Alumni Achievements

iPalpiti’s alumni have become leading soloists, concertmasters, and orchestral and chamber players around the world.

While the accomplishments of all 300+ alumni would be too lengthy to list, here are some highlights:

Roman Patkoló ( Slovakia) - Double Bass Soloist under Columbia Artists Management. Leader, Bassonia Amorosa. Member, Zurich Opera. Collaborates with Anne-Sofia Mütter, including performance with the Boston and London Symphonies in the premieres of Previn’s Double Concerto. “I’ve never heard such a fantastic player,” said Previn. “...[Patkoló] certainly lived up to his billing as a sensational soloist...” - Strad Magazine Alexandru Tomescu (Romania) - State Soloist of Romania, international soloist. Performs on Stradivarius violin from the State collection. Records four CDs annually. Winner of 28 international awards, and recognized as a “violin superstar” by the prestigious Strad (UK) and Classica (France) magazines. Pavel Sporcl (Czech Republic) - Ranks among the foremost representatives of today’s young generation of violinists. Frequent guest of TV and radio programs; exclusive Supraphon artist, awarded Gold & Platinum albums.

Valentina Lisitsa (Ukraine - France) - Compared by critics to the legendary artists Horowitz and Rachmaninov. Collaborates with Lynn Harrell, Ida Haendel, Cho-Liang Lin, Vadim Repin, and Hilary Hahn. IMG Artists.

Sayako Kusaka (Japan) - First Concertmaster of Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin (formerly Berlin Symphony Orchestra founded by Kurt Sonderling). “Best Musician of the Year” award from Critic’s Association of Japan (2005), Idemitsu Music Prize (2009). Top prizes in the most prestigious competitions. Solo engagements in prestigious series in Europe and Japan.

Luiza Borac (Romania) - Concert pianist. BBC 2007 award for the best solo CD recording of the year. (Avie Records) “… pianist of enviable professionalism”- Gramophone. Featured covers & reviews in Fanfare and Gramophone and other major international publications. Faculty, Hanover Hochschule.

Cameron Carpenter (USA) - Multiple Grammy nominee. “Maveric Organist” –New York Times. Multi-album record contract with TELARC® Digital. Karina Canellakis (USA) - Guest Conductor with major orchestras. Appointed as Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra starting 2019 season. Concert Violinist. Askonas Holt Management

Latonia Moore (USA) - Performs with Dresden, Covent Garden and Houston Opera companies in leading soprano roles. Winner of the Metropolitan Opera’s National Auditions. Recorded Mahler 2nd Symphony with Deutsche Grammophon. Laifer Artist Management.

Boris Brovtsyn (Russia) - Soloist and Chamber ensemble violinist, IMG Artists. Former: Concertmaster, Kremerata Baltika, Royal Coventgarden. Prize-winner of international violin competitions. Under prestigious Caecilia management. Svetlana Smolina (Russia - USA) - Performs with orchestras and in recitals worldwide, including Mariinsky Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic at Avery Fischer, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestra National de France. iPalpiti debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2011. Daniel Austrich (Russia - Germany) - Violinist and member of the Michelangelo Quartet – the youngest to play alongside such renowned artists in a classical international world as violist Nobuko Imai, cellist Frans Helmerson, and violinist Michaela Martin.

Vadim Tchijik (France) - Award and recording contract with Harmonia Mundi, recital engagements and festival performances in Europe. Professor at Rameau & Satie conservatories in Paris. Lisa Kerob (France) - Concertmaster of the Monte Carlo Symphony, Monaco. Peter Schoeman (RSA) - Leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Robert Kowalski (Poland) - Violinist, Szymanowski Quartet. Former: First Concertmaster at the Radio Orchestra in Lugano / Switzerland. Catharina Chen (Norway) - iPalpiti Ambassador. Soloist. First Concertmaster, Norway National Opera Theater. Leader: Oslo Camerata, Norway Chamber Orchestra. Member of iPalpiti since 2004. Conrad Chow (Canada) - Soloist. Faculty, Royal Conservatory of Music. Jury, international competitions. Peter Rainer (Germany) - Concertmaster, Kammerkademie Potsdam; Leader, Persius Ensemble; guest soloist. Professor, Unversitat der Kunste Berlin and Hanns Eisler Hochschule fur Musik.

Juan Miguel Hernandez (Canada) - Concert violist. Professor, Head of Chamber Music, University of Montreal. Former: Violist, Fine Arts Quartet, Professor, Royal Academy of Music, London. Julia Sakharova (Moldova) - Violinist, Arianna String Quartet. Assistant Professor of Violin, University of Missouri, St. Louis. Former: Associate Concertmaster, Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Daniel Turcina (Slovakia) - Violinist, Trondheim Orchestra and Soloists, Norway. Artistic leader, Chamber Philharmony. Alexander Snytkin (Lithuania) - Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Former: Concertmaster, Bergen Philharmonic, Norway. Vladimir Dyo (USA) - Founder, Global Music Partnership. Former: Faculty, Boyer College of Music, Temple University, Philadelphia. Concertmaster, Capital Philharmonic, New Jersey. Vesselin Demirev (Bulgaria) - Concertmaster, Aalborg National Symphony, Denmark. Yamei Yu (China) - Concertmaster, Bavarian State Orchestra in Munich. Professor chair for violin at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Dusseldorf.

Eugenia Pikovsky (Israel) - Principal violinist, Israel Philharmonic. Former: Concertmaster, Bern Symphony, Switzerland; Concertmaster Jerusalem Symphony. Ryo Mikami (Japan) - Co-Concertmaster, Sapporo Symphony. Former: Member, Lausanne Soloists (Swiss). Misa Yamuro (Japan) - 1st violinist, Berlin Radio Symphony; former, Munich Philharmonic (Zubin Mehta, Director).

Catherine Leonard (Ireland) - Leading violinist in Ireland and sought-after soloist in Europe. Miroslava Ivanchenko (Ukraine) - Tours as soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and the U.S. Dayton Philharmonic, assistant principal. Former: Alabama Symphony, Concertmaster New World Symphony (Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor).

Lauraine Desgrees De Lou (France) - Chamber musician, 1st violinist, Paris opera. Michael Arlt, Philipp Bonen (Germany) - Violinists of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Xinlai Jiang (Hong Kong / China) - Principal Bass, Hong Kong Philharmonic. Thibault Vieux (France) - Assistant Concertmaster, Paris Opera. Peter Danis (Slovakia) - Concertmaster, Malaysia National Symphony. Ken Aiso (Japan) - Violinist/violist, chamber musician, Former: Leader of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in London. Faculty - Royal Academy of Music. Eliah Sakakushev (Bulgaria) - Artistic Director of Villa Seligmann of Hanover - Germany’s only full time organization for Jewish Music and Jewish Sacred Music. Artistic Director, Musikfest Schloss Wonfurt, Germany. Former: Director of the Jewish Music Festival in Madrid. Principal, Auckland Symphony, New Zealand. Pedro Carneiro (Portugal) - Recognized as one of the world’s foremost solo percussionists, performs frequently in Europe, the Far East and the USA, and a guest soloist with numerous orchestras. Solo recordings. Alexander Dzyubinski (Moldova) - Principal, 2nd Violins, Aalborg Symfoniorkester, Denmark. Fumika Yamamura (Japan) and Gabriel Bussi (Uruguay) - Violinists, members of Orquestra de Sinfonia de Galicia, one of Spain’s premier orchestras. Robert Ashworth (Canada) - Member of Auckland Philharmonic, New Zealand. Timo-Veikko Valve (Finland) - Principal Solo Cellist, Australian Chamber Orchestra; founding member, Helsinki Cello Ensemble.

Emmanuel Held (Germany) - 1st violin section, Dresden Staatskapella. Janna Dimont (Israel / Cyprus) - Concertmaster, Cyprus Chamber Orchestra. Dennis Posin (Germany) - 1st violin section, National Mannheim Opera. Dmitri Ratush (Israel) - Violist, Israel Philharmonic. Former: Principal Violist, Bern Symphony, Switzerland; Israel Camerata.

Raushan Akhmedyarova (Kazakhstan) - 1st violinist, San Francisco Symphony; former: Concertmaster of New World Symphony. Alex Akimov (Russia) - Violist. Member, Moscow State Orchestra. Winner, Brahms International Competition (Vienna, 2004). Kazuhiro Takagi (Japan) - Soloist. Concertmaster Dallas Chamber Symphony. Former: Concertmaster Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Eldar Saparaev (Kazakhstan) - Soloist/Chamber musician. Director, Festivals Switzerland. Peter Dènes (Hungary) - Violist, Salzburg Camerata. Isabelle Lambelet (Switzerland) - 1st violinist, Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich. Maria Machowska (Poland) - Concertmistress of the Warsaw Philharmonic [Sinfonia Varsovia] Sukeyuki Iwatani (Japan) - Concert Master, Kansai Symphony Orchestra

Over the seasons, among life-time associations and friendships, some romances fourished, and families were born:

Isabelle Lambelet, violinist/Switzerland & Thomas Weilbach, violist/Germany

Greetings: iPalpiti has a very special place in our heart. It made it possible to live very deep musical moments with Dr. Schmieder and we met wonderful musicians. This experience bound us all and we are still in good contact with many of them. iPalpiti also changed a lot in our private life! Our path joined there and our family is the result of that! We are very thankful and wish iPalpiti all the best for the future!

Current positions: Isabelle, 1st violin Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich / Thomas, director of Erlenbach Music School, member of Munich Bach Orchestra, violin teacher.

Gabriel Bussi, violinist/Uruguay & Fumika Yamamura, violinist/Japan Gabriel and Fumika met at iPalpiti in 2000. They live in LaCoruna, Spain.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Schmieder: It is an honor to be part of iPalpiti Alumni! We are doing very well. Our Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia in La Coruña (Spain) is well established, on a very strong level and with very good conductors. Fumika is the principal of the second violins, and I am in the first violins. We’re keeping ourselves quite busy with chamber music, having mainly two permanent groups: Piano quartet with Daniel del Pino: www.cuartetodelpino.com and String quartet (I am violist!!!) www.schubertstringquartet.com Also, Fumika and me have been playing some duo concerts, and doing very well together (which usually is not so easy with couples!!! ;-) I play violin and viola on the same concert, having fun with this!!!

I attach a photo of our family, and that sounds great to bring us together next year!!!

Best wishes, Gabriel and Fumika

Mari-Liis Pakk, violinist/Estonia & Jason Calloway, cellist/USA

Met in iPalpiti in 2006, married two seasons later, this iPalpiti Couplemake their home in Miami. Mari-Liis is a member of the Florida Grand Opera Orchestra, the Nu Deco Ensemble and is the director of orchestra & strings at Miami Arts Charter School. Jason is a member of the Amernet Quartet since 2010. Called “One of America’s finest ensembles” by Cincinnati Enquirer and praised in the STRAD review on their Merkin Hall’ NY concert review for “conviction, commitment, and character,” Amernet tours internationally, including four tours in Israel. www.amernetquartet.com

Over than 15 years, I have been a participant in the iPalpiti festival, which can undoubtedly be called the jewel of the annual music seasons in California. Unfortunately, the situation this year has changed the traditional plans for musical summer highlights. But musicians all over the world still need audience members with whom to share a piece of our soul and heartfelt music from the stage. Everyone believes in the speedy end of this difficult period and we look forward to the genuine joy when we can meet again on the big stage and give our art, share new masterworks and accept the warm love of our listeners.

ARTEM CHIRKOV

St.Petersburg Philharmonic Principal Bass|Bradetich Foundation Board Director DoubleBass World Festival President|Bassiona Amorosa ensemble member iPalpiti Artists International has a special place in my heart. I was fortunate and privileged to be a member of this wonderful group from 2004 to 2013, including tours in Northern California and Israel. I always looked forward to make music with the iPalpiti family under Maestro Schmieder’s baton and perform in beautiful concert halls such as Walt Disney Hall, Carnegie Hall and Kimmel Center. Maestro Schmieder inspired all of us during rehearsals and on stage to perform in “one heartbeat.” One of the special moments for me was the performance of Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade at Disney Hall when everyone played in one breath from the beginning to the end. All of this wouldn’t be possible without the support of iPalpiti benefactors and devoted audiences. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Maestro Schmieder and Mrs. Schmieder for your guidance and for creating this opportunity for young musicians from all over the world. In these unprecedented times I wish iPalpiti to stay strong and continue to have successful seasons!

AISHA DOSSUMOVA

DMA|Artist-in-Residence at Boyer College of Music and Dance, Temple University, Philadelphia. I became a member of iPalpiti in the Summer of 2016 and joined the Israel tour in Fall 2017. The tour to Israel changed my life. Not only did we get to play incredible music, including Tchaikovsky’ Souvenir de Florence, we got to see the most amazing historical sites in Israel thanks to the extraordinary planning by director Laura Schmieder. I met so many remarkable people that I continue to be in contact with, and will treasure these memories for the rest of my life. I’m thankful to iPalpiti for bringing us all together to make music, even when that might be very difficult. I wish Dr. Schmieder, Laura Schmieder, all current and former iPalpitians, as well as our beloved audiences good health during this incredibly difficult time.

JULIA CLANCY, Violist/USA | Staatskapelle Berlin, Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin I had the honor to join the iPalpiti Orchestra in 2014. Many thanks to Maestro Dr. Schmieder and Laura Schmieder for allowing me to share my talent in the viola section. The immense talent of each musician in iPalpiti and world-class music making is abundant. With a unique pool of international talent, iPalpiti brings together musicians from all walks of life for an experience you won’t find anywhere else. I urge anyone who supports the arts to offer their support to this ensemble. While we live in such a dark time in our world history, music has always been a way for each and every one of us to escape. The current state of affairs have placed many performing artists in a difficult place. Live performances have been either canceled or postponed with no potential date in sight. Besides it affecting our income, it also prevents us from expressing ourselves musically and gifting that expression to our beloved audiences. I remain hopeful that one day, all artists will be able to take the stage once again. I look forward to seeing iPalpiti continue to heighten the artistic lens of the classical community in Los Angeles, and the world, for many years to come. STEFAN L. SMITH, Violist & Composer | Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

…iPalpiti has become part of my life. And a huge part. From initial email almost 5 years ago, to the friendships I’ve made (for life), the invaluable time spent with maestro Dr. S, and the lessons learnt from you Mrs. S in building festivals/sponsors/ professional relationships. …Peter, Conrad, Lars, Kian, Catharina, Nora, Marie, etc. etc. etc. the list goes on – all iPalpiti family that I continue to work with on each season: each of us introducing each other to other contacts, sharing beautiful concerts together, travelling around to meet each other informally too – iPalpiti is a real family. It’s unique. The supporters and benefactors of iPalpiti - such kind and generous people is invaluable to my emotional health, and gives me such strength knowing the support I have the other side of the world.

…Hearing Peter play that first rehearsal back almost 5 years ago sticks in my memory… his solos, grace, attitude has taught me many things: especially how to cope with situations professionally. And what a player......... Any time on rehearsal or performance with him is just 100% joy.

…The time with Dr. Schmieder - both in rehearsal/performance and out. The things I’ve learnt – and the inspiration is impossible to measure. I think he is without doubt, one of the biggest influences on my musical development in the last 5 years since I met him. And he will continue to be for many years to come. And the things that he has opened my mind to play SUCH a role when I teach. Even my students, when I start the phrase “you know, Dr. Schmieder told me........,” immediately sit up and know that what I am about to say comes directly from my innermost feelings.

…I just had a great tour in Toronto with Conrad [Chow]. Such a mature artist – and one on the most warm people I’ve ever met – preparing concerts (recital and Brahms double) in Canada with him was an unforgettable experience.

…This season several iPalpiti coming to my own festival. Socially, meeting numerous ones all over the world, as our touring paths cross. …I could go on - iPalpiti as you must know, is deeply installed in my life.

All my love, very warmest and best wishes, Jacob.

JACOB SHAW/Cellist UK-Denmark: Founder of the Scandinavian Cello School, director of his own festival in South France, solo artist…