She graduated from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and a postgraduate program "Piano" (class of Professor  L.Vlasenko).

Winner of the Grand Prix and a special prize "For the best performance of works by contemporary French composers at the International Competition, Margaret Long and Jacques Thibaud (France, 1983) and the Grand Prix International Competition of Chamber Ensembles (France, 1985).

Recitals and performances of Jania Aubakirova held in major concert halls of Kazakhstan, France, Britain, Germany, Japan, Russia, Poland, Italy, USA, Israel, Greece, Hungary. The pianist played in the halls of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Moscow House of Music, «Salle Pleyel», «Salle Gaveau», «Barbican Hall», «Wigmore Hall», «Vigoda Hall», «Konzerthaus», «The Kennedy Centre»,«Carnegie Hall».

Jania Aubakirova collaborated with many bands and musicians such as Mikhail Pletnev, Alexander Sladkovsky, Alexander Vedernikov, Denis Shapovalov, Marat Bisengaliev, Alexander Trostyanskiy Christophe Mangou, the quartet «Danel», Russian National Symphony Orchestra of French Radio Symphony Orchestra of India, English Chamber Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra and others. more  

Official site: www.aubakirova.com

 

Daniel POLLACK (USA)

 

Audiences worldwide, across five continents - North America, Europe,Pollack was recently featured in a profile in the New YorkTimesheadlined "Piano Man, Winning Russian Hearts and Minds" in which it was quoted, "he is now a legend in Russia." Another profile featured in the International Herald Tribune, headlined, "A Musical 'love affair' with Russia." Asia, South America and Africa - recognize the pianism of Daniel Pollack for its signature colors in sound, coupled with over-the-edge thrilling virtuosity, giving his performances an electrifying element that catches the imagination of concert goers.

Worldwide critics speak about "his astonishing pianism," Washington Post; "his dramatic tension, poignant lyricism," Diapason Magazine, Paris, France; and "his torrents of sound that turned feathery flurries of delicate sounds," Los Angeles Times.

Recent highlights include appearances as soloist with conductor Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Russia and as soloist with such major international philharmonics as London's Royal, Seoul, Korea, Hong Kong, Kiev, Ukraine, Bogota, Colombia, Montevideo, and in the U.S., as soloist with the philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore, San Francisco, Minnesota, among numerous others. more

Official site: www.danielpollack.com

 

Elisso BOLKVADZE (Georgia-France)

Pianist Elisso Bolkvadze has won great critical acclaim for her unique sensibility, power and sincerity. She has performed as a soloist with many orchestras throughout the USA, Europe and Russia.

“Formidable Talent” (The New York Times) ; “Major Artist” (Los Angeles Times) ; “She took Pasadena Hall by storm” (Los Angeles Times) ; “La prodigieuse pianiste” (Figaro Magazine).

She studied at Tbilisi Conservatory with Professor T. Amiredjibi. She attended master classes with Tatiana Nikolaeva in Moscow. In 1995 Elisso Bolkvadze made a decisive meeting with French composer and musician Michel Sogny, who provided to her artistic and musical important influence. Since then, his Fondation SOS Talents has given support to her international career. 

Elisso Bolkvadze won numerous international piano competitions such as Van Cliburn (USA), Vianna da Motta (Lisbon, Portugal), Axa International Piano Competition (Dublin, Ireland), Marguerite Long (Paris, France) where she was awarded special prize for best interpretation of French music. 

After she was awarded in Van Cliburn International Contest in USA, Elisso Bolkvadze has been performing many concerts and recitals in famous halls such as Kennedy Center (Washington), Pasadena Auditorium Los Angeles, Santa Fe Festival, Miami Arts In Florida, Orange County Center, Salle Pleyel, Salle Gaveau (Paris), Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris), Gewandhaus Orchestra (Leipzig), with prestigious orchestras : Radio France Orchestra, St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), Herkulessaal (Munich) Alte Oper (Frankfurt), Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Georgian National Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra  more

Official site: www.elisso-bolkvadze.com

 

Pavel NERSESSIAN (Russia)

His performance brought a veritable roar of approval from the audience” wrote “The Irish Times” after Pavel Nersessian received the 1st Prize in the GPA Dublin International Piano Competition in 1991.

Being one of the most remarkable pianists of his generation in Russia, he is known for his ability to play equally convincing in the whole palette of the piano repertoire. He has won prizes in every piano competition he has entered, including Beethoven Competition in Vienna in 1985, Paloma O’Shea Competition in Santander and Tokyo Competition.

Since his childhood he has always been in touch with the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire. He was a pupil of the famous Central Music School of the Conservatoire, where his teacher was Yu. Levin, and later he was a student of the Conservatoire under Prof. S. Dorensky. Upon graduating from the Conservatoire in 1987 with maximum marks – a rare distinction – he was proposed to teach there. He is professor there now.

Pavel Nersessian’s concert activity is very intense. He has been touring around Russia and surrounding states from the age of eight and, since his remarkable successes in international competitions, has on several occasions given performances in London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Cannes, Leipzig, Vienna, Budapest, Madrid, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Dublin, Muenchen, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, Belgrade, Cairo, Kiev and many others. more

Official site: www.nersessian.com

  Oleg MARSHEV (Italy)

The British music magazine "The Gramophone" reviewed OlegMarshev's recording of Prokofiev music as "one of the mostauthoritative andimpassioned performances on disc so far". His interpretation of the "War"trilogy being recently awarded the prestigious accolade "Classic CD Choice"against such competitors as Richter, Berman, Ashkenazy.

Born in Baku, former USSR, OLEG MARSHEV trained with Valentina Aristova at the Gnesin School for Highly Gifted Children and with Mikhail Voskresensky at the Moscow Conservatory where he completed his PerformanceDoctorate in 1988 gaining the Diploma with Honor. Marshev is thus a direct representative of the fifth generation of Russian pianism since Liszt, through Alexander Siloti, Konstantin Igumnov and Voskresensky's teacher, Lev Oborin.Resident in Italy since 1991, Marshev has received awards in several international piano competitions in Canada, Italy, Portugal, Spain, USA,including 4 first prizes. The illustrious competition victories have confirmed the artist's reputation as one of the most talented Russian pianists of hisgeneration.

1991 saw his New York debut with a highly acclaimed recital at theLincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall. The following year he appeared at theAmsterdam Concertgebouw which led to other invitations to perform at thisprestigious hall. Since then he has performed throughout the world from Canadato New Zealand, appearing at such important festivals as A.B. Michelangeli ofBrescia-Bergamo, Italy, Ruhr Klavier Festival, Germany, Festival at Roqued'Antheron in France. The future engagements include a concert with the London Philharmonic and a recital at Wigmore Hall.

Being a Professor at the University "Anton Bruckner" at Linz, Austria, Mr. Marshev teaches at the different Masterclasses. 

Official site: www.olegmarshev.com

 

 Denis SHAPOVALOV (Russia)

“Brilliant talent!” – with these words Shapovalov was characterized by famous Mstislav Rostropovich.

Denis Shapovalov is set apart from the majority of gifted cellists with his fine and penetrating comprehension of the works he performs, his razor-sharp technique, and his incredibly expressive and lofty interpretation.

Shapovalov won recognition for his exceptional musical gift at the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998, taking the 1st prize and the gold medal as the unanimous choice of the jury.

Born to a musical family in the town of Tchaikovsky in 1974, Shapovalov started his cello lessons at age 7. He made his solo debut with an orchestra at age 11.

In 1995 he was honored with the award “Best Hope” at the International Chamber Music Competition in Australia. Two years later he became a recipient of the Rostropovich Charity Foundation scholarship.

After his victory at the Tchaikovsky Competition Shapovalov continued his studies under Professor Natalia Shakhovskaya at the post-graduate course of the Moscow State Conservatory.

At the age of 26 Shapovalov became the youngest teacher of the Moscow Conservatory. He is often invited to give master-classes in Russia and abroad as a touring professor.

For his American debut, he gave a successful performance at the World Cello Congress in Baltimore in June, 2000. September 2001 was highlighted for Shapovalov with a victory at the Web Concert Hall International Competition held in New York. The young cellist has participated in numerous international festivals in Russia, France, Italy, Germany, the USA, Japan, and China. more

Official site: www.denisshapovalov.com