23-26 SEPTEMBER 2019

ANURADHA NAIMPALLY, Dance | India

Anuradha Naimpally is a Bharatanatyam dance soloist, collaborator, and educator, is an experienced performer worldwide. She connects this ancient art of India to modern audiences through engaging explanations and moving performances. She is a recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Jacqueline LeMieux Prize from the Canada Council and the title of “Sringara Mani” (Artistic Jewel) in India. Her performance, titled Moving Myths of India, is an engaging, interactive show for all ages. It highlights mythology through storytelling embellished with creative hand symbols, rhythms, and cultural values of India, performed in colorful costume.

AMIE MACISZEWSKI, Sitar | USA

Sitarist Dr. Amie Maciszewski is an international award-winning performer/ensemble leader, teaching artist and educator. Audiences describe Amie’s classical sitar/tabla and Indo-jazz fusion ensemble performances as “stunning” and “elegantly vibrant.” Her Sangeet Millennium Ensemble (Texas Top Ten award, 2008 and 2011, Austin Chronicle) seamlessly traverses boundaries between traditional South Asian melodies with jazz/world grooves, creating an ever-evolving sound. Passionate about sharing North Indian music culture, Amie has traveled three continents completing artist residencies, hosting recitals, and conducting lectures on Hindustani music.

22 & 24 OCTOBER 2019

VOCAL DUO DEUX | USA
with ELENA PORTNAYA | Russia

While Crystal and Angela have long enjoyed thriving careers as soloists, they have always  genuinely preferred collaboration. Both singers are professionally based out of San Antonio, and in the fall of 2017 they made their official debut as Deux. By the end of the 2019 season they will have appeared together in over thirty recitals and concerts throughout South Texas. They recently appeared on the Artist Series at Texoma NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and have been featured artists on Texas Public Radio. Their repertoire includes a wide range of styles from early 17th century to art song, sacred music, opera, and also contemporary commissioned works.

31 OCTOBER 2019

LEE BONG KI, Piano | South Korea

Concert pianist Lee Bong Ki is an artist of world renown and experience. He is most notably recognized internationally for his heartfelt interpretation of the music of Chopin. He has performed solo recitals and chamber music concerts in China, Germany, Japan, Russian and Ukraine, as well as winning the Tokyo International Music Contest and the Korean Music Award. Lee Bong Ki also serves in numerous academic faculties, as the principal of Yein School of Music and Fine Art and supervisor of the Korean Music Association.

20-22 NOVEMBER 2019

ELENA PORTNAYA, Piano | Russia

Concert pianist and Artistic Coordinator for Musical Bridges Around The World, Elena Portnaya holds two Doctoral Degrees from Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and the University of Texas at Austin. Elena is a laureate of numerous international piano competitions and has performed solo as well as in chamber ensembles in Russia, Poland, England, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. In 2010-2011 season she was a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, working on the preparation of Madame Butterfly, Dead Man Walking and Ariadne auf Naxos, and other works under the baton of maestro Patrick Summers.

MARK CHEIKHET, Violin | Russia

Mark Cheikhet, violinist, is famous for his “golden tone” on romantic violin. Graduate of a Doctoral degree from Moscow Conservatory, Mark has built a unique niche for his talents in both worlds of performing and visual arts. A frequent guest of Musical Bridges Around the World, Mark has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Russia, Germany, France, Mexico and the United States. Among his recent performances are the Festival in Bressia Italy, Festival of the Russian Art in Marseille, and Festival “Oldenburg Promenade” in Germany. Currently residing in Moscow, Mark is known for multimedia performances that include exhibitions and their musical interpretations. “ …his warm and beautiful sound transforms the listener to another world. … Mark’s clarity of musical thought and virtuosity are truly remarkable. … ” (Brescia Oggi)

9-12 DECEMBER 2019

VICTOR PRIETO, Accordion | Spain

Grammy Winner Victor Prieto is hailed by The New York Times as “A fiendishly skilled accordionist and composer” and by All About Jazz as “One of the best World music and Jazz accordionists now days”. He has changed the way musicians and spectators view accordion by revolutionizing both technique and sound. His love for traditional Galician music and classical education enriches his compositions with explosive rhythm and colors uniquely combining Galician Roots, Celtic, Brazilian, Jazz, Tango, and Classical music. Victor continues collaborating on world stages with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble among many others. He teaches Master Classes in US Berklee College of Music and heads jazz accordion studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory, New York.

OLIVER RAJAMANI, Percussion | India

Oliver Rajamani performs innovative soul stirring original music. He has created a sound of his own with the historic threads of Indian/Gypsy folk, Romani and Texas music/cultures while bringing recognition to the historical Indian origins of the Romani people. An Austin, and Texas World Music award winner, Rajamani has toured internationally, recorded, and performed with poets and artists wide-ranging in style, including: Jeronimo Maya, Gypsy Kings, and Willie Nelson.

TAMARA ADIRA, Dance | USA

Tamara Adira is a dancer, choreographer, and producer. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Tamara Adira Arte y Pasión. Tamara is known for her work across mediums bridging gaps between music and cultures. She has choreographed for companies such as the Fine Arts Ballet Theater of Temecula, California, the City of San Antonio’s pre-professional Groups Fandango and Alamotion, and the Alas Theater Troupe of the San Antonio-based Say Sí Theater. She has studied and shared the stage with such artists as the late greats maestros of flamenco, Teo Morca, and Timo Lozano. Counterbalancing her studies in traditional flamenco, Adira leverages her experience in experimental and contemporary performance, demonstrated by her Harvard University residency under John Cage.

2-6 MARCH 2020

BARYNYA | Russia

The music, dance, and song ensemble Barynya is a world renowned group that enjoys exalting stature as the premier Russian folk ensemble outside of Russia. Barynya presents Russian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Jewish and Gypsy Roma traditional dancing, music, songs, and virtuoso performances on instruments including the balalaika, garmoshka (Russian folk button accordion) and balalaika contrabass. Barynya has been invited to perform at some of the most prestigious cultural venues in the United States, including Carnegie Hall, the National Constitution Center (Philadelphia), the Smithsonian Institute of America, the United Nations (New York), and the Russian Embassy.

19-21 MARCH 2020

DUO JALAL | Lebanon/Australia

Racing along with our new global society, Duo Jalal builds bridges from their home in New York and around the world to create some of the world’s most exotic chamber music. Audiences are enthralled as classical Australian violist, Kathryn Lockwood embodies the styles of both a gypsy violinist and Middle Eastern reed flutist. Yousif, of Lebanese descent, dazzles as his fingers snap at the edge of an Egyptian frame drum and his foot drags across the Peruvian cajon. Together, their music blends various cultures and musical styles to create engaging performances.

11-13 MAY 2020

ALEANYA PIANO DUO | Russia

Alena Gorina & Anya Grokhovski are pianists with extensive concert experience as both soloists and chamber musicians who came together to share their love of piano ensemble repertoire. Their programming is greatly influenced by their cultural and educational roots. Alena was born, raised, and educated in Belorussia (formerly, the Soviet Union) and Anya in Moscow. Needless to say, Russian music holds a special place in the hearts of Duo AleAnya. Both Alena and Anya hold doctoral degrees in piano performance; Alena from UT Austin and Anya from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow.  Alena is currently a lecturer at Texas State University and Anya is CEO and Artistic Director of Musical Bridges Around the World.