Budapeszcie 2016, I miejsce w XXII Międzynarodowym Konkursie „Citta di Porcia” 2011, I miejsce w V Międzynarodowym Konkursie Muzycznym im. Michała Spisaka w Dąbrowie Górniczej 2011, III miejsce w LXIII Międzynarodowym Konkursie „Praska Wiosna” 2011, I miejsce w XLV Międzynarodowym Konkursie Instrumentalnym w Markneukirchen 2010. W 2009 roku został finalistą ogólnopolskiego konkursu “Młody Muzyk Roku”, który jest kontynuacją projektu Krajowych Eliminacji do Konkursu Eurowizji dla Młodych Muzyków. Za osiągnięcia artystyczne wielokrotnie otrzymał stypendia Ministra Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego, Otwartej Filharmonii Agrafki Muzycznej, Krajowego Funduszu na rzecz Dzieci oraz Małopolskiej Fundacji Stypendialnej „Sapere Auso”. Jest także laureatem programu stypendialnego Młoda Polska. Koncertuje jako solista i kameralista w kraju i za granicą. Jako solista występował z orkiestrami Filharmonii Narodowej, Polskiej Orkiestry Radiowej, Filharmonii Bałtyckiej, Filharmonii Podkarpackiej, Filharmonii Zabrzańskiej, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Vogtland Philharmonie, Chursächsische Philharmonie, Kammerorchester Musica Assoluta. Koncertował również w ramach najważniejszych festiwali puzonowych: International Trombone Festival w Austin (Texas) oraz Paryżu, European Trombone Festival „Slide Factory” w Rotterdamie oraz IPV – Symposium w Hanowerze oraz Rostocku. Jako kameralista występuje z Trombone Unit Hannover oraz International Trombone Ensamble. W sezonie artystycznym 2016/2017 był pierwszym puzonistą Polskiej Filharmonii Bałtyckiej w Gdańsku. Od grudnia 2017 roku jest puzonistą Narodowej Orkiestry Symfonicznej Polskiego Radia w Katowicach. Jest wykładowcą Uniwersytetu Muzycznego Fryderyka Chopina w Warszawie oraz Akademii Muzycznej im. Krzysztofa Pendereckiego w Krakowie.
Zhang Yan accordion performer, associate professor of accordion in the Department of Modern Instrumental and Percussion at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In recent years, he has visited various European countries multiple times and appeared on major stages such as the Berlin Royal Concert Hall. The performed works have been included in the Excellent Works and Performance Collection Records of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. I have been invited multiple times to serve as a judge for domestic and international competitions, and my students have won awards in various international and domestic solo and ensemble competitions. Has won the He Luting Foundation Teacher Award from Shanghai Conservatory of Music for five consecutive years. The research topic has been approved in scientific research projects at all levels and was selected for the first “Music Talent Generation” program of Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2015; In 2016, he was selected for the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission’s “Shanghai University Young and Middle aged Teachers Overseas Visiting Study Program” to visit the Rachmaninov National Conservatory of Music in Russia, where he studied under the world-renowned accordion performer Professor Yuri Hishkin; In 2017, won the third prize in the Third Youth Teacher Teaching Competition of Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Selected as an “Excellent Teacher” at Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2018; Received project funding from the Shanghai Cultural Development Foundation in 2019; In the same year, as the main creator, the National Art Fund’s dissemination, exchange, and promotion project “Tour of Chinese and Foreign Classic Accord Works” was successfully held in multiple cities across the country; The accordion course I served was awarded the “Demonstration Course” for the ideological and political reform of the curriculum at Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2020.
Marios Nicolaou, percussion, has been carving a long and interesting career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. He is the principal Timpanist of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a Timpanist with the Ballet Orchestra of the National Greek Opera and has collaborated with the Athens State Orchestra, the National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Athens Camerata, Gürzenich-Orchester Kölner Philharmoniker and Stadtsorchester Hannover among others. As a chamber musician, Marios has collaborated with a number of renowned composers, conductors and ensembles including: H. Lachenmann, P. Eötvös, F. Ollu, D. Bouliane, K. de Roo, Th. Antoniou, Ensemble Nue Music Köln, the Greek Composers’ Union Ensemble, Ensemble dissonArt and the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble. He has participated in international festivals such as Klangspuren, Pierre Boulez zum ’75, Klavier Festival Ruhr, Minimal Music Kassel, Athens and Epidaurus Festival. He is the founder of the Cyprus Percussion Group, and co-founder of the Ergon Ensemble (Athens) and the Cronos Ensemble. Notable performances as a soloist include the Concertino for Timpani Percussion and Strings by A. Panufnik, the “Concerto pour batterie et petit orchestre” by D. Milhaud, Characteristic Piece “Nocturnal Amusement” for Xylophone and Orchestra by N. Skalkotas, the Partita for 6 Timpani and Orchestra by G. Druschetzky and the Concerto for Percussion and String Orchestra by V. Nicolaou. Born in Limassol, Marios Nicolaou studied percussion at the Athens Conservatory with D. Marinakis and at the Hochschule für Musik Köln with C. Caskel and C. Tarcha. He has been a holder of “Alexandra Trianti” scholarship of The Friends of Music Society in Athens Megaron. Currently, Marios Nicolaou teaches percussion at Arte Music Academy as well as at the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra Academy. He is a Marimba One and JG mallets artist.
Bartosz Sałdan earned a PhD degree with distinction from the Academy of Music in Kraków, where he studied percussion with Prof. Jan Pilch. He debuted as a soloist with the Orchestra of the Karol Szymanowski Philharmonic in Kraków, he also performed with Hungarian orchestra Musica Sonora, Sinfonia Varsovia, Sinfonietta Cracovia, Opole Philharmonic, Regent Brass London, etc. As a contemporary music performer, he attended prestigious workshops during the 47th International Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt along with concerts during the International Festival of Contemporary Music Warsaw Autumn, the Brand New Music Festival in Katowice, Poznan Musical Spring Festival, Sacrum Profanum, Unsound Festival and other. He cooperated with many composers, preparing pieces by Helmut Lachenmann (Trio Fluido), Agata Zubel (Percussion Store concerto), Cezary Duchnowski (Partiels), Ewa Fabiańska-Jelińska (The Soul of Seul and Reflexion). Bartosz Sałdan create duo with clarinetist Barbara Borowicz, which perform many new pieces for clarinet and percussion by composers like Marcel Chyrzyński or Martyna Kosecka. He is active orchestral musician, as percussionist and timpanist he works with many orchestras, including the Sinfonietta Cracovia, Beethoven Academy Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia and many other. He received „Young Poland” scholarship from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.
Federico Núñez argentinian composer and guitarist. He works as a professor of composition and guitar in the Department of Musical and Sound Arts of the National University of the Arts (Argentina) and a categorized researcher. He is also a professor of composition and guitar at the “Manuel de Falla” Conservatory of Music (Argentina) and a guitar professor at the D’addario Academy. Federico Núñez has presented works, performed concerts and master classes at numerous meetings and festivals in the USA, Latin America, Europe and Japan such as Composers Now (USA); XXXV “Manuel Enríquez” International Forum of New Music and the “Ramón Noble” International Guitar Festival (Mexico); International Guitar Festival “Caroso”; Mediterranean Guitar Festival (Spain), V Tokyo Tower Arts Festival (Japan) among others. He won prizes, scholarships and carried out artistic residences where the following stand out: the prestigious Municipal Composition Prize granted by the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (Argentina); 1st Prize for composition “Juan Carlos Paz” from the National Endowment for the Arts (Argentina); Prize IX National Composition Contest “Eduardo Alemann” Ars Nobilis (Argentina);The Fifth Annual Counterpoint International Competition (Italy); Melos Gandini scholarship (Argentina); Residence for creators from Latin America and Haiti in Mexico (National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA-CONACULTA) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) among others. As a composer, his catalog of works is made up of works for orchestra; stage music; performing arts; band; chamber music; a cappella choir; voice and ensemble; electronic music; mixed music; music for image; solo instrument and didactic music. His music is published by Editorial Cayambis Music Press (Latin- American sheet music), USA.
Žarko Ignjatović guitarist graduated from the Academy of Music in Zagreb (Croatia) under prof. Darko Petrinjak in 1983 and from the Hochschule für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Graz (Austria) in the class of prof. Marga Bäuml-Klasinc in 1987. He completed his postgraduate studies at the Salzburg Mozarteum under prof. Eliot Fisk in 1995. He attended numerous master classes all around the world (held by Julian Bream, John Williams, Assad Brothers, etc.) and won many prizes at national competitions. He has been living in Ljubljana since 1984 and teaches at the Faculty of Education in Maribor (Slovenia). As a performer, Ignjatović is active both as a soloist as well as a member of various chamber groups. His first solo recording with compositions by Weiss, Piazzolla, Tippett, Bogdanović and Rojko was published in 1998, whereas the second one, Hic et Nunc, with contemporary Slovene music in 2001. He also appeared on Cveto Kobal’s CD 20th Century Flute Music,published in 2003. Together with Jerko Novak, he released two recordings of guitar duos(2005 and 2013), with cellist Nebojša Bugarski a CD Southwest Meets Southeast in 2010, with mezzosoprano Barbara Jernejčič Fürst a digital album in 2020 and, and, most recently, in 2022 CD Dialogue with clarinetist Slavko Kovačič. Many years is active as jury member on national and international guitar competitions (TEMSIG, Slovenia, Guitar art festival, Beograd, Serbia, Distant chords, Split, Croatia, Mörski festival, Murska Sobota, Slovenia, Sarajevo International Guitar Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moscow International Festival of Slavic Music, Russia, Szeged International Guitar Festival, Hungary etc.).
Elżbieta Baklarz, harp, Principal Harp of Krakow Opera and harpist of Sinfonietta Cracovia. In 2001 she obtained her master’s degree with honors in performance at the Academy of Music in Cracow, where she studied harp. She has guest appearances with the following ensembles: Sinfonietta Cracovia, Amadeus, Silesian Opera, Sinfonia Varsovia, Sinfonia Iuventus, The National Philharmonic, The National Theater, various Polish Philharmonics as well as the K&K Philharmoniker, Alvarez Chamber Orchestra, Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinu, Slovak Sinfonietta and Orquestra do Norte. EB took part in many performances of symphonic, oratorial and chamber works. Many of them have been composed with her being leading performer in mind: B. Scheaffer – Concerto for the harp, Sonata for the violin and the harp, Fur Elise for violin and harp, M. Negrey – Vitis Mistica, A. Walacinski – Hieroglif, M. Ptaszynska – Euridice’s Dream, M. Mengjiqi – Quae mane oramus, T. Pehlken – Drei Gesanges, Sz. Tesarowicz- Tchnienie milosci, Cantate for soprano, harp and children choir. EB worked with Center for Theatre Practises ” Gardzienice”. Along with solo recitals, she was also a soloist in several chamber music orchestras including Concerto Lamelli, George Telemann’s Orchestra, Sinfonietta and Forum Sinfonia. EB worked with: Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Ute Lemper, Maxim Vengerov, Jon Lord, Joe Hisaishi, Alena Baeva, Tan Dun, Cinematic Orchestra, Kevin Kenner, Vadim Brodski, Małgorzata Walewska, Elżbieta Towarnicka, Vittorio Griogolo, Gheorghe Zamfir, Pieter Wispelwey, Radovan Vlatkovic, Thomas Bauer and many other. EB took part in auditions and live broadcasts, performing with distinguished conductors (L.Maazel, M. Minkowski, K.Penderecki, H.Riling, J.Maksymiuk, L.Wicki, L.Livingstone, E. Kohn, J.Axelrod, G.Chmura, A. Wit, K.Kord, J.Krentz,etc.) and recording for many Polish TV and radio stations.She was also active in the Internationale Bach Akademie and the Internationale Junge Orchester Akademie. Elzbieta Baklarz plays Salvi and Horngacher harps.
Barbara Borowicz graduated with honors from the Academy of Music in Krakow (Poland) in the clarinet class of Professor Andrzej Godek. She continued her musical education at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Ceclia in Rome (Italy) with Alessandro Carbonare and at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna (Austria) in the chamber music class. In addition she improve her musical interpretation of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s pieces with remarkable clarinetist Suzanne Stephens, who is the most accomplished performer of his music. Moreover, in her repertoire there is one of the most demanding piece for clarinet – Harlekin for clarinet solo, which contains theatrical elements and takes over 45 minutes.In 2017 she received a doctor’s degree and in 2022, she received postdoctoral degree at the instrumental Music Department at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow. She is currently professor of the clarinet at her alma mater. Since 2020 she is a country chair of Poland in the International Clarinet Association. As a soloist she made her debut with the Opole Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland and since then she has been regularly performing in Europe, North and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia in prestigious concert halls such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Concertgebouw. She is a laureate of numerous solo and chamber music competitions in Poland, Germany, Luxembourg, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Ukraine. A special place in her solo repertoire has Polish music, which she has actively performed in Poland and abroad, including compositions written for her, e. g. Marcel Chyrzynski, Ewa Fabianska-Jelinska, Michal Jakub Papara. She recorded 2 solo CDs: Witold Fiemann Works for clarinet and piano (DUX1529) with world premiereswritten by forgotten polish composer and Double Clarinet Concerto (DUX1303), released by the DUX Recording Producers. Barbara was awarded repeatedly by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as well as the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for her work within music and science. Moreover she received the Młoda Polska scholarship from the Polish Ministry of Culture as well as the award Ars Quaerendi for the remarkable activities for the development and the promotion of culture. Barbara Borowicz is an Artist for Henri Selmer, Vandoren and SilversteinWorks.