Honorable Head Judge

Eugene Skovorodnikov (Russia - Canada)

eskov@shaw.ca

www.encoreconcerts.org

Audiences throughout Europe, Canada, U.S., Asia and former Soviet Union recognize Eugene Skovorodnikov for his stylistic interpretation and his technical brilliance. He is a prize winner of "N.Lisenko" National Piano Competition (Ukraine).

Eugene 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. Since 1991, Eugene Skovorodnikov has been teaching with the piano faculty at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada.

" Extraordinary performance represented all the impressive characteristics of the Grand School (Bincomparable elegance and enchanting power Ponte, Italy, 1998)

He was invited to perform in famous concert halls of the world such as St.Petersburg Philharmonic Hall (St. Petersburg, Russia), Chan Centre for Performing Arts(Vancouver, Canada), Theatre Bibiena (Mantova, Italy), Grand Theatre (Shenzhen, China), Xinghai Concert Hall (Guangzhou, China), Centre for the Performing Arts ( Kfar-Saba, Israel), Ghione Theatre (Rome, Italy)

"... Eugene captured attention of the audience with his perfect mastery and polished sense of style, full of life and romanticism... he played with the power and colours of symphony orchestra, with fluent and flawless virtuosity", "Nevsky Times", Russia, 2002

Eugene Skovorodnikov was invited as a member of the juries to many piano international competitions. Such as "Rome 1997", "Rome 2002", " S.Rachmaninov" in Morcone (Italy), "16th Rina Sala Gallo Piano International Competition" in Monza (Italy), "1st Benjamino Cesi Piano International Competition" (Italy), "Premio Fausto Zadra - Citta Abano di Terme" (Italy)

" ...Skovorodnikov returned to Rome after a three year absence, but his long awaiting fan audience was treated to an absolutely outstanding performance; this level of artistic quality has been rarely heard in the past few musical seasons in Rome..." "Musica e Scuola", Italy, 2005

Eugene Skovorodnikov is the President and Artistic Director of "Music Encore Concert Society", organization that presents concert seasons of solo recitals and chamber music performances in Vancouver, Canada.

 

Russian Music Festival-Vancouver 2009

Piano

Boris Konovalov

www3.telus.net

EDUCATION: 1979-1982 Doctorate of Musical Arts.

1979-1983 Postgraduate studies, Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow, USSR (Under Prof. Vera Gornostaeva)

1973-1978 Bachelor of Music, Glinka Conservatory, Novosibirsk, USSR ( Under Prof. Sofia Gindis)

1969-1973 Specialized Musical School for Gifted Children

PIANO COMPETITIONS

1992 Second Prize, National Piano Competition, Israel

1977 First Prize, National Piano Competition, USSR

1967 First Prize, Competition for Young Pianists, Novosibirsk, USSR

ADJUDICATOR EXPERIENCE

1999 Canadian Music Competition (in 9 Canadian cities)

1999,2000 North Shore Festival, Vancouver, Canada

" ...a wonderful, sensitive and interesting musician, a pianist with something special to say.."
Peter Feuchtwanger, Vice President of European Piano Teachers Association (U.K.)

A while ago, we had an artist who came to Korea and left a deep impression on the audience. Through excellent performances, master classes and lectures, this artist impressed the audience with his talented musical ability. This artist is Dr. Boris Konovalov, a pianist. However, on October 16th, at the Little Angel's Art Center, we had the pleasure of watching him perform a well matured concert with the Carte Chamber Orchestra. At this performance, he demonstrated his talent and musical ability, which are said to be supernatural and deep, yet maintaining freshness and refinement. Chunchu Music Magazine (S. Korea)

 

Violin/Viola

Robert Rozek

Robert Rozek is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music where he studied the violin with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy Delay. He continued his studies at the Academia Chigiana of Siena, Italy. There he studied violin with Franco Gulli and conducting with Sergiu Celibidache. Later he studied the violin with Nathan Milstein in New York, London and Zurich, Switzerland.

Early in his career, Mr. Rozek moved to Zurich, Switzerland to assume the post of Leader of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. At this time while in the midst of a very busy concert schedule which included all of Europe, Rozek did extensive studies with the great Nathan Milstein. With Milstein Rozek restudied the entire violin repertoire. While in Zurich as leader of the chamber orchestra, Mr. Rozek performed with most of the great artists of that time. He toured England with Yehudi Menuhin and was leader of the Menuhin Festival Orchestra in Gstaad Switzerland. With Maurice Andre, Rozek introduced the concertos of Vivaldi for trumpet and violin as arranged by Mr. Andre. While in Zurich Mr. Rozek appeared at the Zurich Tonhalle Concert Hall with artists such as Claudio Arrau, Martha Argerich, James Galway, Benedetti Michelangeli, Kiri-Te-Kanawa and Leonid Kogan.

After his post in Zurich Mr. Rozek went on to begin a conducting career in addition to his solo appearances. His conducting appearances include the Luzern Music Festival, where he conducted the concert, celebrating the reopening of Wagner's home in Luzern, Switzerland.

Rozek also conducted the Arturo Toscanini Orchestra of Italy in concert and operatic performances in the cities of northern Italy. Artists with whom he worked at this time include Luciano Pavarotti, with whom he also toured Russia, including the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, and an appearance with Jose Careras in a benefit concert for International Cancer Research. He appeared at the reopening of the Modena Opera House with Mirella Freni and also worked with Cecelia Bartoli in her early career.

Mr. Rozek's teaching career began in New York. He held positions at the Barlow School, Columbia University, the State University of New York, Hamilton College and Colgate University. In the 1990's until 2003 Mr. Rozek was professor of violin at the University of Miami School of Music. At this time he conducted the chamber orchestra, taught string pedagogy and headed the Summer String program in Europe.

Presently Rozek is the Head of the Violin Department at the Vancouver Music Academy in Canada. He is also a conducting teacher and conductor of the chamber orchestra. In addition to that, Mr. Rozek is responsible for producing concerts and master classes at school. He also travels the world giving concerts and teaching. Recently Mr. Rozek appeared at the Baratt Due Music Institute, Norway, the University of BC, the Beijing Union University, and the Conservatory of Wuhan, China. In Switzerland Mr. Rozek has taught for the past 10 years at the Margess International School. This year he will teach at the newly formed Astona-International summer music academy for gifted string players. He also begins master classes in London for the Razumovsky Academy. His recent solo appearances include the Prokofief, Bruch, and Dvorak concertos and the Brahms concerto in Switzerland, Norway and Canada.

 

Russian Music Vestival-Vancouver 2008

Piano

Victor Shevtsov & Tanya Shevtsov

www.youngstars.ca

Victor and Tanya Shevtsov were born in Russia. They studied music in Moscow and graduated with Doctor's degrees in Piano Performance and Teaching.

Mrs. and Mr. Shevtsov taught piano in Music Schools in Moscow, Musical-Pedagogical Institute in Rostov and later in the Academy of Music in the University of Tel-Aviv (Israel). They were also active as a Piano Duo Performers giving concerts in Russia, Israel, Switzerland and other countries.

After coming to Canada Mrs. and Mr. Shevtsov run their private Piano Studio in Richmond B.C.

Victor's and Tanya's outstanding professional skills and commitment are an earnest of the success of their students, who are doing extremely well in all kinds of festivals, competitions and RCM exams.

Piano

Marina Vinnitsky

Marina Vinnitsky was born in Kiev, Ukraine.She began studying piano at the age of 5.She graduated with honours from Kiev State College of Music. She continued her education and received her Masters Degree in Teaching and Performance from the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music (former Concervatory).During that time she also performed many concerts of chamber and solo piano music with a wide variety of ensembles including the Kiev Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. For 13 years she also was a Faculty member of Kiev State Glier High Music College.

Since coming to Canada in 1989, she has been performing in many concerts and recitals around Vancouver as pianist, accompanist and chamber musician on stages like Vancouver Playhouse, Christ Church Cathedral, Tom Lee Music Hall and Centre.

It was comment by one of her viewers that: "She (Marina Vinnitsky) was stunning in the fluidity of her performance and added much to the evening". "Jewish Western Bulletin"

Currently Marina is an active teacher of piano in Vancouver.

Violin/Viola

Yuri Zaidendberg

www.yurizaidenberg.com

Yuri Zaidenberg, born in Kiev, Ukraine, began playing violin at the age of seven. After post-graduate studies at the Moscow Conservatory with professor Valery Klimov, a disciple of David Oistrakh, he appeared in many concerts and on radio and television throughout the former Soviet Union.

Before leaving his native land he held teaching positions at the Rachmaninoff State Conservatory (Russia), Turkmenian Institute of the Arts, and the Special Music School for Gifted Children.

Since coming to Toronto, Canada in 1991, he is much in demand as a concert soloist, also performing in various chamber music groups and as a member of several orchestras.

He was invited to perform in two International Music Festivals in South America, in Blue Lake Music Festival (Michigan, USA) where he served as a recitalist, concertmaster of the Festival Orchestra and a faculty member and gave master classes.

This year Yuri will join the faculty of prestigious Interharmony International Music Festival in Germany and welcomes string players to his class (www.interharmony.com/hiimf/faculty).

Mr. Zaidenberg presented the Canadian premiere of the complete works for violin and piano by the contemporary Russian composer Alfred Schnittke. He was a founder, artistic director and performer of the "Russian Musical Heritage Series" concerts, representing a variety of Russian classical and contemporary music. Recently he released a CD with violin sonatas by J.Brahms and A.Schnittke receiving high critical acclaim for his interpretive insight and impressive performance.

As well as enjoying a very active performing life Yuri Zaidenberg has achieved great success as a violin and viola teacher and chamber ensemble coach. His more than 30 years of teaching experience helps him maintain a very busy and successful pedagogical career, preparing students for national and international competitions, music festivals, Royal Conservatory of Music exams and concerts and assisting them in their musical careers.

His students participate in different music festivals and competitions in Canada and have won more than 140 awards and scholarships.

In the various positions Mr. Zaidenberg has held such as professor of violin, lecturer of violin methods and pedagogy and head of a scientific research lab of music performance and education, he has acquired the skills which allow him to use many different pedagogical approaches in his work.

Since moving to Richmond, British Columbia, Canada in 2006, Yuri joined the faculty of Langley and Richmond Music Schools and maintains his private violin studio in Richmond. He frequently performs in various concerts and musical occasions in B.C. and serves as an adjudicator in competitions and festivals throughout the Greater Vancouver Area. For further details please visit www.yurizaidenberg.com