Ivan Kiwuwa - Piano
 
Introducing the finest New Generation of pianists, the 2008 New Masters Series welcomes the return of this truely gifted young artist. "The public unveiling of a new phenomenal talent" Nicola Lisle 15.06.07 OXFORD TIMES

Ivan Kiwuwa is a prodigious talent - and not just at the piano. Born in Uganda he started his musical career as the lead chorister at Kampala Cathedral. He commenced piano studies at the age of 13 with Fiona Carr MBE and one year later also began violin lessons with Isobel Turner. After only 14 months studying the violin, his talent was spotted at a masterclass by Maxim Vengerov and Ivan made his concert debut with this great maestro, performing Bach's Double Violin concerto with the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany.  However, it is his mastery of the piano keyboard, that his reputation has now become established as an artist destined for stardom. He is currently continuing his studies in London at The Guildhall school of Music and Drama under Professor Ronan O'Hora, where in 2003, he was awarded a full scholarship. Ivan has won numerous prizes for his memorable performances and has given recitals at The Purcell Room on London's South Bank, Leighton House, National Theatre Nairobi as soloist in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
His recent recital at the Jacqueline du Pre Hall, Oxford, in the New Masters Series, drew ecstatic reviews, including the OXFORD TIMES "…This was an exhilarating and enthralling programme, given by a brilliant but seemingly unassuming young man, who is clearly destined for international stardom. Absolutely wonderful"
Ivan Kiwuwa played works by Handel, Mozart,
Debussy and Schubert

Young-Choon Park - Piano
"The New Masters Series at the Court Theatre Tring has earned a reputation within a comparatively short time for presenting outstanding young artists" Robert Matthew-Walker MUSICAL OPINION

South Korean born Young-Choon Park has enthralled audiences and critics the world over for the refinement and sensitivity of her playing. A child prodigy, she played the Beethoven Piano Concerto No 1 with the Seoul Symphony Orchestra at the age of nine and went on to study at the Juilliard School in New York and later gained the highest Masters Degree at the Hochschule in Munich. She has performed at major concert venues and music festivals in thirty-two countries performing both solo recitals and concertos with many of the world's leading orchestras. She has broadcast on radio and television and is currently recording the complete Mozart Piano Concertos for Duchesne World Records, Belgium.  The Sunday Times describe her playing as "Individually refreshing and demonstrating real passion and style as well as outstanding technical mastery" "Seductive clarity …power, fire and passion" Suddeutsche Zeitung "Dazzling Technique" La Libre Belgique. "A name to remember" Arnhemse Courant
Young-Choon played works be Haydn, Chopin, Beethoven, Liszt and Scarlatti

Dimitris Dekavallas Guitar
"a very exciting performer"
JULIAN BREAM

"The New Masters Series at the Court Theatre Tring has earned a reputation within a comparatively short time for presenting outstanding young artists"
Robert Matthew-Walker MUSICAL OPINION

Dimitris Dekavallas is considered by critics to be "One of the most talented guitarists of the age" and another "Dimitris filled the hall with the huge volume of sound he produced…..stunning performance"

The CLASSICAL GUITAR SOCIETY described Dimitris recital on a guitar once owned by John Williams as  "A masterly performance. The sound crystal clear with wonderful variation of tone…like hearing the piece for the first time"

Dimitris is a renowned International Prize Winner, including:   National Guitar Competition (Ode to Guitar); Veria National Guitar Competition; Volos International Guitar Competition, Ivor Mairants Guitar Award and a host of others, including "Special Audience Prize" in Bucharest this year.

Dimitris gave his first public performance aged nine at the National Concert Hall in Athens, and went on to study at the Hellenic Conservatory of Athens from which he graduated in 2002 with First Prize achieving the highest possible mark in the process.  In 2005 he commenced his postgraduate degree at the Royal Academy in London, winning the Tebbutt Exhibition Scholarship.  He received his Diploma of Postgraduate Performance with Distinction and his L.R.A.M Teaching Diploma, again with distinction in 2007 and the additional the 'Blyth Watson Award.  Since Graduating, his extraordinary prowess has led to concert tours throughout Greece and Internationally.  Recent appearances in the UK include St. Martin's in the Field, St Pauls, Sheffield Cathedral and masterclasses with John Williams and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett.

DEMITRIS DEKAVALLAS played popular works for the classical guitar including BACH, ALBENIZ, RODRIGO, GIULIANI, LAURO and MOREL

Bing Bing Li - Piano
"Bing Bing Li held the relatively large audience spellbound by he virtuosity, the quality of her playing and commitment to the music… remarkable recital"
Musical Opinion

"Immensely delicate playing showing off the grandeur of the soloist's seemingly effortless display" Bristol News Today

"Bing Bing performed with vigour and authority… a refreshing contrast and torrent of inventiveness" The Times and Sunday Times (Southbank)

Bing Bing Li is a dazzling talent at the piano, considered by all who have had the privilege to witness this young talent, as destined for international renown.

As a child prodigy aged just 7, Bing Bing received the title 'Star of the Future' from the Government of Jilin Province, China. At the age of 10, she was declared by Karl-Heinz Kaemmerling "A hugely gifted young pianist" and went on to win China's National Piano Competition, also making her recording debut performing Bach's Two and Three Part Inventions, released on the Universal Label and broadcast throughout China, where she is indeed already famous. Shortly after moving to the UK in 2001, Bing Bing won the UK Benslow Young Pianist of the Year Award and was the winner at the Marlow International Music Festival. She is currently studying under Sir Christopher Elton, Head of Keyboard at the Royal Academy of Music, where she received the Liversedge Award, the Hilda Day Award and the Krein Scholarship. Bing Bing's prodigious talents have taken her to the USA, France, Italy and Holland, all to critical acclaim. Engagements in USA include New York's Mannes College, New England Conservatory and the Boston Conservatory. She is also now a frequent performer at London's Wigmore Hall. Bing Bing Li played music by: CHhopin, Scriabin and Haydn


2008 GUILDHALL GOLD MEDALLIST
Sasha Grynyuk - Piano
Sasha Grynyuk is undoubtedly one of the finest and most exciting new generation of concert pianists to emerge today. Referred to by Charles Rosen as
"Remarkable unfailing musicality"; "Beautiful cantabile sound"; Splendid technique and electrifying performance" are all typical reviews for Sasha's performances. Winner of numerous competitions and international prizes, not least the prestigious 'Gold Medal' awarded this year to Sasha, by the Guildhall for "His outstanding performance in the Brahms Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor Op 15" 
Judged, amongst others, by Sir Andrew Davis and reviewed by Max Harrison:
"Indeed a magnificent interpretation fully matching the score's power"

Sasha was born in Kiev, in the Ukraine and at the tender age of 11 received the "Future of Ukraine" Presidential Award as Musician of the Year and went
on to win the Horowitz and Gilels International competitions. Sasha made his recital debut at London's South Bank 2004 and has subsequently
performed as soloist. in chamber ensemble and concerti throughout Europe, Japan and the USA, including appearances at the Wigmore Hall, Queen
Elizabeth Hall, Barbican Hall, Symphony Hall Birmingham and New York's Carnegie Hall. Sasha recently won first prize and high acclaim in the
Hamamatsu Piano Academy Competition, also winner at the Haverill International Music and Tunbridge Wells Young Concert Artists competition. He has performed in a series of Masterclasses under Murray Perahia, Stephen Kovacevich, Stephen Hough, Richard Good, Emmanual Ax and Boris Berman.
His recent memorable performance concluded the 2008 Bledington Music Festival in the Cotswolds, receiving a prolonged standing ovation.

Sasha Grynyuk played music by
SCHUBERT, DUBUSSY, BACH, HAYDN and CHOPIN