PAST FESTIVALS PIANO FACULTY

John Mortensen Cedarville University in Ohio / USA
John Mortensen is a pianist, improviser, educator, and author. His concerts often begin with masterpieces of the classical repertoire before venturing into improvisation or his original compositions. He appears frequently as concert artist and masterclass teacher at colleges and universities nationwide. He is committed to educating young musicians for the 21st century and places special emphasis on developing courses that bring improvisation back to the standard college music curriculum.
Mortensen studied with Lynne Bartholomew at the University of Michigan and Anne Koscielny and Raymond Hanson at the University of Maryland, receiving his doctorate in piano performance from the latter. He holds National Certification in Piano through the Music Teacher’s National Association, and is endorsed as an Ohio Artist on Tour through the Ohio Arts Council. The Fulbright Specialist program of the US Department of State sponsors him to perform and teach at universities internationally. A Steinway Artist, he now serves as professor of piano at Cedarville University in Ohio. In 2016 he was named Faculty Scholar of the Year, that institution’s highest award. Visit his website at www.johnmortensen.com
MASTER CLASS, Concert, Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017

Balázs Szokolay F.Liszt Academy of Music / HUNGARY
Balázs Szokolay was born into a family of musicians in Budapest in 1961. His father is a Kossuth prizewinner, composer Sándor Szokolay. Balázs started to play the piano at the age of five, taught by Erna Czövek. Later, at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, his professors included Klára Máthé, Pál Kadosa, Zoltán Kocsis, György Kurtág, and Ferenc Rados. Following his graduation in 1983, he won scholarships for two more years of studies in Munich and Moscow . He was instructed by Mikhail S.
Voskresensky, Amadeus Webersinke, Ludwig Hoffmann and Yvonne Lefebure. From 1973 to 1990, he has been a prizewinner at many international piano and chamber music competitions (,including Usti-nad-Labem, Zwickau , Leeds , Brussels, Montreal , Terni , Monza, Glasgow and Budapest) . More recently, he has been a frequent juror in major music competitions in countries such as the Germany, The Netherlands , Italy , Bulgaria , and Russia . He has given concerts and offered
masterclasses in over thirty countries on four continents.
His repertoire covers a wide range of styles with a strong focus on chamber music. Among his chamber music partners are Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Amadinda ensemble, Clemens Hagen, Aurèle Nicolet, Zoltán Kocsis, Miklós Perényi, Gervaise de Peyer , Barnabás Kelemen , Vilmos Szabadi , Kristóf Baráti , István Várdai , Ádám Banda .
As a soloist, Mr. Szokolay has performed with many orchestras, including the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle. In Belgrade , he replaced at the last moment Nikita Magaloff in the Brahms Concerto No. 1. To further expand his repertoire, Szokolay played harpsichord and conducted the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in London.
Among his most important concert invitations:
Festival La Roque d'Antheron ; Miami Piano Festival; Schleswig-Holstein; Spoleto; Sebők Festival; Tour in Japan; Concertgebouw; Konzerthaus Wien; Royal Festival Hall; Wigmore Hall; Torino Rai... He has recorded extensively with Naxos , Hungaroton, and other recording companies, included his own transcriptions . Some of his recordings has got international prizes . He has played numerous radio and television broadcasts at the request, among others, of the BBC - London, the RIAS - Berlin, the Bavarian Radio , the AVRO and TROS - Holland, the RAI - Torino, and the Hungarian Radio and Television.
He has been a piano professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest since 1987. During the 1997-98 academic year, he worked as a guest professor at Yeungnam University , South Korea . In the Spring Semester of 2006, he was invited as a Visiting Scholar and piano professor at Montclair State University in New Jersey , USA . 2009-12. he was a guest professor at the University of Graz , and since 2011 october he is a professor in Weimar F.Liszt Academy of Music. His students won already more than 50 international prizes in different music
competitions.
In 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Liszt Prize by the Hungarian Government
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass
Balázs Szokolay was born into a family of musicians in Budapest in 1961. His father is a Kossuth prizewinner, composer Sándor Szokolay. Balázs started to play the piano at the age of five, taught by Erna Czövek. Later, at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, his professors included Klára Máthé, Pál Kadosa, Zoltán Kocsis, György Kurtág, and Ferenc Rados. Following his graduation in 1983, he won scholarships for two more years of studies in Munich and Moscow . He was instructed by Mikhail S.
Voskresensky, Amadeus Webersinke, Ludwig Hoffmann and Yvonne Lefebure. From 1973 to 1990, he has been a prizewinner at many international piano and chamber music competitions (,including Usti-nad-Labem, Zwickau , Leeds , Brussels, Montreal , Terni , Monza, Glasgow and Budapest) . More recently, he has been a frequent juror in major music competitions in countries such as the Germany, The Netherlands , Italy , Bulgaria , and Russia . He has given concerts and offered
masterclasses in over thirty countries on four continents.
His repertoire covers a wide range of styles with a strong focus on chamber music. Among his chamber music partners are Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Amadinda ensemble, Clemens Hagen, Aurèle Nicolet, Zoltán Kocsis, Miklós Perényi, Gervaise de Peyer , Barnabás Kelemen , Vilmos Szabadi , Kristóf Baráti , István Várdai , Ádám Banda .
As a soloist, Mr. Szokolay has performed with many orchestras, including the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle. In Belgrade , he replaced at the last moment Nikita Magaloff in the Brahms Concerto No. 1. To further expand his repertoire, Szokolay played harpsichord and conducted the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in London.
Among his most important concert invitations:
Festival La Roque d'Antheron ; Miami Piano Festival; Schleswig-Holstein; Spoleto; Sebők Festival; Tour in Japan; Concertgebouw; Konzerthaus Wien; Royal Festival Hall; Wigmore Hall; Torino Rai... He has recorded extensively with Naxos , Hungaroton, and other recording companies, included his own transcriptions . Some of his recordings has got international prizes . He has played numerous radio and television broadcasts at the request, among others, of the BBC - London, the RIAS - Berlin, the Bavarian Radio , the AVRO and TROS - Holland, the RAI - Torino, and the Hungarian Radio and Television.
He has been a piano professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest since 1987. During the 1997-98 academic year, he worked as a guest professor at Yeungnam University , South Korea . In the Spring Semester of 2006, he was invited as a Visiting Scholar and piano professor at Montclair State University in New Jersey , USA . 2009-12. he was a guest professor at the University of Graz , and since 2011 october he is a professor in Weimar F.Liszt Academy of Music. His students won already more than 50 international prizes in different music
competitions.
In 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Liszt Prize by the Hungarian Government
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass

Dr. Ilia Tchernaev National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” / BULGARIA
Bulgarian pianist Tchernaev graduated from National Music School ”Liubomir Pipkov”, Sofia, Bulgaria 1982-1987 and BM and MM in Piano Performance National Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov”, Sofia, Bulgaria 1987-1991 and in 2012 he was awarded a PhD Degree.
Competitions, Awards, Honors:
-2006 II prize at the International Piano Duo Competition “SEILER” in Rethimno, Greece
-2000 III prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Tokyo, Japan
-1998 I prize and Grand Prix at the International Competition “TIM” for chamber music and piano duo in Rome, Italy
-1996 I prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Caltanissetta , Italy
-1990 III prize and Jacques Klein award for the best performance of a Mozart concerto at UNISA, International Piano Competition in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
-1989 I prize at the National Piano Competition CHOPIN in Sofia, Bulgaria
-1989 Honour from the Poland Ministry of Culture for the concert tour
-1987 I prize at the International Piano Competition “MARSALA” in Marsala, Italy
-1983 III prize at the International Piano Competition “USTI NAD LABEM” in Czech Republic
Prof. D-r Ilia Tchernaev’s students are laureates of national and international piano competitions in Bulgaria, France, Italy, Holland, Romania, Tunisia, Turkey, Portugal, Macedonia, Serbia, Czech Republic, USA and Hong Kong.
Author of the book “The Stage – Golgotha, Narcotic or Daily Round…”, published in March, 2011.
In June 2014 Assoc. Prof. D-r Tchernaev led an master-class in the Konservatorium Wien University, Austria; in April 2015 - in the University of Nis, Serbia; in October 2015 – in the music school “Music`all” in London, Great Britain.
Solo Recitals and Chamber Performance
Prof. D-r Tchernaev has over a hundred recitals and concerts with orchestras in Bulgaria, Italy, South African Republic, Namibia, Poland, Greece, Austria, Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain.
He has played as a soloist with all major orchestras in Bulgaria and South African Republic. He was a soloist with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Varna Philharmonic Orchestra, Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra, Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra, Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra, Dobrich Chamber Orchestra, South Africa National Symphonic Orchestra, Cape Town Symphonic Orchestra, Transvaal Symphonic Orchestra, Natal Philharmonic Orchestra etc.
He has participated at International Music Festivals in Bulgaria, Italy and South African Republic. He has a national and world premier of piano and piano duo compositions by Rameau, Ligeti, Prokofiev, Britten, Schnitke, Denev, Mladenov etc.
Recordings
Bulgarian National Television- Bulgaria; Bulgarian National Radio- Bulgaria; SABC - South Africa Broadcasting
At the moment Dr Tchernaev is Professor of Piano National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” Instrumental department, Sofia, Bulgaria
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass
Bulgarian pianist Tchernaev graduated from National Music School ”Liubomir Pipkov”, Sofia, Bulgaria 1982-1987 and BM and MM in Piano Performance National Music Academy “Pancho Vladigerov”, Sofia, Bulgaria 1987-1991 and in 2012 he was awarded a PhD Degree.
Competitions, Awards, Honors:
-2006 II prize at the International Piano Duo Competition “SEILER” in Rethimno, Greece
-2000 III prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Tokyo, Japan
-1998 I prize and Grand Prix at the International Competition “TIM” for chamber music and piano duo in Rome, Italy
-1996 I prize at the International Piano Duo Competition in Caltanissetta , Italy
-1990 III prize and Jacques Klein award for the best performance of a Mozart concerto at UNISA, International Piano Competition in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
-1989 I prize at the National Piano Competition CHOPIN in Sofia, Bulgaria
-1989 Honour from the Poland Ministry of Culture for the concert tour
-1987 I prize at the International Piano Competition “MARSALA” in Marsala, Italy
-1983 III prize at the International Piano Competition “USTI NAD LABEM” in Czech Republic
Prof. D-r Ilia Tchernaev’s students are laureates of national and international piano competitions in Bulgaria, France, Italy, Holland, Romania, Tunisia, Turkey, Portugal, Macedonia, Serbia, Czech Republic, USA and Hong Kong.
Author of the book “The Stage – Golgotha, Narcotic or Daily Round…”, published in March, 2011.
In June 2014 Assoc. Prof. D-r Tchernaev led an master-class in the Konservatorium Wien University, Austria; in April 2015 - in the University of Nis, Serbia; in October 2015 – in the music school “Music`all” in London, Great Britain.
Solo Recitals and Chamber Performance
Prof. D-r Tchernaev has over a hundred recitals and concerts with orchestras in Bulgaria, Italy, South African Republic, Namibia, Poland, Greece, Austria, Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain.
He has played as a soloist with all major orchestras in Bulgaria and South African Republic. He was a soloist with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Varna Philharmonic Orchestra, Ruse Philharmonic Orchestra, Pleven Philharmonic Orchestra, Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra, Dobrich Chamber Orchestra, South Africa National Symphonic Orchestra, Cape Town Symphonic Orchestra, Transvaal Symphonic Orchestra, Natal Philharmonic Orchestra etc.
He has participated at International Music Festivals in Bulgaria, Italy and South African Republic. He has a national and world premier of piano and piano duo compositions by Rameau, Ligeti, Prokofiev, Britten, Schnitke, Denev, Mladenov etc.
Recordings
Bulgarian National Television- Bulgaria; Bulgarian National Radio- Bulgaria; SABC - South Africa Broadcasting
At the moment Dr Tchernaev is Professor of Piano National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov” Instrumental department, Sofia, Bulgaria
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass

Paulo Oliveira Academia de Música de Santa Cecília / PORTUGAL
Paulo Oliveira is one of the most sought after Portuguese pianists of his young generation.
He studied with Tania Achot and Sequeira Costa, completing his doctorate with honors at the University of Kansas. His studies were sponsored by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Portuguese government – “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”. Paulo has also received lessons from Helena Sá e Costa, Luiz de Moura Castro, Andrei Diev, Vladimir Viardo, Vitaly Margulis, Aldo Ciccolini, Paul Badura-Skoda.
He has been awarded several prizes in national and international competitions, including the “Vianna da Motta International Piano Competition”, the 1st prize at the “Bártok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition”, the 2nd prize at the “Estoril Competition” and the 1st prize at the ”2010 Young Pianists Festival - Chopin Prize” in Lisbon. He was also the winner of the “Kansas University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.” His duo with cellist Teresa Valente Pereira was awarded after a recital in Barcelona’s mythic “Palau de la Música Catalana.”
Paulo has performed in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy, France, UK, Poland, Brazil, USA, and recorded for RDP - Antena 2, Radio France and Catalunya Radio. He appeared as a soloist with the Kansas University Symphony Orchestra, the Espinho Classical Orchestra, the Algarve Orchestra, the North Orchestra, the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra and the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with such conductors as Nicholas Uljanov, Steven McDonald, Pedro Neves, Ferreira Lobo, Cesário Costa and Daniel Klajner.
Paulo currently teaches at the Academia de Música de Santa Cecília in Lisbon.
He is regularly invited to give master classes and to judge international piano competitions.
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass
Paulo Oliveira is one of the most sought after Portuguese pianists of his young generation.
He studied with Tania Achot and Sequeira Costa, completing his doctorate with honors at the University of Kansas. His studies were sponsored by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the Portuguese government – “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”. Paulo has also received lessons from Helena Sá e Costa, Luiz de Moura Castro, Andrei Diev, Vladimir Viardo, Vitaly Margulis, Aldo Ciccolini, Paul Badura-Skoda.
He has been awarded several prizes in national and international competitions, including the “Vianna da Motta International Piano Competition”, the 1st prize at the “Bártok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition”, the 2nd prize at the “Estoril Competition” and the 1st prize at the ”2010 Young Pianists Festival - Chopin Prize” in Lisbon. He was also the winner of the “Kansas University Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition.” His duo with cellist Teresa Valente Pereira was awarded after a recital in Barcelona’s mythic “Palau de la Música Catalana.”
Paulo has performed in countries such as Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Italy, France, UK, Poland, Brazil, USA, and recorded for RDP - Antena 2, Radio France and Catalunya Radio. He appeared as a soloist with the Kansas University Symphony Orchestra, the Espinho Classical Orchestra, the Algarve Orchestra, the North Orchestra, the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra and the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with such conductors as Nicholas Uljanov, Steven McDonald, Pedro Neves, Ferreira Lobo, Cesário Costa and Daniel Klajner.
Paulo currently teaches at the Academia de Música de Santa Cecília in Lisbon.
He is regularly invited to give master classes and to judge international piano competitions.
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass

Toms Ostrovskis Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music / LATVIA
Toms Ostrovskis began piano studies at the age of 6 at Emils Darzins Secondary Music School in Latvia, actively participating and winning prizes in several competitions and festivals in Lithuania, Estonia, France, Sweden, Hungary and Japan. He graduated Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in 2002. During his studies he participated in many international competitions and masterclasses in Great Britain, Holland, Portugal and France, studying with various renowned artists-teachers, such as David Dubal, Joseph Banowetz, Christopher Elton, Joan Havill, Sergey Babayan, Karl Kemmerling, John O'Conor and others.
He is member of EPTA Latvia since 1998 and one of its board members since 2010; he has represented EPTA Latvia in festivals and conferences in Norway, Cyprus, Austria, Portugal and Norway. Toms has participated in Liepaja Piano Stars Festivals 2000 and 2003, and has performed with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Orchestra, Sydcap Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Chamber Orchestra, Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, London City University Symphony Orchestra and other collectives.
Toms Ostrovskis has made recordings for the Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika” funds and for ABRSM Publishing company; he was a finalist of European Broadcasting Union Radio Competition "New Talent" (Romania, October 2002), finalist of Guildhall Gold Medal competition (London, May 2006) 3rd prize winner in International Jazeps Vitols Piano Competition (Latvia, December 2002), winner of Myra Hess Awards 2003-2006, Yamaha - Kemble UK Scholarship Award 2005. In 2003 with chamber ensemble "Bartok Players" he received Ivan Sutton Prize for the best performance of Bartok’s sonata for two pianos and percussion.
From 2002 to 2007 Toms Ostrovskis was scholarship student of Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Ronan O'Hora, where he obtained Master of Music in Music Performance Degree and an Advanced Instrumental Studies Diploma; from 2005 to 2007 he was a fellowship student and worked on his doctoral thesis, analysing advanced methods of piano teaching.
Since 2007 Toms Ostrovskis is working in the Piano Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. He is an active member of “Amber Coast Artists” ensemble and on regular basis participates in various solo and chamber music projects in Latvia and abroad.
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass
Toms Ostrovskis began piano studies at the age of 6 at Emils Darzins Secondary Music School in Latvia, actively participating and winning prizes in several competitions and festivals in Lithuania, Estonia, France, Sweden, Hungary and Japan. He graduated Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in 2002. During his studies he participated in many international competitions and masterclasses in Great Britain, Holland, Portugal and France, studying with various renowned artists-teachers, such as David Dubal, Joseph Banowetz, Christopher Elton, Joan Havill, Sergey Babayan, Karl Kemmerling, John O'Conor and others.
He is member of EPTA Latvia since 1998 and one of its board members since 2010; he has represented EPTA Latvia in festivals and conferences in Norway, Cyprus, Austria, Portugal and Norway. Toms has participated in Liepaja Piano Stars Festivals 2000 and 2003, and has performed with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Liepaja Symphony Orchestra, Bucharest Radio Orchestra, Sydcap Symphony Orchestra, St. John’s Chamber Orchestra, Guildhall Symphony Orchestra, London City University Symphony Orchestra and other collectives.
Toms Ostrovskis has made recordings for the Latvian Radio 3 “Klasika” funds and for ABRSM Publishing company; he was a finalist of European Broadcasting Union Radio Competition "New Talent" (Romania, October 2002), finalist of Guildhall Gold Medal competition (London, May 2006) 3rd prize winner in International Jazeps Vitols Piano Competition (Latvia, December 2002), winner of Myra Hess Awards 2003-2006, Yamaha - Kemble UK Scholarship Award 2005. In 2003 with chamber ensemble "Bartok Players" he received Ivan Sutton Prize for the best performance of Bartok’s sonata for two pianos and percussion.
From 2002 to 2007 Toms Ostrovskis was scholarship student of Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Ronan O'Hora, where he obtained Master of Music in Music Performance Degree and an Advanced Instrumental Studies Diploma; from 2005 to 2007 he was a fellowship student and worked on his doctoral thesis, analysing advanced methods of piano teaching.
Since 2007 Toms Ostrovskis is working in the Piano Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. He is an active member of “Amber Coast Artists” ensemble and on regular basis participates in various solo and chamber music projects in Latvia and abroad.
Jury Member of the Valletta International PIANO Competition 2017
Educational Masterclass
FESTIVAL PIANO FACULTY 2016

Pierre Réach Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Paris / FRANCE
Three aspects of the Pierre Réach’s career mark his originality, concerts and recitals around the world, teaching and masterclasses and the organization of various artistic events. He was awarded in international competitions, among others, Olivier Messiaen First Prize, First Prize Pozzoli and Medal Arthur Rubinstein. He has been a student of Yvonne Lefébure and Yvonne Loriod in Paris, Maria Curcio in London and worked with Arthur Rubinstein and Alexis Weissenberg, among others. Offers recitals and concerts with orchestra around the world such
as the KBS in Seoul, the Tokyo NHK, the Orquestre Radio France in Paris… Offers chamber music concerts with such artists as Gary Hoffman, Joan Martin Royo, Christoph Henkel and Gerard Poulet among others. He performes in the USA with the "Goldberg Variations" by JS Bach and receives enthousiastic reviews from the American press. He gives master classes worldwide. Has numerous recordings on CD. He is jury in competitions like the Olivier Messianen Competition, the Masters in Monte Carlo, the Maria Canals in Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai, among others. Creates the "Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition" at Bagnères de Bigorre and the "International Piano Competition Paul Badura-Skoda" in Vila-Seca. He is professor at the Paris Conservatory and at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) and is Prof. Honoris Causa of the Shanghai Superior Conservatory.
He is also artistic Director of Festival Piano-Pic in France and of the Music Festival in Vila-seca, Spain.
The eclectic personality of this artist, made of perseverance and passion, places him, for many years, between the most interesting and attractive pianists of his generation.
Performance, MASTER CLASSES, Chairman of the jury of the Valletta International Piano Competition 2015.
Three aspects of the Pierre Réach’s career mark his originality, concerts and recitals around the world, teaching and masterclasses and the organization of various artistic events. He was awarded in international competitions, among others, Olivier Messiaen First Prize, First Prize Pozzoli and Medal Arthur Rubinstein. He has been a student of Yvonne Lefébure and Yvonne Loriod in Paris, Maria Curcio in London and worked with Arthur Rubinstein and Alexis Weissenberg, among others. Offers recitals and concerts with orchestra around the world such
as the KBS in Seoul, the Tokyo NHK, the Orquestre Radio France in Paris… Offers chamber music concerts with such artists as Gary Hoffman, Joan Martin Royo, Christoph Henkel and Gerard Poulet among others. He performes in the USA with the "Goldberg Variations" by JS Bach and receives enthousiastic reviews from the American press. He gives master classes worldwide. Has numerous recordings on CD. He is jury in competitions like the Olivier Messianen Competition, the Masters in Monte Carlo, the Maria Canals in Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai, among others. Creates the "Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition" at Bagnères de Bigorre and the "International Piano Competition Paul Badura-Skoda" in Vila-Seca. He is professor at the Paris Conservatory and at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC) and is Prof. Honoris Causa of the Shanghai Superior Conservatory.
He is also artistic Director of Festival Piano-Pic in France and of the Music Festival in Vila-seca, Spain.
The eclectic personality of this artist, made of perseverance and passion, places him, for many years, between the most interesting and attractive pianists of his generation.
Performance, MASTER CLASSES, Chairman of the jury of the Valletta International Piano Competition 2015.

Mikhail Petukhov, Professor of the Moscow Tchaikovsky's Conservatoire, Honored Artist of RUSSIA.
Mr. Petukhov ‘s first concert appearances , at the age of 10, often included his own compositions. Further studies at the Kiev Special Music School ( with Nina Naiditch and Valentin Kutcherov) led to the win at the Leipig 4th International Bach Piano Competition. Mikhail Petukhov graduated from the Moscow Conservatoire, which largely shaped his development as pianist and composer. It was there that he studied with the distinguished pianist Tatiana Nikolayeva and met such grat personalities as Dmitri Schostakovitch, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels.
He created many compositions of various genres including the opera “The Bride from Messina”, Schiller’s text set to music. The Sonata for Violin Solo was widely received by his peers, including the great violinist David Oistrach.
After the wining the 7th International Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels Petukhov received numerous invitation from Europe, Japan and the U.S. However, the Soviet Union’s domestic political situation prevented international travel, and for nearly 13 years Mr. Petukhov was forbidden to accept engagements in western countries. Only after this period did Petukhov’s talent resurface on the international scene, when the Italian press discovered one of his generation’s most talented performers.
At present Mikhail Petukhov performs internationally. His concerts are enthusiastically received throughout Europe, Asia, South and North America. The Berlin Philharmonic, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Bolshoi Theatre and Great Hall in Moscow, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Philadelphia Music Academy, Milan Verdi Conservatoire, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Geneve Conservatoire , Palais de Beaux Arts in Brussels, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Palau de la Musica in Valencia, Budapest Liszt Music Academy, Philharmonic Hall in Hong Kong, Prague Opera, Gasteig in Munich , Herodus Atticum in Athens are among numerous stages where he has performed.
He appeared as a soloist with most of the important conductors on the world scene including Rafael Frübeck de Burgos, Yuri Bashmet, Valeri Gergiev, Milan Horvat, Karl Eliasberg, Yuri Simonov, Michel Tabachnick, Vladimir Fedosseyev, Mark Ermler, Saulius Sondeckis.
He has performed with such famous orchestras as Birmingham Symphony, Moscow Philharmonic, Royal Scottish Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic , Bolshoi Theatre Symphony, Belgium National Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic, Bornmouth Symphony, Hungarian State Symphony, Santiago Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus.
Mr. Petukhov is professor of Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire . His master-classes are much in demand throughout the world ( Russia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, the USA etc).
Mikhail Petukhov has also released numerous CDs for “Pavane” ( Belgium ), “MonoPoly” ( South Korea ), “Sonora” ( USA ), “Opus” (Slovakia), “Great Hall” ( Russia), “Pro Domino” ( Switzerland ), “ Melopea” ( Argentina ),
“Consonance” (France ). Among those are such prestigious live recordings as Tchaikovsky’s First and Second Piano Concertos from Teatro Colon and Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto from Bolshoi Theatre, as well as CD “Petukhov plays Petukhov” and many others.
Mikhail Petukhov is awarded by the Russian government with the title Honoured Artist of Russia.
Winner of the Napoli Cultural Classical Prize 2009 in the nomination “ Best musician of the year”.
Performance , MASTER CLASSES, Judge of the Valletta International Piano Competition 2015.
Limited places for MASTER CLASSES in MALTA. Advanced bookings are recommended.
Mr. Petukhov ‘s first concert appearances , at the age of 10, often included his own compositions. Further studies at the Kiev Special Music School ( with Nina Naiditch and Valentin Kutcherov) led to the win at the Leipig 4th International Bach Piano Competition. Mikhail Petukhov graduated from the Moscow Conservatoire, which largely shaped his development as pianist and composer. It was there that he studied with the distinguished pianist Tatiana Nikolayeva and met such grat personalities as Dmitri Schostakovitch, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels.
He created many compositions of various genres including the opera “The Bride from Messina”, Schiller’s text set to music. The Sonata for Violin Solo was widely received by his peers, including the great violinist David Oistrach.
After the wining the 7th International Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels Petukhov received numerous invitation from Europe, Japan and the U.S. However, the Soviet Union’s domestic political situation prevented international travel, and for nearly 13 years Mr. Petukhov was forbidden to accept engagements in western countries. Only after this period did Petukhov’s talent resurface on the international scene, when the Italian press discovered one of his generation’s most talented performers.
At present Mikhail Petukhov performs internationally. His concerts are enthusiastically received throughout Europe, Asia, South and North America. The Berlin Philharmonic, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Bolshoi Theatre and Great Hall in Moscow, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Philadelphia Music Academy, Milan Verdi Conservatoire, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Geneve Conservatoire , Palais de Beaux Arts in Brussels, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Palau de la Musica in Valencia, Budapest Liszt Music Academy, Philharmonic Hall in Hong Kong, Prague Opera, Gasteig in Munich , Herodus Atticum in Athens are among numerous stages where he has performed.
He appeared as a soloist with most of the important conductors on the world scene including Rafael Frübeck de Burgos, Yuri Bashmet, Valeri Gergiev, Milan Horvat, Karl Eliasberg, Yuri Simonov, Michel Tabachnick, Vladimir Fedosseyev, Mark Ermler, Saulius Sondeckis.
He has performed with such famous orchestras as Birmingham Symphony, Moscow Philharmonic, Royal Scottish Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic , Bolshoi Theatre Symphony, Belgium National Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic, Bornmouth Symphony, Hungarian State Symphony, Santiago Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus.
Mr. Petukhov is professor of Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire . His master-classes are much in demand throughout the world ( Russia, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, the USA etc).
Mikhail Petukhov has also released numerous CDs for “Pavane” ( Belgium ), “MonoPoly” ( South Korea ), “Sonora” ( USA ), “Opus” (Slovakia), “Great Hall” ( Russia), “Pro Domino” ( Switzerland ), “ Melopea” ( Argentina ),
“Consonance” (France ). Among those are such prestigious live recordings as Tchaikovsky’s First and Second Piano Concertos from Teatro Colon and Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto from Bolshoi Theatre, as well as CD “Petukhov plays Petukhov” and many others.
Mikhail Petukhov is awarded by the Russian government with the title Honoured Artist of Russia.
Winner of the Napoli Cultural Classical Prize 2009 in the nomination “ Best musician of the year”.
Performance , MASTER CLASSES, Judge of the Valletta International Piano Competition 2015.
Limited places for MASTER CLASSES in MALTA. Advanced bookings are recommended.
FESTIVAL PIANO FACULTY 2015

Milosh
PAVLOVICH – (Serbia) pianist with very
diverse artistic interests and preferences, performing with equal enthusiasm as
a soloist and chamber musician, clearly positioned himself at the artistic scene throughout Europe.
He graduated piano at the Belgrade Faculty of Music, with Igor Lazko (himself a student of Jakov Zak) and achieved Master’s Degree at the Novi Sad Academy of Arts, with Vladimir Ogarkov (a former student of Emil Gilels). Both of his professors at the graduate and postgraduate studies are descendents of Traditional Russian Piano School and glorious Henry Neighaus. He completed his piano specialist studies at the State Conservatory “Giuseppe Verdi” in Torino, Italy, with Remo Remoli (a student of Arturo Benedetti Michelangelli), and chamber music specialist studies at the Belgrade Faculty of Music, with Olivera Đurđević. Miloš Pavlović perfected his professional skills at piano master courses, taught by Leonid Brumberg, Lev Natocheny, Siavush Gadjiev, Arbo Valdma, Konstantin Bogino, and Paul Gulda. He won the Jeunesses Musicales Competition "Laureates of Orpheus" in 1989. He won the International Piano Competition "Castello di Racconigi" - Turin, Italy, in 1996 and took second prize at the International Piano Competition Ostuni - Italy, 1991. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in some of the most important concert halls throughout the region, but also in the UK, Germany, Italy, Norway, Greece, Poland and Estonia. He has made several recordings for various TV and radio stations. He has performed in many chamber ensembles and worked with many prominent musicians, including: Akiko Shimura, Lyudmila Gross, Irina Furst, Nikola Mijailović, Snezana Savičić, Aneta Ilić, Boris Petronje, Iva Mrvoš and many others, as well as with the Royal Strings St. George and the conductor Stanko Šepić. As a member of the piano duo MEZZO with pianist Jelena Đajić Levajac achieved a very prominent and diversified concert activities. He regulary appears at renowned International Piano Festivals „Budva City Theater 2014“, where he performed with such names as: the pianist Vladimir VIARDO, cellist Denis SHAPAVALOV, violinist Mikhail BEREZNITSKY, double bassist Duncan Mc TIRE , Polish violinist Jaroslaw NADRZYCKI, ...etc. He is also a member of numerous International Piano Competition’s Jury.
He is Professor at the Piano Department at the Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade, and Vice-President of the European Piano Teachers Association in Serbia
He is a Founder and President of the Management Board at „Dobar Glas” (Good Voice) Foundation, a private Foundation helping young talented artists in Serbia. The current focus of the Foundation is to help the „School for Musical Talents“ in Ćuprija (Serbia), one of three of its kind in Europe (next to the prestigious „Yehudi Menuhin School for Music Talents“ in London, and „Central Music School“ under the jurisdiction of the State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow) which last year has celebrated 40 years since its establishment.
"... I had the pleasure and privilege to listen to Serbian pianist and pedagogue Miloš Pavlović, the concert - lecture about one of the most important Serbian composer Vasilije Mokranjac. Since the aforementioned concert - lecture at the 30th Conference of the European Association of Piano Teachers, not only me, but also by many of my colleagues, we have witnessed, great musical and pianistic talent, as well as the ability to express and convey their ideas with exceptional clarity, sezibilitetom and professionalism ... "Albeto PORTUGHEIS, pianist, Vice President of the Beethoven Piano Society, a candidate for the Nobel peace Prize for 2008, Vice President of EPTA,... (on the occasion of a concert - lectures Miloš Pavlović "Vasilije Mokranjac's Piano Works" held at THE ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND THEATRE, Tallinn (Estonia) at 30-th International Conference of the European Association of Piano Teachers
"... Miloš Pavlović his quite remarkable piano and tonal refinement explicitly expressed in the interpretation of the introductory part of the concert, which is sounding the bass and middle register of the piano, in his performance intermittently, sacking lyrical and elegiac" take-off "and thunderous organ sound which has reached the contours of artistic mastery ...".
The daily newspaper "The Republic"(Podgorica, Montenegro), regarding the recitals,"The concert of German music for piano" in the Church of the Holy Spirit 18.08.2008 in Kotor, Montenegro.
" ... The young talented pianist Miloš Pavlović has with brilliant technique, big and strong sense of designing musical form, as well as deep knowledge of styles. His sensitive nature, Miloš Pavlović projected into the content of a piece of music in a very sophisticated way, and thus creates a specific relationship between himself and his listeners " Prof.Olivera Djurdjević, pianist.
PERFORMACE , MASTER CLASS, JUDGE of the Valletta International PIANO COMPETITION 2015
He graduated piano at the Belgrade Faculty of Music, with Igor Lazko (himself a student of Jakov Zak) and achieved Master’s Degree at the Novi Sad Academy of Arts, with Vladimir Ogarkov (a former student of Emil Gilels). Both of his professors at the graduate and postgraduate studies are descendents of Traditional Russian Piano School and glorious Henry Neighaus. He completed his piano specialist studies at the State Conservatory “Giuseppe Verdi” in Torino, Italy, with Remo Remoli (a student of Arturo Benedetti Michelangelli), and chamber music specialist studies at the Belgrade Faculty of Music, with Olivera Đurđević. Miloš Pavlović perfected his professional skills at piano master courses, taught by Leonid Brumberg, Lev Natocheny, Siavush Gadjiev, Arbo Valdma, Konstantin Bogino, and Paul Gulda. He won the Jeunesses Musicales Competition "Laureates of Orpheus" in 1989. He won the International Piano Competition "Castello di Racconigi" - Turin, Italy, in 1996 and took second prize at the International Piano Competition Ostuni - Italy, 1991. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in some of the most important concert halls throughout the region, but also in the UK, Germany, Italy, Norway, Greece, Poland and Estonia. He has made several recordings for various TV and radio stations. He has performed in many chamber ensembles and worked with many prominent musicians, including: Akiko Shimura, Lyudmila Gross, Irina Furst, Nikola Mijailović, Snezana Savičić, Aneta Ilić, Boris Petronje, Iva Mrvoš and many others, as well as with the Royal Strings St. George and the conductor Stanko Šepić. As a member of the piano duo MEZZO with pianist Jelena Đajić Levajac achieved a very prominent and diversified concert activities. He regulary appears at renowned International Piano Festivals „Budva City Theater 2014“, where he performed with such names as: the pianist Vladimir VIARDO, cellist Denis SHAPAVALOV, violinist Mikhail BEREZNITSKY, double bassist Duncan Mc TIRE , Polish violinist Jaroslaw NADRZYCKI, ...etc. He is also a member of numerous International Piano Competition’s Jury.
He is Professor at the Piano Department at the Faculty of Music, University of Arts in Belgrade, and Vice-President of the European Piano Teachers Association in Serbia
He is a Founder and President of the Management Board at „Dobar Glas” (Good Voice) Foundation, a private Foundation helping young talented artists in Serbia. The current focus of the Foundation is to help the „School for Musical Talents“ in Ćuprija (Serbia), one of three of its kind in Europe (next to the prestigious „Yehudi Menuhin School for Music Talents“ in London, and „Central Music School“ under the jurisdiction of the State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow) which last year has celebrated 40 years since its establishment.
"... I had the pleasure and privilege to listen to Serbian pianist and pedagogue Miloš Pavlović, the concert - lecture about one of the most important Serbian composer Vasilije Mokranjac. Since the aforementioned concert - lecture at the 30th Conference of the European Association of Piano Teachers, not only me, but also by many of my colleagues, we have witnessed, great musical and pianistic talent, as well as the ability to express and convey their ideas with exceptional clarity, sezibilitetom and professionalism ... "Albeto PORTUGHEIS, pianist, Vice President of the Beethoven Piano Society, a candidate for the Nobel peace Prize for 2008, Vice President of EPTA,... (on the occasion of a concert - lectures Miloš Pavlović "Vasilije Mokranjac's Piano Works" held at THE ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND THEATRE, Tallinn (Estonia) at 30-th International Conference of the European Association of Piano Teachers
"... Miloš Pavlović his quite remarkable piano and tonal refinement explicitly expressed in the interpretation of the introductory part of the concert, which is sounding the bass and middle register of the piano, in his performance intermittently, sacking lyrical and elegiac" take-off "and thunderous organ sound which has reached the contours of artistic mastery ...".
The daily newspaper "The Republic"(Podgorica, Montenegro), regarding the recitals,"The concert of German music for piano" in the Church of the Holy Spirit 18.08.2008 in Kotor, Montenegro.
" ... The young talented pianist Miloš Pavlović has with brilliant technique, big and strong sense of designing musical form, as well as deep knowledge of styles. His sensitive nature, Miloš Pavlović projected into the content of a piece of music in a very sophisticated way, and thus creates a specific relationship between himself and his listeners " Prof.Olivera Djurdjević, pianist.
PERFORMACE , MASTER CLASS, JUDGE of the Valletta International PIANO COMPETITION 2015

Cornelia Herrmann - Professional Pianist / Austria
Born into a family of musicians in Salzburg, Cornelia Herrmann studied with Imre Rohmann in Salzburg, Noel Flores in Vienna and Ferenc Rados in Budapest, and drew further inspiration from Alexander Lonquich, Murray Perahia, András Schiff and Alfred Brendel.
In 1996 she was the youngest finalist and winner of the International J. S. Bach Competition in Leipzig, and in 1999 gained a special award at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg. In 2002 she gave her début at the Salzburg Festival.
urther engagements have taken Cornelia Herrmann to venues including the Zurich Tonhalle, Victoria Hall in Geneva, KKL Lucerne, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Gewandhaus Leipzig, City Hall Heidelberg, Large Festival Hall in Salzburg, Brucknerhaus in Linz, Palau de la Musica Barcelona, Auditorio Nacional Madrid, Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Aksanat Istanbul, Sala Sao Paulo, Museo Nacional de Arte Mexiko City, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Vienna Musikverein and Vienna Konzerthaus.
Cornelia Herrmann has performed with the Linz Bruckner Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Israel Chamber Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, MDR Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, Philharmonie Cosmopolitaine, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, Staatsphilharmonie Halle, Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Vienna Chamber Philharmonic, under distinguished conductors such as Christian Arming, James Judd, Manfred Honeck, Michiyoshi Inoue, Fabio Luisi, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Roger Norrington, Ola Rudner, Stefan Sanderling, Hubert Soudant, Claudius Traunfellner, Milan Turkovic, Pinchas Steinberg and Marcello Viotti.
Cornelia Herrmann is also a sought after chamber musician. Her partners are Christian Altenburger, Franz Bartolomey, Mirijam Contzen, Patrick Demenga, Christoph Genz, Michel Lethiec, Quirine Viersen, Marko Ylönen, Gewandhaus Quartet Leipzig. She has been invited to Music Festivals such as Open Chamber Music Prussia Cove, Loisiarte, Styriarte, Attergauer Kultursommer, Grafenegg, MDR Musiksommer, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schwäbischer Frühling, Schloss Cappenberg, Pacific Music Festival.
In 2013/14 Cornelia Herrmann will appear in concerts amongst others at City Hall Hongkong, Ladies' Morning Musical Club Montreal, International Music Festival Johannesburg and Thüringer Bachwochen.
Her recordings of the complete French Suites by J.S. Bach were relased in 2013 and 2014 (CAMERATA) and have received great acclaim by the press. Furthermore her discography comprises recordings of works by Schumann and Brahms.
At the end of May 2014 Cornelia Herrmann will start the series 'Concerts at the Mill' at Lake Fuschl in Salzburg.
Performance, Master Class at the Valletta International PIANO Festival 2015.
Limited places for MASTER CLASSES in MALTA.
Born into a family of musicians in Salzburg, Cornelia Herrmann studied with Imre Rohmann in Salzburg, Noel Flores in Vienna and Ferenc Rados in Budapest, and drew further inspiration from Alexander Lonquich, Murray Perahia, András Schiff and Alfred Brendel.
In 1996 she was the youngest finalist and winner of the International J. S. Bach Competition in Leipzig, and in 1999 gained a special award at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg. In 2002 she gave her début at the Salzburg Festival.
urther engagements have taken Cornelia Herrmann to venues including the Zurich Tonhalle, Victoria Hall in Geneva, KKL Lucerne, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Gewandhaus Leipzig, City Hall Heidelberg, Large Festival Hall in Salzburg, Brucknerhaus in Linz, Palau de la Musica Barcelona, Auditorio Nacional Madrid, Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Aksanat Istanbul, Sala Sao Paulo, Museo Nacional de Arte Mexiko City, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Vienna Musikverein and Vienna Konzerthaus.
Cornelia Herrmann has performed with the Linz Bruckner Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, Israel Chamber Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, MDR Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, Philharmonie Cosmopolitaine, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, Staatsphilharmonie Halle, Vienna Chamber Orchestra and Vienna Chamber Philharmonic, under distinguished conductors such as Christian Arming, James Judd, Manfred Honeck, Michiyoshi Inoue, Fabio Luisi, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Roger Norrington, Ola Rudner, Stefan Sanderling, Hubert Soudant, Claudius Traunfellner, Milan Turkovic, Pinchas Steinberg and Marcello Viotti.
Cornelia Herrmann is also a sought after chamber musician. Her partners are Christian Altenburger, Franz Bartolomey, Mirijam Contzen, Patrick Demenga, Christoph Genz, Michel Lethiec, Quirine Viersen, Marko Ylönen, Gewandhaus Quartet Leipzig. She has been invited to Music Festivals such as Open Chamber Music Prussia Cove, Loisiarte, Styriarte, Attergauer Kultursommer, Grafenegg, MDR Musiksommer, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Schwäbischer Frühling, Schloss Cappenberg, Pacific Music Festival.
In 2013/14 Cornelia Herrmann will appear in concerts amongst others at City Hall Hongkong, Ladies' Morning Musical Club Montreal, International Music Festival Johannesburg and Thüringer Bachwochen.
Her recordings of the complete French Suites by J.S. Bach were relased in 2013 and 2014 (CAMERATA) and have received great acclaim by the press. Furthermore her discography comprises recordings of works by Schumann and Brahms.
At the end of May 2014 Cornelia Herrmann will start the series 'Concerts at the Mill' at Lake Fuschl in Salzburg.
Performance, Master Class at the Valletta International PIANO Festival 2015.
Limited places for MASTER CLASSES in MALTA.

Yakubova Nazilya / Republic of Azerbaijan
Nazilya Yakubova graduated from the Conservatory in Baku (Azerbaijan ), named after U.Hajibeyov, Piano Faculty. Among her students are many winners of national and international competitions. In addition to teaching, she is the director of the State Chamber Orchestra named after G.Garaev in Azerbaijan State Filarmonya. She is also the director of State Children and Youth Symphonyc Orchestra. Her students often perform as soloists of orchestras in Azerbaijan and abroad, such as Russia, Germany, Holland, Sweden, France, Belgium.
JUDGE of the Valletta International PIANO COMPETITION 2015 ( Young Categories )
Nazilya Yakubova graduated from the Conservatory in Baku (Azerbaijan ), named after U.Hajibeyov, Piano Faculty. Among her students are many winners of national and international competitions. In addition to teaching, she is the director of the State Chamber Orchestra named after G.Garaev in Azerbaijan State Filarmonya. She is also the director of State Children and Youth Symphonyc Orchestra. Her students often perform as soloists of orchestras in Azerbaijan and abroad, such as Russia, Germany, Holland, Sweden, France, Belgium.
JUDGE of the Valletta International PIANO COMPETITION 2015 ( Young Categories )
PIANO FACULTY 2014

Antonio Di Cristofano, concert pianist / ITALY
Antonio Di Cristofano completed his piano studies in 1986 at the Conservatory “L.Cherubini” in Florence, under the supervision of M° Bacchelli. He has perfected with M° Damerini. He performs either as a piano soloist or in different musical ensembles; he played as a soloist with the Orchestra of the University of Milan, Strings Orchestra “Cantelli” of Milan, Chamber Orchestra of Florence, Symphony Orchestra of Lecce, Magna Grecia Orchestra, Sicily Symphony Orchestra, Solisti Aquilani, Milano Classica Orchestra, Radio Orchestra of Bucarest, Orquesta Sinfonica de l’Estado de
Mexico, University Orchestra of Houston, Radiotelevision Albania Orchestra,
Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, Praga Radio Symphony Orchestra, North Czech
Philarmonic,LamontSymphony Orchestra Denver,Czech Philarmonic Orchestra,Izmir
Symphony Orchestra, Iasi State Philarmonic,Wiener Mozart Orchestra, Toronto
Sinfonia, Philarmonique de Montreal, Jerusalem Symphony, Slovak Filharmonie, Kaerntner Sinfonieorchester, Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, FVG Mittleuropa Orchestra, etc. with conductors like G. Taverna, F.
A. Krager, O. Balan, M. Bosch, M. Ancillotti, M. Alsop, N. Arman, C. Schulz, M. Zanini, C. Olivieri-Munroe, L. Svarovsky, A. Chernushenko, and many others. He played, in Italy, for the most important Festival: the “Verdi Theatre” in
Florence, the "Festival dei Due Mondi" in Spoleto, “Asolo Musica”, the Theatre of Alessandria, the “Bibbiena Theatre” in Mantova, the “Puccini Hall” at the Conservatory “G.Verdi” in Milan, “Politeama Theatre” in Palermo, "Auditorium
San Barnaba" in Brescia, etc., in Romania (Aeteneum and Radio Bucarest, ecc.), Espana (Festival de Vigo, Madrid, Jeunesses Musicales de Sevilla), Mexico (Belles Artes Palacio, Revueltas Auditorium), USA (Moores Opera House of
Houston, Newman Center in Denver, Washington International Piano Festival, ecc), Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir and Adana), Croatia (Dubrovnik – Rector Palace), Czech Republic (Praga – Smetana Hall and Dvorak Hall), Russia ( Tchaikovsky
Conservatoire), South Korea (Seoul – Leeum Auditorium), France (Nancyphonies Festival), Austria (Konzerthaus – Klagenfurt), Germany (Gasteig – Munich), Chopin Society Warsaw, Canada (Toronto - Glenn Gould Studio), Kotor Festival (Montenegro), Shanghai International Piano Festival (China), Swiss, Albania, Israel, England, Portugal, Bulgary, Ukraine, Belgium, Brasil, ecc. He recorded one cd with Schubert’s music and recently a new one with music of Brahms,
Berg and Scriabin. In 2006 and 2007 he mades the debut in Carnegie Hall – New York and in Konzerthaus and Golden Hall Musik Verein in Wien. He is often invited as a judge in international Piano Competition (Compositores de Espana – Madrid, Varallo, Cantù, Osijek, Gante – Pordenone, Parigi, Viardo – Belmont, Rachmaninoff – Moscow, Iturbi – Valencia, Parnassos – Monterrey, Astana Merei International Competition - Astana, Baltic Piano Competition - Gdansk, ecc) and to teach in Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow, in the Shangay Conservatoire, in the Summer Academy in Dubrovnik, in Denver University, in the SMC Academy in Seoul, in the Valletta International Piano Festival in Malta, in Thessaloniki Conservatoire and in many USA University. Recently he received the Paul Harrys Fellows from Rotary Club.
“......le tout porté par une parfaite maitrise technique et une finesse d’exécution savvament dosée. Le son en devient cristallin....L’équilibre des mains associé à une sensualité naturelle donne un rendu tout simplement limpide, et tout aussi magnifique.... ” (Nancy, L’Est Républicain 2007)
“....l’esecuzione apparsa cantante, distesa, di preziosa limpidezza sonora, esemplare la esaltazione dell’equilibrio con cui emotività e raffinate tendenze mondane si intrecciano nella partitura... ” (Bari, La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno 2008)
“…………le note italiane fanno sempre un particolare effetto e Piatra Neamt ha potuto gustarle ancora una volta. Il pianista Antonio di Cristofano, grande artista italiano……………….” (Piatra Namt, Sette Giorni 2008)
“Antonio Di Cristofano si è rivelato un pianista capace di restituire a Chopin quella contabilità e quella ricchezza di fraseggi………….” (Zambonini, La Provincia, Lecco 2009)
WEB: http://www.dicristofano.it
Performance, MASTER CLASSES, Judge of the Valletta International Piano Competition 2014.
Antonio Di Cristofano completed his piano studies in 1986 at the Conservatory “L.Cherubini” in Florence, under the supervision of M° Bacchelli. He has perfected with M° Damerini. He performs either as a piano soloist or in different musical ensembles; he played as a soloist with the Orchestra of the University of Milan, Strings Orchestra “Cantelli” of Milan, Chamber Orchestra of Florence, Symphony Orchestra of Lecce, Magna Grecia Orchestra, Sicily Symphony Orchestra, Solisti Aquilani, Milano Classica Orchestra, Radio Orchestra of Bucarest, Orquesta Sinfonica de l’Estado de
Mexico, University Orchestra of Houston, Radiotelevision Albania Orchestra,
Istanbul Chamber Orchestra, Praga Radio Symphony Orchestra, North Czech
Philarmonic,LamontSymphony Orchestra Denver,Czech Philarmonic Orchestra,Izmir
Symphony Orchestra, Iasi State Philarmonic,Wiener Mozart Orchestra, Toronto
Sinfonia, Philarmonique de Montreal, Jerusalem Symphony, Slovak Filharmonie, Kaerntner Sinfonieorchester, Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, FVG Mittleuropa Orchestra, etc. with conductors like G. Taverna, F.
A. Krager, O. Balan, M. Bosch, M. Ancillotti, M. Alsop, N. Arman, C. Schulz, M. Zanini, C. Olivieri-Munroe, L. Svarovsky, A. Chernushenko, and many others. He played, in Italy, for the most important Festival: the “Verdi Theatre” in
Florence, the "Festival dei Due Mondi" in Spoleto, “Asolo Musica”, the Theatre of Alessandria, the “Bibbiena Theatre” in Mantova, the “Puccini Hall” at the Conservatory “G.Verdi” in Milan, “Politeama Theatre” in Palermo, "Auditorium
San Barnaba" in Brescia, etc., in Romania (Aeteneum and Radio Bucarest, ecc.), Espana (Festival de Vigo, Madrid, Jeunesses Musicales de Sevilla), Mexico (Belles Artes Palacio, Revueltas Auditorium), USA (Moores Opera House of
Houston, Newman Center in Denver, Washington International Piano Festival, ecc), Turkey (Istanbul, Izmir and Adana), Croatia (Dubrovnik – Rector Palace), Czech Republic (Praga – Smetana Hall and Dvorak Hall), Russia ( Tchaikovsky
Conservatoire), South Korea (Seoul – Leeum Auditorium), France (Nancyphonies Festival), Austria (Konzerthaus – Klagenfurt), Germany (Gasteig – Munich), Chopin Society Warsaw, Canada (Toronto - Glenn Gould Studio), Kotor Festival (Montenegro), Shanghai International Piano Festival (China), Swiss, Albania, Israel, England, Portugal, Bulgary, Ukraine, Belgium, Brasil, ecc. He recorded one cd with Schubert’s music and recently a new one with music of Brahms,
Berg and Scriabin. In 2006 and 2007 he mades the debut in Carnegie Hall – New York and in Konzerthaus and Golden Hall Musik Verein in Wien. He is often invited as a judge in international Piano Competition (Compositores de Espana – Madrid, Varallo, Cantù, Osijek, Gante – Pordenone, Parigi, Viardo – Belmont, Rachmaninoff – Moscow, Iturbi – Valencia, Parnassos – Monterrey, Astana Merei International Competition - Astana, Baltic Piano Competition - Gdansk, ecc) and to teach in Tchaikovsky Conservatoire in Moscow, in the Shangay Conservatoire, in the Summer Academy in Dubrovnik, in Denver University, in the SMC Academy in Seoul, in the Valletta International Piano Festival in Malta, in Thessaloniki Conservatoire and in many USA University. Recently he received the Paul Harrys Fellows from Rotary Club.
“......le tout porté par une parfaite maitrise technique et une finesse d’exécution savvament dosée. Le son en devient cristallin....L’équilibre des mains associé à une sensualité naturelle donne un rendu tout simplement limpide, et tout aussi magnifique.... ” (Nancy, L’Est Républicain 2007)
“....l’esecuzione apparsa cantante, distesa, di preziosa limpidezza sonora, esemplare la esaltazione dell’equilibrio con cui emotività e raffinate tendenze mondane si intrecciano nella partitura... ” (Bari, La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno 2008)
“…………le note italiane fanno sempre un particolare effetto e Piatra Neamt ha potuto gustarle ancora una volta. Il pianista Antonio di Cristofano, grande artista italiano……………….” (Piatra Namt, Sette Giorni 2008)
“Antonio Di Cristofano si è rivelato un pianista capace di restituire a Chopin quella contabilità e quella ricchezza di fraseggi………….” (Zambonini, La Provincia, Lecco 2009)
WEB: http://www.dicristofano.it
Performance, MASTER CLASSES, Judge of the Valletta International Piano Competition 2014.

Anatoly Katz, Professor, Composer, Honored Artist of RUSSIA
Honored Artist of the Russia (1988), Honored Person of Art of the Russian Federation
(2006), Composer (music for 20 spectacles), Leading Professor of the Saratov's State Conservatory (Russia). Leading Piano Soloist and the Artistic Director of the Saratov's Philarmonic by Schnittke.
Anatoly Katz piano career started in the Special Music School of the St.Petersburg State Conservatory by Rimsky-Korsakov. Then at Saratov State Concervatory graduated in the class of Honored Artist of Russia, Professor L.Sobinov (1960), then he post-graduated in the Moscow State Conservatory by P.Tchaikovsky under the direction of People's Artist of Russia, Head- Professor P.Emeliyanova.
Being just a student he already played solo with symphony orchestras. He had tours in the cities of Russia and the many republics of the USSR. At the same time the pianist began to actively engage in the activity chamber, touring around the country and abroad with such prominent instrumentalists as S.N.Knushevitsky, N.Shahovskaya, Igor Oistrakh, M.Homitser, N.Shpiller, I.Politkovsky, and other A.Mihlin. In 1964 he returned to Saratov and became a lecturer at the Department of Special Piano Saratov State Conservatory, continue touring with solo and symphony programs in various cities of the USSR.
His extraordinary clarity of the performing piano playing, culture of sound, lyricism, internal secrecy and artistic interpretation of many works of Bach, Weber, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann and russian piano composers of the
XIX century: Glinka, Balakirev, Borodin, A. Rubinstein, Lyadov, Scryabin has an important place in his repertoire.
Special resonance caused long concert series "Piano Masterpieces" in which the pianist played a monographic program of works by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Weber, Mendelssohn, an evening of Russian piano music program "harpsichordist and impressionist " and several others. Strongly attracted mainly to the works of the Romantics, A.Katz started to include in its repertoire rarely performed works of the modern composers.
Of particular interest to emphasize Anatoly Katz for music composers of the twentieth century. He is the first russian artist of such works as "The Age of Anxiety" by Leonard Bernstein and «Ritmica Ostinata» by Akira Ifukube, constantly involves his program piano works by Schoenberg, Schnittke, G.Ustvolskoy and others. Continues an active performing and
teaching, A.Katz conducted Piano Master Classes at Conservatories in Italy, South Korea, USA, Vladimir Spivakov Festival in France.
A.Katz had concert tours in Russia, Italy, France, USA, South Korea, Hungary, Chech Republic, Slovenia. Professor Katz also involved in the jury of many international piano competitions in Russia ( Rachmaninoff's Competition, Richter's Competition), Italy, France, Croatia.
By his initiative, beginning in 2003, was organized a festival of arts "Beau Monde", which was attended by prominent musicians from Russia and abroad. In 2004, he became an artistic director of the festival, dedicated to the 70th
anniversary of Alfred Schnittke. Range of creative interests of A.Katz extremely diverse. Performances created by him at the Philharmonic musical and poetic theatre «Ex libris» was shown in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd. It is worth noting performances of "Pineapples in champagne", "Decadent Madonna", "Ah, yes Pushkin!" In which A.Katz participated as a writer, director and pianist.
A.Katz is also involved in the composition, he wrote music for more than 20 dramatic spectacles. The pianist also performs in the local media as a music critic, author of a number of educational music programs on television, the leading radio magazine "Musical Sabbath."
A.Katz made a records for the company «Supraphon» ( Czech Republic) an a few CDs in Russia and Italy.
Legendary pianist Heinrich Neighauz in his article wrote: "All the musicians, including me, Anatoly Katz evokes a feeling of deep satisfaction. Thoroughbred, a true and genuine musician, well- wielding instrument " ( G.Neighauz .Memories, reflections ...", Moscow, 1975 )
In 2006 Anatoly Katz was awarded the honorary title "Honored Person of Art of the Russian Federation”.
Performance, MASTER CLASSES, Judge of Valletta International Piano Competition 2014.
Honored Artist of the Russia (1988), Honored Person of Art of the Russian Federation
(2006), Composer (music for 20 spectacles), Leading Professor of the Saratov's State Conservatory (Russia). Leading Piano Soloist and the Artistic Director of the Saratov's Philarmonic by Schnittke.
Anatoly Katz piano career started in the Special Music School of the St.Petersburg State Conservatory by Rimsky-Korsakov. Then at Saratov State Concervatory graduated in the class of Honored Artist of Russia, Professor L.Sobinov (1960), then he post-graduated in the Moscow State Conservatory by P.Tchaikovsky under the direction of People's Artist of Russia, Head- Professor P.Emeliyanova.
Being just a student he already played solo with symphony orchestras. He had tours in the cities of Russia and the many republics of the USSR. At the same time the pianist began to actively engage in the activity chamber, touring around the country and abroad with such prominent instrumentalists as S.N.Knushevitsky, N.Shahovskaya, Igor Oistrakh, M.Homitser, N.Shpiller, I.Politkovsky, and other A.Mihlin. In 1964 he returned to Saratov and became a lecturer at the Department of Special Piano Saratov State Conservatory, continue touring with solo and symphony programs in various cities of the USSR.
His extraordinary clarity of the performing piano playing, culture of sound, lyricism, internal secrecy and artistic interpretation of many works of Bach, Weber, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann and russian piano composers of the
XIX century: Glinka, Balakirev, Borodin, A. Rubinstein, Lyadov, Scryabin has an important place in his repertoire.
Special resonance caused long concert series "Piano Masterpieces" in which the pianist played a monographic program of works by Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Weber, Mendelssohn, an evening of Russian piano music program "harpsichordist and impressionist " and several others. Strongly attracted mainly to the works of the Romantics, A.Katz started to include in its repertoire rarely performed works of the modern composers.
Of particular interest to emphasize Anatoly Katz for music composers of the twentieth century. He is the first russian artist of such works as "The Age of Anxiety" by Leonard Bernstein and «Ritmica Ostinata» by Akira Ifukube, constantly involves his program piano works by Schoenberg, Schnittke, G.Ustvolskoy and others. Continues an active performing and
teaching, A.Katz conducted Piano Master Classes at Conservatories in Italy, South Korea, USA, Vladimir Spivakov Festival in France.
A.Katz had concert tours in Russia, Italy, France, USA, South Korea, Hungary, Chech Republic, Slovenia. Professor Katz also involved in the jury of many international piano competitions in Russia ( Rachmaninoff's Competition, Richter's Competition), Italy, France, Croatia.
By his initiative, beginning in 2003, was organized a festival of arts "Beau Monde", which was attended by prominent musicians from Russia and abroad. In 2004, he became an artistic director of the festival, dedicated to the 70th
anniversary of Alfred Schnittke. Range of creative interests of A.Katz extremely diverse. Performances created by him at the Philharmonic musical and poetic theatre «Ex libris» was shown in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Volgograd. It is worth noting performances of "Pineapples in champagne", "Decadent Madonna", "Ah, yes Pushkin!" In which A.Katz participated as a writer, director and pianist.
A.Katz is also involved in the composition, he wrote music for more than 20 dramatic spectacles. The pianist also performs in the local media as a music critic, author of a number of educational music programs on television, the leading radio magazine "Musical Sabbath."
A.Katz made a records for the company «Supraphon» ( Czech Republic) an a few CDs in Russia and Italy.
Legendary pianist Heinrich Neighauz in his article wrote: "All the musicians, including me, Anatoly Katz evokes a feeling of deep satisfaction. Thoroughbred, a true and genuine musician, well- wielding instrument " ( G.Neighauz .Memories, reflections ...", Moscow, 1975 )
In 2006 Anatoly Katz was awarded the honorary title "Honored Person of Art of the Russian Federation”.
Performance, MASTER CLASSES, Judge of Valletta International Piano Competition 2014.
FESTIVAL GUEST ARTISTS 2014: "NEW PIANO GENERATION"

Christoph Traxler - Professional pianist / AUSTRIA
Christoph Traxler is one of the most promising young Austrian pianists. He performs with orchestras such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Staatskapelle Halle with famous conductors like Manfred Honeck and Ralf Weikert. Futhermore he appears on stage in recitals and chamber music concerts with partners such as Angelika Kirchschlager, Bo Skovhus and members of the Vienna and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Christoph Traxler is one of the most versatile austrian artists. He commenced his first piano instruction at the age of eight. From 1994 to 2002 he studied with Ranko Markovic and Horst Matthaeus at the Anton Bruckner Conservatoire in Linz/Austria.
He gave his orchestral debut with Schumann’s A minor concerto in 2000 and moved to Vienna to study with Heinz Medjimorec and Stefan Arnold at the Vienna University of music and performing arts, where he also received his grand diploma in 2012 with highest honors.
Traxler is the winner of both, the Boesendorfer and the Herbert von Karajan scholarship. In addition he is the winner and laureate of numerous national and international competitions. In 2010 the Vienna Beethoven society chose him for a scholarship for one year.
Despite frequent solo recitals he also appears in chamber music performances (with members of the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic, The Philharmonics, Hansjoerg Schellenberger, Ernst Ottensamer, Volkhard Steude, Franz Bartolomey
and Walter Auer) and as a song accompanist (including Bo Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager, Bernarda Fink and Heinz Zednik). Furthermore Christoph Traxler is engaged regularly as a soloist with orchestras like the Staatskapelle Halle, Vienna chamber orchestra, the Vienna chamber philharmonics or the Kaposvár symphonic orchestra with conductors like Ralf Weikert, Manfred Honeck and Stefan Vladar.
Traxler has performed in many cities of Europe as well as in the United States, Asia and Africa and was part of several CD productions as well as radio and TV broadcasts. Furthermore he is helding master classes in Austria, Japan, Marokko and the United States.
www.christophtraxler.com
Performance on the Valletta International Piano Festival:
SOLO RECITAL "PIANO CARNIVAL"on Monday, 3 February 2014 at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
This activity is organized in collaboration with Austrian Embassy in Malta.
Christoph Traxler is one of the most promising young Austrian pianists. He performs with orchestras such as the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Staatskapelle Halle with famous conductors like Manfred Honeck and Ralf Weikert. Futhermore he appears on stage in recitals and chamber music concerts with partners such as Angelika Kirchschlager, Bo Skovhus and members of the Vienna and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Christoph Traxler is one of the most versatile austrian artists. He commenced his first piano instruction at the age of eight. From 1994 to 2002 he studied with Ranko Markovic and Horst Matthaeus at the Anton Bruckner Conservatoire in Linz/Austria.
He gave his orchestral debut with Schumann’s A minor concerto in 2000 and moved to Vienna to study with Heinz Medjimorec and Stefan Arnold at the Vienna University of music and performing arts, where he also received his grand diploma in 2012 with highest honors.
Traxler is the winner of both, the Boesendorfer and the Herbert von Karajan scholarship. In addition he is the winner and laureate of numerous national and international competitions. In 2010 the Vienna Beethoven society chose him for a scholarship for one year.
Despite frequent solo recitals he also appears in chamber music performances (with members of the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonic, The Philharmonics, Hansjoerg Schellenberger, Ernst Ottensamer, Volkhard Steude, Franz Bartolomey
and Walter Auer) and as a song accompanist (including Bo Skovhus, Angelika Kirchschlager, Bernarda Fink and Heinz Zednik). Furthermore Christoph Traxler is engaged regularly as a soloist with orchestras like the Staatskapelle Halle, Vienna chamber orchestra, the Vienna chamber philharmonics or the Kaposvár symphonic orchestra with conductors like Ralf Weikert, Manfred Honeck and Stefan Vladar.
Traxler has performed in many cities of Europe as well as in the United States, Asia and Africa and was part of several CD productions as well as radio and TV broadcasts. Furthermore he is helding master classes in Austria, Japan, Marokko and the United States.
www.christophtraxler.com
Performance on the Valletta International Piano Festival:
SOLO RECITAL "PIANO CARNIVAL"on Monday, 3 February 2014 at the Manoel Theatre, Valletta
This activity is organized in collaboration with Austrian Embassy in Malta.

Tricia Dawn Williams - professional pianist / MALTA
Tricia Dawn Williams specialises in the performance of 20th century and contemporary music. She started her piano studies at the age of 6 with Rita Micallef. Since 1999 she has been under the guidance of Pawlu Grech. Her repertoire ranges from Béla Bartόk to today’s modern composers. She has performed works by Gjӧrgy Ligeti, Paul Hindemith, Ahmed Adnan Saygun, Henry Cowell, John Cage, Béla Bartόk, Giacinto Scelsi, Scott McAllister and others.
Over the years Williams has organised and participated in several recitals collaborating with composers, commissioning and premiering their works in Malta and internationally. She is frequently invited to perform abroad, amongst others: the Béla Bartόk Memorial House in Budapest, the Festival International de Cartha...ge in Tunisia and the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. In Malta she has performed in various festivals, amongst others: the Malta Arts Festival, Għanafest, the International Spring Orchestra Festival, Contemporary Sounds Series, Science in the City, Evenings on Campus and Notte Bianca.
Williams currently forms part of three ensembles. ‘Crossbreed’ - promoting contemporary music rooted in Mediterranean heritage; ‘Equinox Trio’ of whom she is founding member- focusing on 20th century and contemporary music; ‘Nafra folk ensemble’ which is often invited to participate in international World Music festivals.
Tricia Dawn Williams performs on the CD accompanying the award winning publication: ‘A Guide to Maltese Folk Music’ (2006), the CD ‘Arabesque’ (2009) featuring classical contemporary music and on the CD accompanying the publication ‘Maltese Folktales’ (2010).
She has also taken part in various other interdisciplinary projects:
‘ICONS’ - contemporary dance, music and projections celebrating Maltese culture;
‘PAN the Goat-God’ which combines contemporary music with physical action, choreography and video projections;
‘DEFORMIS’: a contemporary theatre performance based on visual references of Hieronymus Bosch.
‘HREJJEF’ (Maltese Folktales) - a production which combines traditional folktales, shadow puppetry, contemporary music and digital animation.
KIRANA: A children's opera designed to include the participation of children within the creative process.
In 2010 Williams was appointed secretary of the ‘Malta Association for Contemporary Music’ committed to establish new heights in its goal to promote the performance and understanding of contemporary music in Malta.
Performance on the Valletta International Piano Festival 2014: "PIANO MOSAIC" piano work by different Maltese composers, PREMIER on Tuesday, 4 February 2014 at 8.00 pm at St.James Cavalier .
Tricia Dawn Williams specialises in the performance of 20th century and contemporary music. She started her piano studies at the age of 6 with Rita Micallef. Since 1999 she has been under the guidance of Pawlu Grech. Her repertoire ranges from Béla Bartόk to today’s modern composers. She has performed works by Gjӧrgy Ligeti, Paul Hindemith, Ahmed Adnan Saygun, Henry Cowell, John Cage, Béla Bartόk, Giacinto Scelsi, Scott McAllister and others.
Over the years Williams has organised and participated in several recitals collaborating with composers, commissioning and premiering their works in Malta and internationally. She is frequently invited to perform abroad, amongst others: the Béla Bartόk Memorial House in Budapest, the Festival International de Cartha...ge in Tunisia and the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. In Malta she has performed in various festivals, amongst others: the Malta Arts Festival, Għanafest, the International Spring Orchestra Festival, Contemporary Sounds Series, Science in the City, Evenings on Campus and Notte Bianca.
Williams currently forms part of three ensembles. ‘Crossbreed’ - promoting contemporary music rooted in Mediterranean heritage; ‘Equinox Trio’ of whom she is founding member- focusing on 20th century and contemporary music; ‘Nafra folk ensemble’ which is often invited to participate in international World Music festivals.
Tricia Dawn Williams performs on the CD accompanying the award winning publication: ‘A Guide to Maltese Folk Music’ (2006), the CD ‘Arabesque’ (2009) featuring classical contemporary music and on the CD accompanying the publication ‘Maltese Folktales’ (2010).
She has also taken part in various other interdisciplinary projects:
‘ICONS’ - contemporary dance, music and projections celebrating Maltese culture;
‘PAN the Goat-God’ which combines contemporary music with physical action, choreography and video projections;
‘DEFORMIS’: a contemporary theatre performance based on visual references of Hieronymus Bosch.
‘HREJJEF’ (Maltese Folktales) - a production which combines traditional folktales, shadow puppetry, contemporary music and digital animation.
KIRANA: A children's opera designed to include the participation of children within the creative process.
In 2010 Williams was appointed secretary of the ‘Malta Association for Contemporary Music’ committed to establish new heights in its goal to promote the performance and understanding of contemporary music in Malta.
Performance on the Valletta International Piano Festival 2014: "PIANO MOSAIC" piano work by different Maltese composers, PREMIER on Tuesday, 4 February 2014 at 8.00 pm at St.James Cavalier .

Alexander Vella Gregory - Pianist, Composer, Piano Teacher / MALTA
Alexander Vella Gregory was born in Malta in 1984. He has studied piano with Paul Borg and Joanne Camilleri, and obtained a Fellowship of the London College of Music (FLCM) diploma in 2013. In 2002, he won the Ian Tomlin Napier/Malta Music Scholarship which enabled him to pursue a B.Mus(Hons) degree in composition at the Ian Tomlin School of Music, Napier University, Edinburgh where he graduated in July 2006 with honours. He is active as a composer pianist, accompanist and teacher.
Alexander has performed in many venues both in Malta and abroad, including
Edinburgh, Vienna, Italy and Washington DC. He is also a continuo player with the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble. Alex Vella Gregory is also very active as a composer, and his works have been performed in Malta, Edinburgh, Vienna, Frankfurt, Prague, Finland and the USA.
Alexander is also the Artistic Director and a founding member of the Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, Malta’s only male choir (www.cscmalta.com). He is also a continuo player with the newly formed Valletta International Baroque Ensemble.
He is also very active in the theatre scene, and has written music for various theatrical productions. Some of these include Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream (MADC, 2007), Euripides’ The Bacchae ( MADC, 2008 ) and Arsenic & Old Lace (MADC, 2012). Alex was also vocal coach for the Malta run of the hit musical Spring Awakening (MADC, 2009), and for Ospizio (Teatru Anon, 2010), a site-specific theatre performance commissioned for the Malta Summer Arts Festival 2010.
Alexander has participated in several music education projects for children, including The Carnival of Animals (2009), a dance performance for kids, and The Classical Experience (2009), a project which targeted schools. In October 2010 he performed Tramuntana in Washington DC, together with Sarah Spiteri, as part of the Kids Euro Festival, which performance was repeated for Żigużajg, Malta’s first ever Children’s Festival in 2011.
Alexander is currently working on a Phd in Music Composition with Napier University, Edinburgh. He is also currently a board member for St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity.
Performance on the Valletta International Piano Festival: WORLD and NATIONAL PRIMIER "VERITA"
Saturday, 8 February 2014 , 7.30pm at Palazzo Casino Maltese, Valletta.
Alexander Vella Gregory was born in Malta in 1984. He has studied piano with Paul Borg and Joanne Camilleri, and obtained a Fellowship of the London College of Music (FLCM) diploma in 2013. In 2002, he won the Ian Tomlin Napier/Malta Music Scholarship which enabled him to pursue a B.Mus(Hons) degree in composition at the Ian Tomlin School of Music, Napier University, Edinburgh where he graduated in July 2006 with honours. He is active as a composer pianist, accompanist and teacher.
Alexander has performed in many venues both in Malta and abroad, including
Edinburgh, Vienna, Italy and Washington DC. He is also a continuo player with the Valletta International Baroque Ensemble. Alex Vella Gregory is also very active as a composer, and his works have been performed in Malta, Edinburgh, Vienna, Frankfurt, Prague, Finland and the USA.
Alexander is also the Artistic Director and a founding member of the Cappella Sanctae Catharinae, Malta’s only male choir (www.cscmalta.com). He is also a continuo player with the newly formed Valletta International Baroque Ensemble.
He is also very active in the theatre scene, and has written music for various theatrical productions. Some of these include Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream (MADC, 2007), Euripides’ The Bacchae ( MADC, 2008 ) and Arsenic & Old Lace (MADC, 2012). Alex was also vocal coach for the Malta run of the hit musical Spring Awakening (MADC, 2009), and for Ospizio (Teatru Anon, 2010), a site-specific theatre performance commissioned for the Malta Summer Arts Festival 2010.
Alexander has participated in several music education projects for children, including The Carnival of Animals (2009), a dance performance for kids, and The Classical Experience (2009), a project which targeted schools. In October 2010 he performed Tramuntana in Washington DC, together with Sarah Spiteri, as part of the Kids Euro Festival, which performance was repeated for Żigużajg, Malta’s first ever Children’s Festival in 2011.
Alexander is currently working on a Phd in Music Composition with Napier University, Edinburgh. He is also currently a board member for St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity.
Performance on the Valletta International Piano Festival: WORLD and NATIONAL PRIMIER "VERITA"
Saturday, 8 February 2014 , 7.30pm at Palazzo Casino Maltese, Valletta.
FESTIVAL PIANO FACULTY 2014
FESTIVAL PIANO FACULTY 2013
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