CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL OF NEW ENGLAND STARTS ITS FIFTH SEASON WITH A CONCERT ON OCTOBER 19, 2008

Chamber Music Foundation of New England has opened its Fifth Chamber  Music Festival Concert Season on Sunday, October 19 at St. Paul Church in Brookline with a chamber music concert of Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann.

Featured in the concert were two exceptional young cellists, Mikhail Veselov, from St. Petersburg, Russia, and Ying-Jun Wei from Wu Han Conservatory of Music, China.

Click here to view the concert program.

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Mikhail has won first prizes in several international competitions including Gartof Stiftung Competition in St. Petersburg, Città di Barletta Competition in Italy and Rachmaninov Competition in Moscow. Mikhail will perform Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor Op. 17 with CMFoNE staff musicians, Lilia Muchnik, violin and Ellina Blinder, piano.

"I want to thank CMFoNE for giving me an opportunity to play Clara Schumann's Trio with true professionals, Ms. Lilia Muchnik, violin and Ms. Ellina Blinder, piano. I very much appreciate the comments and suggestions during our rehearsals. It helped me grow as a chamber musician and gave me a better sense of harmony and balance. I was honored to be a part of CMFoNE Festival Series."

Mikhail Veselov, cellist

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At the age of 13, Ying-Jun won the first prize of The Third China Cello Competition and was given a great opportunity to study in England by Curtis Price, the Principal of Royal Academy of Music. Ying-Jun will perform Robert Schumann’s Piano Trio in F Major Op. 80 together with Alexey Shabalin, violin and Tanya Kodinsky, piano. 

As a musician, it is essential to have as many performing experiences as possible. CMFoNE has provided me many precious opportunities to perform with wonderful chamber music professionals at some of Boston’s finest venues. The rehearsals were always a lot of fun and inspiring. These collaborations have helped me tremendously to improve my chamber music skills. Not only has CMFoNE helped me in becoming a better musician, they were also there for me to get by tough times as dear friends. I will always be grateful for their friendship, kindness and support!

    Ying Jun Wei , cellist

 

CMFoNE guest musician, Alexey Shabalin, violin, is a graduate of Moscow Conservatory, where he studied with professors Igor Besrodny and Alexander Melkinov. In 1991, Alexey won third prize in the Soviet National String Quartet competition and was a semifinalist in the International Shostakovich Chamber Music Competition. In 1995, he won the “Best Violinist in a Duet” category in the International Competition in Moscow.  From 1992 to 1996, Shabalin toured with the world-renown Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Yuri Bashmet. Moving to the US in 1996, Alexey has played in many orchestras, chamber groups and festivals around New England and the United States. Since 2003, he has been an Artist-Director of the Rhode Island Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and he is a founder and conductor of the Rhode Island Youth Soloists. Alexey also coaches chamber music at Brown University, in addition to conducting the symphony orchestra and coaching violin and chamber groups at Providence College.