Critics around the world have praised Mikhail Yanovitsky as one of today’s leading artists.
“Particularly striking was the sound: big without brutality, rich but always clear in focus.” The New York Times
“His ability to execute the details while at the same time clothing the music in broad colors and expansive melodic gesture recalled a manner of Chopin playing from past generations.” The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Yanovitsky will become one of the great piano talents of our time.” Duluth News-Tribune
VIOLIN/VIOLA
Azer Damirov began his musical studies at the age of eight. At 14, he was accepted to the Musical College of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State conservatory, in the class of Professor Maria Keselman, from which he graduated in 2007 at the age of 20. Azer participated in master classes and festivals in Dortmund in Germany, Britten-Pearce Orchestra in Great Britain, and Volga Regional Young Symphony festival. Recipient of the Ministry of Culture Russian Federation’s Stipend, Azer is a Laureate of numerous national competitions. In 2007 Azer received a Diploma at the 14th Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Fermo, Italy, and a special iPalpiti prize for participation in the iPalpiti Festival of International Laureates in Los Angeles. In the fall 2010, Azer was accepted into Bachelor of Music Program at Boyer College at Temple University in the class of Professor Schmieder, where, subsequently he completed his Master's degree in 2013, and currently pursues a Doctoral degree in Music Performance. Last year, Azer formed the Philadelphia-based The Amaranth Piano Trio with several performances in its debut season. He is a member of iPalpiti since 2009, including East Coast residency and in concerts at the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall, and Los Angeles festivals. In 2012, he performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as a winner the American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music.
VOICE
Galina Sakhnovskaya, a lyric soprano, has emerged as an artist of remarkable versatility and great vocal beauty. Born in Moldova, Ms. Sakhnovskaya has brought her impressive voice and sensitive musicianship to performances in numerous cities in the United States as well as Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Israel, Moldova, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Her repertoire encompasses a vast gamut and includes lieder, chamber music, oratorio, and opera, sung in various languages, including German, French, Italian, Russian, Czech, English, and Spanish. Galina’s most recent roles include the title role in Suor Angelica with OperaOggi NY, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera with Concert Opera Philadelphia, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (New York Lyric Opera Theater), Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Mimì and Musetta in La Bohème, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. Some of her other roles include Violetta in La Traviata, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, the title role in Iolanta, Marfa in Tsar’s Bride, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail. In oratorio Ms. Sakhnovskaya has performed as a soprano soloist in the Lord Nelson Mass and Theresa Mass of Haydn, Handel’s Messiah, J. S. Bach’s Magnificat, and the Neue Liebeslieder, Opus 65 by Brahms. Her recital and chamber repertoire include songs and song cycles by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Dvořak, Manuel de Falla, Poulenc, and Messiaen.
Ms. Sakhnovskaya has been the recipient of several awards and scholarships which include the Washington International Competition in Washington DC, the Center for Contemporary Opera Competition in New York, the Giulio Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition in New York, the New York Vocal Artists Competition, the Peabody Conservatory Graduate Performance Diploma Scholarship and grant, and Mayor’s Scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania. Galina has also been chosen to participate in the International Music Competition of the ARD in Munich. Galina is a graduate of Peabody Conservatory of Music where she received a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance, and the University of Pennsylvania, which she finished with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Computer Science Engineering. Ms. Sakhnovskaya has been a dedicated and enthusiastic voice teacher for over ten years. Many of her students have become soloists in their schools’ musical productions, and several went on to continue their studies at major conservatories. She has taught at Cabrini College, Settlement Music School, and the Leopold Mozart Academy. She is the founder and director of the Elite Music Academy.
FLUTE
Ashley Oros is a recent graduate of Temple University- Boyer College of Music where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance under Mr. David Cramer, Associate Principal Flute of the Philadephia Orchestra, and Mrs. Prema Kesselman, ex-Principal Flute of the Santiago Philharmonic.
At Temple, Ashley performed with the Symphony Orchestra at the Lincoln Center of New York, as well as with the Opera Orchestra, Conductors Orchestra, Contemporary Ensemble, Concert Orchestra and Wind Symphony. She has also performed in master classes with Marina Puccinini, Leone Buyse, Brad Garner, Göran Marcusson, Bonita Boyd, Alexa Still (ZAWA): Jill Felber & Claudia Andersen, Stephen Preston, and Lea Pearson among others. She has performed solos and participated in festivals in the United States, France, Italy, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
An enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, Ashley teaches privately in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Previously she ran a flute studio at the International School Nido de Aguilas in Santiago, Chile. She is an advocate of the Alexander Technique and incorporates it into her lessons; she is working on becoming certified in the near future. She loves learning from her students and watching them grow in a healthy environment.