St. Petersburg Artists F - L

Violin. Ilya Ioff was born in 1966 in St. Petersburg where he began studying the violin at an early age. In 1973, he entered the Special Music School. His rich sound and mature interpretations were noticed by the outstanding Soviet violinist, Professor B. Gutnikov. He continued his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire with Professor V. Ovcharek and graduated in 1991.

After 1988, Mr. Ioff entered the ARD-Competition (Munich) with a piano-trio which was awarded the Special Prize. In 1991, he was a member of the piano-trio which won the First Prize at the "Vercelli Chamber Ensemble Viotti Competition" in Italy.

Ilia Ioff has toured Europe, South Korea, Turkey and the USA. He has performed with Mariss Jansons, Yury Temirkanov, Martha Argerich, Julian Milkis and others in many European countries and the United States.

Contemporary composers of St. Petersburg, including B. Tischenko, S. Slonimsky, G. Korchmar and L. Desyatnikov, have all entrusted their premiere performances of new compositions to Mr. Ioff.

Among Ilya Ioff's CD recordings are Paganini's Concerto No. 1, sonatas of Mozart, Tartini and Brahms, trios of Schubert and Tchaikovsky, chamber music of Dvorak, Brahms, Arensky and Borodin, and Schnittke's Concerto Grosso No. 1.

In 2002, Ilya Ioff was awarded the title, "Honored Artist of Russia".

Apart from his performing activities, Mr. Ioff teaches violin at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire and is Artistic Director of the Divertissement State String Orchestra. Its large repertoire and 'all-absorbing' approach to sound have won well-deserved successes with Russian, European, and American audiences.

Violin, born in 1978 in Habarovsk. Studied in St. Petersburg Conservatoire under A. Kazarina. In 1994, diploma-winner at the all-Russia competition in St. Petersburg. Currently member of the orchestra of the Mariinsky theater in St. Petersburg.

Flute. Born 1973 in St. Petersburg. Studied flute at the Mussorgski College of Music and the St. Petersburg Conservatoire with the leading Russian flute professor, Gleb Nikitin (graduated 1998 "summa cum laude").

1990 - Won Second Prize at the National Wind Competition in St. Petersburg.

1997 - Participated in the master-class of Aurele Nicolet.
Documentary on the cultural life of St. Petersburg filmed for NHK-Japan TV. In 1998, this documentary was awarded the UNESCO Prize in New York.

1999 - Attended the Holland Music Sessions and studied with Prof. Rien De Reede. In November 1999, performed flute concertos of Mozart and Tishenko on tour.

Currently teaches flute at the St. Basil's Arts School in St. Petersburg. Has personal educational programs and methodics (published).

Since 1992, Mrs. Lapina has been soloist in the noted chamber ensemble "Musica Da Camera" (since 1999 - Ensemble of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society). She has given many concerts and recitals in St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, and toured Germany (1994, 1997) and The Netherlands (1996, 1999).

1999 - Received fellowship from the Open Society Institute (New York).

2000 - Won Richard Wagner International Scholarship Competition in Bayreuth.

"Apparition from the depth of the Russian soul"
"Emotional devotion, piercingly intense"
"Every affect was finely detailed and convincingly presented"
"Utmost technical sovereignty and deep feeling"
"Brilliant and smart music-making"
("Westfallen-Blatt", "Neue Westfalische", "Rotterdams Dagblad")

Address: P.O. Box 99, St. Petersburg 199034 Russia
Tel: + 7 (812) 323-0014
Fax: + 7 (812) 328-6876
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