VIP Event ~ Season Opener “Russian Music of XIX – XX Century”

Rimsky-Korsakov String Quartet
Dr. Eugene Skovorodnikov, piano
Friday, October 23rd 7:30PM at:
World of Music and Arts,
6160 London Road, Richmond, BC
TICKETS: $30, $25 (students & seniors)
Program: Shostakovich, Glazunov, Borodin
SOLD OUT

Founded in 1939, the Rimsky-Korsakov String Quartet is a precious heirloom of the Russian music culture. The present members Mikhail Bondarev (violin), Ekaterina Belisova (violin), Alexei Popov (viola), Anton Andreev (cello) are graduates of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. By virtue of a shared heritage they are steeped in the grand tradition of Russian music making, achieving organic and convincing interpretations of a diverse repertoire of masterworks, Russian classics and contemporary masters.

Audiences throughout Europe, Canada, U.S., Latin America, Asia and former Soviet Union recognize Eugene Skovorodnikov for his stylistic interpretation and his technical brilliance. Dr. Skovorodnikov took his post-graduate course at the St. Petersburg conservatory (Russia) where he remained teaching until 1990 when he left the country. In 2006 he was awarded an Honourary Doctorate in Musical Arts by Kharkov State University of Arts, Ukraine for his achievements in performance and teaching. To read more about E. Skovorodnikov, please visit his official website: www.eugeneskovorodnikov.com

CONCERT 1 *
Pius Cheung, marimba (Canada/USA)
Saturday, November 21st 7PM at:
World of Music and Arts,
6160 London Road, Richmond, BC
TICKETS: $20, $15 (students & seniors)
*subscription discount available: save 10%
Program: Bach, Piazzolla, Cheung

“Tuneful, neo-Romantic yet technically difficult, [Pius Cheung’s Études] not only showcased Mr. Cheung’s mastery of his instrument but also demonstrated his considerable skill and promise as a composer in his own right – one who writes the kind of music people will want to hear.”- The Washington Times

Dubbed a “neo-Romantic marimba virtuoso”, Pius Cheung is widely known as a master soloist on his instrument. Mr. Cheung’s recent engagements include an appearance as concerto soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra performing “Colours of Crimson” and his own arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, as well as his own marimba concerto with the Aarhus Sinfonietta. In addition, he has presented solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress in Washington DC, Morgan Library and Museum in New York, Bejing Central Conservatory, the Manchester Music Festival, Italy PAS International Festival, Santa Fe Marimba Festival, and Nordic Percussion Festival. Mr. Cheung currently holds the post of Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Oregon. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and an Innovative Percussion Signature Artist.

CONCERT 2*
Ransom & Kong,  Piano/Viola Duo (USA)
Saturday, January 30th 7PM at:
World of Music and Arts,
6160 London Road, Richmond, BC
TICKETS: $20, $15 (students & seniors)
*subscription discount available: save 10%
Program: Franck, De Beriot

After winning top prizes at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in France, Miss Kong has enjoyed a versatile career in both solo and chamber music performance. She had appeared in Carnegie Hall, and her live performances have been heard on NPR’s Performance Today (USA), the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, France Musiques, and the National Radio of the Czech Republic. Miss Kong currently resides in Atlanta, where the Vega Quartet are full-time Artists-in-Residence at Emory University.

“[Ransom] One of the greatest of the new generation of pianists.” La Voz, Argentina. Ransom was a scholarship student of William Masselos at The Juilliard School in New York (BM and MM), and he also worked with Theodore Lettvin at the University of Michigan (DMA) and Madame Gaby Casadesus at the Ravel Academy in France. Ransom is currently the Mary L. Emerson Professor of Piano and Director of Piano Studies at Emory University in Atlanta. Ransom is Artistic Director of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival in North Carolina and also an artist-faculty member of the Kamisaibara Pianists Camp in Japan.

CONCERT 3*
Hugues Leclere, piano (France)
Saturday, March 5th 7PM at:
World of Music and Arts,
6160 London Road, Richmond, BC
TICKETS: $20, $15 (students & seniors)
*subscription discount available: save 10%
Program: Debussy

SOLD OUT

As outstanding interpreter of Debussy, Ravel and their contemporaries, Hughes Leclere teaches at the Royal Brussels conservatory and is the artistic director of the international festival Nancyphonies. His discography contains 13 recordings including world premiere of Ladurner Sonatas opus 4 and  Witkovski violin sonata, as well as recordings of Mozart K488 and Ravel G major Concerto with Prague national radio orchestra. Mr. Leclere has appeared on stages of USA, Canada, Japan, China, Thailand, France, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

CONCERT 4*
Anna Vavilova, piano
Eugene Skovorodnikov, piano
Saturday, April 23rd 7PM at:
World of Music and Arts,
6160 London Road, Richmond, BC
TICKETS: $20, $15 (students & seniors)
*subscription discount available: save 10%
Program: Schumann, Brahms
SOLD OUT

Audiences throughout Europe, Canada, U.S., Latin America, Asia and former Soviet Union recognize Dr. Eugene Skovorodnikov for his stylistic interpretation and his technical brilliance. Dr. Skovorodnikov took his post-graduate course at the St. Petersburg conservatory (Russia) where he remained teaching until 1990 when he left the country. In 2006 he was awarded an Honourary Doctorate in Musical Arts by Kharkov State University of Arts, Ukraine for his achievements in performance and teaching. To read more about E. Skovorodnikov, please visit his official website: www.eugeneskovorodnikov.com

At the concert E. Skovorodnikov is sharing the stage with internationally renown and celebrated pianist Anna Vavilova. Ms. Vavilova has taken masterclasses from world renowned musicians: V. Monastyrski (Israel), Aquiles Delle Vigne (Argentina), Martha Noguera (Argentina) and attended piano summer festivals in US, France and Russia. Anna appeared with Vancouver Island Symphony and was a finalist at Pacific Spotlight Competition on CBC Radio Two, and has been awarded Vancouver Foundation Scholarship (2005) and BC Arts Council Scholarship (2006). To read more about A. Vavilova, please visit her official website: https://worldofmusicandarts.com/teacher/anna-vavilova/