Hosted by Sound Espressivo Competition Judge and co-host: Chris Au In this broadcast, we explore how to be courageous as a musician not only in your artistry but in the business side of being a professional. This is something that's very admirable and respectable about Avguste Antonov - his tenacity, perseverance, sincerity, and dedication to making sure his career is forged by him. Check out his website at www.avgusteantonov.com This is a series curated by Virtual Concert Halls for the 2021 Sound Espressivo Global Competition. For more information on application, visit our website at www.soundespressivocompetition.com ______________________________ Born in Bulgaria, Avguste Antonov studied piano in Bulgaria (Dobrich), France (Ecole Normale de Paris, Conservatoire de Bordeaux Jacques Thibaud) and the United States (2000: University of Missouri-Kansas City; 2001-2004: University of Kansas; 2006-2008: Texas Christian University). He studied under the guidance of Alain Motard, Herve N'Kaoua, Robert Weirich, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Jack Winerock and Tamas Ungar. Avguste Antonov also had the privilege of taking masterclasses with Gerhard Oppitz, Jean-Claude Pennetier, Olivier Gardon, Grigory Sokolov, Olga Kern, Laure Favre Kahn, Anton Nel, Roman Rudnytsky and Yoheved Kaplinsky. In addition to performing, Avguste Antonov is active as lecturer and has presented lectures for the Carrollton Music Teachers Association, Frisco Music Teachers Association, Kansas Music Teachers Association, Oklahoma Music Teachers Association, Wisconsin Music Teachers Association and the Colburn Piano Summer Festival. He is an adjudicator for various international competitions including the ENKOR Piano Competition, the Sound Espressivo Global Competition , the Music International Grand Prix, North American Virtuoso International Music Competition, Royal Music Indonesia 2021, Grand Maestro International Music Competition and ​World Classical Music Awards In 2021, Avguste Antonov was named on the advisory board of the Sound Espressivo Global Competition.

Sound Espressivo is a competition EXPERIENCE created by a community of musicians, music educators, music managers. Our purpose is to make a difference for young musicians, for teachers, parents of music students. We are here to EMPOWER with new tools, ENRICH with new mindset, EXPAND horizons of what's possible, what it takes for a modern artist to create joy and success. Many aspects of the Competition are very new, learn what they are and i may fit your vision. Immediate feedback from Judges Internet TV live performance on a virtual stage Live interactions Prizes designed to keep giving more experience and opportunities for performance and study Opportunity to connect with likeminded people and form long lasting collaborations Apply by November 30 https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/home

"What's the relationship between Traditional and New Repertoire?" Maestro Massimiliano Donninelli is an esteemed member of the 2021 Sound Espressivo Global Competition. He will be speaking with us about his perspective as a conductor on traditional and new music. This promises to be a fascinating discussion! Apply now for the 2021 Sound Espressivo Global Competition at www.soundespressivocompetition.com ___________________________________________________ Massimiliano Donninelli represents one of the best performers of his generation. Since the beginning of his career he has dedicated himself to contemporary music, considered as privileged to live in his time and to immerse himself in the repertoire of Tradition. As a conductor of a classical and modern repertoire he has collaborated with prestigious festivals in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Holland, Canada, Serbia, Moldova, Greece . He has collaborated with prestigious artists such as Luciano Berio, Valeria Moriconi, Brett Deubner and many others, conducting the orchestra as the Bel'Arte Orchestra (Paris), Southern Illinois Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra "Serghei Lunchevici", National TeleRadio Orchestra - Moldova, National Choir "Moldova". At the same time, he dedicates himself to the composition and his works are performed in Italy, Germany, Slovenia, France, Croatia, Brazil, Spain, United States, broadcast by RssSky, Rete A, Telequattro, RadioVaticana, RAI, United Nations Radio (Colombia), Discovery Channel, RadioShalom, RTVSlovenija (Koper). He has recorded for CBC, Rai, Rai-Slo, RNE, Rusty Records, Palomar Records, Radio-Moldova, RadioFrance. Massimiliano Donninelli is distinguished by a special interpretative sensitivity and dedication to the composer's idea through a deep and particularly respectful knowledge of the score.

Music competitions often are a target of a lot of criticism. What is wrong with modern music competitions? How did the changes in music competitions scene over past 20-30 years affect the judging? What are the most common challenges for Judges? What are possible improvements and solutions? How does Sound Espressivo address the known issues? Apply by November 30 https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/ Judging modern music competitions certainly is a different task from what it meant for artists and music educators 20, 30, or 50 years ago. Things changed, and the changes are dramatic. There are many more competitions nowadays than a handful of major ones which dominated the field back a couple of decade ago. There are many different formats, a huge variety of different sets of requirements, and an even larger variety of awards and other benefits which today's competitions offer. And surely there are many issues and challenges which all people involve must face and resolve when participating in a competition. That includes not only contestants but also the Judges and organizers. Today's Panel topics are centered around the challenges particular to judging modern music competitions. Moderated by Avguste Antonov, piano, France, Sound Espressivo Board member Panelists: Anzel Gerber, cello, Austria Pierre Beaudry, guitar, Canada Olivier Chassain, guitar, France Who are the panelists: Pianist Avguste Antonov is an adjudicator for various international competitions including the ENKOR Piano Competition , the Sound Espressivo Global Competition, the Music International Grand Prix , North American Virtuoso International Music Competition , Royal Music Indonesia 2021 , Grand Maestro International Music Competition and World Classical Music Awards In 2021, Avguste Antonov was named on the advisory board of the Sound Espressivo Global Competition He has performed all over the World. He premieres at venues across North America and over the years he has worked with composers Carter Pann, Gregory Hutter, Michael Colgrass, Raina Murnak, Matthew Lewis, Till Meyn, Matthew Saunders, Robert Rollin, William Vollinger and others. Cellist Anzél Gerber, is performing on internationally renowned stages as soloist and chamber musician. Her passion for teaching served as inspiration to obtain her PhD and to conduct post-doctoral research in the field of cello training for gifted young cellists in Asia, USA and Europe. She regularly presents master classes at universities and festivals Canadian guitarist Pierre Beaudry performs through the world. His extensive concert career takes him to Europe, North America, China and South East Asia, where his solo performances are acclaimed both by the public and the press. He has been on the music faculties of three universities in Quebec, Canada (Concordia, Bishop’s and Sherbrooke) He was recently appointed as professor of guitar at the Tiziano Rossetti International Music Academy in Lugano, Switzerland. French guitarist Olivier Chassain was born in Paris in 1957. Today, his triple professional activity makes him simultaneously lead a career as an active international concert performer, a career as composer who enjoys seeing his works performed and published, and a career as guitar teacher at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (Cnsmdp)

Program: Bach - Cello Suite No.4 in E-flat Major, BWV 1010 4:11 Allemande 7:06 Courante 9:31 Sarabande 12:15 Gigue 18:17 Beethoven - Sonata in A Major, Op. 69 (I. Allegro ma non tanto) 33:53 Tchaikovsky - Pezzo Capriccioso, Op. 62 41:29 Pablo Casals - Song of the Birds 44:19 Sulkhan Tsintsadze - Chonguri (from Five Pieces on Folk Themes) Accompanied by Micah Yui, piano Fourteen-year Mira Kardan attends the Colburn School where she studies with acclaimed cellist Clive Greensmith. She began her cello studies in the Colburn Community School with Nancy Yamagata at age five. Mira has attended summer programs including the Heifetz Institute and Indiana University’s Summer String Academy. At the Colburn School, Mira has served as principal cello of the Community School’s String Orchestra and has been selected to play on the bi-annual Honors Recital. Additionally, her piano trio was chosen as for the School’s Honors Chamber Ensemble program. Her trio has won first place on two occasions in the regional division of MTAC’s VOCE competition. Now a member of Colburn’s prestigious Music Academy for gifted young artists, Mira participates in a comprehensive program of musical studies that include music theory, history, lessons and ensembles. Additionally, Mira has had the opportunity to study cello and chamber music with Hans Jensen, Amir Eldan, Peter Stumpf, Fabio Bidini, Susan Moses, and the Calidore Quartet. Mira is currently in the ninth grade at the Geffen Academy at UCLA. Her interests include reading, writing, and listening to music of all genres. She also enjoys travelling and experiencing new international cuisines. Mira lives in Los Angeles with her parents and beloved rescue dog, Daisy. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20

Join us for Interviews with exciting news from Sound Espressivo past Winners! Learn what happened is their music journey and life since 2020 when they impressed the International Panel of SEC Judges and received highest honors at the First Sound Espressivo Competition. Please post your comments and questions! We will bring them on screen for our guests to respond Apply by November 30 https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/application Learn more about past Winners https://www.soundespressivocompetition.com/2020-laureates-and-winners

What have our fantastic prizewinners been up to this year? What kind of projects have they started to work on? Find out what has been inspiring them since their success at the 2020 Sound Espressivo Global Competition! Apply by November 30 at www.soundespressivocompetition.com for our 2021 edition of the Sound Espressivo Global Competition! ______________________________________________ Yerko Difonis is the first student born blind and partially deaf to pursue a master of music degree in piano performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts (MGSA). He has primarily used braille to learn music and it is an incredible pleasure to hear him play. Difonis’s family emigrated to the United States in 2000 on a temporary visa in search of educational resources for their son. They lived in New Jersey, then Brooklyn, N.Y., and finally Staten Island, N.Y. While in Brooklyn, they were connected with Lighthouse International, now Lighthouse Guild, where he was a member of the children’s program. Difonis learned Braille and enrolled in the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School for those with vision loss. ___ Young Steinway Artist Artem Kopylov is an avid music ambassador, and is currently studying with Prof. Olga Chichova, one of the most celebrated and sought-after teachers in Toronto. A recipient of the Canadian Young Artist Standards of Excellence Awards Winner Notice, Artem is a winner of numerous national and international competitions for young pianists, performing with symphony orchestras in Toronto, Burlington, Moscow, and others. He is a first prize winner and laureate of the Steinway and Sons (New York City), GOCAA (Boston), 18th Nutcracker (Moscow) piano competitions, and others. Artem’s performances have been broadcast on Canadian national television by CBC and Radio-Canada. He has participated at festivals in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, U.S.A., Russia, and has taken master classes with prestigious pianists, including Dmitri Bashkirov, Marina Mdivani, Akiko Ebi, André Laplante, Bernd Goetzke, Bernd Glemser, Boris Petrushansky, Grigory Gruzman, Pavel Nersessian, Valeri Piasetski, and Stanislav Igolinsky. He has given recitals in halls such as Carnegie, Boston Conservatory, Tchaikovsky, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and others.

Accompanied by Mark Livshits, piano 3:16 Lalo - Symphonie Espagnole (I. Allegro non troppo) Bach - Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 10:56 Allegro 14:33 Andante 20:19 Allegro assai 24:04 Paganini - Caprice No. 9 27:29 Michael Daugherty - Viva for Violin 31:55 Grigoras Dinicu/Jascha Heifetz - Hora Staccato 37:52 Interview with Mio Imai Violinist Mio Imai (10), student of Kimberly Fisher, won in various competitions and made solo orchestra debut at age 9. She was nominated as finalist in the 2020 Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Competition. Please support musicians and this concert series here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/vchs20