Still in his early twenties, Mikhail Simonyan is already recognized as one of the most celebrated talents of his generation. The New York Times has praised his, "breadth, lyricism and fleet technique," and reported that "Mr. Simonyan play[s] as if every note counted." The Miami Herald has declared, "Mikhail Simonyan . . . played with the poise, perfection and inner burning fire of a master like David Oistrakh in his prime on a good night." more »
Yuriy Oliynyk, born in Ternopil, Ukraine, began to study piano at age seven. His music studies continued in Germany after the WWII. Having emigrated to the United States in 1950, he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Master of Arts degree in Musicology from Case Western Reserve University. Mr. Oliynyk has been active as a concert pianist, teacher and composer in the United States and Europe. His compositions include works for piano solo, piano with orchestra and voice, bandura solo, and bandura with orchestra. more »
Ola Herasymenko Oliynyk, born in Lviv, Ukraine, is the first professional bandurist to have been featured as a soloist with American and European symphony orchestras. Her repertoire includes works of works of Bortniansky and other Ukrainian composers, and also Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, and others. Prior to settling in the USA, Ms. Herasymenko performed in and directed a Bandura Trio, which toured Ukraine, Poland, Russia, Germany, Spain, Japan and other countries. Ms. Herasymenko Oliynyk received her Bachelor’s degree at the Lviv Lysenko Conservatory in her native city of Lviv, and her Master’s degree at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. more »
Renowned as a pianist and conductor, Jeffrey Kahane is recognized by audiences around the world for his mastery of diverse repertoire from Bach to Beethoven, from Gershwin to Golijov. He has established a reputation not only as music director of two unique ensembles, but also as a truly versatile artist equally sought after as soloist, conductor, and chamber musician. more »
Brian Leerhuber has been praised as an artist of outstanding promise in opera, recital, and concert. The baritone made his San Francisco Opera debut in 2006 as Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, and returned to the company as Schaunard in La Boheme, and as General Robert E. Lee in the world premiere of Philip Glass’ Appomattox. With Los Angeles Opera, he appeared as Schaunard, and as Marco in a production of Gianni Schicchi directed by Woody Allen. more »
One of the most exciting solo artists of his generation, JOSEPH JOHNSON is currently in his debut season as the principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, a post he most recently held with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He continues as principal cellist of the Santa Fe Opera, and, during the 2008-2009 season, served as guest principal cellist of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. more »
Sara Davis Buechner is a classical concert pianist of noteworthy accomplishment, virtuosic mastery, artistic sensitivity and extraordinary versatility. A major prizewinner of many of the world's most prestigious international piano competitions -- Reine Elisabeth of Belgium, Leeds, Salzburg, Sydney and Vienna -- she established her career by winning the Gold Medal of the 1984 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Salt Lake City, Utah, and as a Bronze Medalist of the 1986 Tschaikowsky International Piano Competition in Moscow. more »
Tony Award winner Faith Prince was most recently seen on the Broadway stage in A Catered Affair where she received a Tony Nomination for Best Actress in a Musical as well as Outer Critics Circle, Drama League and Drama Desk nominations. Prior to that, she was a series regular on Showtime's critically acclaimed original series Huff. Prince starred as Kelly Knipers, the lovable and quirky love interest of Oliver Platt. She can be seen in the recently released independent film Our Very Own with Allison Janney and Cheryl Hines, and opposite Hilary and Haily Duff in their feature film Material Girls. Prince is best known for her Tony-winning turn as the perennially unwed Miss Adelaide in the 1992 Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls, for which she also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. She was nominated for two other Tonys for her portrayal of "Ella Peterson" in the revival of Bells Are Ringing (for which she again received an Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nomination) and Jerome Robbin's Broadway (also coupled with a Drama Desk nomination). more »
