Joost Willemze (1996) has played the harp since he was seven years old. In 2008 he started studying with Erika Waardenburg at the Academie Muzikaal Talent. He also studied with Edward Witsenburg in The Hague and with Manja Smits in Amstelveen. Moreover he followed master classes with Elinor Bennett, Emmanuel Ceysson, Skaila Kanga, Sivan Magen, Isabelle Perrin, Sylvain Blassel and Judy Loman. Joost has won several prizes and awards, including the first prize in the National Finale of the Princess Christina Competition in The Hague. In April 2015 he was awarded the second prize at the George Gerswhin International Music Competition in New York. In November 2017 he won the 1st prize at the Portuguese International Harp Competition and in March 2018 the 2nd prize at the Korea International Harp Competition. In September 2018 he won the top prize at the 8th “Suoni d’Arpa” International Harp Contest in Italy in the soloist category, which offered him also the recording of his own album with TACTUS. Joost performs extensively throughout the Netherlands and abroad. Recent performances include concerts at the Dutch Harp Festival, the Canal Festival in Amsterdam and the Rio Harp Festival in Brazil. In 2019 he performed for Salvi Harps at the Conservatory of Barcelona and at the Italian event Arpissima. Joost has been a soloist in several televised concerts, performing the Dittersdorf harp concerto with the Dutch Youth Orchestra and the Ginastera concerto with the Dutch Chamber Orchestra. Joost studied Classics and Russian at Leiden University, and is currently continuing his harp studies with Erika Waardenburg in the Master Program at the Amsterdam Conservatory.
Eve Lung
Born in 2007, Eve started her harp training from Ms Amy Tam at the age of six.
Over the years, Eve has received numerous prizes in international harp competitions, including the Korean International Harp Competition, the Nippon Harp Competition, the Camac Prize Taiwan and Thailand International Harp Competition. She was selected to perform in the 13th World Harp Congress ‘Focus on Youth’ at the age of 9 and was a performer in the 9th Suoni d’Arpa ‘Hong Kong Harp Talent’. Loving to play as well as to share music, Eve is an active member of the school orchestra, chamber music ensemble and pop band. She is also the harpist of the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra and an invited player of the Hong Kong Camerata Strings. In addition to playing Harp, Eve also plays the piano. She holds two piano diplomas, ARSM & DipABRSM, since the age of 9 & 10 respectively. Currently, she is a music scholarship recipient studying year 8 in the Hong Kong Yew Chung International school.
Haley Wong is 11 years old and has had a love for music since her very early childhood. She started learning the harp at about 6 and is currently studying under Ms Lau Yee Yeung. Over the past three years, Yeung has coached Haley to build a good mix of repertoire with emphasis on nurturing musicality and creativity while securing technical foundation. Her passion for music is not limited to playing the harp. She has been taking vocal lessons from veteran soprano Ms Myra Chih since she was 7, and is currently focusing on singing opera arias and art songs in German, Italian, French and sometimes Latin. This undoubtedly serves as a significant element in developing her musicality and melodic sensitivity. Haley recently won the Grand Prix title at the 18 th Osaka International Music Competition (Hong Kong regional round) in July 2017, followed by a 1st runner-up prize in the Senior Harp Division (Above-15/Open) in the Grand Final in Japan. Prior to that she was the Champion of the same competition in the Junior Harp Division (Under-15) in 2016. Earlier this year she was shortlisted as one of the 33 global contestants to participate in the Dutch Harp Festival World Harp Competition 2018 Quarterfinals, and won the Championship in the under-16 category and 1st runner-up in the open category of the harp section of the VIII AMIGDALA International Music Competition (Hong Kong region). Haley frequently appears as a soloist performer. Her singing and harp performances have been featured in various public media in Hong Kong. She also held a mini recital in October 2017, which was organised by the cultural development division of the Hong Kong government. More recently, she has been invited to deliver solo harp performances in Japan in June and another one in France in July.
Yu Fung, Jay
11 years old Yu Fung, Jay. He started his harp and Piano journey at the age of 5.
Under the guidance of his harp teacher Miss Lauyee Yeung, he developed a great passion for playing the harp. Yu Fung has participated in the Harpy-Summer Academy every summer since 2016. There are many teachers such as Mr. Sylvain Blassel, Ms Catherine Michel, Ms Maria Luisa Rayan. He was very enjoy and learning so much there. Yu Fung has been selected to perform as a soloist in the graduate recital every year. His major achievements include the Gold Medal at the 4th Hong Kong International Harp competition 2018, Espoir Prize in the String Harp Junior Category of the Osaka International Music Competition 2017, Gold Medal in the Grade 8 Harp of the St.Cecilia International Music Competition 2016. 3 rd runner up in the Children Lever at the 3 rd Hong Kong International Harp Competition 2015.
Ismael Ledesma
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ismael_Ledesma
HarpBeat Trio
Ottavia Rinaldi, nata a Messina nel 1991, ha intrapreso lo studio dell’arpa all’età di nove anni. Nel 2011 si diploma al Conservatorio “N.Rota” di Monopoli e nel 2014 consegue la Laurea Specialistica in Discipline Musicali ad Indirizzo Solistico al Conservatorio “G.Verdi” di Como con il massimo dei voti sotto la guida del M° Ester Gattoni . Si perfeziona nello studio dell’arpa classica e jazz ottenendo ilmassimo dei voti al Master di II° livello presso il conservatorio ”Arrigo Boito” di Parma con i Maestri: Emanuela Degli Esposti, Laura Papeschi, Marcella Carboni. Ha partecipato a numerosi concorsi nazionali ed internazionali classificandosi sempre tra i primi posti (2° Premio al Concorso Internazionale “De Harpe de la Citè des Arts de Paris” a Limoges, 1° Premio e Premio Speciale della Giuria per la Migliore Interpretazione al Concorso Internazionale “La Vallonea”, 1° Premio al Concorso Internazionale “Città di Ostuni”, 1° Premio Assoluto al Concorso Nazionale “Daniele Ridolfi”, 2° Premio al Concorso Internazionale “U.F.A.M.” di Parigi e altri). Ha ottenuto l’idoneità per l’ O.G.I. (Orchestra Giovanile Italiana 2010 e 2013), nel 2013/2014 per la Selezione Finale dell’ EU.Y.O (European Youth Orchestra) e per il ruolo di Prima Arpa al III Festival Internazionale “Palermo Classica”.
Nel 2017 partecipa come finalista al “Premio Massimo Urbani” nella città di Camerino. Ha seguito numerose MasterClasses con Maestri di fama Internazionale, quali Ester Gattoni, Margherita Bassani, Andreas Mildner, E. Fontain-Binoche, Catherine Michelle, Judith Liber, Park Stickney e Marcella Carboni. Nel 2015 e nel 2017 ha conseguito due borse di studio ai seminari di Nuoro Jazz. Nel 2011 ha preso parte ad un progetto di Musica da Camera diretto dal M° Domenico Di Leo (docente presso il Conservatorio “N.Rota” di Monopoli) ed organizzato dall’ ISMEZ (Istituto Nazionale per lo Sviluppo Musicale nel Mezzogiorno) suonando in Tour a Monopoli, L’Aquila, Napoli e Roma. Nel 2010 ha partecipato come solista al Recital dedicato al poeta “Antonio Caldarella” nel Gibboni Film Festival. Collabora dal 2014 con l’orchestra del Teatro Sociale di Como come Prima Arpa (“Cavalleria Rusticana” Mascagni; “Milo, Maya e il giro del mondo” M.Franceschini; “Pagliacci” Leoncavallo; “Madama Butterfly” Puccini, “Nabucco” Verdi, “Otello” Verdi).
Attualmente studia Jazz con il M° Ramberto Ciammarughi alla “Filarmonica di Villadossola”.
Carlo Bavetta nasce a Catania nel 1997 ed intraprende lo studio del basso elettrico all’età di 12 anni. Attualmente frequenta il conservatorio di Milano dove studia basso elettrico jazz con Marco Micheli ed il conservatorio di Como, dove segue il corso di contrabbasso classico con Stefano Dall’Ora. Partecipa ai seminari di Nuoro Jazz vincendo diverse borse di studio: come miglior allievo della classe di basso elettrico nel 2017 e per formare il gruppo insieme agli studenti più meritevoli nel 2019. Grazie ad Amadeus Factory, il primo talent italiano dedicato ai conservatori, segue una masterclass di due giorni con il pianista Enrico Pieranunzi e viene selezionato, in duo con il sassofonista Pietro Mirabassi per la prova finale. Attualmente collabora in diversi progetti a Milano e in Svizzera, con la VJO (verdi jazz orchestra), Giuseppe Vitale e altri.
Andrea Varolo è un batterista che spazia fra jazz, world music e fusion. Nato e cresciuto a Milano, si è diplomato all’Accademia CPM in Batteria Pop/Rock e successivamente ha conseguito la laurea di secondo livello con lode in Batteria Jazz presso il conservatorio di Como. Ha seguito diversi corsi di approfondimento, studiando improvvisazione con Ramberto Ciammarughi, batteria jazz con il musicista americano Gregory Hutchinson e frequentando i seminari di alta specializzazione della Siena Jazz Academy. Da diversi anni è attivo sul territorio milanese e comasco con formazioni di musica jazz , partecipando a festival e rassegne e incidendo diversi dischi che testimoniano la passione per la ricerca continua di nuovi percorsi musicali, sempre ispirandosi alla tradizione jazzistica. E’ batterista della Como Lake Big Band e della GJ Orchestra di Lodi ed è attivo anche nell’ambito della popular music con il progetto VinoRaro, uno spettacolo sul cantautore italiano Rino Gaetano. E’ tra i fondatori e membro del direttivo del Como Jazz Club, associazione di promozione della cultura jazz nel territorio comasco.
Glain Dafydd’s music career includes successes in competitions such as coming second at the Moscow International Harp Competition (junior category) and winning the Bryn Terfel Scholarship competition. A string finalist in both the BBC Young Musician and the prestigious Royal Over-Seas League competitions, she won the Blue Ribbon twice at the National Eisteddfod and was awarded the “City of Szeged Prize” at the Szeged International Harp Competition, Hungary. In June 2019 she won the 4th Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe en Île-de-France. Glain studied at the École Normale de Musique de Paris with Isabelle Perrin and at the Royal Academy of Music with Karen Vaughan. As a soloist and chamber musician Glain has performed in venues such as the Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, St David’s Cathedral, Cranleigh Arts Centre, Foundling Museum, British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris and British Museum. She toured the US as a guest soloist with the Penrhyn Male Voice choir, performing in New York, Columbus, Washington and Glens Falls, later performing with the choir at the opening of Pontio, North Wales. Glain has performed at festivals such as the Fishguard International Music Festival, Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester (flute and harp duo) and MusicFest in Aberystwyth. As well as performing as a soloist, Glain has played with larger ensembles and orchestras such as Sinfonia Cymru, Royal Orchestral Society, Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra, Ulysses Orchestra, Ealing Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as a concerto soloist with orchestras such as the European Union Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Cymru. Glain freelances in London and is currently a Live Music Now artist.
Maximilian Ehrhardt
www.maximilianehrhardt.com
Gabriella Bosio
Gabriella Bosio studied harp at the Turin Conservatory with Giuliana Albisetti, graduating in 1975 with honors; subsequently it was perfected with P. Jamet. She was 1st harp at the San Carlo Theater in Naples and at the Italian Swiss Radio Orchestra. He performs intense concert activity both as a soloist and in various chamber ensembles. She is considered one of the most prepared interpreters of the contemporary repertoire; many composers have composed pieces expressly dedicated to her and have performed many scores in the first performance. He has recorded for Ricordi, Nuova Era, Stradivarius, Rugginenti, Glossa. Since 1979 he has been the teacher of harp at the Turin Conservatory and since 1987 he has been teaching at the Suzuki Talent Center in Turin. Many of his students have won the most important international competitions, including the prestigious Competition of Israel, in Korea, Hungary. Others on the students are principal harp in numerous international orchestras and others are holders of harp chairs in Italian conservatories and in the Europa She is a European Suzuki Trainer for the harp and holds numerous infant and beginner teaching courses all over the world. It holds worldwide numerous seminars and workshops on the teaching of the harp aimed mainly at young teachers. In 2002 he published in five languages “I play the harp” method, which was used to learn this instrument from very young children, and has established itself as the most used and functional method for learning the harp. He is responsible for the We Play The Harp and Harp Ensemble Collection for the Music Practica editor.
Gabriella Dall’Olio
Gabriella Dall’Olio
Gabriella ama la musica e l’arpa e ama condividerla con tutti e in tutte le sue sfaccettature, e la varietà e profondità delle sue esperienze lo dimostrano.(Gabriella ama anche la buona cucina, i buoni vini e la buona compagnia!). Svolge intensa attivita concertistica internazionale some solista, camerista, e solista con orchestra; ha registrato due CD per arpa sola, tre CD per arpa e orchestra (Turina Ciclo Plateresco, Tailleferre Concertino, oltre che a CD in formazioni da camera e orchestra per Claves, Tafreshipour Persian Echoes), per le case discografiche Claves, Naxos, Stradivarius, Dal Segno, Ambitus etc. La critica ha attribuito il premio 5 diapason al suo CD per arpa sola inciso per Claves, con il commento: cinque quarti d’ora di poesia. Recentemente ha registrato le opere di P.Lewis per arpa sola, e in giugno registrerà il concerto per arpa e orchestra di Arturo Marquez per Angloarts e con the Swan Orchestra. Gabriella ha vinto premi in concorsi nazionali e internazionali e borse di studioed ha registrato per televisioni italiane e straniere; il suo repertorio copre la maggiore letteratura per arpa sola (classica e contemporanea), musica da camera, concerti, e letteratura orchestrale sinfonica, operistica e balletto. Gabriella collabora con le piu grandi orchestra europee tra cui London Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera House, Vienna Staatsoper, Oslo Philharmonic, dove ha suonato sotto la direzione di Mariss Janssen, Valery Gergiev, Antonio Pappano, Claudio Abbado, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Lorin Maazel, George Pretre, etc. Gabriella collabora regolarmente con compositori, alcuni dei quali hanno scritto per lei: Benati, Jackson, Marson, Knott, Nicolson, Thomas, Lewis, Tafreshipour. Oltre ai palcoscenici tradizionali per una musicista classica, Gabriella ha lavorato con musicisti pop tra cui Tina Turner, Sting e Elton John; ha registrato colonne sonore per film (un cameo solistico in Harry Potter), e collabora con London Symphony Orchestra e altre istituzioni da circa 15 anni in progetti educativi e terapeutici con scuole, adulti disagiati, portatori di handicap, ammalati e in ospedali. Gabriella vive a Londra dove insegna arpa a Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance; i suoi allievi vincono regolarmente premi in concorsi, audizioni,e posti diprofessori in orchestre conservatori in tutto il mondo. Tiene regolarmente corsi e masterclasses in Francia, Spagna, Inghilterra, Cina, Australia e Italia, e fa parte di giurie in concorsi internazionali.
Viktor Hartobanu
Viktor Hartobanu
Born 1990 in Germany to Romanian musicians, Viktor has followed his mother’s footsteps and started playing the harp aged 5. His first success at the German music competition”Jugend musiziert” in 1999, in which he won first prizes for playing harp and piano, led him to apply one year later to the conservatory “Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy” in Leipzig, where he started having regular lessons with Prof. Max Koch (harp) and Prof. Hanns-Martin Schreiber as well as Oriol Plans Casal (both piano). He continued taking part in national music competitions such as “Jugend musiziert” where he won a total of 17 first prizes. In 2006 he competed in two international harp competitions, the first being the competition of the “Franz Josef Reinl-Stiftung” in Vienna where he won a 2nd prize, followed by the “Felix Godefroid” competition in Namur, Belgium, where he won the great prize, being the youngest contestant in both competitions. He’s been also a finalist in the USAIHC Composition Contest in 2012 with his work “Chants”. Being awarded with scholarships by numerous foundations such as the “Jürgen Ponto-Stiftung” or the “Richard Wagner-Stiftung” among others he was offered to play hundreds of concerts in Germany and other European countries, some being broadcasted for TV and radio. He was offered to play in the “Laeisz-Halle” in Hamburg as well for festivals such as the “Mozartfest Schwetzingen”, “Bachfest Leipzig”, “Musikwoche Hitzacker” or the “Mecklenburger Festspielfrühling”. Viktor gave master classes and recitals at the “Derbyshire Harp Festival”, “Arpissima” in San Marino and the “Bucharest Harp Festival”. He has completed his studies in Leipzig in 2010 by earning a diploma as an orchestra musician and teacher after only two years of studying. After that he went to the HEM in Geneva to study with Prof. Florence Sitruk, followed by his studies at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels with Prof. Jana Bouskova. He has taught at the “Tamnak Prathom Harp Centre” in Bangkok and at the „Heinrich Berger“ music school in Coswig/Anhalt, the school he initially started having piano lessons in 1997 Starting with the academic year of 2017/18 Viktor will teach at the music conservatory in Feldkirch, Austria. Viktor was a member of the orchestra academy of the “Staatskapelle Berlin” with which he took part in opera productions and concerts lead by general music director Daniel Barenboim as well as by conductors like Zubin Mehta, Sir Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Paul Connelly, Daniel Harding and others. He has played with Anna Netrebko, Placido Domingo, Klaus Florian Vogt, Waltraud Meier, Siegfried Jerusalem, Peter Seiffert, Eva-Maria Westbroek and others.
Hong Kong Harp Talents
Eve Lung
My name is Eve Lung. I am a ten-year-old (should be 11-year-old in Sep 2018) student from Hong Kong. I started playing the harp in the summer holiday of 2012, I then practice everyday wholeheartedly as I am enchanted by its magical sound. Almost five years ago, I have Ms Amy Tam as my harp teacher who gives me formal harp training till now. I was so fortunate to attend the masterclasses as well as private lessons held by Ms Judy Loman, Madam Catherine Michel, Ms Karen Vaughan, Ms Maria Luisa Rayan, and many other fantastic harpists in recent few years. Their inspirational coaching further deepens my love for harp. I joined the 3rd Thailand International Harp Festival and Youth Competition as well as the 28th Nippon Harp Competition Junior Division in 2016, I was awarded with the Best Stage Presence and the Fourth Prize respectively. These encouraged me to enjoy every moment on all performance stages. 2017 is a fruitful year for me as I was so honored to be the youngest one to perform in the 13th World Harp Congress ‘Focus on Youth’ session, furthermore, I had the opportunity to meet many talented harpists and musicians during my participation in the Beautiful City Ensemble at the opening concert and many other activities during this wonderful event. Besides my beloved harp, I also like doodling, reading fictions, playing the piano and card games. I am looking forward to make new friends and learn from all harpists in this magnificent Harp Festival.
Jansci
Jansci is a passionate and active harpist who loves playing the harp very much. She started her musical journey at the age of 4. Besides, she is also interested in piano and percussion. She is currently 10 years old. Jansci is a prize winner of several local and international harp competitions. In her age of 9, she got the champion and first runner up in the Hong Kong International Youth Performance Arts Festival International Finals 2018 in the Intermediate and Advanced harp division. Also, she is the winner in Parsons Music Festival 2017, one of the most promising music competitions in Hong Kong. And she won the first place of the Harp Intermediate Class in the Hong Kong Virtuosos Music Competition 2017. As an active and passionate harpist, Jansci participated in some harp performances. Including the Harpy Summer Academy 2017, which she was also invited to give a solo performance. Also the World Harp Congress 2017 in Hong Kong, she participated in the Hong Kong Youth Ensemble Team’s performance in the Opening Concert. She was also given a solo and duet performance in the fundraising concert of the World Harp Congress. Besides, Jansci also had lessons with some world-class masters before. She had master-classes and lessons with Miss Elizabeth Hainen, Miss Karen Vaughan, Madam-Catherine Michel, Ms Gabriella Dall’Olio, Mr Sylvain Blassel, Ms Gillian Benet Sella, Madam Natalia Shameyeva and Mr Sasha Boldachev before. Jansci is very honoured to be one of the “Hong Kong Harp Talents” and to perform in the 8th Suoni di Arpa. This is her first overseas harp performance, she hope that she will enjoy this experience performing harp music with all of you.
Haley Wong
Haley Wong is 11 years old and has had a love for music since her very early childhood. She started learning the harp at about 6 and is currently studying under Ms Lau Yee Yeung. Over the past three years, Yeung has coached Haley to build a good mix of repertoire with emphasis on nurturing musicality and creativity while securing technical foundation. Her passion for music is not limited to playing the harp. She has been taking vocal lessons from veteran soprano Ms Myra Chih since she was 7, and is currently focusing on singing opera arias and art songs in German, Italian, French and sometimes Latin. This undoubtedly serves as a significant element in developing her musicality and melodic sensitivity. Haley recently won the Grand Prix title at the 18 th Osaka International Music Competition (Hong Kong regional round) in July 2017, followed by a 1st runner-up prize in the Senior Harp Division (Above-15/Open) in the Grand Final in Japan. Prior to that she was the Champion of the same competition in the Junior Harp Division (Under-15) in 2016. Earlier this year she was shortlisted as one of the 33 global contestants to participate in the Dutch Harp Festival World Harp Competition 2018 Quarterfinals, and won the Championship in the under-16 category and 1st runner-up in the open category of the harp section of the VIII AMIGDALA International Music Competition (Hong Kong region). Haley frequently appears as a soloist performer. Her singing and harp performances have been featured in various public media in Hong Kong. She also held a mini recital in October 2017, which was organised by the cultural development division of the Hong Kong government. More recently, she has been invited to deliver solo harp performances in Japan in June and another one in France in July.
Aimee Lam
Currently 14 years old, started learning the harp at the age of six. She is studying harp under the tutelage of Ms. Lauyee Yeung. She has obtained a Harp Diploma in Recital with distinction from the Trinity College of Music (London) by age 13. Her musicianship has developed hugely through her passion and talents which has bought her some major local and international prizes, such as the Hong Kong International Harp Competition, the Korea International Harp Competition, and the VIII AMIGDALA International Music Competition. In 2016, Aimee at 13 years of age was the youngest of the group of final six, winning the Third prize in the “U19” category of the 4th International Harp Competition in Szeged, Hungary. In 2018, competing against the professional harpists in the world, she claimed the Third prize at the prestigious DHF World Harp competition in Utrecht, Netherlands and most recently 2nd place at the Young Artist’s Harp Competition in Ohio, USA. As a keen learner, she has attended the Harpy Summer Academy and had the opportunity to play solo, ensemble and learn from the harp masters. She enjoys music and has appreciated in learning with the world-renowned harpists. She has participated in numerous public recitals, such as the Hong Kong Music Festival, All Saints’ Cathedral Concert and the Hong Kong Amateurs Orchestra Concert. When she was 9 years old, she was invited to perform on a Hong Kong TV program show. In 2016, she has also been invited to perform at the Asian Harp Festival in Seoul, Korea as part of the “Rising Stars of Asia Concert”. Apart from a solo performer, she also played with the Orchestra of Independent Schools Foundation Academy Hong Kong as a Principal Harpist and took part in the concert of 10th ISCMS Festival in the Forbidden City concert hall, Beijing in 2017.
Alessandra Magrini
Alessandra Magrini
Born in Genoa, Italy, Alessandra began her musical studies at the Conservatory of Music “Nicolo Paganini” of Genova, where she received her Harp Diploma. She continued her musical studies in France with harpists Catherine Michel (Harp soloist at the Paris Opera) and Elisabeth Fontan-Binoche, obtaining her diploma in Harp Performance with honors at the Conservatory of Music of Antibes and a First Prize in Chamber Music at the Conservatory of Paris-Boulogne. She also graduated with honors with a degree in Modern Literature from the University of Genoa. Alessandra specializes in the Suzuki Method at the Suzuki International Institute of Turin (Italy) and obtained the First Prize at the Ufam International Harp Competition in Paris. Currently head of harp studies at the Grasse Conservatory of Music in France, Alessandra regularly collaborates with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, the Orchestre Philharmonique de l’Opéra de Nice and with the Orchestre régional de Cannes. She has recorded two CDs of contemporary music (Dynamic & Arts labels) with different ensembles and participated in the recording of Debussy’s masterpieces with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo. Performing actively as a chamber musician, Alessandra is a component of Artemisia Trio with columbian flutist Tania Castro and spanish violist Inès Lopez, she plays also in harp ensemble and quintet. As a guest artist in important festivals and concert seasons, she performs in Europe, USA, Canada, Lebanon, Martinique, Guadalupe, Dominique, China and Brazil. She was invited to perform at the World Harp Festival in Hong Kong in 2017 and at the XVII Festival de Rio au Brésil avec le Trio Artemisia. Artistic director of the International Harp Festival of the French Riviera, and a regularly invited jury member in Music competitions and conservatories throughout the country, she gives master classes in France and Italy.
Catherine Michel
Catherine Michel
Catherine Michel è nata ad Amiens, dove ha iniziato a studiare arpa, pianoforte e solfeggio con sua madre. Dopo la morte prematura di quest’ultima, è stata seguita da Pierre Jamet che l’ha accolta al CNSM di Parigi dove ha ottenuto un primo premio all’età di 15 anni. Ha ricevuto due grandi premi internazionali in Israele e negli Stati Uniti, così come una madaglia d’oro al Concorso di Parigi. L’anno successivo è partita per l’Irlanda dove è stata nominata arpista nell’orchestra della Radio EIREAN ed insegna all’Académie Royale de Musique di Dublino. Nel 1971 entra nell’orchestra nazionale di Radio France dove lavorerà sotto la direzione di L. Maazel, P. Paray, J. Martinon, K. Böhm, S. Celibidache, L. Bernstein, M. Rostropovitch, … Nel 1978 è nominata arpista nell’Orchestra Nazionale dell’Opéra di Parigi. Le sue prime prove saranno sotto la direzione di P. Boulez. Altri spettacoli si svolgeranno sotto la direzione di M. Chung, J. Conlon, Z. Metha, C. Von Dohrnany,W. Lutoslawsky, S . Osawa, G. Prêtre… Lì incontrerà i più grandi cantanti, coreografi, ballerini, e registi del XX secolo. Le sue prime registrazioni presso Philips et Vox fanno scoprire delle opere poco suonate. Registra i concerti di Villa-Lobos, Rodrigo e Castelnuovo-Tedesco con l’orchestra di Monte Carlo; Glière, Reinecke, Pierné e Saint-Saëns con l’orchestra di Radio Luxembourg. Incide anche il concerto di Boieldieu (a Monaco) che 40 anni più tardi sarà una versione di riferimento. Dopo aver registrato tre volte il concerto per flauto e arpa di Mozart, tra gli altri, con Benoît Fromanger (disco d’oro dell’anno Mozart), Catherine decide di aiutare i più giovani arpisti nell’interpretazione dei brani semplici per arpa. Gli spartiti dimenticati rinascono anche in diversi CD permettendo al pubblico di conoscere il repertorio dell’epoca napoleonica. Gli autori di questa collezione sono Woelfl, Bochsa, Dalvimare, Naderman, Drouet. Due CD di concerti per due arpe e orchestra saranno registrati con Susanne Mildonian e l’orchestra da camera di Tolosa e con Xavier de Maistre e l’orchestra di Radio Polonia. In collaborazione con François Lesur, ha scritto un repertorio di musica d’arpa prodotta nel XVIII secolo. Nel 1990 con Léonard Bernstein esamina l’adattamento delle grandi commedie musicali per arpa e orchestra. In seguito alla morte di questo incomparabile musicista, è con M. Legrand che registrerà il suo primo album di musiche dei film che otterrà le “Victoires de la musique”. Insieme registrano quattro CD presso Naïve, Universal et Sony. Le opere incise sono di Gerschwin (Porggy and Bess), Bernstein (West side story), Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Jango Reinhardt. Les parapluies de Cherbourg, Yentl, Un été 42, Peau d’âne, Le messager, L’Opéra de 4’sous e Le Passe Murail completano questa collezione. Presso EMI, accompagna il grande trombettista Maurice André in un repertorio variegato che va da Bach a Steven Sondheim con l’orchestra da camera della Normandia e da LSO a Londra. Le sue attività didattiche l’hanno portata dall’Académie Royale de Musique di Dublino alla Hochschule für Musik di Amburgo, poi a quella di Detmold e a quella di Zurigo che ha lasciato nel 2010 per dedicarsi alla vita di solista e di insegnante invitata dal Royal Collège di Londra. È attualmente professoressa all’Académie Musica Mundi de Waterloo in Belgio e all’EISM di Aix en Provence.
Lorenzo Montenz
Lorenzo Montenz
Lorenzo Montenz started his musical studies very early on, achieving the highest mark and obtaining a diploma with honours in the harp class at the G. Nicolini Conservatory in Piacenza. Subsequently, he perfected his skills at the Guildhall School of Music in London with D. Watkins and the at National Academy of St Cecilia in Rome with E. Zaniboni. He completed his advanced degree in ancient music with Mara Galassi at the Civica Scuola di Musica in Milan. He has given concerts with orchestras directed by the greatest conductors of our time and been invited to perform with the Italian Youth Orchestra, the San Remo Symphony Orchestra, the Giuseppe Verdi Orchestra of Milan, and the Symphony Orchestra of the National Academy of St Cecilia. Since many years he focused on performing on historical harps both as a soloist and a continuo player. Following his graduation with honours from the State University of Milan, in 2004 he became the Director of the State Library at Monte Cassino, and Professor of the History of the Book at the University of Cassino. In 2014 he have been appointed director ot the historical Archive of the diocesis of Parma. He is benedictin monk and preest in the diocesis of Parma.
Edith Pun
Edith Pun
Edith Pun, the founder, and director of Hong Kong Harp Centre. Artistic Director of Harp summer Camp the “Harpy-Summer Academy”, Harp Teacher of Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra and harpist of the Hong Kong Harp Quartet. Ms. Pun served as the jury for numbers of international Harp competitions such as the 7th international Harp contest 2017 in Italy, the 3rd Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe en ile-de-France 2018 and the 8th international Harp contest 2018 in Italy. As a Performer, Ms. Pun performs worldwide with her group, the Hong Kong Harp Quartet, after a successful debut in Dutch Harp Festival, February 2017 (Utrecht, Netherlands), she travels with the group and performed in Italy International Harp Festival, September 2017 (Saluzzo, Italy), Opening Concert for World Harp Competiton (HK) Quarter Finals, January 2018 (HK), “Four Seasons” HK Debut Recital, May 2017 (HK) and going to perform in Korea international Harp Competition & Festival, March 2018 (Seoul, Korea) and followed by a concert Tour in France in June 2018. she performed as a soloist with the City Chamber Orchestra and served as guest Harpist with the Asia Youth Orchestra (2011)in their concert tour in China. Edith served as Principal Harp of the Arizona State Lyric Opera Theatre and the Arizona Contemporary Music Ensemble. Ms. Pun began her harp studies with Michelle Abbott when she was sixteen and received a special talent award Scholarship to study under Lynne Aspnes in the USA in 2009. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree (Harp Performance) from the Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master of Music (Harp Performance) from the Arizona State University. Since 2012, she helps promote Harp Music in Hong Kong by creating more than 20 successful harp events such as HarpyWeeks, Harpy-Summer Academy, Professional Harp Teacher Training Program, and Harp Festival with World-class Harpists such as Catherine Michel, Maria-Luisa Rayan, Naoko Yoshino, Sylvain Blessel, Sivan Magen Sasha Boldachev, Gabriella Dall’Olio, Karen Vaughan, Natalia Shameeva, Bridget Kibbey, Judy Loman, Remy van Kesteren and Marie-Pierre Lan
glamet.
Ivano Scavino
Ivano Scavino, born in 1966, studied organ with Massimo Nosetti and orchestral conducting with Boris de Vinogradow at the University of Paris. Director of the Accademia Filarmonica di Saluzzo and the annexed Schola Gregoriana, since 2009 he is Artistic Director of the Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale di Saluzzo and since 2011 President of the Steinway Society del Piemonte e Valle d’Aosta. Parallel to his musical studies he is interested in Physics and Mathematics.
Natalia Shameyeva
Natalia Shameyeva
Natalia Shameyeva is one of the leading Russian harpist well known all over the world, honored artist of Russia, professor. Brilliant performer, sensitive teacher she educated many harpists who is now represents Russian harp school. She continues tradition of her great teacher Vera Dulova and always closely communicates with contemporary national composers. N. Shameyeva very often is the first performer of their new compositions. In 2009 the Union of Moscow composers awarded her with Golden medal for her outstanding input in promotion of national music and participation in the annual international festival «Moscow autumn». She takes part in the Russian Harp Society activities, its annual festival «Harp Art of Russia», represents Russia in the Corporation of World Harp Congress, gives master-classes in Russia and abroad. She wrote a book “The development of harp music in Russia ( XXth century) edited in Russia and USA , recorded numerous CDs. Shameyeva has very deep nice sound as solo and chamber performer and gives her listeners surprising sonority of her instrument . She tours Russia and abroad with concerts; her performances at World Harp Congresses always had standing applause. After her recital in Royal Academy of Music in London (2007) Catherine White wrote in United Kingdom Harp Association magazine: «Shameyeva’s own playing can be characterized by superlative phrasing , richness of sound, a singing tone, and love for music shining through. Her technique is superb, but one hardly notices it, as it is never flaunted for its own sake but is always at the service of her musicality. She is a true musician, and though she must have played many of these pieces for much of her life, possibly hundreds of times, every phrase is still full of artistry…Make every effort if you have opportunity to hear her again, she is truly one of the treasures of the harp world. In meantime, you can get a dose of her wonderful music-making on her several recordings».
Oksana Sidyagina
Oksana Sidyagina was born in Moscow in 1990. She has started her education at the class of teacher Ekaterina Vesnina. Since 2000 she studies with professor Emilia Moskvitina. In 2010 she has graduated from Moscow State Chopin College, currently she is doing master degree studying in Moscow State P.I.Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Her teacher is the eminent Russian harpist, Professor Emilia Moskvitina, one of the most celebrated harpists in Russia and recipient of the award, People’s Artist of Russia. She also took master-classes with such an outstanding harpist as Emmanuel Ceysson, Sivan Magen, Florence Sitruk, Irina Donskaya-Tischenko, Andrew Lawrence-King, Sandrine Chatron. Oksana is the winner of five international competitions: 2018 – the winner of the 3rd Rencontres Internationales de la Harpe en Îlde- France; 2014 – 1st prize and the Audience Prize on the First International Harp Competition of Italy; 2014 – 1st prize on the eMuse Online Competition,Athens, Greece; 2013–1stprizeontheInternationalharpcompetition«HarpintheTwentyFirst Century», Moscow; 2008 – 1st prize in solo division on the IV International Vera Dulova Harp Festival- Contest.
She also has received many other prizes including : 2017 – II prize and a prize for a special written piece on the I International Harp competition and festival “Glowing Harp” (Ukraine); 2016 – special prize “For the most inspired and artistic performance” from the chairperson Maxim Shostakovich on the II National Music Competition of Russia; 2011 – 2nd prize in chamber music division (with Egor Antonenko, cello) on the V International Vera Dulova Harp Festival-Contest; 2008 –The owner of the Moscow Prefect Grant “Young talents of the XXI century”; 2005 – 1st prize on the Interregional Competition “Classics Forever” (Moscow); 2004 – the Grand Prix on the First Moscow Festival of Early Music. Since 2014 Oksana is the soloist of Saint-Petersburg Music House, whose aim is to represent the most talented young Russian musicians in Russia and beyond. In the context of Saint-Petersburg Music House programs for young musicians Oksana has played the premier of the Concerto for harp and orchestra by Henriette Renie in Samara. From the 2015 she collaborates with “Persimfans” as the member of the collective – the first ever orchestra without a conductor. In 2018 on the harp festival in Moret-sur-Loing she performed solo with the orchestra under the button of Philippe Bernold. Also as a soloist she has performed on such a prestigious venues as Brucknerhaus Concert Hall (Linz, Austria), Centre Culturel et Spirutel Orthodoxe Russe in Paris, France, Madrid Royal Conservatory (Madrid, Spain), and on many other different stages in France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, Thailand, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine. In Russia she has played in such prestigious venues as The Great, Small and Rachmaninov halls of Moscow Conservatory, Moscow International House of Music, Moscow Philharmonic Society, The Pushkin Museum and the Beloselsky-Belozersrky Palace, St Petersburg, Sochi Main Press Center, English Hall of St Petersburg Music House, on the stages many Philharmonic Societyies including Krasnoyarsk, Kislovodsk, Ekaterinburg, , Samara, Aseev’s Palace in Tambov and many others. The repertoire of Oksana is just huge for her age – it includes colossal numbers of the pieces of absolutely different periods – from the baroque till just written. She has played a lot of Russian premier of different contemporary pieces.
Elena Spotti
Elena Spotti
Graduated in modern harp with Luciana Chierici and baroque harp and sinle action pedal harp with Mara Galassi at the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano and in arpa a tre registri at the Conservatory of Music dall’Abaco in Verona. She started her professional activity with the RAI orchestra of Milano in 1988. In 1992 she was selected for the Gustav Malher Jugend Orchester where she played under the direction of C. Abbado. In the following years she performed with: Pomeriggi musicali ( dal 1992 al 2000), Teatro Bellini di Catania ( dal 1998 al 2000), Rai of Milano ( from 1988 to 1992), Orchestra of Baleari (from 1998 to 2002) , Orchestra of Principato delle Asturie, Teatro Fenice of Venezia, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra of Svizzera Italiana, Teatro Regio of Torino, Orchestra of Opera in Oslo, Theatre La Monnaie of Bruxelles (with René Jacobs). From 1996 she was Principal Harp in the orchestra of Teatro Coccia in Novara. She developed her activity in the field of contemporany music, playing with ensembles such as: Nuove Sincronie and Sentieri Selvaggi. As for baroque music she performed with : La Venexiana, L’accademia Montis Regalis, The Attaignant Consort, L’Ensemble Concerto,La Cappella della Pietà dei Turchini, Concerto Soave, Ensemble Moderne, La Kammerorchester Basel, B’rock and Bach Collegium Japan She also plays in ensembles of historical and modern harps. She teaches at the Vivaldi Academy in Locarno.
Park Stickney
Park Stickney
Park Stickney è un arpista statunitense. Uno dei più rappresentativi musicisti che, negli ultimi anni, si sono adoperati al fine di introdurre l’arpa tra gli strumenti consoni alla musica Jazz. Terminati gli studi alla Juilliard School di New York, Park Stickney ha intrapreso la propria intensa carriera musicale tenendo concerti in America, in Europa e in Asia in qualità di solista o di collaboratore. Infatti, dal 1995 al 1998, insieme all’arpista Daphne Hellman, in quattro diverse occasioni, ha suonato ad Hong Kong, in India e nello Sri Lanka e, proprio nel 1998, ha partecipato al festival italiano di Umbria Jazz.Le sue molteplici esperienze concertistiche lo hanno visto impegnato in svariate esibizioni internazionali: i primi due raduni arpistici di Porto Rico; il Festival dell’Arpa di Kansas City o, tra le altre, il “World Harp Congress” , negli anni 1996, 1999 e 2002. Di opportuna osservazione è la sua duratura collaborazione con l’arpista Rüdiger Oppermann con il quale, dopo aver tenuto numerosi concerti in Germania alla fine degli anni ‘90, ha inciso, nel 2003, il disco “Harp Summit”. Parallelamente, nel 2002, ha costituito un duo con il contrabassista italiano Dino Contenti insieme al quale, avvalendosi dell’aiuto di altri musicisti, ha dato il via ad un Tour Europeo, visitando paesi come la Spagna o l’Italia. Nel 2009, Park Stickney e Dino Contenti si sono uniti al batterista Gigi Biolcati, formando così il trio jazzistico “The Lion, the Wolf and the Donkey”. Attualmente, Park Stickney continua ad organizzare seminari e corsi riguardanti la tecnica e i particolari virtuosismi dell’arpa jazz, presso Conservatori e Accademie musicali in tutto il mondo, mentre ricopre il ruolo di insegnante di arpa Jazz nella “Royal Academy of Music” di Londra.
Ventaglio d’Arpe Orchestra
Ventaglio d’Arpe Orchestra
“VENTAGLIO D’ARPE ORCHESTRA” is a unique ensemble, born in 2004 thanks to the creativity of its director, Patrizia Tassini. The orchestra is composed by Patrizia Tassini’ students and ex-students. Originally was created to train young harpists from the Tomadini Conservatoire in Udine, but it quickly became a stable appreciated orchestra. Patrizia Tassini’s technique clearly reflects in her students, who are passionate and accurate as she is. This permanent orchestra is a unique pearl in the musical world and it’s one of the most important ensemble in Udine and in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. They performed in more than one hundred and twenty concerts, not only in Italy but also abroad, and they always had great critics. During ‘Ventaglio d’arpe’ concerts in fact, people are always enthusiastic and feel part of the show through the special sound and the extraordinary appeal of such a huge harp group. The orchestra performed the opening concert for the “G. Verdi” theatre in Pordenone. They recorded a radio broadcast in Radio Vaticana studios (worldwide concert), was special guest in the Emilia Romagna Festival , in the Assisi nel mondo festival, in Nei suoni dei luoghi festival and in Le corde dell’anima festival. Ventaglio d’arpe had a tour in Croatia (Sapalato, Zara and Fiume theatres), and also in Lecco, Bergamo, Nova Milanese and Terni. The orchestra performed also in a a special concert with Xavier de Maristre and in La valle dei Templi in Sicily. Last year, thanks to the Italian cultural institute in Tirana, with the partnership of the Italian consulatein Valona, they performed in Albania, where they had a great success. From 2004 till nowadays, the ensemble recorded five CDs. Here in Saluzzo, the orchestra plays only with ten harpists, and in some pieces with a flute soloist and a percussion soloist.
Harpisits: Valentina Baradello, Erika Bersenda, Eugenia Ceschiutti, Sonia Crisante, Sonia Dainese, Alice Martina, Davide Martincigh, Laura Pandolfo, Silvia Podrecca, Silvia Vicario.
Soloists: M° Giorgio Marcossi (flute), Francesco Pandolfo (percussions).
Patrizia Tassini, born in Trieste, graduated with Evelina Vio in the “G. Tartini” Conservatoire. Then, she studied in France, Italy and in the United States. She obtained the Master Certificate in Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music in the University of Rochester (N.Y.). She is the winner of many national and international competitions. Among the others we like to remember that in 1982 she was second prize at the International Harp Contest in Israel and in 1984 she won the first prize at the Lily Laskine Competitionin the United States. She plays with great success both as a soloist and in chamber music groups in Europe, in the U.S.A. and in China. Patrizia Tassini recorded also for the Italian Radio (RAI) and for Radio France. From 1982 she is the permanent harp teacher in ‘J.Tomadini’ Conservatoire in Udine.
Giorgio Marcossi, born in Gorizia, successfully graduated in 1976 in the ‘J. Tomadini’ Conservatoire in Udine. He studied also with Severino Gazzelloni in the Accademia Chigiana in Siena where he obtained a high distinction diploma. Then he followed R. Fabbriciani and M. Klement masterclasses. He is the winner of the first flute position in the Orchestra Sinfonica del Friuli Venezia Giulia, and with this orchestra he performed for more than thirty years. He collaborated with the most famous conductor of his period, such as Rostropovich, Gulli, Thiollier, Nanut, Lortie, Shambadal, Renzetti and with the Radio television chamber orchestrain Lubiana. Marcossi performs with the harpist Patrizia Tassini since 1980s: with this duo they had concerts in many famous theatre seasons. He frequently performs with many different chamber music groups and he recorded contemporary music premiers for the Italian Radio. In 1976 he was the flute teacher in the ‘B. Marcello’ Venice Conservatoire, and since 1988 he is the permanent flute and piccolo teacher in ‘J.Tomadini’ Conservatoire in Udine.
Francesco Pandolfo, born in 1996,is studying percussions with M° Ziraldo at the Trieste ‘Tartini’ Conservatoire. He works as a percussion player and drum player with many different Friuli Venezia Giulia orchestras, choirs and ensembles, performing classical and modern music. With these ensembles he recorded CDs, had tours and performed hundreds of concerts every year around Italy and abroad. He works with conductors and performers like Moni Ovadia, Lucilla Galeazzi, Vinicio Capossela, Romolo Gessi, Walter Sivilotti and so on. He is attending a specific modern drum course in the Music Academy “The Groove Factory”in Udine, with the professor Stefano Palaferri. As a drum player, he obtained the most high level award through the Trinity College of London. He follows a lot of master classes with famous drum players and percussionist to keep in touch with new techniques and methods. During the years, he also studied percussions with M° Giorgio Fritsch, violin with M° Carlo Grandi and piano with M° Gianni Del Zotto in the ‘Fondazione musicale città di Gorizia’, to ‘enlarge my point of view about music’.