Upcoming events
Starla Breshears, cello
Starla Breshears is an emerging American cellist recognized for her expressive artistry and remarkable technical command. A native of California, she began studying the cello at the age of three and has since developed into a compelling soloist and chamber musician.
She is a recent graduate of the Colburn School Music Academy, where she studied with distinguished faculty, and previously trained in the Pre-College Division of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Jean-Michel Fonteneau and Richard Aaron. She has also worked with renowned artists including Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Alisa Weilerstein, and Amit Peled.
Breshears has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras and has earned top prizes in competitions such as the ASTA State Solo Competition and the Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Competition, as well as recognition at the Stulberg International String Competition. An active chamber musician, she performs with the Breshears Quartet, an award-winning family ensemble.
She was recently appointed as a cellist with the San Francisco Symphony, becoming the youngest musician to win an audition and join the orchestra.
Program:
Dmitriy Cogan, piano
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Partita in A minor for Solo Flute, BWV 1013
Allemande
Courante
William Walton (1902–1983)
Cello Concerto
II. Allegro appassionato
Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931)
Sonata for Solo Cello
Suzanne Sorkin (b. 20th/21st c.)
Fused for Solo Cello
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Sonata No. 2 in F Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 99
I. Allegro vivace
II. Adagio affettuoso
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Adagio and Allegro in A-flat Major, Op. 70
Harpsichord Horizons: Inaugural Session
Discover the vibrant world of historical keyboards at Harpsichord Horizons, a monthly gathering designed to inspire, educate, and connect the Bay Area music community. Hosted in the intimate Recital Hall of Gradus ad Parnassum Music Academy in San Mateo, this event offers a rare opportunity for students, teachers, and enthusiasts to engage with one of the Bay Area’s premier instruments: a German double-manual harpsichord built by Bruce Kennedy after Mietke.
Sofya Gulyak piano recital
Program:
BACH-BUSONI Chaconne in D minor
FRANCKv Prelude, Fugue, and Variation, Op. 18
BACH-BUSONI Nun Komm, der Heiden Heiland (Savior of the Nations, Come), Chorale Prelude BWV 659
BACH-BUSONI Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565
CHOPIN Prelude in C-Sharp minor, Op. 45
CHOPIN Rondo à la Mazur, Op. 5
CHOPIN-LISZT Meine Freuden (My Joys)
CHOPIN-LISZT Madchens Wunsch (The Maiden’s Wish)
LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (with cadenza by Sofya Gulyak)
In September 2009 Sofya Gulyak was awarded the 1st prize and the Princess Mary Gold Medal at the Sixteenth Leeds International Piano Competition – the first woman in the history of the competition to achieve this distinction. Since then she has appeared all over the world to great acclaim. Her recital programs are frequently reviewed in superlatives, and her concerto appearances with major orchestras are noted in glowing terms by the world’s music press. Sofya has been praised for her "tremendous precision and coloration...exquisite soft playing ...with delicacy" and described as a “Rach star"(Washington Post).
Sofya Gulyak’s resume includes prizes from many prestigious piano competitions: she is a 1st prize winner of William Kapell International Piano Competition in the USA, Maj Lind Helsinki International Piano Competition, Tivoli Piano Competition in Copenhagen, Isang Yun International Piano Competition in South Korea, San Marino Piano Competition, winner of Busoni Competition in Italy and prize winner of Marguerite Long Piano Competition in Paris. Recitals and concert appearances have been numerous, with Sofya Gulyak having performed all over the globe in such venues as La Scala Theatre and Sala Verdi in Milan, Herculessaal in Munich, Salle Cortot, Salle Gaveau and Salle Pleyel in Paris, Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall in London, Grand Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Kennedy Center in Washington, Salle Bourgie in Montreal, Palais de la Musique in Strasbourg, Hong Kong City Hall, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Tokyo Opera City Hall, Osaka Symphony Hall, Musashino Cultural Centre in Tokyo, National Hungarian Opera in Budapest, National Forum of Music in Wroclaw, Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Teatro Municipal and Cidade des Artes in Rio de Janeiro, Auditorium Manzoni in Bologna, Salle Molière in Lyon, Cankarjev Dom in Ljubljana, Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, King Theatre in Rabat, Kursaal in Bern, Tivoli Concert Hall in Copenhagen etc..
Sofya Gulyak appeared as a soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony, Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic, Rio de Janeiro Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Orchestra of Opera North, Orchestra dell’ Arena di Verona, Orchestra Filarmonica di Bologna, Budapest Philharmonic, Enescu Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Slovak Radio Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Copenhagen Symphony, Ulster Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Shanghai Philharmonic, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Oulu Philharmonic, Leipzig Philharmonic, Pensacola Symphony, Tatarstan Symphony, Philippines Philharmonic, Morocco Philharmonic and others. She collaborated with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sakari Oramo, Mark Elder, David Hill, Donald Runnicle, Vasily Petrenko, Carlo Rizzi, Alexander Lazarev, Alan Buribayev, Eiving Gullberg Jensen, Karl-Heinz Steffens, Theodor Guschlbauer, Giancarlo Guerrero, Rory McDonald, Danail Rachev, Fabio Mastrangelo, Michele Mariotti, Marat Bisengaliev, Fuat Mansurov, Alexander Sladkovsky, Daria Stasevska, Eiji Oue, Mario Kosik, Jesus Medina, Christian Zimmermann, Peter Rubardt and others.
The festivals in which Sofya Gulyak participated include Klavier Ruhr Festival, Chopin Festival in Duszniki-Zdroj, Festival de Sceaux, International Keyboard Festival in New York, International Strasbourg Festival, Busoni Festival, Harrogate Festival, “Joy of Music festival” in Hong Kong, Kraków Piano Festival, New Zealand Piano Festival, Ravello Festival, Festival Chopin in Paris, Shanghai International Piano Festival and many others.
Sofya Gulyak recorded for Champs Hill Records and Piano Classics labels. Her recordings received 5 stars review in Diapason magazine (“What a pleasure to hear the piano blossoming and projecting in the most vivid of ways when played by Sofya Gulyak. The singing sound alongside dazzling and powerful execution distinguishes an outstanding natural pianist”), glowing reviews from “Gramophone” (“This is a stunning debut album…”) and “Guardian” magazines (“Sofya Gulyak is a fearless pianist, never afraid to scale the most technically demanding heights of the repertoire and equally proud to wear her heart on her sleeve”), American Record Guide (“The Handel Variations is among the top contenders on record. She keeps you on the edge of your seat, as the music presses ever forward. Sometimes I was reminded of the young Argerich”) , “Fanfare” magazine (“Her musicality is beautifully attuned to the spirit of Brahms…I must praise Kazan-born Russian pianist Sofya Gulyak, whose impressive reading places a stronger emphasis than Perahia’s on the continuity of the variations…She’s a natural Brahmsian whatever his moods.”) … CD with the Chaconnes for piano was released on Champs Hill records (“…A fascinating collection, superbly realised and beautifully recorded…"-Artdesk; “Gulyak is a musician of exceptional depth and profundity, and a pianist with seemingly unlimited technical resources… I can’t wait to hear more of her…Of particular note are her beautiful versions of the Nielsen, the Casella, a ferocious Busoni Toccata, and a sparkling account of the Handel Chaconne."-Fanfare Magazine)
In 2025-26 Sofya makes her debut with Indianapolis Symphony, California Symphony and Alexandria Symphony orchestras, Xiamen Philharmonic in China, Oviedo Symphony in Spain and London Sinfonia in the UK. She also returns for solo recitals at Salle Bourgie in Montreal for “Grand Interpreters” series and Vancouver Chopin Society in Canada, Liszt Festival in Austria(with live broadcast on ORF radio in Vienna), and gives recitals in China, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, Canada, Italy etc..
As chamber musician Sofya Gulyak collaborated with Wihan, Chilingirian, Arianna quartets, Quartetto di Venezia, soloists of English Chamber orchestra, violinists Olivier Charlie and Marianne Piketty, viola player Tatjana Masurenko, baritone Loa Falkman, cellists Quirine Viersen and Yuki Ito (with whom she recorded a CD of Rachmaninoff’s music for Champs Hill Records).
Sofya Gulyak is a native of Kazan (Russia) where she studied in a Special Music College under Nailya Khakimova, and then in Kazan State Conservatoire under Professor Elfiya Burnasheva. After that she continued her studies at the Piano Academy "Incontri col Maestro" (Imola, Italy) with Boris Petrushansky and at the Royal College of Music in London with Vanessa Latarche. Sofya Gulyak attended as a jury member of the international piano competitions in Italy, Serbia, France, Germany, Russia, Greece, United States, China, South Korea, Singapore etc. and was invited to teach master classes in China, Italy, Austria, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Mexico, USA, Canada, Germany.
Over decade she has been a professor of piano at the Royal College of Music in London. Since 2023 she is a professor of piano at Jacobs school of Music at Indiana University.
Her playing has been broadcast on radio and TV in Russia, Poland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, United States, Finland, Denmark, Serbia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, United Kingdom (BBC3 and BBC4) and other countries.
Violin Fantasy: Polina Sedukh, violin, Irina Behrendt, piano
What is a fantasy in music—a form, or a freedom shared between performers?
This program explores the many shades of the fantastical through works that stretch beyond convention and invite a sense of spontaneity and dialogue. At its center is Fantasia in C major for Violin and Piano by Franz Schubert, a work of unfolding imagination whose shifting moods feel almost improvised, as if discovered in the moment between violin and piano.
The serene lyricism of Romance No. 2 in F major, Op. 50 by Ludwig van Beethoven opens the program with a single melodic voice that gently expands into Schubert’s freer, more expansive world. From there, Violin Sonata in E-flat major by Paul Hindemith and the passionate Scherzo from the F.A.E. Sonata by Johannes Brahms reveal fantasy through contrast, interplay, and the energy of musical exchange—whether between instruments or between composers themselves.
The program closes with the intimate dreamscape of Nocturne-Serenade by Pablo de Sarasate, where virtuosity becomes a shared act of storytelling.
Together, these works suggest that fantasy is not only imagination, but collaboration—music unfolding in real time, shaped by listening, responding, and creating together.
Ensemble Mirable: BAROQUE MASTERPIECES
Ensemble Mirable (Mirable - old French, meaning astonishing, strong, powerful) is a San Francisco Bay Area based period instrument ensemble that originated at Indiana University's Early Music Institute where Joanna Blendulf and JungHae Kim were then studying.
Since its inception, the group's focus has been on exploring the many variations in continuo performance across different baroque styles and on bringing the music of lesser known composers to the public's attention. Mirable has built an impressive reputation over the ensuing years, earning awards from Early Music America and critical acclaim for performances to enthusiastic audiences in San Francisco and throughout the United States.
Echoes of the sun and sky: solo art exhibit by Nany Torossian
Nany Torossian
Born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, during the civil war, Nany pursued her studies in Fine Arts amidst a culturally rich and diverse environment. Growing up with exposure to multiple languages and cultures, her work reflects a colorful and dynamic background. Following her graduation, she began teaching art and actively participated in numerous collective exhibitions in Beirut. In 2002, she relocated to Burlingame, California, where she became the first art teacher at KZV Armenian School in San Francisco and a dedicated advocate for promoting Armenian culture.
John Black: “Beyond the Surface” - art exhibition
October 17 | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Opening Reception:
– Live music: A jazz pianist and a bandoneonist will provide an elegant musical backdrop, filling the evening with warmth, rhythm, and color.
– A reception featuring light and delightful hors d'oeuvres
- Meet and greet: enjoy personal conversations with the artist
October 18 | 1:00 PM – 8.00 PM
- 2:00-2:30pm An intimate tete-a-tete with the artist
-3:00pm and 6:30pm guided exhibition tours with Julia Garamova
8:00pm closing of the exhibition
Free admission
TANGO y MÁS: a concert by orquesta tIpica tarareando
The orchestra will feature an eclectic mix of tango and related musical styles.
Yukie Kawanami, a great bandoneonista player from Japan, will join the orchestra, as well as the SF Symphony violinist Polina Sedukh.
Ava Pakiam, violin with Cole Anderson, piano
concert program:
Beethoven, Romance in F for violin and piano, Op. 50
Brahms, Sonata No 3, Op. 108
1.Allegro
2.Adagio
3.Un poco presto e con sentimento
4.Presto agitato
INTERMISSION
Chopin, Nocturne in C# minor Op. 27 No. 1
Chopin, Nocturne in D-flat major Op. 27 No. 2
Bernstein/Penaforte, West Side Story Suite for violin and piano
I Feel Pretty
Somewhere
America
Waxman, Carmen Fantasie
Ava Pakiam is a 15 year old sought after soloist and recitalist currently residing in the Bay Area. Ava presently studies with renowned violin professors, Simon James and Soovin Kim. Ava was recently awarded the 2025 Salon De Virtuosi Career Grant in New York City. Her performance at their Gala this October will be live streamed by the Violin Channel and recorded for WQXR’s Young Artists Showcase.
Ava made her solo debut at eight years old in California performing the Mozart Concerto No. with the Fremont Symphony. Later that summer, she performed Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto with the Sempre Musik Orchestra and New York Sinfonietta in Boston and New York City, making her solo debut at Carnegie Hall at age eight. At age eleven, Ava was named Seattle Symphony's Young Artist for the 2021-2022 season, performing Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso on a season concert. At the Sounding Point Academy at Colburn School in L.A., Ava was chosen at age twelve to perform in recital live streamed by The Violin Channel, performing “Le Vent” by Vecsey.
Ava has had the privilege of performing in master classes for many leading pedagogues and performing artists including Nathan Cole, Noah Geller, Ariel Horowitz, James Ehnes, Vadim Gluzman, Melissa White, Simone Porter, Sirena Huang and Hilary Hahn. Solo appearances with orchestra in the past have also included a performance alongside Grammy Award winning composer, Mason Bates.
Last season's highlights included solo appearances of the Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Bruch Concerti with orchestras in the USA on both coasts as well as concert tours in Mexico and Honduras. In addition to this, Ava had her New York City recital debut in the prestigious Salon de Virtuosi series. This coming season includes solo performances of the Prokofiev Concerto No. 2, Bruch Concerto, and Beethoven Concerto as well as numerous recital appearances with collaborator and pianist Cole Anderson.
A Strumenti artist since 2022, Ava is incredibly fortunate to be playing an 1874 J.B. Vuillaume funded though Strumenti.
Ava is grateful to be under the guidance of Artistic Advisor and former head of IMG, Edna Landau. Ms. Landau is also currently serving as the first point of contact for Ava's future engagements.
In addition to music, Ava loves art, baking, jewelry making, and creative writing.
MTAC San Mateo presents Young Artist Guild recital: Roger Chen, violin (NEC, class of ‘28) and Samantha Wuo, piano (Eastman school of Music, class of ‘28)
The Young Artist Guild is a group of the most gifted musicians in the Certificate of Merit® program. Acceptance to YAG is one of the highest honors for Certificate of Merit® students.
Students who meet the eligibility requirements applicable to each Instrument category, will apply for two rounds of auditions. Selected students will be inducted at the MTAC StateConvention. This concert serves as a debut for newly selected members and as a venue for current members to perform.
An accepted student is granted membership in the Guild for five years upon recommendation by a panel of adjudicators. During this five-year tenure, the student member may be offered semi-professional paid performance opportunities through MTAC branch-sponsored concerts.
Shkolnikova Academy benefit concert
We would like to cordially invite you to a very special chamber music concert at Gradus Recital Hall. The concert will feature violinist David Chernyavsky and cellist Vicky Wang, as well as pianist Irina Behrendt, violist Nadezda Skokova, and Shkolnikova Academy 2025 Concerto competition winner, violinist Dustin Breshears!
Enjoy an evening of inspiring music in a beautiful setting while making a meaningful difference in the lives of young musicians. Your presence and support will help us provide transformative opportunities for the next generation of artists. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Shkolnikova Academy scholarship fund.
Additionally, we will have an art sale!! 20% of all sales will go to the scholarship fund!
The program will include:
Bach: Solo Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major (BWV 1007) ---Prelude
Glière: 8 Pieces for violin and cello, Op.39
Spohr: Duo for Two Violins in D major, Op. 67, No. 2
Paganini: Caprice No. 21
Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47: III. Andante cantabile
Sarasate: Navarra Op. 33
Piazzolla: Primavera Porteña
Together, we can create a brighter and more compassionate world for all.
We look forward to sharing this special night with you!
To make a tax deductible donation please click here
Dustin Breshears, age 18, is a violinist and violist studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Pre-college Division. He studies violin with Nancy Zhou and viola with Jonathan Vinocour. Dustin has soloed with 14 different orchestras since the age of six. He has won numerous solo awards, including winner Parnassus-San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concerto Competition, 1st Place MTAC State VOCE Competition, winner Palo Alto Philharmonic Concerto Movement Competition, 1st Place Bay Philharmonic Young Artist Competition, 1st Place Mary Jane Beck Young Artist Competition (Nova Vista Symphony), 1st place California Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition, 1st place Khuner Young Artist Concerto Competition, 1st Place U.S. International Music Competition, 1st place Livermore-Amador Young Artist Competition, 1st Place U.S. Open Music Competition, 1st Place ASTA-San Francisco Competition, 1st Place ASTA-Sacramento Competition, 1st Place CAPMT-Sacramento Competition, 1st Place DVC-HNU Strings Competition, 1st Place Classical Masters Competition, and 1st Place 2023 Pacific Musical Society & Foundation Competition. Dustin is a recipient of the 2021 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.
David Chernyavsky joined the San Francisco Symphony in 2009. Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, he began violin studies at the age of six and at eleven gave his first solo recital. After winning prizes in competitions in Russia and France, he entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. In 1997, Mr. Chernyavsky came to the US to study at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with the famous Profesor Nelli Shkolnikova and, later, at the Juilliard School. He has recorded several CDs with the Saint Petersburg Quartet and with the Joel Rubin Klezmer Music Ensemble, and he has released a solo CD, Klezmer Violin. He also performs and teaches with the San Francisco Academy Orchestra.
Cellist Vicky Wang is on the faculty of San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Pre-College Division and an assistant professor of cello at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music and serves as the cellist of its faculty piano trio-in-residence, Trio 180. She is the artistic director of C’est Bon Chamber Music Academy in Los Altos, a summer program dedicated to inspire the love of music in young musicians through chamber music. Prior to relocating to California, Dr. Wang served on the faculty of Mannes College of Music and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in New York City. Her recent performances and masterclasses include appearances in Chamber Music America Conference, Pacific Music Institute of Hawaii Youth Symphony, Korea’s Busan MARU Music Festival, pianoSonoma Music Festival, and MTAC convention. Dr. Wang’s principal teachers include Eleonore Schoenfeld, Zara Nelsova, Darrett Adkins, Joel Krosnick, and Marcy Rosen. She has participated in music festivals such as the New York String Seminar, Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Verbier Music Festival (Switzerland), Spoleto Music Festival (Italy), and Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara). Dr. Wang received her Bachelor and Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School and Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from City University of New York.
Irina Behrendt is a Russian born pianist, accompanist, and teacher living and freelancing in the Bay Area since 1998. Irina regularly appears as a soloist with the Russian Chamber Orchestra, as a chamber musician at the Noontime Concert Series, San Francisco chapter of NACUSA recitals, teaches piano privately, works as a pianist/organist at the Community United Methodist Church in Half Moon Bay, and serves on the board of the MTAC San Mateo branch.
She holds degrees in Solo performance, collaborative performance, and pedagogy from Kaliningrad Rachmaninov Music College, Petrozavodsk State Conservatory, New England Conservatory.
Irina is a founder and director of the Musical Odyssey, chamber music concert series for children and families in Half Moon Bay, CA.
Nadezhda Skokova, born in Yekaterinburg, Russia, began her musical education at the age of 7 at the renowned specialized music school of the UMK at the Mussorgsky Ural State Conservatory, studying violin. She later moved to Moscow and continued her education at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, transitioning to the viola. Her professional career includes performances with the Concert Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory and the Richter Kaluga Symphony Orchestra. After graduation, Nadezhda won a competition and became an artist of the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra (Moscow Philharmonic). Nadezhda has participated in numerous festivals, master classes, and chamber music performances. She has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Yuri Temirkanov, Paavo Järvi, and Valery Gergiev, as well as world-famous artists like Plácido Domingo, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pablo Ferrández, Denis Matsuev, Anna Netrebko and so on. Her performances have taken her across Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, and beyond.
In 2023, she came to the USA to complete a certificate program at Columbus State University to continue her pursuit of musical excellence.
Exploring Harpsichord with JungHae Kim
JungHae Kim’s unique style blends a sparkling virtuoso technique with a gentle and lyrical sensibility that makes the harpsichord instantly accessible to the modern ear. New York Arts described her playing as “impressive” and characterized by “a supple flow and expressiveness.” La Folia raved, “I have never listened as closely or enjoyed d’Anglebert as much. Kim’s playing is gallant and regal.”
Kim earned diplomas in harpsichord performance at the Peabody Institute, Oberlin Conservatory, and Sweelinck Conservatorium before completing her studies with Dutch master Gustav Leonhardt in Amsterdam.
A versatile musician on historical keyboard instruments, Kim has appeared as a soloist with period-instrument ensembles as well as the San Francisco Symphony and New Century Chamber Orchestra. She has been featured on NPR and national Korean television (KBS). A sought-after pedagogue, Kim has taught and performed at festivals around the world, including the Bloomington Early Music Festival, Berkeley Early Music Festival, Madison Bach Musicians Workshop, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Assisi Music Festival (Italy), Midsommer Baroque Music Festival (Denmark), and Chuncheon International Early Music Festival (Korea).
As director of MusicSources (Center for Historically Informed Performance), Kim advocates for historical keyboard performance and has been active in bringing early music to the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2016, she directed and appeared in a performance featuring Belgian virtuoso Sigiswald Kuijken. In 2023, she appeared with traverso pioneer Bart Kuijken.
Kim is founder and artistic director of Ensemble Mirable, which has performed throughout the United States and was recognized by Early Music America for the ensemble’s world-premiere recording of the complete cello sonatas of Jean Zewalt Triemer.
Besides her recordings with Ensemble Mirable, Kim’s discography includes albums featuring English virginal music (The Virginalists); the keyboard music of Jean-Henri d’Anglebert; suites and fantasias of J.S. Bach; and four of Bach’s harpsichord concertos.
In addition to teaching private lessons, lecturing, and giving masterclasses, Kim is a Professor of Music Theory and Musicianship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Lecturer in Harpsichord at Stanford University.
Bay Area Operetta Company presents: Spring Romance
Blossoming with the arrival of Spring, our concert fills the hall with the beauty of lush romanticism. We reach the zenith of Romantic Passion, Hope and Grace with romances, areas and duets by S.Rakhmaninov, P.Tchaikovsky, P.Bulahov and the famed Love-songs by A.Babajanian, O.Feltsman and many more.
Infinite Worlds: Paintings by Alexander Yanushkevish
The art of Alexander Yanushkevitch is full of harmony and philosophical solutude. Based on exotic avant-garde and classical European styles it finds appreciation and support of art connoisseurs all over the world. His works are displayed at Bordiga Gallery in Milan, the Rosart Amorium Gallery in Lisbon and in the private collections in Barcelona, Paris, Tel-Aviv, Haifa, New York, San Francisco, and Moscow.
Openning reception at 4pm
Admission $10 at the door
Denis Sedov, bass (Met Opera, La Scala, Opera de Paris) Dmitriy Cogan, piano FROM OPERA TO TANGO
Denis Sedov is a highly accomplished Russian-born bass singer, now an Israeli citizen, with an impressive international career. He began his operatic journey in 1994 with the Israeli Opera, and by 1995, he became one of only four non-American singers ever invited to join the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Development Program. This launched him into the global opera scene, where he has performed in major opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Covent Garden in London, and the Opéra National de Paris.
Pablo Estigarribia. Tango: Past And Present
Pablo
Estigarribia is a Latin Grammy award winner tango pianist, arranger and composer. Like many artists of this genre, he began his training as a classical musician and soon branched out into the world of tango. He got into the
Orquesta Escuela de Tango
program in 2005 in Buenos Aires, where he was trained by Tango legends such as Emilio Balcarce, Victor Lavallén, Nestor Marconi among others. After graduating Estigarribia rapidly established himself as a nuanced and masterful tango performer, playing all over the world with different shows and tango ensembles. He has been featured in over a thousand concerts, joining Argentine tango legends like Maria Graña, Victor Lavallén, Leopoldo Federico, Nestor Marconi, Horacio Cabarcos, Emilio Balcarce and many others.
“All The World’s a Stage” Chagall, Tyshler, and Our Own Fantasies
While Marc Chagall needs no introduction, Alexander Tyshler, unfortunately, remains less known to many.
Tyshler's journey began with five years at the Kiev Art School, followed by the legendary VKHUTEMAS, under the guidance of masters like Exter and Favorsky. He later became a key figure in the “Society of Easel Artists” alongside friends Deineka and Pimenov. In Kyiv, he formed close friendships with Mandelstam and Ehrenburg, and in Moscow, with Mayakovsky, Yesenin, and Bagritsky.
Robert Falk praised Tyshler as a “sweet storyteller” and acclaimed his graphics for their perfection akin to Japanese calligraphy.
Anna Akhmatova treasured her portraits by Tyshler as among the most heartfelt.
A fascinating story involves Marc Chagall. In his early years, Tyshler was an ardent admirer of Chagall’s work. Yet, when Chagall visited Moscow in 1973, Tyshler did not rush to meet him, despite having saved Chagall’s panels after the destruction of the State Jewish Theater and donating them to the Tretyakov Gallery. Chagall wrote him a note with a drawing (a face):
“Moscow 1973
Dear Alek. Tyshler
Sweet artist, we are sending you — a thank you. I don’t know how to draw now, because I am excited — Marc Chagall.”
In 2017, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts held a retrospective exhibition of Alexander Tyshler.
We seek to continue this tradition of theater, acting, and surrealism. We invited all artists who are ready to support this “phantasmagoric” theme with their works to participate.
Un petit concert
A short program of dance music featuring Jane Singhal, violin, Jordan Webster, clarinet, Irina Behrendt, piano presenting works by Shostakovich, Khachaturian, Komitas, Finzi, Piazzolla.
Free admission
Reception to follow
Peter Laul, Piano
Peter Laul has performed as a soloist with the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow State Kapella Orchestra, as well as numerous other Russian orchestras under the direction of conductors such as Maxim Shostakovich, Valery Gergiev, Vassily Sinaiski, Yuri Simonov, Eri Klas, Jean-Claude Casadesus, Nikolai Znaider and Nikolai Alekseev among others. He has also performed with the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Südwestdeutsche Rundfunk, the Dessau, the Bremerhaven and the Oldenburg Theatre Orchestras (Germany), the Brasilian National Symphony Orchestra, Südwestdeutsche Rundfunk, the Estonian National Symphony and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestras (Estonia) and the ‘Les Siècles’ (France) under François-Xavier Roth.
Utopia and Dystopia: Schubert and Shostakovich Evening of Piano Trios with Mariya Borozina, violin, Victoria Parr Ehrlich, cello, and Irina Behrendt, piano
Program:
Franz Schubert Trio in B flat Major, op. 99
Dmitry Shostakovich Piano Trio in E minor, op. 67
RSVP HERE*
* First 10 tickets will receive priority sitting in the 2nd row. If you’d like to reserve a seat, but wish to make your decision later, 3rd row reservations will be available for extra $5 until sold
MARIYA BOROZINA is a member of First Violin sections of the San Francisco Opera and San Francisco Ballet orchestras and a substitute player with the San Francisco Symphony. She is a Conductor of Galbraith Honor Strings of Golden State Youth Orchestra.
Born in Moscow, Mariya Borozina began playing the violin at the age of 5, following in the footsteps of her violinist father. Starting at the Gnessins School of Music, she continued her studies at the Moscow Conservatory, class of Marina Yashvili. After moving to the US, she earned a postgraduate degree at Manhattan School of Music studying with Glenn Dicterow, Lisa Kim, Yoko Takebe, and Albert Markov. She performed around the globe as a Concertmaster of Verbier Festival and Verbier Festival Chamber orchestras.
An avid chamber music player, she has appeared as part of several local groups, including Eos Ensemble and Farallon Quintet. She appears regularly as a concertmaster and soloist for the Russian Chamber Orchestra and performs at various venues in the Bay Area and beyond. As an educator, Ms. Borozina coaches chamber groups and orchestras, performs at outreach programs, and teaches privately. She is frequently invited to judge local music competitions.
VICTORIA EHRLICH, cellist, was born in Texas and received her musical education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and summer programs at Interlochen, Aspen, and Tanglewood. Her principal teachers include Robert Marsh, Bernard Greenhouse, and Robert Gardner. Before joining the San Francisco Opera Orchestra in 1984, she performed with the Santa Fe Opera, and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and served as principal cellist with the Symphonies of Omaha, Richmond, VA, and Phoenix. Ms. Ehrlich has performed with the San Francisco Ballet and Symphony, the New Century Chamber Orchestra, and Lamplighters, a Gilbert and Sullivan company and is an active chamber musician, appearing regularly with the Picasso Ensemble, Cecilia Ensemble, Edgewood Ensemble, and the Bridge Players, , She counts many living composers as friends and inspiration.
IRINA BEHRENDT is a Russian born pianist, accompanist, and teacher living and freelancing in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1998. Irina has been a regular soloist with the Russian Chamber Orchestra, until it folded in March of 2024, performed as a chamber musician at the Noontime Concert Series, San Francisco chapter of NACUSA recitals, teaches piano privately, works as a pianist/organist at the Community United Methodist Church in Half Moon Bay, and co-owns Gradus Ad Parnassum Music Academy with David Chernyavsky.
Irina enjoys performing contemporary music. Among her latest favorites are Bartok’s “Contrasts” and
Ustvolskaya’s Clarinet trio, as well as Valentin Silvestrov’s violin sonata and Giya Kancheli’s “Instead of a Tango”. In this light, Irina is a dedicated performer of her father, Simon Bokman’s music. She has premiered most of his works that include piano.
Irina holds degrees in Solo performance, collaborative performance, and pedagogy from Kaliningrad
Rachmaninov Music College, Petrozavodsk State Conservatory, New England Conservatory.
The Wheel of the Year: Maria Schellenberg, mezzo soprano, with Irina Behrendt, piano
Maria will present a unique and diverse program of 12 selections corresponding to the 12 months of a year cycle. You will hear works by Schumann, Rachmaninov, Debussy, Ravel Stravinsky, Rebecca Clark, Liszt, Berlioz, and more
*First 10 tickets will receive priority sitting in the 2nd row. If you’d like to reserve a seat, but wish to make your decision later, 3rd row reservations will be available for extra $5 until sold
Maria Schellenberg is a London based mezzo-soprano of Jewish-Armenian background. She began her international career after winning the Michael Oliver Prize at the London Handel Competition in 2015. Her recent engagements include Falliero BIANCA E FALLIERO at Oper Frankfurt and Tiroler Festspiele Erl, Dalila (cover) and Bradamante (cover) SAMSON ET DALILA at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Tisbe LA CENERENTOLA with the Grange Festival (UK), Isabella L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI at the Opera de Tenerife, Teatro Comunale di Bologna and the Centre Lyrique Clermont-Auvergne, Magd in Zemlinsky’s DER ZWERG at Ópera de Tenerife, Ottavia L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA at the Longborough Festival and Alcina ORLANDO FURIOSO and Aristea in Vivaldi’s L’OLIMPIADE conducted by Federico Maria Sardelli. Upcoming engagements include her role-debut as Mme Arvidson UN BALLO IN MASCHERA for Chelsea Opera Group and 3rd Wood Nymph RUSALKA for Opera de Tenerife.
Recent concert appearances include Berlioz Les Nuits d’Ete at the Festival de Múver (Spain) and Les Noces with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko.
Other roles include Arsace ORMISDA with the London Handel Festival, Bradamante ALCINA for the Lammermuir Festival and Ryedale Festival Opera, Rosmilda in Handel’s pasticcio ELPIDIA at St. Georges Hanover Square, Albino in Johann Hasse I PELLEGRINI AL SEPOLCHRO DI NOSTRO SIGNORE at Tchaikovsky Philharmonic Hall, Moscow, Emirena in Pergolesi ADRIANO IN SIRIA at Cadogan Hall, Mozart Requiem at St. Martin in the Fields and Dardano AMADIGI at the London Handel Festival. Ms Schellenberg has been an Alvarez Young Artist at Garsington Festival Opera where she covered the role of Ino SEMELE. Her professional recordings include “A lullaby for Princess Charlotte” by Dr Olga Thomas produced by the Royal Marines’ Bandmaster and Cruise Bereavement Care as a private gift for Her Majesty the Queen.
Born into a family of musicians, Maria started her professional musical education at the age of six. She studied piano at the Gnessins’ College of Music as a pianist/accompanist with Anna Arzamanova from which she graduated magna cum laude, later undertaking graduade studies at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatoire in piano and harpsichord studies and subsequently graduating from the Royal College of Music, London with a Master of Vocal Performance and a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Performance, both with distinction.
PURIM Klezmer Concert
Seating is limited, please RSVP below
Tickets are $40/adult, $20/child; under 12 y/o - free
Tickets at the door are $45/adult, $25/child
Seating is limited, please RSVP below
Tickets are $40/adult, $20/child; under 12 y/o - free
Tickets at the door are $45/adult, $25/child
Treasures from Private Collections: Masterpieces of Illustration
The mastermind behind this exhibition is Yulia Garamova, a well-known among the Russian-speaking community art connoisseur, musician, and lecturer, in collaboration with Natalia Makarenko.
Nearly all displayed works are coming to us from a private collection of Leonid Belotserkovsky. We thank him for the rare opportunity to see the handwritten books and miniature drawings by these two unique artists. Irina Dmitrenko and Feruz Temirov to American audiences have firmly established themselves in European museums and exhibitions.
Just imagine—every drawing, each line meticulously and accurately crafted by hand.
No printing, no engraving! Each detail done manually!
That is why it's impossible to create two absolutely identical handwritten books or drawings. We will showcase this miraculous process through video from Irina.
Feruz is renowned among European collectors for his exquisite artistic miniatures. These gems of Persian culture, created on antique paper using watercolor and tempera, showcase his finesse.
During the event discussions, we'll explore the artists' backgrounds, presenting their works alongside the artists themselves. Stay connected!
The exhibition spans two days:
February 3 Opening Reception from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Guided tours in English at 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM ($30)
and in Russian at 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM ($30).
Registration details will be available soon.
February 4 - Open from 12:00 PM - 7:30PM
Guided tours in English at 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM / 4:30 PM to 5:15 PM ($30)
Guided tours in Russian at 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM / 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM ($30)
Registration details will be available soon.
Admission without a guided tour is $20
Rachmaninov celebration and more!
To celebrate 150th anniversary of Rachmaninov we are presenting a concert with our own star soprano Diana Skavronskaya, pianist Irina Behrendt and violinist David Chernyavsky.
Program to include Rachmaninov Songs and other beautiful music for voice, violin and piano.
Bay Area Open Art: Photo
Gradus Ad Parnassum Music Academy is happy to open its doors to the Bay Area art loving community!
Music and Art have always intertwined as mutually enriching and we are honored and excited that our space may serve in this capacity and can only hope that we will continue to collaborate with many artists in the future!
Thank you to the organizers of the Bay Area Open Art: Black and White, Yulia Garamova and Natasha Makarenko, for choosing our school for the 2023 photo exhibit and welcome, everyone!
THUNDERSTORM IN UTA by Wolf Perlov
Monochrome Masterpieces is the title of the Bay Area Open Art Photo exhibit. Up to twenty professional Bay Area photographers will showcase their creation. Come in at any time between 10 am and 8 pm to enjoy the art and the light refreshments. $10 at the door.
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES
12:00-12:30 JENNY MELNIKOVA, romantic piano
1:00-1:30 « LUZ DE NEÓN » tango duo ALEXANDER ZEILIGER, bandoneon, SVETLANA SHNITSER, piano
3:00-3:30 improvisations on YOUR favorite tunes by YULIA GARAMOVA
4:00-4:30 DANIEL STREBULAEV, piano masterpieces by Scarlatti, Beethoven, Liszt, and Barber
5:00-5:30 student performers TBA
6:00-6:30 DAVID CHERNYAVSKY, violin, IRINA BEHRENDT, piano: Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin
7:00 LEONARD YORK, jazz piano
Vladimir Tsypin, violin recital
Works by J.S.Bach, J. Brahms, P. Tchaikovsky, and A.L. Scarmolin
Piano accompaniment by Irina Behrendt
VLADIMIR TSYPIN
is a world class concert violinist, a veteran of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, formerly a Second Chair of the Second Violin Section. He received his early training in Riga, Latvia, and was a top prize winner in three Soviet competitions for young soloists. Since emigrating to the United States in 1976, Mr. Tsypin has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist in major concert halls on three continents, as well as taught master classes. Using his extensive invaluable New York Philharmonic experience, he developed his own unique style of coaching young violinists for orchestra auditions. Mr. Tsypin has served as Judge of International Johannes Brahms Competition in Austria.
Heart to Heart: duo Musalliance
From Classisc to Moderns
A sparkling variety of masterpieces in original arrangements for classical guitar and domra (a Slavic folk instrument, similar to a mandolin) will delight you! On the program: Paganini, Schubert, Villa-Lobos, Rimsky-Korsakov, as well as folk music from around the world (Jewish, Ukrainian, Flamenco and more) These virtuoso musicians are on tour from the East Coast. Each of them is a brilliant soloist.
Champagne reception to follow
Mads Tolling concert
World famous jazz violinist Mads Tolling is presenting a solo program of his own arrangements and original compositions for violin and loops!
More info here: www.madstolling.com/solo-mads/
MADS TOLLING is an internationally renowned violinist and composer originally from Copenhagen, Denmark, now living in San Francisco. As a former nine-year member of both bassist Stanley Clarke’s band and the celebrated Turtle Island Quartet, Mads won two Grammy Awards, and he was nominated for a third Grammy in 2015. He was the 2016 winner of the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Violin Award. Mads has performed with Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Kenny Barron, Paquito D’Rivera, Leo Kottke and Sergio & Odair Assad. Mads is a current member of Bob Weir’s Wolf Bros & Wolf Pack Band.
After graduating Berklee College of Music in 2003, he was recommended by Jean-Luc Ponty to join Stanley Clarke’s band. He has since been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, and his recordings have received rave reviews in Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Strings Magazine and DownBeat Magazine.
Mads has performed for Danish royalty – Prince Frederik & Princess Mary – at the celebration of The Danish Embassy’s 50-year Anniversary. Since 2021, Mads has been a member of Bob Weir & Wolf Bros project as part of the Wolf Pack with tours across the US, including at Red Rocks, The Greek Theatre and Radio City Music Hall. He is featured on Weir’s album Live in Colorado. Mads has written several arrangements of Grateful Dead tunes for the band, some of which are now also part of the Mads Men repertoire.
Mads has twice been commissioned to write violin concertos – for Oakland Symphony and Pacific Chamber Orchestra. He has performed his symphonic works and soloed with orchestras around the US and Japan.
Mads now leads his own groups – Mads Tolling Quartet and Mads Tolling & The Mads Men. His release, Playing the 60s, is a reimagination of classic songs from 1960s film, TV and radio, such as “A Taste of Honey,” “Hawaii 5-0” and “Mission: Impossible.” The album features vocalists Kenny Washington, Kalil Wilson and Spencer Day, and it spent two months on US jazz radio’s top 30.
With his groups, Mads has performed over a thousand concerts around the world, including at The Hollywood Bowl, Library of Congress and at the Bay Area’s Paramount and Herbst Theatres. As a featured Yamaha Artist, Mads leads clinics and masterclasses in the US and internationally.
Seating is limited, please RSVP below
Tickets are $40/adult, $20/child;
Winter Kaleidoscope
We decided to try something new: our winter student recitals are going to be combined with a new art show! Student artists under the mentorship of Alla Viksne will present their works between the performances of our students on December 17at 5pm! We will have a celebratory reception after the recital. The exhibition will continue throughout the weekend.
Alongside with the student-artists, Alla will display her own newer works
And…
As a special sneak-peek preview, we will see several paintings of Alexander Yanushkevich, whose long awaited solo exhibit we are planning in mid-January!
Leo Tangasso Quartet
Join Leonel Gasso and friends for an afternoon of rich, masterful Argentine Tango. Enjoy a blend of new and Golden Age, performed by seasoned, award-winning musicians who seek to elevate tango to a beautifully connected and meaningful performance for all to experience.
Winner of the 2022 Che Bandoneon International Competition held in Stowe, Vermont, Leonel Gasso is a composer, bandoneonist, arranger, and singer from Montevideo, Uruguay. At the age of 14, Leonel joined the orchestra of his father, Cono Ricardo Gasso, and has since traveled widely to countries in Asia and Europe, including Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Scotland, Thailand, and Italy, among others.
