Piotr FOLKERT, Poland/USA

Chopin Society, Atlanta

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Piotr Folkert received his Master's degree from The Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland.
After winning several competitions for young pianists, he continued his studies at Yale University in New Haven, Indiana University in Bloomington and The Mannes College of Music in New York City. Mr. Folkert has worked with such distinguished musicians as Professor Andrzej Jasinski, Grant Johannesen, Richard Goode, Oxana Yablonskaya, Murray Perahia.

He is widely regarded as one of the most gifted and sensitive pianists performing today. His "stellar technique and insightful interpretations" have won him consistent critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences worldwide, whether for his solo recitals, his orchestral engagements or his growing catalogue of recordings.
His broad repertoire ranges from music of the Baroque period to new works of contemporary composers, with some especially commissioned and written for him. His performing schedule regularly takes him to the great concert stages of North America and has been highlighted by frequent engagements at the Carnegie Hall.
Internationally, he has appeared in cultural capitols of Europe, Australia, Americas and Far East.
Mr. Folkert is a winner of The Annual Young Artist International Piano Award in New York (1995), The International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanisetta, Italy (1990) among others. He has participated in numerous festivals including The Flaine Music Festival (France), The Summit Music Festival (New York), The Guelph Spring Festival (Canada), Burg Music Festival (Berlin), The Music Festival of Baltic Countries (Poland), Kun-Ming Festival (China).

He was bestowed the honor of performing a special recital for the King of Malaysia at the Royal Palace in Kuala Lumpur. During the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta his performance and musical tribute to Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and the Olympic Committee at Spivey Hall was broadcast nationwide on NPR's "Performance Today".
Concert tours including recitals and concert appearances with orchestras brought Piotr Folkert to the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, New Zealand, Russia, UAE, Turkey, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

Mr.Folkert has recorded many recitals for radio and television around the world. In addition, Mr. Folkert has recorded solo and chamber music for European and American labels including: Arti, Zuk, Sanibel and Dux. Upcoming releases include solo album with music of F. Chopin (Ballades) and "Piano Concertos" with String Orchestra (Henryk M. Gorecki, Morton Gould and Malcolm Williamson).
Mr. Folkert is on the International Roster of Steinway Artists.

 

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Dalia OUZIEL, Israël/Belgium

Conservatoire Royal de Musique, Mons​

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The pianist Dalia Ouziel was born in Israel and studied there at the Rubin Academy with Eliahu Rudiakov and in Belgium at the Conservatoires in Mons and Brussels. Her career has brought performances throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Israel, Africa and Brazil. In Belgium as well as abroad she has appeared with the most important chamber and symphony orchestras with broadcasts and television appearances. A regular guest of international chamber music festivals, she has collaborated with distinguished colleagues and together with the violinist Jerrold Rubenstein forms a Duo which has an extensive performing and recording career with a repertoire of more than a hundred sonatas. In 1975 she began a Piano Duo with her sister Orit Ouziel and was for nineteen years a member of the Belgian Piano Trio together with Jerrold Rubenstein and Edmond Baert. Since 1978 Dalia Ouziel has built a solid reputation as a pedagogue. Professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Music in Mons, she has given master-classes in Italy, Spain, Brazil, France, England and in the United States. She also serves as professeur extraordinaire at the Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth of Belgium.

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Cordula HEILAND, Germany

Leo Kestenberg Musikschule, Berlin​

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​Cordula Heiland took her first piano lessons in the age of six. She studied at the Music Academies of Heidelberg-Mannheim, Luebeck and Rostock and received her final qualifications with honourable mention from Professor Bernd Zack.

She regularly gives concerts, either solo, with orchestral accompaniement (including with the Brandenburg Philharmonic Orchestra Potsdam) or chamber music concerts. Her repertoire covers works from all epochs, including contemporary music which she performs at festivals and premieres.

This includes the Kings Lynn Festival and Beaminster Festival in the UK, the Syddansk Festival in Denmark, the Kammermusiksaal / Philharmonie and the Konzerthaus in Berlin, the Goetheinstitut in Athens and lots of other places in Europe and the US.

In addition to her teaching activities at the Leo-Kestenberg Musikschule in Berlin, Cordula coached the main actor for her performance as a pianist in the cinema film „Blueprint", worked as a ballet accompanist and received several scholarships.

Aside from that she made recordings with piano music published at Cavalli-Records and Pamafon.

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Anaït KARPOVA, Russia

Académie intercommunale de  Court-St. Etienne - Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve

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Born in a family of eminent musicians (i.a.Ilya Satz), Anaït Karpova spent most of her childhood in the State Musical Theater of Natalia Sats (her great-grandmother), and studying piano with her parents, both pianists. Anaït studied music in the Gnessin School of Moscow with professor Anna Arzamanova, then joined the class of professor Victor Merzhanov at the P. Tchaïkovsky Conservatory of Moscow where she graduated with honours. She then pursued her studies in Brussels Conservatory of Music from which she graduated with Great Distinction in 2002, specializing in chamber music and as a soloist, under the tutorship of V. Spanoghe and Daniel Blumenthal. Throughout and after her studies, Anaït’s success was unanimous in National and International competitions.

Since 2002, Anaït Karpova has been a soloist in the Philharmonic Society of Moscow, and performed in most concert halls of Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other russian cities. She performs in recital, with chamber ensembles or orchestra on a regular basis in Belgium, but also in the Netherland, Greece, Italy, France and USA.

Anaït works in close collaboration with numerous distinguished vocal artists such as Elena Okolysheva (Mezzo-soprano, soloist at Bolshoy Theatre), with whom she has been recorded on Radio Classique Orphée, has accompanied for recitals Laura Claycomb (France 2006), Irina Samilova (Soloist at Bolshoy and La Monnaie) and Jodie Devos in 2015. Anaït is also a member of contrasted chamber ensembles such as Het Rode Pomp, specialized in contemporary music; the Krocus Trio, formed in 2011 with Marie-Noëlle de Callataÿ and Sophie de Tillesse, and has formed a piano trio with Viviane Spanoghe (cello) and Alexei Moshkov (violin) performing numerous concerts from 2012 to this day. For the past few years, Anaït has followed the program The International Certificate for Piano Artists lead by Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri et Philippe Entremont, in collaboration with the Ecole Normale de Musique Alfred Cortot in Paris and the University of Florida - College of Fine Arts-School of Music, all of which alongside her position as piano teacher (Since 2006) in Intercommunal Academy of Court-Saint-Etienne and Ottignies. She has been invited as guest teacher for the annual piano masterclasses MusicA Braine l’Alleud, for the Summer Academy of Mérignac, France and for The Paris International Summer Session.

She's also a member of the jury for Médoc Aquitaine International Competition in Mérignac.

Having coached, and worked with, numerous singers throughout competitions and concerts, Anaït has revealed to be truly passionate and dedicated to the vocal arts, bringing together her musicianship and her experience, to ultimately reveal the true colours of a voice. She has lately been the initiator of opera projects such as the production of “The Little Sweep” in the Braine-l’Alleud Academy of music (April 2016) and the creation of «Cieguecita de Bélen », an original opera by E. Granados.

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Elodie VIGNON, France

Ecole "En blanc et Noir", Bruxuelles

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On February 2024, Elodie Vignon will present her first concertant album, Songes.

After three solo albums, she pursues studying the French aesthetic and its connections. Under the baton of the Belgian conductor Eric Lederhandler, she recorded with the Czech Virtuosi, for the label Cypres. Vignon released her last solo album Dans l’air du soir in November 2021 (Franz Liszt: Sonnetti di Petrarca, Etudes de concert/ Isaac Albeniz: Spanish Suite), which was very much appreciated by the audience, as well as the critics. Jean-Yves Clément gave her 5 Diapasons, and the CD was a « Choice of the month » on the Belgian broadcast Musiq3 RTBF. It was also awarded by a « Joker absolu » by the magazine Crescendo.

A few months later (Octobre 2022), Elodie Vignon published an album on the same label, with the French contralto Sarah Laulan. Together, they got invited at the Avignon Opera, and many festivals in France, Belgium and Switzerland.

After the release of her first Debussy album in March 2018, Elodie was awarded as part of Debussy Best Performers by the german Pianist Magazine. She performed her album program all over the globe: France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, North Carolina, Florida, Christ Church Cathedral of Montreal, as well as the Steinway Hall of New York City.

During the year 2020, Elodie presented her second album D’ombres (Cypres) with a commission of Claude Ledoux, during the Flagey Piano Days Festival in Brussels. This concert came right after the Festival Propulse, hosted in Flagey too, where she played with the dancer and choreographer Nono Battesti their new show « Entre Temps ».

Later this year, she was invited for the Festival du Hainaut in the Palais Des Beaux Arts de Charleroi, and was asked to make the last video of the Festivals de Wallonie 2.0.

As an artist in residence of the Bell’arte foundation for 12 years, created by Nelson DelleVigne Fabbri, Elodie Vignon enjoys an extending of her activity as a soloist and chamber music in both Europe and the USA. Mrs. Vignon has played as a soloist and under direction of such distinguished conductors such as Ramon Tebar or Philippe Entremont, and notably has performed both Frédéric Chopin’s Concerti for piano at the Palm Beach International Piano Festival.

After the classical studies in Lyon (Conservatoire Régional de Lyon), Vignon obtained a Gold Medal in 2001. She moved to Brussels to study with Daniel Blumenthal (Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussels), where she obtained two Master degrees (piano and chamber music) with a special mention. Consequently, Elodie was invited by many music festivals through Europe. She is also regularly invited as a guest teacher or jury member (Clichy-la Garenne Conservatory, Suzuki Workshop in Brussels, Dudelange Conservatory in Luxembourg, MusicA Braine in Belgium, Concours Andrée Charlier de Charleroi, International Piano Masterclass Festival of Manilla, BAK Middle School in Florida…).

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Justine DE WANDELER, Belgium

Académies de musique, Braine-L'Alleud  & Rixensart​

 

Justine De Wandeler enrolled at the age of 6 to the dance class of the Arthur Grumiaux Conservatory of Charleroi.

After a year of piano lessons, at the age of 10, De Wandeler was the winner of the International Competition of the Euroregion of Arras.

The following years offered her various awards in international competitions in Belgium and in France. This granted her the opportunity to perform in the Salle Cortot, in Paris. De Wandeler is also the winner of the Dexia Classics competition for chamber music.

De Wandeler is currently perfecting her art under the guidance of reknown teachers. She was admitted to the “International Certificate for Piano Artists” program and follows masterclasses with their resident pianists-artists. She has participated master-classes witt pianists as: Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, Sergei Dorensky, Meehyun Ahn, Peter Lang, Claudius Transki, Frank Wibaut and Jura Margulis in Belgium, Italy or Austria.

In 2011, she received her Master’s Diploma with a Piano Accompaniment specialisation at the Royal Conservatory of Mons, as well as a Pedagogical Master’s diploma with Johan Schmidt. She has enriched her piano solo teaching abilities with Roberto Giordano at the “Cantiere Muscale Internazionale” in Calabria, Italy.

De Wandeler enjoys the flexibility of being a chamber musician, accompanist and soloist. She has recently created a duo “INE-Duet” with the mezzo-soprano : Caroline de Mahieu. De Wandeler has also had the pleasure of giving commented recitals with Jean-Marc Onkelinx.

She transmits her passion with concrete joy, either through concerts or teaching.

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Elena SESELGYTE, Lithuania

Eleny Piano Studio, Vilnius

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Elena Seselgyte was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. She started her piano studies in the Music and Theatre Academy of Lithuania where she obtained her Bachelor degree. She moved then to Brussels to study at the Royal Conservatory of Music with prof. D. Blumenthal and obtained her Master’s degree of Piano Performance.

In 2013 Elena studied in Vienna University of Arts with Erasmus exchange program (prof. O. Probst class). After her Master degree in Brussels, in 2017 she returned to Vienna to study in Chamber Music Certificate programs under prof. L.Monti. She played many concerts in Austria with duo, trio and quintet.

In 2009 she participated in Youth Pianists Competition „Settimo Torinese“ in Italy where she met prof. Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri. Since then, she perfects her art under prof. Nelson Delle-Vigne and became a member of ICPA program.

Elena had masterclasses with many famous pianists and professors: Ph. Entremont, M. Beroff, R. Roux, Ph. Collard, N. Delle-Vigne Fabbri, M. Rubackyte, J. Lowenthal.

In 2021 she obtained the second prize from MAP-IMC Piano Competition in California, and in 2022- the second prize in King’s Peak Music Competition in USA. In 2022 Excellence Piano Awards in London she got the Honor Mention. In 2023 Elena got an Absolute Prize in International London Music Awards.

She plays concerts worldwide, in Italy, Spain, France, Lithuania, Belgium, Poland, Austria, USA, Japan.

Currently Elena lives in Vilnius, where she has her own piano studio and is the president of the non-profit cultural organization „Menija“.

 

Nelson DELLE-VIGNE FABBRI, Italy

Artistic Director

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The Italian virtuoso Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri was born in Argentina. He was instructed by Magda Tagliaferro, Gyorgy Cziffra and Claudio Arrau.
In addition to his performing and recording career that took him to several continents, Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri is also a famed international piano pedagogue.
Teaching at the Ecole Normale "Alfred Cortot" in Paris during 40 years, Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri was also appointed professor extraordinaire at the Chapelle Musicale "Reine Elisabeth" in Belgium and Honorary Professor at the Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida, USA.
He gives regularly master classes in France, China, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Germany, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, UK, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, South Korea, etc.
Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri collaborated to the festivities of the European Union Day in Seoul, South Korea, by special invitation of the European amabassador.
Cultural and pedagogical broadening is an important goal of his duties as general director of the Bell'Arte Foundation.
Mr. Delle-Vigne Fabbri, as founder and president of the Fondation Bell'Arte, is the artistic director of MusicA Braine l'Alleud, the Paris International Summer Sessions, LyricA Braine l'Alleud and of the EMS Music Group, a record company and record studio.

He's the founder and artistic director of The International Certificate for Piano Artists, a pedagogical programme in collaboration with many international institutions with sessions in the U.S., Russia, Italy, Lithuania, Taiwan, Spain, Poland, the Philippines, etc. 
After Philippe Entremont's 10-years' presidency, this programme is currently placed under the presidency of Belgian composer Jean Kluger. Jerome Lowenthal and Michel Béroff are its vice-president, preceeded by France Clidat and Lazar Berman.

Nelson Delle-Vigne is the artistic director of the present course.