Mr. Branislav Svitek began his musical career in his native Bratislava, Slovakia. He studied violin with Professor Albin Vrtel at the Bratislava State Conservatory (Diploma) and later with Professor Bohdan Warchal at the prestigious Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in music. He continued his education in the USA after winning a graduate scholarship at the Montclair State University, where he successfully completed his Master’s degree in the class of Professor Oscar Ravina of the New York Philharmonic. He graduated with honors in 2001. Mr. Svitek has won several prizes including first place at the North London Chamber Music Competition. Currently Mr. Svitek enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He has performed and recorded extensively throughout Europe, USA, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina in major venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Herkulessaal in Munich, Sala Sao Paulo. During his career he’s been Concertmaster, Associate Concertmaster or Principal in the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, Montclair Chamber Ensemble, Plainfield Symphony, New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra, MSU Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Svitek has been throughout his career involved in many chamber groups, at the moment he acts as first violinist of the Rosadoni String Quartet. He is also active in Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and chamber orchestra Cappella Istropolitana. He enjoys private teaching.
Mária Hanny studied at the State Conservatory in Bratislava in the class of Prof. Elena Holičková. She continued her education at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in the class of well-known opera singer Peter Mikuláš, where she has received her Master‘s degree in 2013. She won the 3rd prize at the Competition of the Slovak Conservatories (2005), the 3rd prize at the Imrich Godin´s International Vocal Competition in Vráble, Slovakia (2007), the 1st prize at the prestigious International Vocal Competition of Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský in Trnava, Slovakia (2008), where she became also the absolute winner of her category and she was awarded with two special prizes as well - the Prize of Mária Kišoňová-Hubová for the best performance of the compulsory song “Ružičky“ and the Prize of the Music Center Bratislava. In 2012 she was awarded with fellowship in the Kempinski Arts Programme during which she actively participated at the International Summer Academy Salzburg in the class of Ildikó Raimondi. Already during her studies she gave numerous successful performances in Slovakia and abroad. In 2008 and 2010 she collaborated in a very successful concert series with chamber orchestra Virtuosi di Praga. She represented Slovakia in the concert of four singers of the Visegrad countries in Budapest (April 2010). Since the season 2010/11 she appears regularly as the guest soloist of the Slovak National Theatre. Among her roles are Papagena in The Magic flute, Prilepa in The Queen of Spades, Karolka in Jenufa, Concetta in Gioielli della Madonna, Despina in Cosi fan Tutte, Marzelline in Fidelio, Mi in Land of Smiles and others. Maria also enjoys quite extensive concert career. Just to name few of her performances she appeared with great guitarist Miriam Rodriguez Brüllová in 2011 and 2016 at The international music festival „Guitar Gems“ in Israel, and at The international music festival „Life is beautiful“ in Bucharest. In 2014 she sang soprano solo in Japan in several performances of Beethovens 9th symphony with Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. The same work she sang in 2015 in Slovak Philharmonic with Bruno Walter Symphony Orchestra in national live TV broadcast. She also collaborated in concerts with the Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina. In 2017 she sang at the Opera House in Cairo. Maria recorded CD I Gioielli della Madonna for NAXOS.
Jan Pospisil studied at Brno Conservatory in the class of prof. M. Zicha and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in the class of prof. J. Podhoransky. During his studies he became laureate of many competitions (International cello competition of B. Heran in Usti nad Orlici, Competition of Czech Conservatories and at the Competition of chamber music in Czech Republic.) He further improved his skills in Masterclasses under the guidance of V. Yaglig, J. Barta, G. Mantella, J. Podhoransky and B. Havlik. Since 2000 is Mr. Pospisil a member of the Slovak National Theater Orchestra and from 2004 he acts as a Concertmaster of the cello section. As a solocellist he performed at Opera Festivals in Czech Republic (Brno, Prague), Cyprus (Paphfos), Germany (Xanten, Hersfeld), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), Italy (Merano), Croatia (Pula), Slovenia (Portoroz), Hungary (Gyor), Switzerland (Solothurn). He also performed solo during galaconcert with world renowned ballet soloist V. Malakov. He presented solo at galaconcert during EURO 2008 in Vienna, with singers such as E. Gruberova, E. Garanca, R. Vargas. In addition to that Mr. Pospisil performed solo concerts in Finland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Ireland, China and at Brno International Music Festival „Moravian Autumn“. He was a member of chamber orchestra Bratislava Classic, Slovak Festival Orchestra, which performs mostly in Ireland. In autumn 2016 he performed Piazzolla´s Grand tango with local Philharmonia in Netanya, Israel. In 2009 Mr. Pospisil played in the semifinals of Eurovision Song Contest. He is a leader of the Artistic Ensemble “Celisti”, this group performed under his guidance at the festival „Hudebni nespory Brno“, together with soloist of the Slovak National Theater, world renowned bass singer P. Mikulas. Since 2003 serves Mr. Pospisil on the faculty at the Bratislava Church Conservatory.
Flutist Natasha Loomis earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Performance from Franklin & Marshall College and Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music. At F&M she was the recipient of the H.A. Gault Departmental Award for Music and the Nolt Music Travel Award, winner of the Concerto Competition in 2009, and student conductor with the wind ensemble and Philharmonia. While at MSU, Natasha served as the Music History graduate teaching assistant and as principal flute in the Orchestra and Wind Symphony. She has performed in masterclasses for Ransom Wilson, Tara Helen O’Connor, Jeffrey Khaner, Gary Schocker, Keith Underwood, and the Imani Winds, and has studied with Susan Palma-Nidel, Elizabeth Mann, Jennifer Grim, and Joan Sparks, among others. Natasha has performed as a soloist with the Franklin & Marshall Orchestra and the Teaneck Community Band as part of their Summer Concert Series. She has played with Opera Lancaster, Allegro Chamber Orchestra and the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra; and performed as soloist with the MSU Flute Choir at the 2011 New York Flute Fair “Multiple Breaths” concert and the Weill Recital Hall Concert Series in 2012, also giving chamber performances with Susan Palma and Tanya Dusevic Witek. She is currently an active freelancer and teacher in the greater New York area.
Violinist Jozef Horvath obtained his Music degree at the Bratislava State Conservatory in the class of Prof. Albin Vrtel. After the graduation Jozef entered the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where he received his Master of Music degree. In 1998 Jozef attended The Holland Music Sessions where he met Prof. E. Schmieder (student of David Oistrakh) who invited him to study at the Meadows School of Arts in Dallas (USA) with full Scholarship. After completing the Advanced Instrumental Course he gained the prestigious Concert Artist Diploma. Mr. Horvath continued his music education at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna (Austria) in the class of Prof. G. Pichler (member of the Alban Berg String Quartet). He is a winner of various national and international competitions such as Slovak Republic Conservatories Competition in 1994 and 1996, North London Festival, and the National Violin Competition K. Dobias. He was granted numerous prizes and scholarships which permitted him to study with legends such as E. Gratch, I. Bezrodny, L. Chilingirian, G. Pauk, V. Liberman, M. Minchev and I. Haendel. Jozef Horvath was a member of various orchestras such as Solistes Europeen Luxembourg, Cappella Istropolitana, Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra, I Palpiti Chamber Orchestra and the Slovak Philharmonic. As a soloist he performed on various stages throughout the U. S., Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Japan etc. In the year 2003 Mr. Horvath became a member of the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra and later won the position of the Assistant Concertmaster regularly playing also as a Concertmaster. Since 2012 he is a member of the Slovak Quartet and is a violin teacher at Bratislava State Conservatory and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. Mr. Horvath is also the Concertmaster of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mária Fuchsbergerová started to play violin at an early age. She graduated from the State Conservatory in Bratislava in the class of Prof. František Török and continued her studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in the class of Prof. František Novotný. During her master studies she was accepted in exchange program to study in Vienna at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in the class of the Concertmaster of Wiener Symphoniker Prof. Jan Pospíchal. She finished her Master degree in June 2016. As a soloist she has performed in Slovak Philharmonic hall at Reduta, accompanied by chamber orchestra of the Bratislava State Conservatory as well as many other concerts and competitions (Competition of the Slovak Conservatories, IV.Intenationaler ÖJAB competition in Vienna, International Music Academy and Competition Cremona). She has taken part in several international violin masterclasses lead by distinguished professors such as Haghai Shaham, Mark Lakirovich, Ernest Kovacic, Jela Špitkova, Paola Tumeo, Marina Kesselman, Sophia Sogland, František Novotný. Maria is an active chamber and orchestra musician. She has been the Concertmaster of the festival orchestra in Cremona and has given special concert of chamber groups in the unique concert hall Museo del Violino Cremona. She has participated in many orchestral projects, such as Sinfonietta del Arte, Philharmonie Marchfeld and Webern Symphony Orchestra in a concert hall Musikverein. At the present time Maria is a member of the chamber orchestra Cappella Istropolitana with whom she has performed in many concerts in Austria, Germany, Slovenia and South America. She is also a member of the international youth orchestra Junge Philharmonie Wien, chamber orchestra Zoe and Slovak Philharmonic. In addition to her concert career she enjoys teaching violin.
After graduating from the Bratislava State Conservatory in the class of Karol Filipovic, cellist Boris Boho entered the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague where he studied with Daniel Veis. He continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava with Jozef Podhoransky and later with Jan Slavik. To further refine his solo and chamber music skills, he participated in masterclasses with Daniil Shafran, Raphael Perraud, Boris Barac, Levon Chillingirian and with the members of the Daniel String Quartet. He also participated in the International Orchestra Institute Attergau under the patronage of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He is active as a soloist , chamber musician and orchestral player. As a principal or assistant principal he has been member of various symphonic and chamber orchestras (Cappella Istropolitana, Chamber Soloists Bratislava, Solistes Europeéns Luxembourg, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra). He also collaborated with Symfonia Warsovia, Camerata Bregenz, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and Virtuosi di Praga. Among his chamber music partners belong Jan Talich, Marie-Pierre Vendome, flautist Benoit Fromanger, cellist Arto Noras, pianist Sun-Yung Park and flamenco dancer Nina Corti. Currently he is the Concertmaster of the cello section with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and member of piano trio Faces.
Violinist Oxana Gerchiova hails from Taganrog, Russia, where she, as a seven year old, started her musical education. After graduation from the Conservatory of Music in her native city she continued her education at the Conservatory of Music in Rostov-on-Don, the Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia and in the violin class of A. Jablokov at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. She participated in many international competitions and festivals and has had successful performances and solo recitals in Russia, Germany and Italy. Since 2007 Oksana is member of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and regularly records for the Slovak Radio and Slovak Television. She enjoys playing chamber music and her electric violin.
Soprano Yvonne Bill recently made her directing debut directing Mozart’s iconic opera The Marriage of Figaro and Broadway Jr. version of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Bethesda Summer Music Festival. She appeared as Mimì in Opera Manhattan's production of Puccini's La Bohème and has premiered several modern works including The Enchanted Stone (Sibby), The Hour Glass (Woman), and The Death of Oedipus (Antigone), all by composer Martin Halpern. As Antigone “Yvonne Bill, showed honest soprano emotion.” – Harry Rolnick Concerto.net. With Dicapo Opera Theatre Ms. Bill has appeared as Madame de Rosemonde in Conrad Susa's Dangerous Liaisons, as Olga in Franz Léhar's The Merry Widow and as Sister #1 in Giannini's Beauty and the Beast and also covered the role of Masha in Richard Wargo's The Music Shop. For her performance in Dangerous Liaisons, David Shengold of Opera Magazine UK, observed, "Yvonne Bill (a mellow-toned Mme. de Rosamonde) and Lisa Chavez (Mme. de Volanges).... offered the most fully integrated performances vocally". Other operatic roles include Lisette in La Rondine and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Company of Brooklyn, Marzelline in Fidelio with the other company as a part of the Philly Fringe Festival, Giulietta in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in Suor Angelica, Mimì in La Bohème, Charlotte in A Little Night Music, and as Mrs. Mullin in Carousel with Shaker Mountain Opera. With Light Opera of Oklahoma she appeared as Yvonne in Naughty Marietta, Pitti-Sing in Mikado and Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady. In the Washington, DC area, she has performed Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. She performed in the ensemble and as a soloist for the NONESUCH label recording of Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs conducted by Paul Gemignani and in the ensemble of Sweeney Todd with the New York Philharmonic in the year 2000. For the last six years, Ms. Bill has been the soloist and cantor for Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Bay Ridge Brooklyn and for three years she has been a certified teacher for Music Together working with young children and teaching family music making.
Dr. Samuel Bill enjoys a diverse musical career as conductor, pianist, coach, organist and arranger. As a conductor he has collaborated with many opera companies and orchestras in the U.S. and in Europe. Among the highlights belong: collaboration with contemporary composer Tobias Picker and performances of his opera Emmeline for International Opera Competition in Szeged, Hungary which was broadcast on European Classical Television Mezzo TV, a U.S. tour of the 75th Anniversary production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, performances of Puccini's opera Suor Angelica in Italy and numerous other successful productions - Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Elixir of Love, Rossini's Italiana in Algeri to mention a few. Being a native Slovak and Czech speaker, Dr. Bill and his wife Yvonne founded Czech Opera Projects offering singers authentic experience in language and role preparation. In addition, Dr. Bill has over 10 years of experience as a church musician and organist, playing countless services and weddings. For full bio and reviews please visit www.samuelbill.com.
Mr. Branislav Svitek began his musical career in his native Bratislava, Slovakia. He studied violin with Professor Albin Vrtel at the Bratislava State Conservatory (Diploma) and later with Professor Bohdan Warchal at the prestigious Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in music. He continued his education in the USA after winning a graduate scholarship at the Montclair State University, where he successfully completed his Master’s degree in the class of Professor Oscar Ravina of the New York Philharmonic. He graduated with honors in 2001. Mr. Svitek has won several prizes including first place at the North London Chamber Music Competition. Currently Mr. Svitek enjoys a versatile career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He has performed and recorded extensively throughout Europe, USA, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina in major venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Herkulessaal in Munich, Sala Sao Paulo. During his career he’s been Concertmaster, Associate Concertmaster or Principal in the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, Montclair Chamber Ensemble, Plainfield Symphony, New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra, MSU Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Svitek has been throughout his career involved in many chamber groups, at the moment he acts as first violinist of the Rosadoni String Quartet. He is also active in Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and chamber orchestra Cappella Istropolitana. He enjoys private teaching.
Mária Hanny studied at the State Conservatory in Bratislava in the class of Prof. Elena Holičková. She continued her education at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in the class of well-known opera singer Peter Mikuláš, where she has received her Master‘s degree in 2013. She won the 3rd prize at the Competition of the Slovak Conservatories (2005), the 3rd prize at the Imrich Godin´s International Vocal Competition in Vráble, Slovakia (2007), the 1st prize at the prestigious International Vocal Competition of Mikuláš Schneider-Trnavský in Trnava, Slovakia (2008), where she became also the absolute winner of her category and she was awarded with two special prizes as well - the Prize of Mária Kišoňová-Hubová for the best performance of the compulsory song “Ružičky“ and the Prize of the Music Center Bratislava. In 2012 she was awarded with fellowship in the Kempinski Arts Programme during which she actively participated at the International Summer Academy Salzburg in the class of Ildikó Raimondi. Already during her studies she gave numerous successful performances in Slovakia and abroad. In 2008 and 2010 she collaborated in a very successful concert series with chamber orchestra Virtuosi di Praga. She represented Slovakia in the concert of four singers of the Visegrad countries in Budapest (April 2010). Since the season 2010/11 she appears regularly as the guest soloist of the Slovak National Theatre. Among her roles are Papagena in The Magic flute, Prilepa in The Queen of Spades, Karolka in Jenufa, Concetta in Gioielli della Madonna, Despina in Cosi fan Tutte, Marzelline in Fidelio, Mi in Land of Smiles and others. Maria also enjoys quite extensive concert career. Just to name few of her performances she appeared with great guitarist Miriam Rodriguez Brüllová in 2011 and 2016 at The international music festival „Guitar Gems“ in Israel, and at The international music festival „Life is beautiful“ in Bucharest. In 2014 she sang soprano solo in Japan in several performances of Beethovens 9th symphony with Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. The same work she sang in 2015 in Slovak Philharmonic with Bruno Walter Symphony Orchestra in national live TV broadcast. She also collaborated in concerts with the Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina. In 2017 she sang at the Opera House in Cairo. Maria recorded CD I Gioielli della Madonna for NAXOS.
Jan Pospisil studied at Brno Conservatory in the class of prof. M. Zicha and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in the class of prof. J. Podhoransky. During his studies he became laureate of many competitions (International cello competition of B. Heran in Usti nad Orlici, Competition of Czech Conservatories and at the Competition of chamber music in Czech Republic.) He further improved his skills in Masterclasses under the guidance of V. Yaglig, J. Barta, G. Mantella, J. Podhoransky and B. Havlik. Since 2000 is Mr. Pospisil a member of the Slovak National Theater Orchestra and from 2004 he acts as a Concertmaster of the cello section. As a solocellist he performed at Opera Festivals in Czech Republic (Brno, Prague), Cyprus (Paphfos), Germany (Xanten, Hersfeld), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), Italy (Merano), Croatia (Pula), Slovenia (Portoroz), Hungary (Gyor), Switzerland (Solothurn). He also performed solo during galaconcert with world renowned ballet soloist V. Malakov. He presented solo at galaconcert during EURO 2008 in Vienna, with singers such as E. Gruberova, E. Garanca, R. Vargas. In addition to that Mr. Pospisil performed solo concerts in Finland, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Ireland, China and at Brno International Music Festival „Moravian Autumn“. He was a member of chamber orchestra Bratislava Classic, Slovak Festival Orchestra, which performs mostly in Ireland. In autumn 2016 he performed Piazzolla´s Grand tango with local Philharmonia in Netanya, Israel. In 2009 Mr. Pospisil played in the semifinals of Eurovision Song Contest. He is a leader of the Artistic Ensemble “Celisti”, this group performed under his guidance at the festival „Hudebni nespory Brno“, together with soloist of the Slovak National Theater, world renowned bass singer P. Mikulas. Since 2003 serves Mr. Pospisil on the faculty at the Bratislava Church Conservatory.
Flutist Natasha Loomis earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Performance from Franklin & Marshall College and Montclair State University’s Cali School of Music. At F&M she was the recipient of the H.A. Gault Departmental Award for Music and the Nolt Music Travel Award, winner of the Concerto Competition in 2009, and student conductor with the wind ensemble and Philharmonia. While at MSU, Natasha served as the Music History graduate teaching assistant and as principal flute in the Orchestra and Wind Symphony. She has performed in masterclasses for Ransom Wilson, Tara Helen O’Connor, Jeffrey Khaner, Gary Schocker, Keith Underwood, and the Imani Winds, and has studied with Susan Palma-Nidel, Elizabeth Mann, Jennifer Grim, and Joan Sparks, among others. Natasha has performed as a soloist with the Franklin & Marshall Orchestra and the Teaneck Community Band as part of their Summer Concert Series. She has played with Opera Lancaster, Allegro Chamber Orchestra and the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra; and performed as soloist with the MSU Flute Choir at the 2011 New York Flute Fair “Multiple Breaths” concert and the Weill Recital Hall Concert Series in 2012, also giving chamber performances with Susan Palma and Tanya Dusevic Witek. She is currently an active freelancer and teacher in the greater New York area.
Violinist Jozef Horvath obtained his Music degree at the Bratislava State Conservatory in the class of Prof. Albin Vrtel. After the graduation Jozef entered the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where he received his Master of Music degree. In 1998 Jozef attended The Holland Music Sessions where he met Prof. E. Schmieder (student of David Oistrakh) who invited him to study at the Meadows School of Arts in Dallas (USA) with full Scholarship. After completing the Advanced Instrumental Course he gained the prestigious Concert Artist Diploma. Mr. Horvath continued his music education at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna (Austria) in the class of Prof. G. Pichler (member of the Alban Berg String Quartet). He is a winner of various national and international competitions such as Slovak Republic Conservatories Competition in 1994 and 1996, North London Festival, and the National Violin Competition K. Dobias. He was granted numerous prizes and scholarships which permitted him to study with legends such as E. Gratch, I. Bezrodny, L. Chilingirian, G. Pauk, V. Liberman, M. Minchev and I. Haendel. Jozef Horvath was a member of various orchestras such as Solistes Europeen Luxembourg, Cappella Istropolitana, Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra, I Palpiti Chamber Orchestra and the Slovak Philharmonic. As a soloist he performed on various stages throughout the U. S., Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Japan etc. In the year 2003 Mr. Horvath became a member of the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra and later won the position of the Assistant Concertmaster regularly playing also as a Concertmaster. Since 2012 he is a member of the Slovak Quartet and is a violin teacher at Bratislava State Conservatory and at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. Mr. Horvath is also the Concertmaster of the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mária Fuchsbergerová started to play violin at an early age. She graduated from the State Conservatory in Bratislava in the class of Prof. František Török and continued her studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava in the class of Prof. František Novotný. During her master studies she was accepted in exchange program to study in Vienna at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in the class of the Concertmaster of Wiener Symphoniker Prof. Jan Pospíchal. She finished her Master degree in June 2016. As a soloist she has performed in Slovak Philharmonic hall at Reduta, accompanied by chamber orchestra of the Bratislava State Conservatory as well as many other concerts and competitions (Competition of the Slovak Conservatories, IV.Intenationaler ÖJAB competition in Vienna, International Music Academy and Competition Cremona). She has taken part in several international violin masterclasses lead by distinguished professors such as Haghai Shaham, Mark Lakirovich, Ernest Kovacic, Jela Špitkova, Paola Tumeo, Marina Kesselman, Sophia Sogland, František Novotný. Maria is an active chamber and orchestra musician. She has been the Concertmaster of the festival orchestra in Cremona and has given special concert of chamber groups in the unique concert hall Museo del Violino Cremona. She has participated in many orchestral projects, such as Sinfonietta del Arte, Philharmonie Marchfeld and Webern Symphony Orchestra in a concert hall Musikverein. At the present time Maria is a member of the chamber orchestra Cappella Istropolitana with whom she has performed in many concerts in Austria, Germany, Slovenia and South America. She is also a member of the international youth orchestra Junge Philharmonie Wien, chamber orchestra Zoe and Slovak Philharmonic. In addition to her concert career she enjoys teaching violin.
After graduating from the Bratislava State Conservatory in the class of Karol Filipovic, cellist Boris Boho entered the Academy of Musical Arts in Prague where he studied with Daniel Veis. He continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava with Jozef Podhoransky and later with Jan Slavik. To further refine his solo and chamber music skills, he participated in masterclasses with Daniil Shafran, Raphael Perraud, Boris Barac, Levon Chillingirian and with the members of the Daniel String Quartet. He also participated in the International Orchestra Institute Attergau under the patronage of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He is active as a soloist , chamber musician and orchestral player. As a principal or assistant principal he has been member of various symphonic and chamber orchestras (Cappella Istropolitana, Chamber Soloists Bratislava, Solistes Europeéns Luxembourg, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra). He also collaborated with Symfonia Warsovia, Camerata Bregenz, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and Virtuosi di Praga. Among his chamber music partners belong Jan Talich, Marie-Pierre Vendome, flautist Benoit Fromanger, cellist Arto Noras, pianist Sun-Yung Park and flamenco dancer Nina Corti. Currently he is the Concertmaster of the cello section with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and member of piano trio Faces.
Violinist Oxana Gerchiova hails from Taganrog, Russia, where she, as a seven year old, started her musical education. After graduation from the Conservatory of Music in her native city she continued her education at the Conservatory of Music in Rostov-on-Don, the Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia and in the violin class of A. Jablokov at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia. She participated in many international competitions and festivals and has had successful performances and solo recitals in Russia, Germany and Italy. Since 2007 Oksana is member of the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra and regularly records for the Slovak Radio and Slovak Television. She enjoys playing chamber music and her electric violin.
Soprano Yvonne Bill recently made her directing debut directing Mozart’s iconic opera The Marriage of Figaro and Broadway Jr. version of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Bethesda Summer Music Festival. She appeared as Mimì in Opera Manhattan's production of Puccini's La Bohème and has premiered several modern works including The Enchanted Stone (Sibby), The Hour Glass (Woman), and The Death of Oedipus (Antigone), all by composer Martin Halpern. As Antigone “Yvonne Bill, showed honest soprano emotion.” – Harry Rolnick Concerto.net. With Dicapo Opera Theatre Ms. Bill has appeared as Madame de Rosemonde in Conrad Susa's Dangerous Liaisons, as Olga in Franz Léhar's The Merry Widow and as Sister #1 in Giannini's Beauty and the Beast and also covered the role of Masha in Richard Wargo's The Music Shop. For her performance in Dangerous Liaisons, David Shengold of Opera Magazine UK, observed, "Yvonne Bill (a mellow-toned Mme. de Rosamonde) and Lisa Chavez (Mme. de Volanges).... offered the most fully integrated performances vocally". Other operatic roles include Lisette in La Rondine and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Company of Brooklyn, Marzelline in Fidelio with the other company as a part of the Philly Fringe Festival, Giulietta in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in Suor Angelica, Mimì in La Bohème, Charlotte in A Little Night Music, and as Mrs. Mullin in Carousel with Shaker Mountain Opera. With Light Opera of Oklahoma she appeared as Yvonne in Naughty Marietta, Pitti-Sing in Mikado and Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady. In the Washington, DC area, she has performed Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni and Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief. She performed in the ensemble and as a soloist for the NONESUCH label recording of Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs conducted by Paul Gemignani and in the ensemble of Sweeney Todd with the New York Philharmonic in the year 2000. For the last six years, Ms. Bill has been the soloist and cantor for Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church in Bay Ridge Brooklyn and for three years she has been a certified teacher for Music Together working with young children and teaching family music making.
Dr. Samuel Bill enjoys a diverse musical career as conductor, pianist, coach, organist and arranger. As a conductor he has collaborated with many opera companies and orchestras in the U.S. and in Europe. Among the highlights belong: collaboration with contemporary composer Tobias Picker and performances of his opera Emmeline for International Opera Competition in Szeged, Hungary which was broadcast on European Classical Television Mezzo TV, a U.S. tour of the 75th Anniversary production of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, performances of Puccini's opera Suor Angelica in Italy and numerous other successful productions - Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Elixir of Love, Rossini's Italiana in Algeri to mention a few. Being a native Slovak and Czech speaker, Dr. Bill and his wife Yvonne founded Czech Opera Projects offering singers authentic experience in language and role preparation. In addition, Dr. Bill has over 10 years of experience as a church musician and organist, playing countless services and weddings. For full bio and reviews please visit www.samuelbill.com.