Pianists of the masterclasses 2019

Naoko Sonoda

University of Arts Berlin (UdK)

Naoko Sonoda studied at the Toho Gakuen Academy of Music in Tokyo and later at the University of the Arts, Berlin with Rainer Becker. Chamber music was always at the core of her musical life and development and her collaborations with great artists such as Tabea Zimmermann, Markus Nyikos and Hartmut Rohde were fundamental in mentoring her musical development.

Since 2009, Sonoda has taught at the University of the Arts and since 2012 also at the Academy of Music "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin. Her numerous successes at international competitions have enabled her to establish a career as a concert pianist and chamber musician throughout Europe and Asia.

Masterclass: Danjulo Ishizaka

Website: www.naokosonoda.com

Yukie Takai

University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart

Following previous studies at the Toho-Gakuen Music Academy in Tokyo with Prof. Tsunemi Naraba and the Academy of Music, Freiburg with Prof. Hiroko Tsuruoka-Barth and Prof. Helmut Barth, Takai completed her musical education with Prof. André Marchand at the Stuttgart Academy of Music.

Alongside her activities at the Music Academies in Freiburg and Stuttgart, Takai has established herself as a much in demand répétiteur, not only at elite competitions (Geneva, ARD etc) but also at festivals and masterclasses throughout the world. As a soloist and chamber musician she performs regularly both at home and abroad and has been broadcasted on SWR and BR.

Masterclass: Natalie Clein

Julia Okruashvili

University of Music and dance Cologne

Born in Moscow, Julia Okruashvili builds her career on outstanding musical schooling first at the famous conservatory in Moscow, then at the Verdi Conservatory in Milan and at the music conservatory in Frankfurt.

Julia Okruashvili won numerous piano competitions, including the International Maria Yudina-Competition in St. Petersburg, the Firkusny International Competition in Prague, the “Citta di Pinerolo” in Italy, in Rosario Marciano International Competition in Vienna, the International Piano Academy in Freiburg, and the Maria Canals International Competition in Barcelona.

She has performed in important musical venues throughout Europe, USA, and Russia and appeared as a soloist with the Chamber Orchestra Moscow Virtuosi, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Nations  and the Hessian State Orchestra.

Julia Okruashvili is a welcoming guest at festivals, such as  Weilburger Schlosskonzerte, Rheingau Music Festival, Kasseler Musiktage, Mosel Music Festival, Kronberg Academy Festival, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Bregenzer Festspiele and Tokio Spring Festival.

Julia Okruashvili currently holds a teaching position at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne, Germany.

Masterclass: Jens Peter Maintz

Website: www.juliaokruashvili.com

Chifuyu Yada

University of Music Munich

Born in Japan, Chifuyu Yada began to learn the piano at the age of four. Later she studied in Munich with Prof. Gerhard Oppitz and in Saarbrücken with Prof. Nerine Barrett and Prof. Bernd Glemser, during which time she was a prizewinner at the Walter-Gieseking Competition.

Following her studies, Chifuyu Yada joined the faculty at the Academy of Music in Saarland and in 1995 changed to the Academy of Music and the Performing Arts, Munich, whereshe teaches since 2008. Alongside her regular performances as a soloist and chamber musician she can also be heard on CD and radio broadcasts from SR, HR, MDR and BR.

Masterclass: Wen-Sinn Yang

Kiyoko Wakamatsu

Rostock University of Music and Theatre

The Japanese pianist Kiyoko Wakamatsu graduated from the Toho Gakuen Academy of Music in Tokyo, before studying with Peter Roggenkamp at the Lübeck Academy of Music, where she completed her post-graduate diploma in accompaniment and chamber music. During this time she augmented her education through participating in masterclasses with Arie Verdi, Vitalij Margulis und Andrzej Jasinski.

Since 2011, Wakamatsu assists Prof. Julian Steckel as répétiteur at the Academy of Music in Rostock, where she has been teaching since 1999. As a répétiteur and accompanist she has performed at internationally renowned masterclasses and competitions, including the Rostropovich Competition in Paris, and the German Music Competition.

Masterclass: Claudio Bohórquez

Violetta Khachikyan

University of Music Lübeck

Pianist Violetta Khachikyan is a versatile musician, who passionately performs as a recitalist, as a chamber music collaborator and as a soloist with orchestras.

Praised as “a true artist” (Michel Moran) and complimented for her “beautiful tone and brilliant instrumental virtuosity” (Emanuel Krasovky), Violetta Khachikyan has performed with numerous symphony orchestras.

In 2015 Violetta graduated from the Lübeck Music Academy (Musikhochschule Lübeck) where she earned her “Konzertexamen” (Artist Diploma) and where she studied with Professor Konstanze Eickhorst. She has also earned Master in Chamber Music Performance with the “Eschenburg-Trio” under the guidance of Professor Heime Müller. Currently Violetta Khachikyan teaches at the University of Musicy in Lübeck and performs concerts in Germany and abroad. As an accompanist Violetta works in several cello-classes in Lübeck und Berlin (UDK).

Masterclass: Sebastian Klinger

Website: www.violettakhachikyan.com

DARIA TUDOR

University of Arts Berlin (UdK)

Daria Tudor started playing the piano in her home country, Romania. She was already awarded in many competitions before 2015, when she came to study with Prof. Pascal Devoyon and Rikako Murata at the University of Arts Berlin.

She is working, since 2016, as a tutor for song piano accompaniment at the University of Arts Berlin. At the same time, since 2016, she took part in some important festivals as: Kissinger Sommer, Mozartfest Würzburg and Berliner Crescendo Festival.

She is very active also as a chamber music partner, playing regularly with former students of the Cello Academy Rutesheim.

Webseite: www.dariatudor.com