Instructors and Teachers (2022)

Robert Papocsi was born in Hungary. He attended the Musical Secondary School in Vác and went on to study horn and pedagogy at the Music University in Pécs (Hungary), where he completed his studies as a horn player in 1997 and as a conductor in 2003 (class of Prof. Karoly Neumayer). Initially he worked as a specialist teacher of brass, and also as a chorus master in several schools/music schools. He has been chief conductor of a number of wind orchestras, with whom he has won several prizes. At this time he was also playing in several symphony orchestras, including the Operetta Theater in Budapest, the Pannon Philharmony Orchestra in Pécs, and the Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Robert has taken part in several conducting masterclasses, including Bert Aalders (Netherlands), Ronald Johnson and Lawrence Dale Harper (USA), and László Dohos (Hungary). After moving to Vienna, he continued studying with the distinguished conductor Michael Halász (Vienna State Opera) and gained his Master’s degree under the supervision of Prof. Christian Schulz at the Richard Wagner Conservatorium in Vienna. Currently he is the chief conductor of three different wind orchestras and a choir, whilst still playing with several symphony orchestras in Austria. In 2016 he was the assistant of Maestro Christian Schulz at the opera performances Baruch’s Schweigen (Ella Milch-Sheriff). In June 2017 he was part of the Vienna Summer Music Festival and conducted the opera Suor Angelica (G.Puccini). Robert also conducted the New Year’s Concert in January 2017 for the Symphony Orchestra in Nagykanizsa (Hungary). After the great success of this concert he was appointed as the orchestra’s chief conductor, and was invited for another concert in December 2017 with the symphonic and choral works of Zoltán Kodály. In may 2018 Robert Papocsi conducted his Master of Arts exam in Palais Auersperg in Vienna, where he performed J. Strauß´ “The Bat”. In june he was part of the Vienna Summer Music Festival again, where he was the assistant in “The Magic Flute”. In October 2018 he conducted the “World Music Day” concert the Nagykanizsa Symphony Orchestra in Hungary. In 2019 he conducted the New Year’s concert the Nagykanizsa Symphony Orchestra in Hungary. In June 2019, Robert Papocsi conducted the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra at Smetana Hall Prague. In June 2019 he conducted “The Last Breath” (an opera by Trimor Dhomi) at Vienna Summer Music Festival (Wiener Kammeroper, Theater an der Wien). In January Robert Papocsi conducted “The Carnival of Animals” (Camille Saint-Saëns) the Kecskemét Symphony Orchestra in Kecskemét Hungary. Robert Papocsi is Professor at the Richard Wagner Conservatorium Vienna, Austria.

Hossam Shehata, violin, joined the Cairo Conservatoire in 1987, where he studied violin with several professors as: Prof.Hassan Sharara (Egypt) and Prof. Irakle Beridze (Georgia). He obtained his graduation diploma from Cairo Conservatoire in 2001. Then he continued his studies in Maastricht Conservatoire (Netherlands), got his diploma in August 2005. He participated in many international master classes, where he studied with famous professors as: Prof.Roman Totenberg (USA), Prof.Robert Szreder (Netherlands), Prof.Herman Krebbers (Netherlands), Prof.Ivan Strauss (Czech Republic) and Prof.Dora Schwarzberg (Austria). He played his first concert with Cairo Symphony Orchestra as a Soloist in February 2000, after the success of this concert, he’s playing regularly each year as soloist with CSO and other orchestras. He recorded his 1st CD in March 2001 as a special prize of top talent and soloist of the International Master Classes in Netherlands.
He played many concerts (chamber music and recital) in Egypt and
abroad as: Germany, Holland, Poland, Austria and Spain, some of his
performance were recorded by the Radio. He was asked by the Polish embassy to represent Egypt in the celebration of 80 years of Polish – Egyptian Collaboration by performing in the Festival of Karol Szymanowski’s Year in June 2007. He was awarded a scholarship for two years in 2008 from the Federal
Austrian Government for musical studies in Austria, where he studied in
University of Music and performing art in Vienna in class of Prof.Dora Schwarzberg. He is working now as Assistant Professor in Cairo Conservatoire and violin soloist . He performed as a soloist with orchestra in Berlin Philharmonic hall (Beethoven the Triple Concerto) in September 2015. He won the incentive state award in Music (violin) in 2015. He was awarded creativity state prize by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (musician) in 2016. His violin repertoire ranges from Baroque, to contemporary music. https://www.facebook.com/hossameldinshehata/

Originally from Moldova (one of the republics of the former Soviet Union), received her undergraduate degree in her home town Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, at the Academy of Music “G. Musicescu.”  Immediately upon completion of these studies, Ms. Vacarciuc became principal cellist at both the National Symphony Orchestra “TV-Radio Moldova” which toured frequently in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland and the chamber orchestra of the National Theatre “M. Eminescu.” In 2001 she came to the United States to continue her education, pursuing the Master of Music degree at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, LA. Since then Ms. Vacarciuc has performed in numerous chamber music ensembles, orchestras, and summer festivals throughout the US, including the Baton Rouge Symphony, Gulf Coast  Symphony, and  Lubbock Symphony. In 2002 she was a semi-finalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Dr. Vacarciuc received her Doctoral degree in Cello performance from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX where she also taught cello for several years as a teaching assistant. Ms. Vacarciuc has played in masterclasses for such artists as Tanya Remenikova, Nathaniel Rosen, Peter Salaff, Emerson String Quartet as well as Diaz Trio, Innuendo and Audubon String quartets. She now lives and teaches in Bismarck where she is principal cellist with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra, served on the faculty of the International Peace Garden Music Camp and performed as a soloist with BMSO and Missouri Valley Chamber Orchestra. She frequently plays with the regional symphony orchestras such as Aberdeen University Civic Orchestra and Bemidji Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Vacarciuc had been featured as a cellist on the CD of the local unique duo rap/violin B-L’Atittude, who presents a new development of the hip-hop Symphonic rap and performs music written by Everaldo Martinez, and also records with other local artists. Dr. Vacarciuc is part of the Sonorus String Quartet, that has recorded a recital for Prairie Musicians on PBS TV Channel that airs frequently. She also has a private teaching studio where she teaches cello to students of all ages. One of her advanced students, Tiffany Peterson has won competitions with the regional orchestras, and most recently has received full scholarship as a music major from University of Minnesota. Ms. Vacarciuc is frequently featured on the Dakota Media Access as chamber/solo musician as well as with her students in the concerts.

Dr. Oscar Everaldo Martinez studied violin performance at the Francisco Diaz Zelaya Conservatory of Music in his home country of Honduras with internationally renowned teachers including Russian violinist, Olga Kim; Mexican violinist Hernan Cortez; Venezuelan violinist Eddi Marcano; and mentorship by American violinist, Elizabeth Clendenning of the Cleveland Orchestra. Martinez won numerous solo and chamber music competitions there and played a solo with the school orchestra and the Youth Orchestra of Tegucigalpa. Martinez played first violin for ten years in the Sinfonica Nacional de Honduras (Honduran National Symphony) and served    as Concertmaster for several groups. He was active as first violin with the Contrastes String Quartet, touring many Central American concert halls. Martinez came to the United States in 2000, studying with violinist Yakov Voldman from the Moscow State Conservatory. Martinez earned his American performance degree in violin from Southern Louisiana University where he played solo with the orchestra, conducted the school orchestra, and performed concerts featuring his own compositions. Martinez earned Masters’ and Doctoral degrees in violin performance degrees under John Gilbert at Texas Tech University. At TTU Martinez developed educational projects to help music programs in Honduras and Central America, like “Cuerdas de enlace,” a two-week camp focusing on pedagogical training and providing much-needed instruments and strings supplies. Martinez’s efforts culminated in a series of concerts and tours with different ensembles. He also did advanced studies in Conducting and Composition and premiered compositions of his own, as well as of faculty and guests, including Chinese composer Chen Yi. Martinez also conducted and composed music for a newly formed Viola ensemble. Martinez served as a guest lecturer, discussing the evolution of Latin-American music in America. Mr. Martinez was granted the Best Teaching Assistant Award at TTU,

Natalie Cadotte obtient un baccalauréat et une maîtrise en violon de l’Université de Montréal puis se perfectionne à l’Université de Bloomington (Indiana) et à l’Université de New Britain (Connecticut) en pédagogie des cordes. Elle détient également un certificat en sciences de l’éducation de l’UQAM. C’est en 1983 qu’elle débute sa carrière de violoniste en tant que boursière au sein de l’Orchestre des Jeunes du Québec. Puis, de 1986 à 2004, elle occupe le poste de Violon-solo au sein de l’Orchestre Symphonique de Longueuil. Durant ces mêmes années, elle est également membre de l’Orchestre Métropolitain et enregistre fréquemment pour la Société Radio-Canada et participe à plusieurs productions de l’Opéra de Montréal. Elle se passionne de plus pour le violon baroque et joue maintenant régulièrement avec l’Ensemble Caprice et l’Orchestre symphonique de la Vallée du Haut-Saint-Laurent. Elle se produit dans de nombreux Festivals de musique ancienne (Bach, Lamèque, Bologne et Urbino en Italie). Après avoir oeuvré pendant vingt ans en concentration musique à l’École Pierre-Laporte, elle poursuit maintenant une carrière de pédagogue au cégep de Saint-Laurent où elle enseigne le violon, la formation auditive et dirige l’Orchestre de chambre. Avec cet ensemble, elle a remporté à deux reprises une médaille d’or au MusicFest Québec et effectué deux tournées en Italie.

Fedorova Natalya studied in Ufa, at the School of Arts, then at the Academy of Arts. She worked at the Academy of Arts in Ufa, in the Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra. Currently working at Pskov School of Music, Pskov Gubernatorial Symphony Orchestra and 40 years at Pskov School of Children’s Arts. She successfully combines performance and pedagogical activities, has visited various cities in Germany, Latvia, Estonia, Finland on several occasions. Pupils of class Fedorova Natalya took part in competitions for performance skills in Moscow “Merlyakovka invites friends”, in St. Petersburg “Christmas assemblies”, “Petersburg, Latvia and Estonia – competition” Young talents “,” Joy of discovery “in the Pushkin mountains, a Also in the city and regional Pskov competitions and became winner and diplomas. Graduates of the class continue their studies at the Pskov and St. Petersburg music schools.

Vera Boyadzhieva was raised and educated in the city of Varna, Bulgaria. She started her music education at the age of 5 at the State School of Music in her city. She gave her first performance at the age of 11 and has since taken part in many solo concerts and competitions. She graduated and received her Master’s Degree in violin from State Academy of Music-Sofia, Bulgaria where she studied with Prof. Ginka Gichkova( who is a pupil of the great Bulgarian violinist Emil Kamilarov – a Paganini Violin Competition winner) After she finished her highest education, Vera joined the orchestra of New York Harlem Theatre as a freelancer and for the past 17 years she took part periodically in their performances all over Europe and Japan. At the same time in 1996, she commenced work in Varna Symphony Orchestra and later in the State Opera Varna. Moreover, Ms Vera taught the violin at the High School of Music in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as teaching private students since 2000. In 2006, she relocated to Cairo, Egypt where she worked for 5 years as a member of the Cairo Opera Orchestra in the position of an assistant-concertmaster. During her years in Cairo she taught the violin at the British International School and Modern English School. She became very popular as a tutor especially after one of her students won the first prize in “Jugend Musiziert” Competition- Germany. ​
Since 2011, Ms Vera has been teaching the Violin in Singapore and In August 2013, she took the position of Violin Teacher at Musical Art Studio, Singapore.

Canadian-Brazilian Danielle Lisboa leads an active career as an orchestral conductor, music educator, and scholar, regularly conducting community and professional ensembles. On arriving in Canada in 2008, she became Orchestra Toronto’s first apprentice conductor, named assistant conductor two months later and shortly after appointed the orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor. During her tenure, Lisboa became known for her cutting-edge programming and public engagement, resulting in a steep rise in audience numbers. Her vision and dynamic leadership took Orchestra Toronto into new paths for outreach and youth initiatives, including the Marta Hidy Concerto Competition and the popular annual children’s concerts. In 2013, she was nominated for the Heinz Unger Award for Emerging Canadian Conductors presented by the Ontario Arts Council. Two years later she leads Bellus Barbari, the Toronto Women’s Symphony Orchestra, in its inaugural Ontario tour. Lisboa holds a doctorate in orchestral conducting from the Eastman School of Music University of Rochester and a master’s degree from the University of Houston with special emphasis in opera conducting. For two years, she served as assistant conductor to Peter Jacoby at the Moores Opera House being credited with distinguished operatic performances. She was granted numerous scholarships and awards throughout her career, including the Schissler Conducting Prize and an award from the international conducting competition Fundação Oriente held in Portugal. Lisboa began her professional career as a concert pianist. Her academic studies began at Brazil’s largest university, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where she founded a chamber orchestra dedicated to promoting the music of emerging Brazilian composers. Lisboa is an Associate Professor of Music at the Concordia University of Edmonton in the areas of conducting, chamber music, and music theory. She is a former conductor and co-founder of the Edmonton Metropolitan Orchestra. Lisboa maintains an active presence in the community as Music Director and conductor of the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra taking the symphony in outreach concerts to local continuing care hospitals and schools as well as in guest conducting engagements with the Edmonton Metropolitan Chorus. Recent collaborations with the chorus include the première of Alan Bevan’s Ancient of Days.  Danielle Lisboa is the conductor of the Concordia Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble she reinstated in 2017. Her current research interests encompass topics of Women and Leadership on the Orchestral Podium and Analysis and transcription of sacred rituals of native peoples of Brazil with recent partnerships and publications in Portugal and Brazil. In the past years, Lisboa spearheaded Concordia’s first operatic project, developed a string camp for youth, the Stringspiration, and designed a provincial Concerto Competition for youth. The upcoming edition of the CSO Competition in 2023 will feature an Award for Strings.  This Summer, Concordia Symphony’s Chamber Nucleus is proud to host the first Orchestral Training and Leadership Workshop for Strings and Conducting (August 2021).

Khaled Saleh is an assistant professor of violin at Cairo Conservatory, where he teaches since 2005. He is a graduate of Cairo Conservatory, where he studied violin performance with Marlis Youniskhan and Samir Saleh. He got his Master’s degree in violin performance at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2011, where he studied violin performance with Mark Kaplan, and pedagogy with Mimi Zweig. He received his Doctorate of Music degree in 2020 at Cairo Conservatory. He participated in many international workshops and orchestras as a tutti violin and solo performer, including Cairo Symphony Orchestra, West Eastern Divan Orchestra, and the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, besides giving many solo and chamber music recitals. He is a founder and member of Awtar Quartet since 2012, founder and director of Osiris String Orchestra since 2017 and later Isis String Orchestra for amateurs since 2020. He is a jury member and coordinator of Nicolas Latif Music Award and Competition since 2017, and a member of the Music committee of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Culture. His awards include Fulbright Student Scholarship, Jacobs School of Music Dean’s Scholarship, and 1st prize of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Culture Competition. Besides teaching violin at the Cairo Conservatory, he teaches violin, viola, and ensemble groups at the American University in Cairo and Elnour Walamal Association for the visually impaired girls.

Born in Alexandria, Shady Abdelsalam began his violin studies at the age of ten, for ten years under Lisette Maguerditchian at the Conservatoire de Musique d’Alexandrie. He holds a Bachelor of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, 1995. He joined the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra
several times, extensively touring different Mediterranean countries, 1993–1998. As of 1995 and for six years, he was the Administrative Manager and Leader of the Alexandria and Cairo Chamber Orchestras affiliated to the General Authority for Cultural Palaces. He joined the Cairo Opera Orchestra in 1997 for
five years, partaking in the Orchestra performances in France and Germany, conducted by Sherif Mohie-Eldin, 1999. He joined the Cairo Conservatoire, where he studied violin under Prof. Hassan Sharara and Prof. Marlis Yuneskhan. He obtained a Bachelor of Music from the Cairo Conservatoire with Distinction and Honors, 2001. He performed as a soloist with the Cairo Opera Orchestra, the Cairo Conservatoire Orchestra, l’Orchestre du Conservatoire de Musique d’Alexandrie and the Cultural Palaces’ Orchestras in Cairo and Alexandria. He also performed numerous solo recitals at the Cairo Opera House, and in several cultural centers in Cairo and Alexandria. Shady is a Former Leader of the BA Chamber Orchestra, and is the Artistic and Administrative Director of the BA Chamber Orchestra, since 2002. He is also the Founder and the Conductor of the BA Youth Orchestra, since 2003, and the Founder of the BA Junior Orchestra for children over seven years old, since 2005. Moreover, he is the Musical Coach of the German University of Cairo (GUC) Music Ensemble, since 2012. He received a PhD in Performing Arts from the Academy of Arts, Cairo, 2021, and is a Lecturer at the Violin Section of the Academy of Arts.

Elizabeth Sihua, violinist and chamber conductor, was born in 1991 in Ukraine. She has played violin since the age of 6. She studied at the music college in the city of Nikolaev with Mikhailov Anatoly Andreevich. She then was admitted to the Music Academy named after S.S. Prokofiev in the city of Donetsk with Professor Evgeniy Lebedev. A year and a half later, she was transferred to the National Music Academy named after A.V. Nezhdanova. After graduation, she moved to Canada, settling in the city of Regina in 2017, where she met the daughter of the Ukrainian composer Valentin Bibik Natalia Bibik and her husband. Their creative association led to performances of various chamber and solo compositions. She lives in Edmonton since 2019.

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Vladimir Shim – Seine Leidenschaft für Musik manifestierte sich in einem sehr jungen Alter. Als seine Altersgenossen noch bei ihrer Berufswahl schwankten, wusste er genau, in welche Richtung er gehen wird. Herr Shim hat erfolgreich das staatliche Konservatorium in Taschkent absolviert. Dort studierten weltbekannte Musiker, wie Rudolf Kehrer, Alexei Sultakow, Stanislaw Yudenitsch, und weitere Musiker. Ausgebildet wurde er bei der Professorin Alla Kim. Vladimir lehrte in einer Musikschule für begabte Kinder. Er war Künstler des Moskauer Symphonieorchesters (erste Geige) und über 20 Jahre Teil des Kairo Symphonieorchesters (erste Geige). Zusammen mit dem Orchester ist er in Deutschland, Frankreich, Österreich, China, Korea und in vielen anderen Ländern aufgetreten. Darüber hinaus hatte er Solo-Auftritte auf internationalen Bühnen. Er spielte vor den Staatsoberhäuptern von Russland, Frankreich, Ägypten und Deutschland und mit vielen berühmten Künstlern wie Andrea Bocelli, Jean Michel-Jarre, Nikolai Petrow, Gheorghe Zamfir und weiteren Künstlern. Professionelle Lehrerfahrung sammelte Vladimir Shim in internationalen Schulen, wie z.B. „Korean Internationl School“, „Cairo American College“ und „New Cairo British School“. Darüber hinaus war er Dirigent des Kammerorchesters „String Community“. Vladimir Shim‘s Schüler erweisen sich als Gewinner zahlreicher nationaler und internationaler Wettbewerbe und erzielten eine exzellente Benotung, auf musikalischen Festivals und Castings. Viele Schüler entwickelten sich zu professionellen Musikern und wurden in führenden Musikhochschulen und Konservatorien, in Europa und außerhalb, aufgenommen. Zurzeit unterrichtet Vladimir Shim die Violine und leitet das Kammerorchester der internationalen Musikschule “Virtuose” in Essen.

Après avoir complété sa maîtrise au Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, Yannick Chênevert a obtenu un prix avec grande distinction en 1999. En plus d’être professeur au Cégep de Saint-Laurent, il est également professeur de contrebasse à l’Université de Montréal. Aussi à l’aise en musique classique qu’en musique moderne, ce musicien polyvalent est surnuméraire dans les principaux ensembles et orchestres de la grande région de Montréal notamment l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, l’Orchestre Métropolitain ainsi que Les Violons du Roy. Il est membre du Nouvel Ensemble Moderne depuis janvier 2000 et plus récemment, membre de l’ensemble à cordes I Musici.

Mehdat Abdel Salam

Yulyi Mislovskyi

Après un an d’étude de la contrebasse, Anik Hébert a opté pour le violoncelle à l’âge de 19 ans. Neuf ans plus tard, sous la direction de Yuli Turovsky, elle a obtenu une maîtrise en interprétation du violoncelle et la bourse d’excellence du Fonds des amis de l’art de l’Université de Montréal. Boursière du gouvernement du Québec, elle a effectué un stage de perfectionnement en Suisse et en Allemagne, où elle a travaillé entre autres avec Guy Fallot. Anik Hébert s’est produite avec plusieurs formations musicales, dont le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, l’Orchestre Pro Musica Lausanne (Suisse), l’Orchestre de chambre de Constance (Allemagne) et divers orchestres symphoniques québécois. Elle a effectué plusieurs enregistrements pour la Société Radio-Canada, soit comme soliste, soit comme chambriste. Elle a aussi été membre de l’ensemble de violoncelles électriques du violoncelliste Claude Lamothe et a pris part à de nombreux événements tant de musique classique que populaire. Anik Hébert enseigne le violoncelle depuis plus de 20 ans. Au cours de ces années, elle s’est associée à divers programmes scolaires de musique, du primaire au collégial, et elle a enseigné dans plusieurs programmes d’été, dont celui du Camp musical Père-Lindsay. Tout en consacrant maintenant la majeure partie de son temps à l’enseignement du violoncelle, elle poursuit l’élaboration de sa méthode « Tutto Cello! » et participe à divers concerts de musique de chambre. Elle est aussi invitée à donner des classes de maître et à participer à des jurys dans le cadre de divers examens et concours de musique provinciaux. Depuis 2005, elle enseigne avec grand plaisir le violoncelle au Cégep de Saint-Laurent.

BMus UAlberta (Music and Economics), MMusic Ualberta (Wind Band Conducting and Clarinet Performance). Soloist performer at the Winspear Centre, as Winner of the 2020 U of A concerto competition. Co-founded and conducted the U of A Brass Choir, Conducting Intern with the Edmonton Youth Orchestra. An international student from China, she is currently pursuing the DMus program at the University of Alberta.

Being born into a family of professional musicians in Russia, from her childhood Varvara Merzlova knew no other way of living but to be connected with music. A student of her mother, one of the best violin teachers in Kirov music school and later of her father, a talented violinist in College of Arts, Varvara has also chosen a path of becoming a violinist in her life. Five years in Russian Academy of Music in Moscow were really demanding, but full of wonderful, useful experiences and meetings with outstanding Russian musicians. Next step was Cairo Symphony Orchestra. Varvara has lived and worked in Egypt for four years. Unforgettable concerts with the best musicians from all over the world are still vivid in her memory! Since 17 years until now Varvara continues her musical journey in the Mediterranean. Beautiful island Cyprus has become her second homeland, where Varvara with great pleasure plays the violin in the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, teaches the violin and enjoys her family life.

Guillaume Tardif is Associate Professor of Violin and serves as String Area Coordinator at the Department of Music, University of Alberta. His current research explores various aspects of the history and practice of the violin, and often features new or neglected works – such as Gallois-Montbrun’s accompanied version of Paganini’s 24 Caprices, which he presented at Carnegie-Weill Hall. Guillaume Tardif has appeared widely as a violin soloist and guest professor, collaborating with ensembles and distinguished artists in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australasia. He produced a number of CD recordings, violin arrangements, and cadenzas, and led projects such as the SSHRC-sponsored Genius of the Violin video-documentary and the Dare to Discover Series with the Enterprise Quartet. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music (DMA) and the Conservatoire du Quebec.

Moshe Hammer – Admired for his artistic style, unique interpretations and vibrant tone, violinist Moshe Hammer, Hungarian born, was raised in Israel and studied there with Ilona Feher. As a student of Jascha Heifetz he was a medal winner at the Concours Jacques Thibaud in Paris. Hammer’s tours have taken him across North America, Europe Israel and the Far-East. His performances have consistently energized critics, thrilled audiences and earned respect among his colleagues. A naturalized Canadian, Moshe Hammer traveled the concert venues of the world and performed with many symphony orchestras. He has been the founder and leader of the Toronto based chamber group, The Amadeus Ensemble. As member of Da Camera, he has thrilled audiences in Canada, US and Europe with regular visits to the Netherlands, including world-renowned Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Moshe brings to his performances a charismatic stage presence, a tone of unmatched subtlety, vitality and artistry of the highest order. Hammer offers violin master classes everywhere he travels. His wide-ranging discography reflects a multi-faceted talent. In 2007 Moshe launched The Hammer Band; with this program, school kids in underserved areas are presented with free music lessons and violins. Changing Tunes – Changing Lives !!! TheHammerBand.com

Belgian violinist Henry Raudales was born in Guatemala into a musical family. His father Enrique Raudales, a student of Zino Francescatti, Henryk Szeryng (violin) and Erich Kleiber (conducting), started Henry on the violin at the age of four. Aged seven he played his first public concert with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra which caught the attention of Yehudi Menuhin, who recommended him for a scholarship in London. At age 14 he received the award Young Violinist of the Year by the Panamerican Union. Henry studied conducting and violin at the conservatory of Guatemala, Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp with teachers such as Nathan Milstein, Erick Friedman, Henryk Szeryng and Mrs. Kogan. In 1985 he won the 3rd prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. Since then, he has given innumerable concerts and recitals throughout the world, sharing the stage with renowned artists such as Pierre Amoyal, Nigel Kennedy and Yehudi Menuhin. His ties to Belgium remain strong: having played as a concertmaster at the Royal Flemish Opera, he is also a founding member of the Belgian chamber orchestra Enkabara and since 2005 the concertmaster of Brussels Philharmonic. Additionally, since 2001 he has been the concertmaster of the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, with whom he has recorded over 80 CDs, both as soloist as well as conductor. His most recent recordings include a critically acclaimed disc of Mendelssohn’s six symphonies and early Violin Concerto, and albums of the orchestral music of Paul Graener, works by Walter Braunfels and the Concerto Gregoriano for violin by Ottorino Respighi. Henry Raudales plays a Guadagnini violin from 1787.