2014 Musica Viva Performers

A true jewel of the Texas performing scene, Austin Troubadours is an international group of musicians that is dedicated to reviving the beauty of musical masterpieces from Medieval and Renaissance Europe thru performing dances and songs in period costumes with more than 30 authentic period instruments. Founded in 2008 in Austin, Texas by the award-winning lutenist and early music specialist Slobodan Vujisic, a veteran of the European early music scene. Prior to relocating to the United States, Slobodan recorded numerous CD’s and gave over 1,000 performances with his “Ensemble Renaissance”, including such important international venues and programs as Schauspielhaus in Berlin, St. Marten Theatre in Paris, and the Dubrovnik International Music Festival.

Hailed as “a pair of adventurous young talents” by Time Out New York, the Canellakis-Brown Duo captivates audiences with their superb musicianship. Comprised of cellist Nicholas Canellakis and pianist/composer Michael Brown the duo appeared at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in 2013. They have performed at some of the most prominent music festivals in the world, including Music@Menlo, Ravinia, Marlboro, Tanglewood, Santa Fe, Caramoor, Bridgehampton, Aspen, and Mostly Mozart. The Canellakis-Brown Duo combine masterpieces from the standard repertoire with original compositions and arrangements; they also produce and star in a YouTube comedy series “Conversations with Nick Canellakis,” where they conduct satirical interviews with stars of the classical music world!

“He played with an authentic fire, coupled with an airy, sun-kissed tone” – review from the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition confirmed that Italian pianist Alessandro Deljavan is one of the most accomplished and charismatic musicians of his generation and captured the first-ever John Giordano Jury Discretionary Award for his outstanding solo & chamber music performances. Deljavan began piano before the age of 2, recorded his first CD under the Stradivarius label at age 15 and graduated “G Verdi” in Piano at the Milan Conservatory just a year later! In over fifteen years of concert performances he has been applauded worldwide from Austria to Italy, Argentina, Belgium, South Korea, France, Germany, Slovakia, Poland and the United States.

Habaneros, direct from Havana: Virtuoso Clarinetist Alden Ortuño Cabezas with a String Quartet comprised of members of the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba will dazzle guests with classical selections by American, European and Cuban Composers. Quartet musicians are graduates of National School of Arts and National Institute of Arts of Cuba. Mr. Ortuño Cabezas has participated in several competitions and earned the 1st Award at Amadeo Roldán Contest in Matanzas province in 1989. In 1994, he earned the 1st Award and Recognition the Best Cuban Music Performance at Amadeo Roldán National Contest in Havana. Currently he is a Professor of Clarinet at the National School of Arts. Mr. Ortuno will take the saxophone while fellow musician double as percussionists!

Soprano Pureum Jo, a native of Korea, is a Juilliard graduate. Ms. Jo has appeared as Matsukaze (Spoleto Festival USA, Lincoln Center Festival), Blanche in Dialogues des carmélites, and, Gianetta in L’elisir d’amore (Met+Juilliard Production), Fraarte in Radamisto, and Sandrina in La finta giardiniera. She has also performed at Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall in concert, including the Marilyn Horne Foundation Annual Recital The Song Continues…, Juilliard’s Wednesdays at One series, Juilliard Songfest with Brian Zeger, and a concert of Rameau works with Juilliard 415  under Robert Mealy. Her 2013-2014 calendar includes Micaela from Carmen (Aspen Music Festival), Pamina and Papagena in Magic Flute. In 2014 Pureum is a member of Houston Grand Opera Studio.

The NYC-based Isle of Klezbos sextet approaches tradition with irreverence and respect. The soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all-women’s klezmer has toured from Vienna to Vancouver since 1998. Band repertoire ranges from rambunctious to entrancing: neo-traditional folk dance, Yiddish swing & retro tango, late Soviet-era Jewish drinking songs and genre-defying originals. Metropolitan Klezmer concert footage has been broadcast on CBS & CNN. Band mates were profiled by NPR’s Hey Ladies project. The band also made studio recordings of Klezmer arrangements for double platinum, Grammy-nominated Scissor Sisters, and performed at the special request of artist Kiki Smith for the dedication of her new stained glass window at the Eldridge Street Synagogue.

After graduating classical guitar with honors from the prestigious “Orazio Vecchi” Conservatory in Modena, Italy, Slobodan Vujisic was a full time professor of classical guitar at the State Conservatory “Slavenski” in Belgrade, Serbia. A Veteran of European early music scene, he has recorded five CD’s and gave over 1,000 concerts with his “Ensemble Rennaissance” , including the Schauspielhaus in Berlin, St. Marten Theatre in Paris, and the Dubrovnik Festival. In January of 2009 he formed Austin Troubadours, where he is still the Artistic Director and business manager. They performed 18 concerts in Texas in 2010 and 2011, appeared twice on NPR radio programs, and performed live on TV on FOX news and Channel 8 in Austin.