IBLA- ARKANSAS AWARDS CONCERT

The IBLA Foundation in New York City

Joan Zumwalt, Little Rock Chairwoman

Sherman Banks, Little Rock Director

Dr. Alan Storeygard, International Jury Member

Baroness Mariuccia Zerilli Marimo’, New York Chairwoman

Dr. Salvatore Moltisanti, President

Presents

The IBLA GRAND PRIZE International Competition Winners

featuring World Class Performers from Europe, Russia, Asia and the U.S.

"The IBLA Grand Prize International Music Competition, celebrating this

year its 23rd anniversary, has become one of the world’s cultural treasures.

Held each year in early Summer in the magnificent southeastern corner of

Sicily, in the quietly beautiful and charming Baroque city of Ragusa-Ibla,

this competition has proven to be a consistent and world-class showcase for

musical talent of the highest order. The competition’s founder,

Dr. Salvatore Moltisanti, himself a pianist, has created an atmosphere

that encourages openness to any and all forms of music, allowing presentations

of all musical styles as well as instruments (this has included several types

of jazz ensembles, domra virtuosos, accordionists, folk singers and many

others from outside the classical mainstream, as well as instrumental and

vocal performers of standard and contemporary repertoire), and creating a

place where the ideas of wonderfully talented people can be nurtured in

a spirit of international respect.

Baroness Maria Zerilli Marimo, Chairwoman of the IBLA Foundation, offers

every year the opportunity to experience the extraordinary talent of these

musicians at Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo in events preceding and following

the annual Gala concert that this year will take place on May 14 at

Carnegie Weill Recital Hall.

This event, has we have come to expect, will surely be the best possible

evidence of this success, presenting musicianship of the highest order.

IBLA is the name of the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE ancient Baroque

quarters of Ragusa - Ibla, the southernmost province of Italy in

Sicily. Ragusa and Ibla are two sister cities built on two 300 m.

hills. Ibla is the ancient city and Ragusa is the more modern one. The

Monti Iblei that surround the area take the name from the ancient

Ibla. The Mediterrenean coast line is only 18 minutes away. It overlooks

the island of Malta"

by Jeffrey James, Editor, International Composer

LIST OF PERFORMERS

Salvatore Moltisanti, Artistic Director and Pianist / USA - ITALY

Vito Amato, Percussion / ITALY

Vladimir Anisimov, Saxaphone / RUSSIA

Natalia Anisimova, Piano / RUSSIA

Sergio Cali, Percussion / ITALY

Cong Cong Chai, Piano / HONG KONG

 Antonino Errer, Percussion / ITALY

Michal Gajda, Accordion / POLAND     

Robert Guzik, Guitar / POLAND  

Kai Han, Piano / USA

Claire Iselin, Harp / FRANCE  

Ian Miller, Piano / USA

Alessandro Russo, Piano / USA

Gabriella Sultana, Piano / MALTA  

Raika Tetsu, Violin / JAPAN

Adam Woch, Guitar / POLAND   

PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES AND PICTURES

VLADIMIR ANISIMOV, saxophonist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Vladimir Anisimov was born in 1998 on 22nd of august. The first award was received in 6 years at the International contest in Nizhny Novgorod, where he played the block-flute pieces by Vivaldi,Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich. When he was 9 years old, he received a special jury prize in Prague, Czech Republic. When he was 9 years old, in the city of St. Petersburg he received the ovation award and the title of Laureate of the 1st prize at the international competition of jazz Parnas. Then there were the award and laureate designated 2012 - Germany,2012. Bulgaria, 2013. Italy, Russia. In 2014 October Kazan - laureate of the 1st prize, 2014. November Sochi - the Laureate of the 1st prize twice, in the classics and jazz. Successfully goes on tour on cities of Russia, from Ural state Philharmonic with a classical program. Also a soloist with the jazz ensemble Open Sound. In 2012 were joint tour with the famous jazz pianist Daniel Kramer.

NATALIA ANISIMOVA, pianist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Natalia Anisimova graduated from the Ural State

Conservatory on a class of a piano. In 2000 she graduated school at the Ural State Conservatory - soloist of the chamber orchestra. Since 1990 she works as concertmaster in the class players(oboe), in the class vocalists. Today she is the concertmaster of Tchaikovskys music school in the class of choral conducting Department. She has awards of the international competitions, personal diplomas to the best accompanist.

BIOGROOVE DUO, percussionists

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipients Antonino Errera and Vito Amato perform their American Debut. “Una formazione sorprendente il Biogroove, due ragazzi siciliani che con marimba e vibrafono fanno magie”...“La musica che suonano è sorprendente e trans-genere, spazia dal contemporaneo colto alle contaminazioni etniche e jazz. Ma colpiscono, è il caso di dirlo, anche per la speciale “grazia”con cui trattano strumenti dall\'apparenza così muscolare e gestuale.” Gian Mario Benzing, sul Corriere della Sera. “Biogroove vuol dire ritmo vivente, simboleggia il nostro modo di fare musica, rendere vivo ciò ke suoniamo. Che sia puro ritmo o melodia.” Il duo è formato da Antonino Errera e Vito Amato, musicisti che hanno fuso le esperienze della musica classica, del jazz, della musica contemporanea e dell\'improvvisazione, in un unica sfera musicale. Da sempre si dedicano alla ricerca del suono cercando di valorizzare ed esaltare tutte le sfumature che offre il mondo degli strumenti a percussione. La formazione ha vinto il primo premio al concorso “Premio Nazionale delle Arti, il Premio “Vivi Milano” al concorso Gioventù musicale italiana, il primo premio assoluto al concorso nazionale“Eliodoro Sollima”, il primo premio assoluto al concorso di musica da camera “Città di Caccamo”. Si sono esibiti per: il Konzerthaus di Berlino, i festival “Suona Italiano” e “Suona Francese” a Parigi, Radio Rai Tre , il “World Arts Performing Festival” di Lahore in Pakistan, Roccella Jazz Festival, le stagioni ”Contemporanea” dell\'Auditorium Parco della Musica di Roma, il Teatro dal Verme di Milano, la rassegna per i più promettenti giovani del panorama musicale italiano “Antichi cortili, giovani talenti” a Genova, la Rassegna Internazionale di Musica Contemporanea \"Il suono dei Soli\" a Palermo, il Convegno internazionale “Strategie Retoriche Nel Linguaggio Musicale” a Trapani, gli “Amici della Musica” di Alcamo e di Palermo. Hanno all\'attivo collaborazioni con i registi Nanni Moretti e Walter Manfrè, con i compositori Nicola Piovani, Franco Piersanti e Sergio Lanza.

SERGIO CALI, percussionist

Diplomatosi con 110, lode e menzione al Conservatorio di Palermo sotto la guida della prof. ssa Fulvia Ricevuto, si è esibito nell'ambito di festival e stagioni concertistiche ad Astoria (NY, USA), Wolfsburg (Germania), Bauru (Sao Paulo, Brasile), oltre che in Italia, con la compagnia ED, con l'orchestra del conservatorio "V.Bellini" di Palermo, l’orchestra del conservatorio “A. Scontrino” di Trapani. Le più recenti manifestazioni lo hanno visto coinvolto per le rassegne: "Angelica", "Suona Francese", "Suona Italiano" presso la famosa sala dell’Aubette al centro di Strasburgo (FR), con La PCME all'Auditorium Parco della musica a Roma. Nel 2012 ottiene una menzione speciale al “Premio Nazionale Delle Arti – sezione Strumenti a percussione-Solisti” per "la spiccata sensibilità musicale" e nello stesso anno viene ammesso al Progetto Specialistico per artisti di particolare talento GMC - Giovani Musicisti del Conservatorio. Sempre nel 2012 Vince il Premio “Maria Elisa Di Fatta”nella Sezione Giovani Talenti per "perizia tecnica, tocco e valore musicale”e nel 2013 "Most Distinguished Percussionist" al concorso internazionale IBLA GRAND PRIZE.

CONGCONG CHAI, pianist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Congcong Chai is the Grand Prize winner of Metropolitan International Piano Competition (New York 2014), the 1st prize winner of Symphony in the Valley Young Artists Concerto Competition (Grand Junction 2013), the 1st prize winner of DCS International Piano Competition (Dallas, 2013), He is also the prize winner of the 53rd Sorantin International Competition for Piano and Strings, the Philharmonia Collegiate Concerto Competition and HSO Young Artist Competition. He has performed in New York, Vienna, Kansas City, Dallas, Hong Kong, Macau, Shang Hai and Shenzhen. His performances have included varied repertoire for solo piano, chamber, and piano concertos. He enjoys an association with the conductors Richard McKay, Robert Ward, Benjamin Cline and Yondani Butt, performed as a soloist with Dallas Chamber Symphony, Vienna International Orchestra, Hays Symphony Orchestra, Guang Dian Symphony Orchestra and Colorado Symphony in the Valley. The festivals he attended including PianoTexas International Academy & Festival(2012), Concerto Fest Vienna(2012) and International Keyboard Institute & Festival(2013). Born in Xian, China, Chai started learning piano with his mother at a young age. After graduating from Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, study with Prof. Eleanor Wong, he is currently in his third year of the DMA program at University of Kansas with Dr. Jack Winerock. 

MICHAL GAJDA, accordionist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Michal Gajda graduated summa cum laude from Poznan Academy of Music in 2012 where he studied accordion under supervision of Jerzy Kaszuba. He participated in numerous master classes working with W. L. Puchnowski, K. Baran, B. Dowlasz, Y. Shishkin, A. Dmitriev, V. Dmitriev, P. Fenyuk, M. Varynen. He has taken part in a lot of competitions and festivals, winning many prizes and distinctions, including: 1st prize and Grand Prix in the 2nd International Competition in Memory of J. Haydn in Vienna (2012); 1st prize and a title of the Best Accordionist of the 2012 also Grand Prix as a member of ensemble “Trio New Harmony” in All-Polish Accordion Competition in Solec-Zdrój (2012),  1st prize in solo category and 1st prize in ensemble category with “Trio New Harmony” in the 17th International Accordion Competition in Sanok (2012), 2nd prize in the International Accordion Competition Vilnius (2011), 3rd prize in the International Accordion Competition Vamo in Vienna (2011), 3rd prize in the 47th International Accordion Competition in Klingenthal (2010), 1st prize in the 16th International Accordion Competition in Sanok (2010), 2nd prize in the 19th International Accordion Competition in Przemyl (2010), 1st prize and Grand Prix in the Accordion Competition “Harmonia Viva” in Warsaw (2009), 3rd prize in the International Accordion Competition in Poprad (2007), 3rd prize in the International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo (2002), 2nd prize in the International Accordion Competition in Bratislava (2002), 2nd prize in the 5th International Accordion Competition in Dresden (2000). His musical activity extends from solo accordion works as well as organ music, trough Astor Piazzolla tango nuevo to contemporary musi works. He is taking part in a many various ensembles performing classical and popular music. He is giving concerts as a soloist with symphonic orchesters.  He has given recitals as soloist and chamber musician (Trio New Harmony, New Poznan Accordion Duo, Duo ClassZmer) in Poland, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Slovakia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Italy, Sicilia. In 2011 he won a scholarship of Provincial Marshal of Łódź. He is also a triple holder of a scholarship of the Minister of Culture and National Legacy (2002, 2005, 2011) and winner of Scholarship Program of Minister of Culture and National Legacy “Młoda Polska”/ “Young Poland” (2012).  In 2012 Michał Gajda represented Poznan Academy of Music in a “Festiwal Sztuki Młodych”/ “Students Art Festival”. He is currently working with Poznan New Theatre as music manager. Since October 2013 he is studying PhD programme at Poznan Academy of Music.

ROBERT GUZIK, guitarist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Robert Guzik began to play the guitar at the age of six under the supervision of Jan Kowalczyk at the Z. Noskowski Music School in Gdynia (Poland), from which he graduated in 2008. He is a student of the F. Chopin University of Music in Warsaw under Prof. Marcin Zalewski. During his musical education he has had an opportunity to attend to masterclasses with many remarkable artists such as: Odair Assad, Marcin Dylla, Aniello Desiderio, Zoran Dukic, Thomas Muller – Pering, Giampaolo Bandini and many others. Robert has performed in solo recitals as well as some chamber music in Poland. He has won many prizes at national and international guitar competitions, such as: 1st prize at National Guitar Competition in Gdansk (Poland), 2nd prize at the International Czesaw Drodziewicz Guitar Competition in Krynica Zdrój (Poland).

KAI HAN, pianist

Kai Han was born and raised in New York City. A student at poly prep, his passion and love for music arose from a young age as his father is a composer. He also plays American football and enjoys living in New York.

CLAIRE ISELIN, harpist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Claire Iselin, born in Mulhouse, France, started learning the harp at age 6 with her mother, along with studies for 11 years on violin, flute and timpani. In 2005, Claire moved to London (UK) to study with Professor Gabriella Dall’Olio at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.  She graduated with a BMus (hons) in 2010 and a MMus in Performance in 2012. While a student at Trinity Laban, she participated in masterclasses with renowned world harpists such as: Letizia Belmondo, Marie-Pierre Langlamet, Andrew Lawrence King, Xavier de Maistre, Marielle Nordmann, Fabrice Pierre and mentored by Suzy Kawalec of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

She made her debut at London’s landmark church, St Martin's in the Field, in 2009. Highly acclaimed by both public and critics, she has performed solo recitals, chamber concerts, as well as performing as soloist with orchestras in Europe, China, Canada and other locations. In the UK, she has performed with the Kantanti Chamber Orchestra, Sidcup Symphony Orchestra and the Billroth Ensemble with music by Debussy, Ravel and Ginastera Harp Concerto.  In July 2011, she was invited and performed, The Crown of Ariadne for harp with percussions by R. Murray Schafer at the 11th World Harp Congress in Vancouver, Canada.  She has also performed along with the Mercury Quartet in Kings Place of London.

Claire has won several awards and prizes such as: IBLA Grand Prize International Music Competition 2013 Outstanding Musician with Marson special mention & Grace M. Susino Award, The City Music Foundation Winner Award 2013, Isabel Bond Gold Medal Competition 2013, for Excellence in Performance and Director's Prize for Achievement.  She was awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians 2012 Silver Medal, winner of the Repertoire Orchestra Concerto Competition. Guest principal harpist to several projects in 2011 for the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO).  First joint prize in the North London Competition 2009 and the John Marson Prize for an Outstanding and Creative Young Musician in 2008.

She has recently recorded with the Caravaggio Quartet of Basel for the main Classical Swiss Radio, SFR2 Kultur.  Currently Claire works as a freelance orchestral player, serving as the principal harpist of The World Orchestra, performing as well with BBCCO, Manning Camerata, South Bank Symphonia, amongst many others.

IAN MILLER, pianist

Ian Miller is 16 years old and lives and attends high school in New York City, where he was born and raised. He has studied piano since he was 6 years old. Ian plays for the pure joy of it and most of all enjoys entertaining friends and family whether in informal or formal settings. Ian also is an avid saber fencer and competes nationally with the New York Athletic Club.

ALESSANDRO RUSSO, pianist

Alessandro was born in New York City and is currently a student of Poly Prep High School. He developed an early passion for music and sports. Alessandro enjoys playing tennis and has recently won the most valuable player for his tennis team in 2013.

GABI SULTANA, pianist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient Gabi Sultana who hails from the island of Malta, has graduated from a Post-Masters’ Degree in Contemporary Music with the highest distinction, from the Royal Conservatory in Ghent, Belgium, where she also obtained her Masters’ Degree with the highest distinction, both under the guidance of Daan Vandewalle. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in June 2008 from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Holland, under the guidance of Marcel Baudet. During her studies in Malta she obtained Diplomas from Trinity College (ATCL),London School of Music (LLCM) and the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music,London (LRSM), under the guidance of Fransina Abela Brincat, with whom she studied for 12 years, before proceeding to Holland to further her studies in 2001. She won several local piano competitions and was invited by EPTA (UK) to represent Malta in a concert at the Guildhall School of Music in London in 1999, and at the Festival of Winners Concert at the EPTA Conference 2000 held at the Liszt Academy in Budapest. As the prizewinner of the Bice Mizzi Vassallo Competition,she attended the Lake District Summer Music International Festival in 2001. Gabi was also awarded the first Giorgio Federico Ghedini Bursary in Malta in 2009 and between 2010 – 2012 she was the recipient of a Malta Arts Scholarship. Gabi was also nominated as a finalist for De Linkprijs 2012 in Tilburg, Holland, which is a prize for interpreters of Contemporary music. She attended masterclasses with several renowned professors, including John Clegg (UK), Ruth Gerald (UK), Philip Martin (UK), Nina Kazimirova (Ukraine), Alberto Portugheis (UK), Marina Evseeva (Moscow), Balasz Szokolay (Hungary), Renna Kellaway (UK), Barry Snyder (USA) and Carole Presland (UK). During her studies for her Bachelor's she attended several workshops at theRoyal Conservatory of The Hague, including a two-week workshop with Steve Reich, and has taken part in several concerts, both as a soloist and as a member of the "Ensemble Royaal" and "Modelo 62", with whom she toured Holland twice. Gabi is very involved in chamber music. She has played in various formations of chamber ensembles and has premiered several compositions by fellow students as soloist and in ensemble, including a concerto for two pianos and choir. She also played in Mark Anthony Turnage's opera “Greek” in the “Dag in de Branding Festival 2007” in Holland. In Belgium, she is a founder member of 5° Ensemble together with Daniel Pastene (clarinet) and Kristof Lauwers (electronics). In 2013 she had the honour to work with Spectra Ensemble on a prizewinning chamber-opera by Frank Nuyts – Middle East. She has given several solo recitals in various European countries and was also invited by H.E. The President of Malta to play at the Presidential Palace in March 2011. Her solo programs focus on music composed after 1950 and new works by up-and-coming composers. Apart from performing, Gabi has been teaching piano in Malta, Holland and Belgium for over 10 years. She also conducts workshops for children and adults on Appreciation of Contemporary Music.

Presently, she is based in Ghent, Belgium.

RAIKA TETSU, violinist

IBLA GRAND PRIZE AWARD recipient young violinist  Raika Tetsu was born in JAPAN 2005. He began studing violin at 2 years old. In 2011 when he was 5 years old, Raika  appeared in concert at Kaisersaal Hall and Beethoven Gedenkstatte Floridsdorf in Vienna, AUSTRIA. He won a prize in Junior Design K International Musical Competition 2012 as well as awarded in Shizuoka Prefecture Music competition 2012. 1st prize in All -JAPAN Art  Association Competition 2012 and the Top Award at the 23rd Japan Classical Music Competition 2013. Raika also won Grand Premio; the Top Award at Concorso Musica  Arte Associazione ITALO-GIAPPONESE 2014. Raika recently performed as soloist with the Toyko Orchestra in Japan, April 2014.

ADAM WOCH, guitarist