Born into a family of violin pedagogue in China, Yakun Liu currently serves as a violinst as well as a violin teacher at the Uni-Art e.V. in Hamburg, Germany. She studied playing violin with Prof. Shaokuan Ma und Prof. Yiyong Zhao at Xi’an Conservatory in China. In Germany, she studied with David-Maria Gramse at Hamburger Conservatory and completed her master’s degree there. She also received Master Classes with Prof. Nachum Erlich in Karlsruhe and with Prof. Hans-Peter Hofmann in Saarbrücken.
“All my professors inspired me to different degree in the professional field. In terms of technical improvement as well as work’s style, they all gave me useful and unforgettable suggestions. For example, good tone quality should be ‘even, accurate and beautiful’; pay attention to the clean tone quality when practicing; use relative relaxation when practice and perform, and so on.
I believe that basic skills are the foundation of all kinds of performance. Music and technique always go together. Even if a player has a good understanding of music, without correct playing technique he still cannot play well. Therefore, I put the most emphasis on the basic skills when teaching students. And I teach students in accordance with their own aptitude. In order to motivate my students, I create opportunities as much as I can to let them perform and take part in the competitions.
Since I have been teaching students in Germany in the past three years, my students have won several First and Second Prizes, and I have been awarded Best Teacher several times in the international competitions. For example, in the Music & Stars Awards International Competition in 2021, my student won the Gold Star Medal. I am very honoured that my students and I were recognised by the jury.”
Graduated from Osaka College of Music. Completed advanced course of Osaka college of music and attended domestic and foreign music seminars.
“I have studied under Mr. Ryoichi Sone.
The important thing in teaching is to make beautiful sounds with passion and affection. The finger does not move quickly, but the sound changes immediately depending on how it is blown. I always say to my students, “I know you can play with a cleaner sound.”
My favourite performers? I can’t choose some because I have so many favourite flutists.
There are many teachers all over the world who are better than me, but I am honoured to having received such an award this time. Maybe only the age is the top? (I’m 68 years old). Therefore, I will consider this award as the most important award.
By the way, I have been a sponsor of World Vision since 10 years ago.”
“I play about 40 recitals per year and I think I’m not only a pianist, I’m also someone who tells a story via playing, I tell my secrets into my music and the audience can really understand who Shizhe Shen is from my performance. My music is full of story.
I was born in Xiangtan, China, a very beautiful city, I started playing piano at the age of 6, with Hua Wang, She lived in Wuhan, I had to take a 7 hour train once a week from Xiangtan to Wuhan for the piano lesson. then I studied at Wuhan Conservatory of Music from 2005 with Prof.Bin Su. In 2009, I moved to England and studied at the Purcell School of music with Prof.Tessa Nicholson, After that I moved to Germany in 2011, studied with Maestro Arie Vardi at HMTMH for 8 years, it was a lovely and unforgettable time.
My greatest achievements: Steinway Artist. Recording artist for GENUIN label. Top award at Global Music Award. Played more than hundreds concerts, many of them were live broadcasted. Invited as guest artist in many TV shows/ talk shows.
My job takes me VERY often in front of the camera so I go to the gym everyday to keep myself in a good shape, to look good in front of the camera.
My former piano teacher Arie Vardi has been the most important influence on my music life and career, he was not only a piano teacher to me but a life mentor, I was so lucky to study with him. My parents inspired me to pursue my career in music, the newspapers calls me piano princess, I’m very appreciate for this nickname but I know I’m not a princess, I had some very tough time in my life and my parents always cheers me up, they always trusted me, gave me all the support.
My most memorable concert / musical experience would be my first formal recital. I was nearly 15 years old and it was in Wuhan, I was not nervous at all, loved every seconds on the stage.
Which performances or recordings am I most proud of? All of them. They all had different stories, each one of them are like my children.I’m proud of all of them.
One thing I do off stage that provides me inspiration is slow practice. I LOVE slow practice and I can always find different things from slow practice. It makes my mind clear.
Maybe some more magazines and radios to promote classical music so the audience could know more about the performer and the music would be a good way to make the classical music audience grow.
A definition of success… hmm… it’s a hard question, everyone has a different answer to it, but one always needs more recognition, so we get more opportunities to share our music with other people.
My idea of perfect happiness is to play music everyday and enjoy life with my family and friends, keep smile to life.”
Lukas Gabric, PhD (1987) is an Austrian born saxophonist, pedagogue, composer, and musicologist. Dr. Gabric has taught at the Juilliard School’s preparatory division and The City College of New York aside from many other teaching engagements and master classes all across the globe. His performance activity has led him to China, the US, South Korea, Brazil, Germany, Hungary, Mongolia, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland and his playing is documented on over ten albums. Dr. Gabric also holds a post-graduate Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School, where he was coached by iconic artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, and many others. As a composer he received a Herb Alpert Award from the American Society for Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in 2016.
“I had the pleasure and honor to study with some of the greatest jazz performers and educators such as Joel Frahm, Eric Alexander, Walt Weiskopf, Billy Harper, Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, John Patitucci, Reggie Workman, Steve Wilson, Ron Blake, Carl Allen, and to many other incredible artists. The interactions with each of these iconic artists have taught me invaluable musical and life lessons that I reflect on daily and will carry with me all my life.
My main goal is to keep students inspired and assist them in achieving their short, mid, and long-term musical goals. Every student has his*her specific strengths and weaknesses and I always aim to help them as patiently and effectively as I can.
Throughout the years I had the opportunity to perform all across the globe and with innumerable wonderful artists. I consider it a big personal achievement to have completed a PhD in musicology while maintaining an active performance career. My participation in the most renowned jazz competition, The Thelonious Monk Competition, and my experiences as a student and faculty member at The Juilliard School are also something I feel very fortunate to have under my belt. I firmly believe that you’re only as a good as your last performance and so I try not to hold on to past successes and rather focus on the future and keep on learning.
Artists such as John Coltrane, Stan Getz, and Dexter Gordon are very dear to my heart and will always continue to be endless sources of inspiration for me.”
“I was born in Ankara. I am teaching the violin for 35 years with a great passion and I am the head of Ankara branch of CALF Project (Cihat Askin and little friends) since 2011. The aim of CALF team is to develop musical education all over Turkey.
Those who had very important and valuable role in my music carrier are Prof. Dr. Suna Çevik who encouraged me to pursue a academic education in music and later on Prof. Omer Can, Prof. Oktay Dalaysel and Prof. Ali Ucan. I have also worked with Cihat Askin within the project that also contributed to my pedagogical career. Thanks to all these professors who have remarkable contribution in Turkish music education.
“Teaching with love” is my sole philosophy in teaching Violin. Wherever there is Love, there is success. My greatest aim is to raise bright open minded children. Violin education is still in developing stage in my country and we all do our best to develop it to the further stages. My biggest dream is to have all my country’s children be familiar with a musical instrument and classical music and in order to realize this dream we have many social projects in cooperation with different NGOs with the hope that we will be successful to have an open minded and bright future for our children.
While my most favorite composer is Mozart, and favorite virtuoso violinist is Heifetz and in my country is Cihat Askin.
With a hope for an enlightened world with the help of music.”
Mileva Krivokapić finishes her undergraduate studies in the class of Professor Irina Jasvili, finishing his master studies at the Department of Violin Methodology in the class of Professor Dejan Mihajlović, and his master studies at the solo violin with Professor Vladimir Marković.
“I worked with Professor Dejan on the topic of comparing all violin schools and modern methods.
Professor Irina has always said that the violin is the queen of instruments but an ice queen that requires a lot of practice and Professor Vlada gives a fantastic approach to interpretation.
My philosophy of teaching is that the worst risk is not to try to take risks at all.
My biggest achievements is with my students in the solo, chamber and orchestral category.
For me, one of the best performances is https://youtu.be/56mfGTByI1g- Eduard Grach-Frolov Koncert Fantasy of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.
For a humanitarian project, I would like the concerts to unite the former Yugoslav countries after the war.”
Steinway Artist and concert pianist, co-founder and director of the label KNS Classical and artistic director of several cycles and festivals of music, Carles Lama has also won a reputation for mentoring a wide number of young talents.
Together with superior studies in piano performance in Spain, Paris and United States and having directed the Conservatory of Music in Girona -from 2006 to 2012 – he studied Music Business, Branding and Digital Marketing and has founded Music Talent Lab and presented workshops and lectures in different institutions in order to guide and enlighten the musicians’ careers.
At the same time, he has taught Master-Classes around the world and has been jury member of many renowned international competitions.
He is member of the acclaimed “Carles & Sofia piano duo” with his wife Sofia Cabruja, with whom they have played around the world, including venues like Carnegie Hall, Palau de la Música Catalana, Sala Verdi or Teatro Solís, among others. They have been praised by public and critics alike as one of the best piano duos in the world. Their discography of more than 10 CDs includes masterworks for four hands and brilliant and demanding orchestral transcriptions, as well as original and exclusive projects created by the duo, including the transcription of the opera “Goyescas” or a “Lieder Project”, with transcriptions for four hands of Brahms, Schumann and Schubert lieder repertoire.
Always committed with social needs, he has a UNICEF award for his humanitarian aid. In 2012, together with his wife, they founded Concerts4Good, Music on a Mission, a solidarity project.
He has been recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation and has received the Golden Star for the Professional Excellence, the Golden Medal for the Merit at Work and the European Golden Cross.
“Which are the professors who most influenced you or what do you remember from them and why? The two professors who have influenced me most are Brazilian pianist Luiz de Moura Castro and Russian pianist Nina Svetlanova. I have studied with them in the United States. From Luiz de Moura I admire his capacity of communication, his impressive and beautiful sound and dramatism and I was in love with Nina’s attention to the style, the colours and the detail.
Which is your philosophy of teaching? Teaching, in my opinion, has to be inspiring students. The teacher should be a model of inspiration, the student has to feel the teacher’s passion for what he or she does. I think it is good that one person studies with several professors, but when a teacher is an inspiration for their students, they will have the power and energy to find the way to play for themselves. I do not believe in “recipes”. Each student is different and has to find his/her own path. I like the teachers who give the students the right tools to find solutions for themselves and to be independent.
What are the most important achievements in your career? To me, one of the important achievements of my career is my duo with my wife Sofia Cabruja (piano four hands). We have been playing together since 1987 and we have played in many important halls such as Carnegie Hall, Palau de la Música Catalana, Teatro Solís, Sala Verdi and others. Also, our discography legacy is something that makes me proud. Another important achievement, in my opinion, is the creation of the label KNS Classical, not only for the freedom that has given us in terms of the choice of the repertoire, but also for having given me the possibility and pleasure of helping other musicians. It is a pleasure and joy, for me, to be able to help other artists build their careers.
Who are your favourite performers? It is always difficult having to choose, there are and have been so many good musicians in the world… If I had to choose, though, I would say Artur Rubinstein, Jessye Norman, Alicia de Larrocha, Wilhelm Kempff, Victoria de los Angeles, Leonard Bernstein, Philippe Jaroussky, Maria Tipo and Maria Joao Pires.
If you would have to choose a humanitarian project to sustain, which one would you choose? I have already supported many humanitarian projects in my life, but at present I think it is urgent to support any project which can bring drinkable water to every corner in the world.
Which 3 CDs would you bring to a deserted island? Gustav Mahler: Lieder Fahrenden Gesellen, Kindertötenlieder, Rückert . Thomas Hampson and Leonard Bernstein. Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto n. 3. Lazar Berman, Claudio Abbado. Richard Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder. Jessye Norman, Gewandhausorchester, Kurt Masur.”
British clarinettist Peter Cigleris is equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral musician. With a passion for unearthing forgotten repertoire Peter has been able to premier and record various works unjustly consigned to the past. Peter is an artist for Backun Musical Services and Marca Reeds.
“All my professors gave me a little of something and I have always tried to use what works to enable my musical voice.
My teaching philosophy is to work hard in the preparation and then to play as free as a bird in the performance.
One of my most recent achievements of my career is to have been able to record four British Clarinet Concertos with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
I have many favourite performers and it wouldn’t be fair to single out any one in particular.
If I had to choose a humanitarian project it would be regarding climate change, for sure. We only have this planet and we need to come together as a species and figure out a way to stop abusing it. If we don’t we will be our own downfall.
I would bring Glen Gould’s first recording of the Goldberg Variations, Mozart’s Gran Partita played by the wind soloists of the OAE and the Ralph Vaughan Williams Symphonies in a deserted island.”
Alisa Katroshi is an increasingly internationally renowned dramatic soprano living in Hungary. She performed throughout Europe with special focus on Italy, Germany, Hungary as well as the Balkans region. Alisa has cooperated with directors of the calibre of Andrea Battistoni, Hermann Breuer, Alfredo Sorichetti, Daniela Candiotto, Helge Dorsch, Hans Friedrich Harle and performed with a number of leading orchestras such as: THE Orchestra of Arena di Verona, the orchestra of the Albanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Frankfurter Symphoniker Orchestra as well as the Rhein-Main Philharmoniker. She is winner of prestigious international singing competitions from “Martinelli Pertile” to “Antonio Salieri” from “Cavalier Davide Vignolo” to “Anita Cerquetti “ and more. She is often member of the Jury of the Danubia Talents International Music Competition.
Alisa graduated Suma Cum Laude from the Academy of fine Arts of Tirana (2005) and from the Verona Conservatory E. F. Dall’Abaco (2009).
She has studied with masters such as Mirella Freni, Daniela Dessi, Sylvia Sass, Marcello Lippi and Linda Watson. From Mirella Freni and Marcello Lippi she learned the keys impact on the artistic interpretation of music. From Daniela Dessi, Linda Watson and Sylvia Sass she learned on the key impact on technique.
Alisa is a singing teacher of the University of Arts in Albania. Her philosophy of teaching it is very focused in the right control of the respiration using diaframma, the right posture and equilibrium of the body , the right artistic interpretation studying the psychology of the composers and the personality of their roles. The right equilibrium between the technique and the interpretation.
Her favourite performers are Luciano Pavarotti and Mirella Freni.
She is very touched by the young talented students that have economic difficulties to study singing and she would be happy to sustain a humanitarian project to support them.
Praised by The Washington Post as “a deeply gifted musician” with “an exceptional sense of lyricism“, cellist Hee-Young Lim currently serves as a Professor of Cello at the Beijing Central Conservatory.
In 2018, Hee-Young released her debut album of French Cello Concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, for Sony Classical. Her second album ‘Russian Cello Sonatas’ and the cello duo recording with her former Professor Philippe Muller were also released recently on Sony Classical. In December 2018, the Minister of Culture of South Korea awarded Hee-Young a Prime Minister’s Commendation.
“My philosophy of teaching: I love to work with young students on all aspects of being a musician, an artist, and a cellist – how to play the instrument, how to build a career, how to prepare for and deal with auditions, as well as how to distinguish yourself in this enormously challenging industry. For me, fostering creativity is very critical matter. To nurture students’ musical growth and artistic development, I try to introduce my students to new ideas, perspectives and new interests. It takes time to ingrain technique and musicality as well as to find and express the inherent uniqueness in one’s musical voice. I’m thrilled to share my knowledge and it’s my great joy to accompany my students’ growth.”
