Curriculum vitaes of prizewinners of the 43rd edition of Concertino Praga 2009
DUO Matouš and Šimon Michal (born February 14, 1992, born July 12, 1993, Náchod, Czech Republic) Michal's brothers, led by their father Ladislav Michal, began playing the violin at a School of Music in a town of Police nad Metují. Currently, they both have been studying at the Prague Conservatoire in a class of Professor Jaroslav Foltýn and at the same time they co-operate with Professor Charles Avsharin and Professor S. B. Shipps from Michigan University. Šimon and Matouš are triple laureates of the national competition of violin duets called Filcíkova Chrast. As soloists of chamber orchestra Archi Piccoli, they participated at the concert tour to New Mexico (USA) in October 2007. Matouš has already got four times full scholarship at the Meadowmount School of Music in New York, where he studied playing the violin in a class of Professor Charles Avsharian. He has passed master courses with S. Thomas, Dr. M. Kraut, P. McCarthy, D. Russel, G. Ribeir, E. Larsen, G. Kalinovsky and others. He is a laureate of 50th year of Kocian Violin Competition 2008, where he was a winner also in the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and he was awarded the second prize in the years 2005, 2006 a 2007. To his biggest success belongs participation in the competition the Premio Paganini in Genova 2008 and his second prize award at the International Competition for Young Virtuosos 2006 in Dubai. At the competition Concertino Praga 2007 he was awarded a Special Prize of Zdena Podhajská as an extraordinarily talented young musician. Matouš has performed at recitals in the USA, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovakia. As a soloist he has performed with Philharmonic Orchestra Hradec Králové, Philharmonic Orchestra of B. Martinů Zlín and Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice. Šimon has already got two times full scholarship at the Meadowmount School of Music in New York, where he studied playing the violin in a class of Professor Charles Avsharian. In the year 2008 he became a laureate of violin competitions Prague Junior Note and Archetti in Moravia. In the years 2003, 2005 and 2007 he was a winner in all categories at the Kocian Violin Competition. He was also awarded at conservatoires competitions as well as schools of music ones. Šimon performed his recitals in the USA, Ireland, Italy, Poland and Slovakia. As a soloist he played with Philharmonic Orchestra Hradec Králové and Philharmonic Orchestra of B. Martinů Zlín.
DUO Joanna Kacperek and Barbara Malcolm
(born September 28, 1993, born November 6, 1991, Warsaw, Poland)
At six years of age, Joanna began to practice piano. From 2000 to 2006 she was a pupil of Professor Tatiana Widera-Sanijes' piano class, at Warsaw Musical School No. 3 under the patronage of Grazyna Bacewicz. Since the year 2006, she is a pupil of Professor Anna Jastrzębska-Quinn's pianoforte class, at Warsaw Musical School under the patronage of Zenon Brzewski. She is a winner of following musical competitions. She won a prize at the Mazovia Voivoidship 11st Chopin Audition (Sochaczew, 2003), school Competition "Miniatures" (2003, 2005), the 9th National Competition for Young Musicians (Bydgoszcz, 2004) and at the 15th International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists (Szafarnia, 2007). She awarded the first prize and the special prize at the 2nd National Duet Youth Competition "Duettino" (Warsaw, 2005), 8th National Piano Competition (Żagań, 2008), 28th International Smetana Piano Competition and the Young Piano of the Prague Conservatoire 2008. Joanna performed several times with orchestra (e.g. Moscow Academic Orchestra) and also participated in master-classes (Morningside Music Bridge, Calgary 2008; Prof. Elena Richter, Moscow, 2008). In October 2008, she became a stipendiary of the Polish Children's Fund and also received a scholarship established by Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Bogdan Zdrojewski. Barbara started musical and primary studies at the Karol Szymanowski School of Music in Warsaw. Her first teachers were Aurelia Liwanowska (violin) and Ewa Kamińska (piano). Now she continues her musical education at the Zenon Brzewski Secondary School of Music in Warsaw, where studies the violin as main instrument with Professors Andrzej Gębski and Janusz Wawrowski. Barbara has enriched her musical education attending lessons of music performance and other subjects with Professors: Wiera Nesina from Moscow (piano), Maria Szwajger-Kułakowska (piano chamber music), Beata Halska, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Michał Grabarczyk, Edward Zienkowski (violin). She actively participated in the international musical courses in Nowy Sącz - 2005, Łańcut - 2006, 2007, 2008, Goch (Germany) - 2007 and Zakopane - 2009. Barbara is a winner of different music competitions: the 7th Juliusz Zarębski National Music Competition (Łomianki, 2007), the 4th Competition for Performers of Witold Lutosławski's Works (Drozdowo, 2008), the Chamber Meeting (Sochaczew, 2009). She awarded the third place at the 8th Aleksandra Januszajtis National Violin Competition (Gdańsk, 2007) and the Juliusz Zarębski International Music Competition in (Izabelin, 2008). Twice (in 2007 and 2008) she was given scholarship for the achievements in her education.
In the last years she has performed as a soloist and a chamber musician with the Zenon Brzewski Orchestra in many theaters and concert halls in Warsaw (cultural centers, Academy of Music, Warsaw Music Society, National Philharmonic), in many places in Nowy Sącz, Łańcut, Zakopane and in Germany (Goch and Hinterzarten).
Duo Con Fuoco - Alexandra Pykacz and Tomasz Zajac
(born December 17, 1991, born February 22, 1994, Gdynia, Poland)
Aleksandra and Tomasz are pupils of the Music School of Gdynia, Poland. They started to play chamber music as a trio with the other cellist two years ago. As the trio they won the third prize in the International Charles Hennen Concours in Heerlen, Nederland, in March 2008. As a duo "Con Fuoco" they were awarded the second prize in duo category in the Julius Zarebski International Music Competition in Warsaw in May 2008. Alexandra was a laureate of the International Cello Competition "Noor Music" in Tallin, Estonia 2004, a laureate of International Cello Competition "Pavasario Pasazai", Lithuania, 2005 and the winner of the International Concours "Talents for Europe" Slovakia 2007. Tomasz was a finalist of the National Poland Contest of Witold Lutoslawski, Drozdowo 2006, he won the 2nd prize in the third edition of National Poland Concerto Contest "Sinfonietta Polonia" in Poznan 2007, he is a laureate of the International Piano Chopin Competition (Szafarnia, 2008) and he was awarded the 2nd prize in the Julius Zarebski International Music Competition in Piano Category (Warsaw, 2008).
Taílde Ensemble - Matilde Loureiro and Taíssa Cunha
(born August 20, 1994, born March 31, 1991, Lisbon, Portugal)
Matilde and Taíssa created the Taílde Ensemble one year ago under Luís Manuel Pacheco Cunha's guidance at the National Conservatoire, where they're both students. With this ensemble, they performed several concerts at main venues such as Foz Palace, Lisbon Music Conservatoire and Dias da Música Festival at Belém Cultural Center, presenting baroque, romantic and contemporary music. They have been awarded first prize in the Portuguese Radio Competition "Jovens Músicos" at its 2008 edition. Now Matilde attending the 6th violin level at the National Conservatory with Luís Cunha. She started studying violin at the age of three with Rui Fernandes at the Metropolitan Music School of Lisbon and has been apprentice of Chiara Bianchini, Richard Gwilt, Gilles Apap, Michael Bochmann and Boris Belkin. At the age of eleven, Matilde reached the second prize in Tomás Borba Violin Competition in 2006 and the first prize of chamber music in Haydn's National Conservatoire Competition in 2007. During that year, she also live performed to the Portuguese national radio Antena 2.
Taíssa started her piano studies when she was five years old with her mother Svetlana Poliakova, a student of Liudmila Prosipalova. At the age of seven she joined the Lisbon Music Conservatoire, studying with Sofia Vinogradova until 2006, when she joined Anne Kaasa's class. Attending several auditions through the years, Taíssa won the first prize in Fundao Piano Competition and participated in masterclasses with Igor Blagodatov, Lev Shugom, Liudmila Roschina and Pinto-Ribeiro.
TRIO Pavel Zemen, Vojtěch Hájek and Pavel Plašil
(born December 5, 1992, Hradec Králové, born February 22, 1996, Rychnov nad Kněžnou, born January 15, 1993, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic)
Clarinet trio of Pavel Zemen, Pavel Plašil and Vojtěch Hájek is connected with a School of Music in a town of Týniště nad Orlicí and they have been already several times awarded. In the year 2004 they were awarded the first prizes in the National Competition of the Music Schools in the Czech Republic and one year later at a competition of Karl Ditters in Vidnava. In the year 2007 they were awarded the second prize at the above mentioned competition of the School of Music. Pavel Zemen started playing the piano when he was five years old and one year later the recorder. Later on he played also the clarinet in a brass orchestra and as a soloist he co-operated with Big Band of the School of Music in Týniště nad Orlicí. He played as well in chamber ensembles where he played the recorder (trio violin, recorder and piano) and the clarinet (a clarinet trio). In both he was awarded first prizes in the National Competition of the Music Schools in the Czech Republic; in category piano he received an Honourable Mention and the third prize in the competition Prague Junior Note. Three years later he was awarded the first prize in the School of Music competition and the third prize at the international competition Festival of Young Pianists Glubczyce. He was also awarded the first prize and a title of laureate of the competition of Karl Ditters in Vidnava for playing the recorder and the first prize of the School of Music competition for playing the clarinet. Since September 2008 he has been a student of the Conservatoire České Budějovice in a class of Professor Marie Šimková-Kotrčová - piano branch. He also successfully passed entering exams to the Conservatoire - clarinet branch.
Vojtěch Hájek is a student of a František Martin Pelcl's Secondary School in a town of Rychnov nad Kněžnou. He has been interested in music since he was four years old. At first, he played the recorder at a School of Music in Rychnov nad Kněžnou, when he was a first grader he started with choir singing. At the age of eight, he started playing the clarinet and has been playing since in a class of Pavel Plašil. He is a member of a brass orchestra and Dixieland of the School of Music. Pavel Plašil has been playing the clarinet since he was five years old. Later on, led by his father Pavel Plašil, he started playing the clarinet. Since 2003 he has been interested in chamber music. Currently he has also played percussion at a School of Music in a town of Hradec Králové. Apart from music he likes modern art and architecture. He is a student of a Secondary Engineering School in Hradec Králové.
QUARTET Anežka Vargová, Zdeňka Hanzliková, Klára Škodová and Barbora Brabcová
(born November 13, 1992, Pelhřimov, born February 15, 1993, České Budějovice, born December 6, 1993, Pelhřimov, born August 13, 1994, Tábor, Czech Republic)
Quartet of Anežka Vargová, Zdeňka Hanzliková, Klára Škodová and Barbora Brabcová was firstly based at a School of Music of B. Jeremiáš in České Budějovice. Anežka comes from a musical family. She started playing the flute when she was nine years old in a class of Petr Ries and she is playing with him as well now in the first class of Conservatoire České Budějovice. She has been successful since she was twelve years old. She is a multiple winner and a laureate of competitions in both solo and chamber playing - National competition of the Music Schools in the Czech Republic, Concerto Bohemia, competition of the Conservatoire Plzeň, competition of Karl Ditters in Vidnava or competition called Novohradská Flute. Many times she was an absolute winner. Last year she was awarded the second prize of the National Radio Competition for Young Musicians Concertino Praga. Anežka also several times performed as a soloist with the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been also awarded a lot of scholarship prizes. Zdeňka started playing the flute when she was nine years old in a class of Dagmar Becková, later on she played in a class of Petr Ries. She has been successful in a solo playing as well as in chamber music; she was awarded the first prize in the competition Concerto Bohemia and an Honourable Mention in the National competition of the Music Schools in the Czech Republic (2007). This year she has passed exams and become a student of the Conservatoire České Budějovice. Klára began playing the flute when she was ten years old in a class of Petr Ries. She has been awarded the second and third prize in a National competition of the Music Schools in the Czech Republic in both solo and chamber playing, second prize in a competition of Conservatoire Plzeň, double winner in the competition Novohradská Flute, first prize in the competition Concerto Bohemia and first prize and a title of laureate of the competition of Karl Ditters in Vidnava. Currently Klára is a student of a secondary school in České Budějovice.
Barbora started playing the piano at a School of Music in a town of Tábor in a class of Alena Papulová, and led by her, she has been several times awarded. In the year 2008 she was awarded the second prize and the prize of Carl Czerny for the best interpretation in the competition Prague Junior Note and an Honourable Mention in the National competition of the Music Schools in the Czech Republic. In September this year she has started attending a class of professor Magda Štajnochrová and passed exams at the Conservatoire České Budějovice where she will continue attending her class. Barbora also sings, plays the recorder and likes composing.
QUARTET ,Lad' - Lubomira Mihaylova, Lyuba Manassieva , Daniela Statkova and Andrea Goleva
(born August 19, 1993, born September 10, 1991, born March 15, 1993, born September 13, 1993, Sofia, Bulgaria)
Quartet 'Lad' ('Mode') was founded in 2006 as an educational ensemble in Rossen Idealov's chamber music class at the Lyubomir Pipkov National Music School in Sofia. In the beginning, the young performers Lubomira Mihaylova, Daniela Statkova and Andrea Goleva played together as a trio. Later the oboist Lyuba Manassieva joined them, thus forming the wind quartet. Since 2007 the ensemble has regularly participated in concerts of the Lyubomir Pipkov National Music School as well as in other cultural events in Sofia. Lubomira Mihaylova has played the piano since the age of seven. When she was twelve, she started studying clarinet with the famous Bulgarian clarinetist Rossen Idealov, and later continued her studies in Borislav Yotzov's class. Lyuba Manassieva began playing the piano when she was five years old. At the age of fourteen she joined the oboe class of Kostadin Yotzov. Year 2008 brought her the second prize at the Svetoslav Obretenov National Competition for Young Performers (Provadia, Bulgaria). Since then Lyuba is principal oboist of the 'Sofia' Youth Philharmony. Daniela Statkova listened to and loved music since a very early age thanks to her mother who is a composer, conductor and pianist. At the age of seven she decided started playing bassoon and when she was ten she became a student of Petar Kotzev at the Music School. Andrea Goleva at the age of eleven started playing the flute and was accepted in Yavor Zhelev's class at the Music School. Now she is a student of Professor Georgi Spassov. In 2008, she was awarded the Second Prize at the Svetoslav Obretenov National Competition for Young Performers (Provadia, Bulgaria).
