Jury
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Igor Oistrakh (Russia) - Chairman of the Jury
Igor Oistrakh
Igor Oistrakh was born in 1931 in the family of the great violinist David Oistrakh. He studied music since early childhood and started to take serious violin lessons from one of the greatest Soviet tutors Prof. Pyotr Stolyarsky in 1943. Later on Igor Oistrakh graduated magna cum laude from the Central Music School where he was taught by V. Merenbaum. He performed his debut concert in 1948.
As a performer and musician Igor was influenced greatly by his father David Oistrakh who taught him in Moscow Conservatory and as postgraduate in 1949-1955.
Igor was only 18 years old when he won the first prize of the International Violinists' Competition of Youth and Students Festival in Budapest in 1949. International Wieniawski Competition in Poznan brought him the first prize in 1952.
Igor Oistrakh enjoyed continuous success in the Soviet Union and abroad. His debut in the West took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was followed by concert tours in USA, Europe (Austria, Denmark, France, UK, GDR, Czechoslovakia), Canada, South America, Japan and Australia. He performed with the world's most famous orchestras conducted by Otto Klemperer, Herbert von Karajan, Eugene Ormandy, Carlo Maria Giulini, Georg Solti, Lorin Maazell, Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, David Oistrakh and others. For 27 years Igor Oistrakh has been playing in a unique duo with his father and they made a lot of recordings together. For three times Igor was participant of the festival named after Pablo Casals, who highly appreciated outstanding Soviet musicians. Igor Oistrakh performed repeatedly with Yehudi Menuhin.
He collaborated with such recording companies as EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, RCA, Collins, Melodiya, and Art and Electronics.
Many critics noted expressiveness, stern style, nobility and virtuoso technique of this violinist which were inherited from his great father in many respects.
Igor and his wife pianist Natalia Zertzalova performed and recorded complete sonatas of Beethoven and Mozart. Their duet was awarded with "Weiner Flotenuhr" Award by Vienna Mozart Academy and granted Honorary Membership of Beethoven society in Bonn.
The family artistic tradition is continued by their son Valery – winner of many violinist competitions, professor of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels.
Since 1968 Igor Oistrakh also performed a lot as conductor. He conducted orchestra recordings of Arcangelo Corelli’s Concerti grossi, Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Mozart's Symphony Concertante in E major for Violin and Viola etc.
In 1965 Igor Oistrakh became teacher of Moscow Conservatory. He was awarded with title of People's Artist of the USSR in February 1968 and became Honorary Member of Wieniawski Society in Poznan. Since 1996 he has been Professor of the Royal Conservatory in Brussels.
Other awards and appointments include Fellow of the Royal College of Music, London, Presidency of the Russian section of the European String Teachers Association, Honorary member of the Beethoven Society in Bonn, Honorary member of the Jascha Heifetz Society and the Ysaye Foundation in Belgium, Honorary President of the Cesar Franck Foundation in Belgium and member of the jury of the most prestigious violin competitions such as Tchaikovsky, Queen Elisabeth, Wieniawski and Carl Flesch.
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Gennady Rozhdestvensky (Russia)
Gennady Rozhdestvensky
Russian Conductor, Professor of Moscow I.P. Tchaikovsky Conservatrory, Honored Artist and a famous public figure.
Rozhdestvensky was born in the family of a conductor Nikolay Anosov and a singer Natalya Rozhdestvenskaya. He started his musical education at the Gnesin School of Music and the Moscow Conservatory School for children. He entered the Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1944 to study conducting with his father and piano with Lev Oborin. At the age of 20 he conducted Tchaikovsky “The Sleeping Beauty” at the Bolshoi Theatre.
Following his graduation in 1954, he was appointed an assistant conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre and in 1956 made his first visit to England with the Bolshoi Ballet. In 1961 Rozhdestvensky became an artistic director of the Soviet Radio Symphony Orchestra remaining there until 1974. Three years later he became the youngest principal conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre and had remained at that post until 1970. As a chief conductor and a director of the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra he was allowed to lead performances of the ballet “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky, the opera “A Midsummer Night's Dream” by Benjamin Britten as well as works by Poulenc, Hindemith, Off and other composers which were new to Soviet audience. He also revived the symphonies of Sergey Prokofiev. Only the most eminent and respected Russian musicians were allowed extensive foreign tours and Rozhdestvensky visited many European countries, the USA and Japan. He also appeared several times in Great Britain mainly with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and at Covent Garden.
In 1971 he conducted the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra in three Promenade Concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall. The following year Rozhdestvensky became a music director of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. An Artistic director of the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra from 1974 to 1977, then he became a principal conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 1981. His next post was a principal conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, where he stayed until 1983. In 1982 he founded and became a chief conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra of the Ministry of Culture in Moscow. In 1987 Rozhdestvensky started teaching conducting at the Academia Musicale Chigiana in Sienna. The Stockholm Philharmonic hired him as a conductor in 1991 and three years later he was appointed as a chairman of the Bolshoi' Theatre Artistic Committee. Rozhdestvensky has maintained his reputation for adventurous programming in his many recordings and live performances.
Gennady Rozdestvensky premiered numerous twentieth century works, including Denisov's “Symphony for Two String Orchestras” and “Percussion” (dedicated to Rozhdestvensky), Buzko “White Nights”, Shchedrin “Carmen Suite”, Prokofiev opera “The Gambler”, Schnittke Symphony No. 2 "St. Florian" and Gerhard's “Don Quixote”. An enthusiastic champion of contemporary composers Rozhdestvensky has also performed works by Kancheli, Mirzoian, Organesian and Skoryk.
Rozhdestvensky's writings include “Techniques of Orchestral Direction” and “Reflections on Music”.
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Pierre Amoyal (France)
Pierre Amoyal
He is well known to music lovers. He has played with the greatest conductors and orchestras in the most prestigious concert halls of the world. This virtuoso is also the lucky owner of the one of the most beautiful violins ever made: the famous "Kochanski," a Stradivarius that was stolen from him in 1987, and which was miraculously recovered four years later by the Italian "Carabinieri".
When Amoyal was only twelve years old, he completed his studies at the Paris Conservatory with a First Prize. The prodigy then left for Los Angeles to study with the legendary Jascha Heifetz. The two spent five intense years together, culminated by chamber music concerts and recordings with the cellist, Gregor Piatigorski.
At the age of 22, he made his European debut with the late Sir Georg Solti and the Orchestre de Paris, followed by appearances in all of the major European capitals, as well as in the USA, Canada, Mexico, South America and in the Far East. Amoyal has played under the most important conductors of the last three decades: von Karajan, Ozawa, Boulez, Maazel, Solti, Pretre, Sanderling, Roshdestvensky, Rattle, and Mung Whun Chung, to name only a few. His first appearance with the Berlin Philharmonic under Maestro von Karajan in Berlin was followed by many further performances with this orchestra, including the German premier of the Dutilleux Concerto under Lorin Maazel. In 1985, he made his recital debut in Carnegie Hall, which received outstanding critical acclaim.
He was the youngest musician ever to be nominated as a professor at the Paris Conservatory. Following his move to Switzerland, he now teaches at the Lausanne Conservatory. Also in Lausanne, he initiated a novel music academy, dedicated to the violin/piano repertoire, which he gives annually with Bruno Canino.
Pierre Amoyal is a very touching example of a virtuoso whose exceptional talents never hindered his love of hard work, nor a development of the most essential human qualities.
Personal web-site: www.amoyal.com
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Eduard Grach (Russia)
Eduard Grach
Violinist, People’s Artist of the USSR.
Born in 1930. Studied in Odessa under V. Mordkovich and P. Stolyarsky. During WWII, E. Grach lived in the evacuation area in Novosibirsk where he attended the class of I. Gutman. Later on, he continued his education in the Central Music School and in Moscow Conservatory in Yampolsky’s class. During his postgraduate years, he received master classes held by D. Oistrakh.
Edward Grach became the first interpreter of many works by contemporary composers, including works for violin by Eshpai, concerti and pieces by Babadjanian, Krein, Rakov, Khachaturian, and Shchedrin.
The year 1979 saw his debut as a conductor, and after a while Edward Grach became Head of the Chamber Orchestra of Mari SSR. Since 1989, he has been teaching at the Moscow State Conservatory. E. Grach has educated over 40 graduates. Of them, 25 became prizewinners in international and pan-Russian competitions. In 1995, 2002 and 2003 the expert committee of the “Muzykalnoye Obozreniye” newspaper dubbed Edward Grach the “Best Teacher of Russia.”
Juror and President of jury for several international competitions. Holds regular master classes in Germany, Israel, England, France, the Netherlands, the USA, Hungary, China, Korea, and Taiwan.
In 1996, Edward Grach organized the A.I. Yampolsky International Violin Competition that is held in Penza and became its President. The Government of the Russian Federation awarded E. Grach the Order of “National Merit”. Honorary member of the Italian Monti Azzuri Academy. Honorary professor of the Shanghai Conservatory.
Prizewinner of international Competitions:
- 1949: First Prize winner in the B. Bartok Competition (Budapest);
- 1955: The M. Long and J. Thibaud International Competition (Paris);
- 1962: The P. I. Tchaikovsky Competition (Moscow).
Edward Grach performed with: pianists G. Ginsburg, S. Neuhaus, B. Davidovich, Y. Svetlanov, and Y. Malinin; violinists I. Bezrodny, V. Zhouk, R. Fein, and M. Yashvili; cellists S. Knushevitsky and N. Shakhovskaya; clavecinist A. Volkonsky; singer Z. Dolukhanova; organists G. Grodberg and O. Yanchenko; guitarist A. Ivanov-Kramskoy; and oboe player A. Lyubimov. From 1965, played in a piano trio with Y. Malinin and N. Shakhovskaya.
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Vladimir Ivanov (Russia)
Vladimir Ivanov
Was born in Moscow, where he studied first in Moscow College of P.I.Tchaikovsky Conservatory under the guidance of M.Glezarova and then in Moscow Conservatory under the guidance of great Russian teacher Yuri Yankelevitch. In 1972 he won the International J.S.Bach Competition in Leipzig and afterwards became the Gold medalist of the K.Popova festival in Plevna (1974) and of Moris Ravel festival in Bordo (1976). He is a member of the International Association of Music Workers.
Being the soloist of the Moscow State philharmonic society he leads the intense concert activity both as a soloist and as a participant of "Moscow Trio" (with A.Bonduryansky and M. Utkin). His large repertoire embraces more than a hundred of violin and chamber music works of various genres. There are more than 40 records of violin and chamber music compositions in his performance.
Vladimir Ivanov is the People's Artist of Russia, pro fessor on Moscow P.I. Tchaikovsky State Conservatory; he has also been the Head of Violin department and the Dean of the Orchestra faculty. Among his students there are prizewinners of the international competitions.
Vladimir Ivanov goes on concert tour and gives master classes both in Russia and abroad. He has been a jury member of many international competitions.
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Boris Kuschnir (Austria)
Boris Kuschnir
Boris Kuschnir is one of the most excellent teachers who brought up world-famous performers. Kuschnir has his own fantastic talent in education and his contribution could be compared to those of Leopold Auer, Carl Flesch or Ivan Galamian who formed own violin performing schools. Kuschnir adapted his creative educational system and produced many eminent soloists...
Strad MagazineBoris Kuschnir was born into a music family in Kiev in 1948. He studied violin with Boris Belenky at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire and chamber music with Valentin Berlinsky of the Borodin Quartet.
His many encounters with Dmitri Shostakovich (working on his last quartets) and David Oistrakh, with whom he also studied, had a lasting influence on his artistic development. His career started 1969 when he was one of the three winners of the Allunions-Competition in Leningrad where, in the final, he performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Leningrad Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Yuri Temirkanov.
He has won numerous prizes at international violin and chamber music competitions (Paris, Belgrade, Sion, Trapani, Bratislava, Florence, Trieste, Gorizia, Hamburg, Vercelli). In 1970 he founded the Moscow String Quartet and remained a member until 1979.
Since 1981 he has been living in Austria. He became an Austrian citizen in 1982, a Professor at the Konservatorium Wien University in 1984 and also a distinguished Professor at the University of Music in Graz in 1999. His reputation as a teacher won international recognition with the recent outstanding success of his pupils, Julian Rachlin (1st Prize Eurovision Grand Prix for Young Musicians, Amsterdam 1988), Nikolaj Znaider (1st Prize of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Brussels 1997), Lidia Baich (1st Prize Eurovision Grand Prix for Young Musicians, Vienna 1998), Dalibor Karvay (1st Prize Eurovision Grand Prix for Young Musicians, Berlin 2002; 1. Prize International Tibor Varga Competition, Switzerland 2003; 1. Prize David Oistrakh Competition, Moscow 2008), Alexandra Soumm (1st Prize Eurovision Grand Prix for Young Musicians, Lucerne 2004), Lorenzo Gatto (2. Prize Queen Elizabeth Competition, Brussels 2009), and Aleksey Igudesman (Igudesman & Joo).
In addition to this he educated more than 40 laureates of national and international competitions, his pupils have been appointed Professors at Universities, playing in various chamber music ensembles and orchestras of the world – 5 of his students play at the Vienna Philharmonics.
At the same time he constantly gives masterclasses and is a jury member of various international music competitions such as Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels, Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, Niccolò Paganini Competition in Genua, the Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris, Joseph Joachim Competition in Hannover (Preselection), Tibor Varga Competition in Switzerland, Michael Hill Competition in New Zealand, Eurovision Competition, David Oistrakh Competition in Moscow, Pablo de Sarasate Competition in Pamplona, George Enescu Competition in Bucharest, Violin Masters in Monte Carlo.
In 1984 Boris Kuschnir founded the Wiener Schubert Trio which received many prestigious awards, among them the 1. Prize at the international Chamber Music Competition Sergio Lorenzi in Trieste, Italy with Sandor Vegh as president of the jury, the Mozart Interpretationspreis 1988 in Vienna and the Prize of the Ernst von Siemens Foundation 1990. Boris Kuschnir played as a soloist and a chamber musician in some of the world’s most illustrious venues: Wiener Musikverein, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, La Fenice in Venice, the Wigmore Hall London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, as well as in the Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatoire Moscow and the Ishibashi Memorial Hall in Tokyo. He has taken part in numerous festivals such as Salzburg Festival, Gidon Kremer’s Lockenhaus Festival, Vienna Festival, Besançon, Wahington, Spoleto, Naples, Stresa, Bregenz Festival, Mecklenburg-Vorpommen, Swiatoslaw Richter Winterfestival — Moscow, Julian Rachlin & Friends Festival — Dubrovnik, Verbier Festival — Switzerland.
Boris Kuschnir appears with such illustrious partners as Elisabeth Leonskaja, Boris Berezovsky, Leif Ove Andsnes, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Itamar Golan, Elena Bashkirova, Julian Rachlin, Nikolaj Znaider, Natalia Gutman, Maxim Vengerov, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Renaud Capucon, David Garrett, Yuri Bashmet, Gérard Caussé, Nobuko Imai, Lawrence Power, Veronika Hagen, David Carpenter, Mischa Maisky, Boris Pergamenschikow, Miklós Perényi, Steven Isserlis, Gautier Capuçon, Sol Gabetta, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Ivan Monighetti and Hatto Beyerle, Thomas Kakuska, Valentin Erben of Alban Berg Quartet.
Both as soloist and chamber musician Boris Kuschnir made numerous recordings, notably the complete Mozart piano trios for EMI, which were released in the Mozart year 1991. In 1993 he founded the Vienna Brahms Trio which made their highly acclaimed debut at the Gidon Kremer’s Lockenhaus Festival in Austria. In 1996, the Trio won First Prize at the 9th International Chamber Music Competition in Illzach, France. Their recording of Schumann’s complete works for Piano trio was released on the Naxos label in 1999.
He was co-founder of the Kopelman Quartet in 2003 with which he is giving concert all over the world since and has released CDs at Nimbus Records and Wigmore Hall Live.
In 2008 the President of the Republic of Austria awarded Boris Kuschnir with the “Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria.
Boris Kuschnir plays a violin made by Antonio Stradivari – “La Rouse-Boughton” – made in Cremona, 1703. It was given to him as a loan in 1991 by the Austrian National Bank in recognition of his artistic performance and his service rendered to music.
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Luz Leskowitz (Austria)
Luz Leskowitz
Was born in Salzburg in the musician family and he started to play the violin at the age of six. When he was 13 years old he was admitted to the University of Music and Performing Arts (Vienna) and studied there at the same time as Vasa Prihoda and Riccardo Odnoposoff. At the same time Luz Leskowitz studied viola and violin under Ernst Wallfisch at the Mozarteum and attended the Gymnasium in Salzburg.
After his graduation he was invited by Maestro Yehudi Menuhin to teach at the Menuhin school in London and had the privilege to work closely with the Maestro who had an greate influence on his musical development.When he was 20 Luz Leskowitz made his debuts with great success in London/Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall, New York/Carnegie Hall,Wien/Musikverein, Hamburg/Musikhalle and Milano/Sala Verdi. After that he was performing all over Europe, the Far East and the Middle East, Africa, the USA, Russia, South America, Korea and Japan. Meanwhile he used to play in New York (Town Hall), Washington (Kennedy Center), Vienna (Konzerthaus), Paris (Salle Gaveau), Prag (Rudolfinum), Salzburg (Mozarteum and Festspielhaus), Amsterdam (Concertgebouw) and many others concert halls.
Inspired by the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad Luz Leskowitz founded his first Chamber Music Festival in Germany, the Harzburger Musiktage in 1970. Motivated by the enormous success of this festival, he than founded more than 10 international chamber music festivals in Austria, Germany and Romania. At the present time he is the Director of the “Mai Festival Rellinger Kirche” (since 1986) and the “Musikfestwoche at Schloss Berleburg” (since 1972).
In 1979 he formed his own ensemble, the Salzburger Solisten. Short after the Salzburger Mozartspieler and the Salzburger Solistentrio. Since than Ensembles have performed regularly all over the world.
Luz Leskowitz has played chamber music with Paul Badura-Skoda, Wilhelm Kempff, Ingrid Haebler, Jörg Demus, Jeremy Menuhin, the “Oistrakh-Family”, Norbert Brainin, David Geringas, Heinrich Schiff, Mstislav Rostropovitsch, Hermann Baumann, Karl Leister, Michala Petri, Sharon Bezaly, Peter Wispelway, Hakan Hardenberger, Elly Ameling, Bartok-Quartet, Lark-Quartet, Voces-Quartet, Kocian Quartet, Twins-Quartet and the Amati Ensemble.
He has recorded for well-known labels such as Cetra, Syrinx, Mirabell, Arte Nova, Demusica/Sony, EMI-Classics, BIS and Brillant, with repertoire from the Baroque to the 20th Century music.
Luz Leskowitz started the “Competition Yuzhnouralsk – Salzburg” in Siberia. Every year he is invited as a jury at the Int. FLAME Competition in Paris.
Luz Leskowitz has given master-classes in Russia, Korea and in Japan. He took part in the Film “Die Klavierspielerin” by Elfriede Jelinek.
Since 1991 Luz Leskowitz is an owner, Executive and Artistic Director of the Salzburger Schlosskonzerte with over 300 concerts a year (365 concerts in 2006). This is one of the world’s largest concert series.
Luz Leskowitz plays “Ex Prihoda Stradivarius” violin (1707).
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Valery Oistrakh (Belgium)
Valery Oistrakh
Born in Moscow in the family of the illustrious Oistrakhs, Valery Oistrakh represents the third generation of great violin virtuosi beginning with his grandfather David and followed by his father Igor.
A true exponent of the great Russian violin school, Valery Oistrakh started performing at the age of 14, often sharing the stage with his father and mother-pianist.
With his awe-inspiring technique, silky tone and consummate artistry he has beguiled audiences the world over performing on the great concert stages of Russia, United States, Canada, Australia, England, France, Germany. Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Japan... He has played as both violinist and violist with world-leading orchestras as the Moscow and Leningrad Philharmonics, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Scottish National Symphony, Orchestre Colonne de Paris, Orchestra Santa Cecilia di Roma, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchester , Toronto and Vancouver Symphonies, Sydney Symphony... He has been accompanied by such notable conductors as Kurt Mazur, Gennady Rozdestvensky, Muhai Tang, Gyorgy Lehel, Saulius Sondetzkis, Vladimir Fedoseev, Tibor Varga, Marco Parisotto…
With a deep understanding of the violin repertoire, a captivating sound often reminiscent of the celebrated David, his interpretations have won high praise from both critics and the public. Aside from performing as a soloist, Valery Oistrakh is a masterful chamber musician. In this capacity, he played together with such eminent musicians as Yehudi Menuhin, Jorg Demus or the distinguished Amadeus String Quartet, among many others.
In addition to managing a busy concert schedule, Valery Oistrakh is Professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, the International Summer Academy of Belgium, and he is also regularly giving master classes in music academies in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Japan. Since 1999 he has been visiting Professor at the "Mozarteum" in Salzburg.
Valery Oistrakh took his first violin lessons from his grandfather David. He then studied at the famous Central Music School in Moscow where father Igor actually graduated. He continued his studies at the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in his native city. Some years later Valery completed his violin education in Germany with the world known professor Zakhar Bron - who in fact was also a disciple of his father at the Moscow Conservatory.
Mr. Oistrakh was a winner at the All-Russian Competition of the former Soviet Union and the Tibor Varga International Competition in Switzerland, among others. He is the leader of the "Oistrakh Ensemble" and the "Oistrakh Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra" based in Germany.
Personal web-site: www.valeryoistrakh.com
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Viktor Pikayzen (Russia)
Viktor Pikayzen
Violinist, Peoples artist of RSFSR.
He started to play violin at the age of five at the music school of the Kiev Conservatory. During WW II he lived in Alma Ata (Almaty). Later on, he continued his education in the Central Music School and in Moscow Conservatory in David Oistrakh class. He completed postgraduate studies under his direction in 1960. He was a prizewinner at international violin competitions in Prague (1949), Paris (1957), Moscow (1958) and Genoa (1965). In 1960 he became a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He is an outstanding virtuoso whose playing is distinguished by exceptional technique and nobility of style, and is noted for his performances of the Bach and Paganini works for violin solo. He tours in many countries and has also served on the juries of many international competitions. In 1966 he began teaching at the Moscow Conservatory.
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Akiko Tatsumi (Japan)
Akiko Tatsumi
Studied violin under Saburo Sumi, Hideo Saitoh and Yoshio Unno. Graduated first on the list of the strings course at Toho Gakuen School of Music. Was sent to West-Berlin as musical delegation by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, where she studied with Saschko Gawriloff.
Was a prize winner at the 38th Japan Music Competition. Received a special award at the 16th Overseas Delegation Competition, a music prize of the 13th Bunka-broadcasting Station, and a critic’s prize of Germany in 1985.
Played with Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Frankfurt, Symphonie-Orchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks, Hall Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, etc.
Under such conductors as Eliahu Inbal, Zdenek Macal, Gerd Albrecht, Hiroyuki Iwaki and so on.
In 1982 performed Isang Yun's violin concerto with Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Frankfurt as the world premiere.
In 1986 gave recitals and lessons in Beijing and Shanghai conservatory by the invitation of the Chinese Ministry for Cultural Affairs.
Gave master classes at the following institutions: California University, Hochschle für Musik Mozarteum in Salzburg, Wien University, Graz University and Hochschle Musik Zürich.
Not only she teaches at international music academies in many parts of the world like France, Portugal and Japan every summer, but she has sat on the judging panel on many international violin competitions including Oistrakh, Wieniawski and Monaco. Many of her CDs have been released from Camerata Tokyo of Japan.
After taught at Hochschle der künste Berlin, she is now a professor of the string section of Toho Gakuen School of Music, Japan, and the Music Director of Courchevel International Music Academy in Kasama, and Violin Festa Tokyo at Suntory Hall, both in Japan.
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Grigory Zhislin (Germany)
Grigory Zhislin
Was born in St. Petersburg, and graduated from Moscow Conservatorium under the guidance of die great Russian teacher Yuri Yankelevitch. At the age of 22 he won the first prize in the Paganini Competition, and the Silver Medal in the Queen Elizabeth Competition. His international career has since made him one of the most renowned violinists on the concert circuit. His repertoire includes over one hundred concertos for violin and viola, and numerous recital and chamber music programmes ranging from Baroque to contemporary music.
Zhislin has performed as soloist with the leading Russian orchestras such as St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, State Symphony Orchestra, as well as RAI (Milano, Torino), ABC Orchestras (Australia), Staatskapelle Dresden, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Wiener Sinfoniker, Sinfonia Varsovia, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Cracow Philharmonic, Stockholm Radio Orchestra, Bergen Harmonien, Lithuanian National Philharmonic, under conductors such as Herbert Blomsted, Aldo Ceccato, Erik Klass, Karl Österreicher, Kiril Kondraschin, Dimitri Kitaenko, Alexander Lazarew, Arvid Jansons, Yuri Temirkanov, Maris Jansons, Woldemar Nelsson, Saulius Sondeckis, Tadeusz Strugala, Natan Rakhlin, Noeme Jarvi, Vladimir Fedoseyev, and many others.
Zhislin is regularly invited to international music festivals including Moscow Stars, Warsaw Autumn, Prague Spring, Fiorentino Maggio, Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival and the Pablo Casals Festival in Puerto Rico. He is also a frequent member of the jury in the international violin competitions such as the Paganini in Genoa, Montreal, Citta de Brescia, Henryk Wieniawski in Poland, and the Yehudi Menuhin Competition in England.
Zhislin has cooperated closely with such composers as Schnittke, Denisov, Sofia Gubaydullina, and Krystof Penderecki. Zhislin gave the first performance in Russia of Penderecki's violin concerto, and the two formed a close relationship. Together they have recorded all of Penderecki's violin and viola works. In 1983, at Penderecki's request, Zhislin began to play the viola, in order to give the first European performance of Penderecki's viola concerto, and Penderecki also dedicated his Cadenza per Viola Solo to Zhislin.
Grigori Zhislin is Professor of Violin and Viola at the Royal College of Music in London. He is also visiting professor in Finland, Norway and Poland, and gives Master Classes in Germany, Yugoslavia and the USA.
Yehudi Menuhin: "Gryori Zhislin has my complete admiration, both as a musician and a superb instrumentalist. I have come to know him as an outstanding teacher as well, but his natural gifts and total dedication have made not just an excellent musician but a great Violinist of him."
The Independent: "An aristocratic player ... a virtuoso with a dazzling command of pyrotechnics."
Krystof Penderecki: "Meeting Zhislin for the first time has made a great impression on me ... his interpretation coincided fully with my own conception. He perceived deeply the imaginative structure of my music and my musical ideas and found adequate means to realise them."