Russian pianist ILYA YAKUSHEV continues to mesmerize audiences at major venues on three continents. He made his San Francisco Symphony debut in 2007, where his performances were hailed as some of the top classical music events of the year. Mr. Yakushev has also given recent performances with the Syracuse and Fairbanks Symphonies, the BBC Concert Orchestra and Keith Lockhart in London. Recent recital venues include Chicago's Ravinia, New York's Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Bechstein Center in Berlin and Vienna's Musikverein.
Mr. Yakushev received his first award at age 12 as a prizewinner of the Young Artists Concerto Competition in his native St. Petersburg, and he was also the winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition. Mr. Yakushev also serves serving as Executive Director of the International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Mannes School of Music, a position he has held since 2002. For more information, please visit his website:
ilyayakushev.com.
Conductor MICHAEL STERN is in his sixth season as Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony, hailed for its remarkable artistic growth and development since his tenure began. The Symphony and Mr. Stern have made three critically acclaimed recordings since 2007. Additionally, he is the founding artistic director and principal conductor of The IRIS Orchestra in Germantown, Tennessee. This unique group has been widely praised for its virtuosity and programming and has produced a string of recordings and acclaimed commissioned new works by American composers.
Stern has led orchestras throughout Europe and Asia, including the London Symphony, the London, Royal Stockholm, Israel and Moscow philharmonics, the Orchestre de Paris, Tokyo's NHK and the Vienna Radio symphonies. He has conducted nearly every major orchestra in North America, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Montreal symphonies and the Cleveland Orchestra.
At the age of 24,
Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient pianist JOYCE YANG is touted as “the most gifted young pianist of her generation,” captivating audiences around the globe with her stunning virtuosity and heartfelt lyricism through her innovative solo recitals and notable collaborations with the world’s top orchestras.
In June 2005, Ms. Yang came to international attention when she, the youngest contestant, became the Silver Medalist of the 12th Van Cliburn International Competition. Since then, she has performed at various high-profile venues and made her celebrated New York Philharmonic debut with Lorin Maazel at Avery Fisher Hall. Ms. Yang is also a frequent guest on American Public Media’s radio program “Performance Today.” Her debut disc includes live performances of works by Bach, Liszt and Scarlatti. A Steinway Artist, she currently resides in New York City. For more information, please visit her website:
pianistjoyceyang.com.
Admired for his musical intelligence and dynamic personality,
pianist ALON GOLDSTEIN is one of the most sensitive artists of his generation. His artistic vision and innovative programming have made him a favorite with audiences and critics alike throughout the United States, Europe, and Israel.
After making his orchestral debut at age 18 with the Israeli Philharmonic under Maestro Zubin Mehta, he made a triumphant return in April 2008 with Maestro Herbert Blomstedt. In recent seasons, he has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, the San Francisco, St. Louis, Houston, Vancouver, Kansas City and North Carolina Symphonies, the Rhode Island Philharmonic and on tour with orchestras in Paris, Russia, Romania and Bulgaria. The New York Times called him “an irresistible powerhouse.”
Raised in Alexandria, VA,
violinist ALEXANDER KERR balances an orchestral career with solo and chamber engagements throughout Europe, North America and the Far East. In 1996 he was appointed concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He has also served as concertmaster of the Cincinnati and Charleston Symphonies and is currently Principal Guest Concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony.
Mr. Kerr has appeared as soloist with major orchestras throughout the United States and Europe and as a chamber musician at some of the world's premier music festivals. He has collaborated with a number of the world's top musicians, including Grammy winners Joshua Bell and Edgar Meyer. He recently toured Europe with acclaimed violinist Sarah Chang and members of the Berlin Philharmonic. Mr. Kerr is a faculty m member of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado.
With his poetic style and dazzling technique,
violinist AUGUSTIN HADELICH has established himself as a leader among the new generation of violinists. Winner of the 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant and gold medalist of the 2006 International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, his versatility across the entire spectrum of the violin repertory is astounding.
He made three Carnegie Hall appearances in 2008 and recently debuted with the New York Philharmonic under Alan Gilbert at the Bravo! Vail Festival. Other orchestral engagements include the symphonies of Alabama, Colorado, Columbus, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Louisville, New Orleans and Syracuse. Mr. Hadelich has recorded two highly acclaimed CDs, and has appeared in recital at the Frick, the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the Louvre. He plays on the 1723 “Ex-Kiesewetter” Stradivari violin, on loan from Clement and Karen Arrison through the generous efforts of the Stradivari Society. For more information, please visit his website:
augustin-hadelich.com.
Over the past decade,
cellist ALBAN GERHARDT has established himself among the great cellists of our time. His sound is unmistakable, and he distinguishes himself with his original interpretations. Mr. Gerhardt is committed to bringing the excitement of classical music to younger audiences in innovative ways.
After early successes at competitions and his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic under Semyon Bychkov, his career has led him to more than 180 orchestras worldwide, including most of the top American orchestras such as the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, San Francisco Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His repertoire is extensive: he has played about 60 different cello concertos, among them some premieres. His CDs, which often include performances of rare concertos, consistently win critical acclaim. For more information, please visit his website:
albangerhardt.com.
Soprano ELIZABETH WEIGLE has received critical acclaim for a wide variety of repertoire, including a "fine-spun performance" of Handel's Messiah and a recently released recording of Lucas Foss' The Prairie. Of the latter performance, Opera News writes: "Of the soloists, soprano Elizabeth Weigle is the standout.”
Her recent orchestra/oratorio performances include repertoire from Bach to Handel to Mahler to Honegger, with the symphonies of Colorado, Portland and Santa Fe, as well as the Rhode Island Philharmonic. While she is an enthusiastic advocate for music of her own time and frequently premieres works written for her, Ms. Weigle is also a collaborator with many of the finest period instrument orchestras throughout the United States. On the operatic stage, she received critical acclaim for her role as Pat Nixon in John Adams' Nixon in China, hailed by The Boston Herald as "a perfect Pat Nixon." For more information, please visit her website:
www.elizabethweigle.com.
Hailed for his warm, expressive sound and consummate musicianship,
RANDALL SCARLATA is firmly established as one of the most highly regarded baritones of his generation. He is equally comfortable in Bach and Handel oratorio, Mozart and Rossini operas, song cycles, works from Tin Pan Alley and the newest of new music. His performances throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America have garnered raves from audiences and critics alike. Mr. Scarlata has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, American, National and North Carolina symphonies, as well as the Early Music ensembles, Wiener Akademie and Musica Angelica. He has appeared at international music festivals including Ravinia, Marlboro, Edinburgh, Vienna, Salzburg, Aspen, Spoleto and on concert stages across five continents. For more information, please visit his website:
www.randallscarlata.com.