Artists

As a pupil of Ana Chumachenko and the holder of a scholarship from the International Menuhin Music Academy, Wolfgang Schröder played as a soloist next to Yehudi Menuhin at an early age. He continued his studies under Prof. Sandor Vegh at the Salzburg “Mozarteum” and under Prof. Aaron Rosand in New York. Wolfgang Schröder’s solo and chamber music career has taken him around the world to the most important musical centers and festivals. As an active chamber musician, in 1992 he founded the Belcanto String Trio and from 1996 to 2005 has regularly performed as the violinist of the Trio Parnassus. In September 2001 the Trio Parnassus received the prestigious ‘Echo Classic Award’ for their complete recording of the Schumann piano trios. He was artistic director of the European Union Chamber orchestra and the Camerata Stuttgart for several years. Wolfgang Schröder has made recordings for MDG, Divox, Ars Production, Thorofon, Symicon and CPO labels. Since 2005 he is the Concertmaster of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He plays on a violin by Jean Baptist Vuillaume from 1857.

Sorin Alexandru Horlea was born in Bucharest in 1975 and started the violin at the age of 8. He graduated from "George Enescu Music High-School" where he studied under maestro Octav Savitchi and "Ciprian Porumbescu Music University" where his Professor was maestro Daniel Podlovschi. He took part in summer-courses with Viktor Pikaizen and Eugen Sarbu. In 1997 he won the third prize at the George Enescu Childhood Memories contest in Bucharest. During his university studies he played in the "Radio Chamber Orchestra", "Philarmonia Chamber Orchestra" and in Bucharest Opera but mainly in "George Enescu Philharmonic". In 2000 he moved to Lebanon to fulfil his position in Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra", where he became the assistant concert master. In 2005 he moved to Cyprus and since then is a member of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He is also working as an associate teacher of the Cyprus Youth Orchestra. He performed lots of concerts and recitals as a soloist and in various chamber groups in Romania, France, Netherlands, Lebanon and Cyprus. Sorin also performs concerts in other styles including jazz and folk. He is member of "Cyprus String Quartet", also member of folk band "Danube Quartet". He performs regularly contemporary music as he is a resident member of the Avaton Festival and Chronos Ensamble. Sorin is playing on a modern violin by Stephan Sultanian. He has a web page www.youtube.com/sorinestera where one can listen many samples of his live concerts.

Virginie Bove was born in 1977 in Paris. Her interest and love for music started at an early age and lead her to begin studying the flute at eleven years old. She had the opportunity to study with some great flutists in France and abroad, including M. Beaucoudray, M. Debost, M. Dufour, C. Lefèbvre, P. Dumail, P. Bernold and G. Alirol. Virginie completed her studies from the Conservatories of Paris and Saint-Maur attaining first prices. She worked as the Principal Flutist of Sorbonne Symphony Orchestra de Paris and performed in many venues around the world and worked with remarquable conductors such J. Levine, E. Krivine, G. Prêtre, and P. Galois. Since 2005 she is leaving in Cyprus where she works as the sub-principal/piccolo flute player in the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. She is the founder of Evohe Wind Quintet as well as musician in residence at the Avaton Contemporary Music Festival. She is professor of flute at the ARTE Academy of Music and at the Cyprus Youth Orchestra’s scholarship scheme.

Agata Jozwik graduated from The Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw from a piano class of Professor Anna Jastrzebska-Quinn receiving Master of Art Diploma. Before she finished her studies became an accompanist in clarinet class in Warsaw Academy and clarinet competitions in Poland (Wloszczakowice) and Czech Republic (during Prague Spring in 1996). With violinist Malina Sarnowska, she made a CD recording “Pawel Kochanski in memoriam” published by Acte Prealable. Together with Ewa Bartmann - viola, she performed in Poland, FYROM and UK and both were awarded with scholarship by E.M.Brahner Trust to take part in Dartington International Summer Music School in 1999. Since 2003 she lives in Cyprus, teaches piano in Ethnicon Odeon of Cyprus and enjoys a freelance career. She is a resident musician at the Avaton Contemporary Music Festival and a member of the Chronos Contemporary Music Ensemble. 

The cypriot soprano Zoe Nicolaidou has been described to have "a noble sound and gifted with a radiant and moving presence."

She was part of Paris Opera’s Young Artists Program (Atelier Lyrique) where she trained from 2009 – 2011, and has made her debut under the baton of conductors such as Philippe Jordan (Suor Angelica), Bernhard Kontarsky (Faust, Fenelon), Dan Ettinger and Evelino Pido (Le Nozze di Figaro/ Barbarina). She has received the Le Prix Lyrique du cercle Carpeaux in 2011 that rewards the most promising young singer of the season.

In the last few seasons she has interpreted the roles of: Amor (Orpheus und Eurydike) at Palais Garnier followed by a tour at Lincoln Center New York (Balthaasar Neumann Ensemble- Thomas Hengelbrock), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) at the Festival Oper Klosterneuburg, Titania (The Fairy Queen, Purcell) with the Ensemble de Lausanne in Switzerland, Serpetta (La Finta Giardiniera) in Bobigny MC93, Euridice (Orfeo ed Euridice) and a Flower girl (Parsifal) at Theater Aachen, Mae Jones (Street Scene), the Nymph (Euridice, Peri) at the Kammeroper Wien, Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), Amore (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) in Schönbrunner Theater and Popelka (Veselohra na moste) at the Festival Retz in Austria.

Equally successful in recital and concert her concert repertoire covers oratorio and symphonic works such as: Brahms Deutsches Requiem, Mozart Requiem, Mahler's Symphony No. 4, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Magnificat, Haydn’s Stabat Mater, and Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers, Bach’s B minor mass, Die Rose (Der Rose Pilgefahrt, Schumann), Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers (Haydn) performed at Palais Garnier, Musikverein Wien, Rudolfinum Prague, Villa Medicis (Rome), Montpellier Opéra Corum, Opéra de Toulon, Festival Echternach, Amphitheatre (Bastille), Festival La Roque d’Antheron, Wratislavia Cantans Festival, Wiltz Festival, and with orchestras such as Orquesta de Santiago de Compostella (Antoni Ros Marba), Solistes Européens de Luxembourg, Orchestre de l'opéra national de Paris,

Ms Nicolaidou has also sung some World Premieres including: Piotr Moss's "et après eux le silence" in France as well as Kabat’s "Misterium Fidei" in Luxembourg and in Prague (Dvorak- hall)

She is a first prize-winner of the “Schlossoper Haldenstein International Singing Competition 2007” which subsequently led to the role of Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) at the Haldenstein Open-air Festival. She is also a finalist of the “Hilde Zadek Singing Competition 2007” in Vienna and Laureate of the "Prix Lyrique du cercle Carpeaux 2011" in France. Zoe Nicoladou has studied classical singing at the University for Music and dramatic arts in Vienna (Magister Artium).

Future engangements include: Pamina (Die Zauberflöte) anD Musetta (La Bohème), Mahler's Symphony No. 4 and Ravel's Mélodies Hébraïques in Casa da Musica in Portugal, Fauré's Requiem and Händel's 'The Messiah' with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, a song recital (Duparc/ Chausson/ de Falla), Mahler's Symphony No. 4 with the Thessaloniki State Orchestra and with the Euskadi Symphony Orchestra on tour in Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona under the baton of Jun Märkl...

George Georgiou was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1984. He began his clarinet lessons at the age of 9 with Dusko Zarkovic and later on with Kleanthis Zambakides and Rocco Sbartella. He holds degrees from City University (Bmus and MA in music performance studies) under the supervision of professor Rhian Samuel where he studied clarinet with Julian Farrell and Joy Farral at GSMD. As soloist he appeared with CUSO and Moscow Vistuosi and he performed many recitals at Cyprus, UK, Ireland, Greece and USA. He has been a member of Skolia Ensemble, Smithfield Symphonia, CUSO, City University Middle East Ensemble and he appeared in venues such as St. John Smith Square, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Warehouse Waterloo, LSO St. Lukes etc.
Mr. Georgiou has collaborated with several musicians around the globe like cellist Rohan de Saram, Movses Pogossian, Vladimir Spivakov to name a few. He was artist in residence during the 2010 Apple Hill Summer Festival (USA) and he worked very closely with both the Apple Hill String Quartet and the upcoming Semplice String Quartet. He worked closely with the biggest cultural organisations in Cyprus including the prestigious Pharos Trust.     
Since 2008, he has been leaving in Cyprus where he is teaching clarinet and chamber music at the Cyprus national music schools and also working as a conductor’s assistant with the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra. He is also musician in residence at the Avaton Contemporary Music Festival (Limassol).
His interest at contemporary music had let him to give many premiers in Cyprus as well as work together with many young Cypriot composers in their new works. He already has several dedications by Cypriot composers for clarinet or bass clarinet and he performed many world premiers in works by Cypriot Composers and he will be releasing a CD during 2012 dedicated to clarinet music by Cypriot Composers.

Education: Charles University Graduate with Honors and Master’s Degree on Music Education with Choir Conducting (1999-2004).

Personal and Professional Experience:

• In 1995 I represented Cyprus in Thessaloniki Song Festival as a performer achieving fourth place.

• During my military service I served at the Military Music Department of the Cypriot National Guard (1998-1999)

• During my studies I have worked for 5 weeks in Czech schools teaching children aged 8-12 while exercising my practice

• I collaborated with the Czech Professional Choir Boni Pueri instructing and presenting a concert at the end of the academic year 2003-2004.

• In November 2006 I was a Conductor of the Children Choir of the Municipality of Kerynia teaching Traditional Cypriot songs.

• I have worked as a music teacher for a European project focusing mainly on the development of social welfare through children care and education.

• From November 2007 to August 2008 I have worked as a music teacher for the Municipal Multipurpose Centre of Nicosia.

• During the years 2008-2012 I have worked as a music teacher for a private school in Nicosia.

• In cooperation with the Municipality of Karavas, in July 2009 we released a CD titles “In Karavas”. The album included three songs which I composed, orchestrated and performed.

• I patricipate in a variety of events for the Municipalities of both Kerynia and Karavas.

• I professionally compose, orchestrate and perform arrangements taking part in various competitions like the Junior Eurovision Contest in 2008 and the Cyprus song writing competition in 2012-2013.

• I teach piano, guitar, theory of music and voice training.

• In 2011 I attended a seminar organized by the pedagogical institute about the use of electronic software in teaching music ( Sibelius 6) . The seminar was completed after 18 sessions and mainly focused on Sibelius version 6.0.

• In 2012 I attended a seminar organized by the Ministry of Education about music bands in schools.

• During school year 2011-2012 along with my students we were awarded first place at the student music competition organized by the Ministry of Education in the context of Traditional Cypriot music.

• In 2012 participated in the 20th CYPRUS SONG WRITING COMPETITION achieving fifth place.

• In 2013 I participated in the 21^st CYPRUS SONG WRITING COMPETITION achieving first place for performance and third place for composition.

Interests:Music, Sports

ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΚΑΛΟΓΗΡΟΥ

Γεννήθηκε στη Λευκωσία το 1981.Απο την ηλικία των οκτώ ετών πήρε μαθήματα βιολιού με τη Γεωργία Ορφανού και μετά στο Εθνικό Ωδείο με το Δημήτρη Πετρίδη με τον οποίο παρακολούθησε και ανώτερα θεωρητικά.

Είναι απόφοιτος της Θεολογικής σχολής του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης.

Παράλληλα ολοκλήρωσε τον κύκλο σπουδών στο λαούτο, δημοτικό τραγούδι, θεωρία βυζαντινής και παραδοσιακής μουσικής και στη βυζαντινή μουσική (πτυχίο, δίπλωμα) στη σχολή βυζαντινής και παραδοσιακής μουσικής «Eν Χορδαίς» στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Παρακολούθησε επίσης μαθήματα κρητικού λαούτου με τον Γιώργη Ξυλούρη, σεμινάρια για ούτι με τον Mehmet Bitmez και βιολιού με τον Baki Kemanci, και σεμινάρια σύνθεσης και ενορχήστρωσης με τον Ross Daly. Υπήρξε μέλος και σολίστ  της χορωδίας νέων Άγιος Ιωάννης ο Χρυσόστομος Θεσσαλονίκης.

Συμμετέχει ως ερμηνευτής στις δισκογραφικές δουλειές:     «... και τα μάτια τους στάζουν Καππαδοκία» σε μουσική Χρυσόστομου Σταμούλη και ποίηση Γιώργου Θέμελη και Κυριάκου Χαραλαμπίδη, «Το τραγούδι του ερωδιού» σε μουσική και στίχους Χρυσόστομου Σταμούλη, και «Χώρας Ιστόρηση» σε μουσική Μιχάλη Χριστοδουλίδη και ποίηση Ευρυδίκης Περικλέους-Παπαδοπούλου. Συνεργάστηκε επίσης με το συνθέτη Χρήστο Λεοντή.

Έγραψε μουσική για θεατρικές παραστάσεις, ντοκυμαντέρ και τηλεοπτικές σειρές.
Το 2009 κυκλοφόρησε την πρώτη του προσωπική δισκογραφική δουλειά με συμπαραγωγό την anemos music art/ILP productions, με τίτλο: «Καλά το λεν για το φεγγάρι...» σε στίχους του ιδίου, Παναγιώτη Θωμά και σε ποίηση Κώστα Μόντη, Κυριάκου Χαραλαμπίδη, Μιχάλη Πασιαρδή, Βασίλη Μιχαηλίδη και Στασίνου. Στο δίσκο αυτό συμμετέχουν ο συνθέτης Χρυσόστομος Σταμούλης, ο Γιώργης Ξυλούρης, η Μαρία Παπαλεοντίου, ο Παναγιώτης Θωμά και οι Βόρειοι Εταίροι.
Το 2010 κυκλοφόρησε η δεύτερη δισκογραφική του δουλειά με τίτλο: «Ο τεπάρισσος» σε ποίηση Γιάννη Κυπρή στην οποία συμμετέχει η Σοφία Παπάζογλου.

Με συνεργάτες του φτιάξανε το μουσικό σχήμα «Ενδοχώρα» με το οποίο παρουσίασε τα τραγούδια του με συναυλίες σε Ελλάδα, Κύπρο και Αγγλία.

Το Σεπτέμβριο του 2011 παρουσίασε με συναυλία στη Λευκωσία την τελευταία του συνθετική δουλειά  με τραγούδια σε ποίηση  Γιώργου Σεφέρη και συνεχίζει τη συνθετική εργασία στον τομέα της τραγουδοποιείας.

Εργάστηκε ως καθηγητής μουσικής στο Xenion High School στο Παραλίμνι και απο το 2012 διδάσκει λαούτο και Βυζαντινή Μουσική στα Μουσικά Λύκεια Κύπρου και είναι μαέστρος της Δημοτικής χορωδίας Δερύνειας.

Anna Kalogirou (b. Cyprus, 1993) is an emerging composer, interested in a variety of musical expressions and the combination of different art forms. She is also a performer, a pianist and vocalist, who has participated in various ensembles such as tango ensemble and contemporary collective ensemble.

Following her Bachelor degree in Music (BMus with special studies in Performance and Composition) at Royal Holloway, University of London, under the direction of Mark Bowden, Helen Grime and Christopher Mayo. She is currently a postgraduate student at

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, UK. Anna focuses on classical contemporary composition under the supervision of Paul Newland and Sam Hayden.

Her works have been performed in the UK, Italy and Cyprus. One of her first works, written during the Florence Composition Factory masterclass with the composer Andrea Portera, was premiered in Tuscany, in 2013. Her next commissioned work for solo clarinet was premiered in Nicosia under the theme “Women in Music”, in 2014.

Having worked with artists from different art forms such as performance designers, dancers and animation designers Anna is aiming for more collaborations and crossover projects for future engagements. She is also interested in the electronic and traditional world music, such as the eastern approach, along with the contemporary classical composition, something that her current project focuses on.

Anna wishes to continue exploring the compositional paths in both acoustic and electronic music. In September 2015 she is moving to Cyprus for a year in order to develop her recent project “On a contemporary approach to byzantine music”. Her latest work is a 12-minute piece called Apo-echos for cello, tape and live electronics exploring byzantine music from a contemporary perspective.  She is currently working on her final 40-minute recital, which will be on the 9^th of September 2015 at Blackheath Halls.