ARTISTS 2021-2022
SARAH OATES
South African violinist, holds the position of assoc. concertmaster at London Philharmonia.
She is furthermore a guest concertmaster at London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
As a soloist, Sarah has enjoyed appearances with Holland Symfonia, the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sarah is an experienced chamber musician and performs regularly around the world. In May 2015 she performed the opening concert of the new Philharmonia Chamber Music Series in the Royal Festival Hall, London, where she now performs every year. As a member of the Devich Piano Trio, she recorded four CD’s with Challenge Records to international critical acclaim.
NADJA NEVOLOVITSCH
Russian-German violinist, holds the position of leader of the 1st violins at the Brussels Philharmonic. She holds as well the position of violin professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln (Cologne/Aachen).
As a soloist, Nadja has already performed accompanied by the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic Orchestra, the Norddeutsche Philharmonie Rostock, the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonie Baden Baden, Camerata Menuhin and Harmos Festival Orchestra, working with conductors such as Shlomo Mintz, Dirk Vermeulen, Ronald Zollman, Andrej Petrenko and Ivo Venkov.
She has been successful in numerous international competitions, including the Henri Wieniawski Competition in Poland and the Toshiya Eto Competition in Tokyo, second prize in the International Violin Competition Sion-Valais in Switzerland and the Königin Sophie Charlotte Competition in Germany, and first prize in the Luxembourg Competition for Young Soloists.
DMITRY SILVIAN
Russian cellist, holds the position of solo cello at the Belgian National Orchestra. Prior to that, he held the position of solo cello at the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra in China.
Dmitry is a winner of the 1st prize and the special prize of the best performance at the 'American Protégé' competition in New York (2013), the 4th prize in the Washington International Competition for strings (2015), the Grand Prix as soloist and the 1st Prize on chamber music category in the International Madeira Forum (2011) and he was a finalist of the Grand Concours de Levallois - France (2011).
As a soloist, he already performed with the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse and the Orchestre de Chambre Nouvelle Europe.
As a chamber musician, he has already performed at the Salle Pleyel (Paris) and the Folle Journée Festival in Japan.
MATTEO DEL MONTE
Italian flutist, holds the position of solo flute at the Brussels opera house La Monnaie/De Munt; he also held previously the same position at the Verdi Orchestra in Milan. As a soloist, Matteo performed accompanied by the OSI - Orchestra della Svizzera italiana, Juniorchestra of Santa Cecilia di Roma, and he was awarded several prizes, including First Prize in the Giovani Musici Competition of the Arts Academy in 2006, First Prize in the National Syrinx Competition organized by the Accademia Italiana del Flauto in 2007 and 2008, First Prize in the National Chamber Music Competition "Città di Campagnano" in 2008, First Prize in Emanuele Krakamp Flute Competition 2009. Furthermore, he collaborates as First Flute with Teatro del Maggio (Florence Opera), Teatro Regio Torino, la Verdi Orchestra (Milan), Orchestra Leonore (Pistoia), Orchestra Italiana del Cinema, I Solisti Aquilani, Roma Tre Orchestra, and as Second and Piccolo Flute with Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Teatro Lirico di Cagliari.
MAURA MARINUCCI
Italian clarinetist, hold the position of principal clarinet at Brussels Philharmonic.
She’s often invited to collaborate as Principal Clarinet at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and she played as guest principal clarinet with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Welsh National Opera, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Orchestra Haydn of Bolzano and the Mannheimer Philharmoniker. She’s currently on trial for the position of Principal Clarinet with the London Symphony Orchestra.
Her debut as soloist was in 2016 with the Mozart Concerto k622 in Turin, where she got the prestigious prize “Renzo Giubergia” from the De Sono foundation. She played also Weber Concerto n.1 with Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese and Berio’s Sequenza IXa for the Ticino Contemporary music festival.
ANTONIO CAPOLUPO
Italian clarinetist, holds the position of solo clarinet at the Brussels opera house La Monnaie/De Munt; he held previously the positions of co-principal clarinet at the Belgian National Orchestra and at the Malmö SymfoniOrkester in Sweden.
Antonio has 11 international awards, including First Prize at the International Clarinet Competition "Marco Fiorindo" in 2014, First Prize at the International Clarinet Competition of Chieri in 2011, Second Prize at the International Clarinet Competition "Saverio Mercadante" in 2013. He also collaborated with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Opéra de Toulon (France), OSR - Orchestre de la Suisse Romande of Geneva, Haydn Symphony Orchestra (Bolzano-Italy), and the orchestra of the Teatro Regio Torino.
In January 2019, Antonio made his debut as a soloist with orchestra in BOZAR performing the world premiere of a piece dedicated to him by the Spanish composer Mauricio Sotelo, under the baton of the maestro Alain Altinoglu.
MIHAI COCEA
Romanian violist, holds the position of principal viola in Brussels Philharmonic; he is also the former principal viola of the St. Gallen Sinfonieorchester in Switzerland.
Mihai is winner of the Watson Forbes Int. Viola Competition, Grand Prize of the Icon Arts in Breaza, 2nd prize Delius Competition London; he was also a finalist of the Yuri Bashmet Viola Competition. He has performed as soloist with the orchestras Nova Russia, St Andrews Youth Ochestra, Bristol Metropolitan Ochestra & Moscow Soloists.
DOMENICO ERMIRIO
Italian cellist, holds the position of co-solo cello at the Royal Opera of Liege; prior to that, he held the same position in Germany at the Mitteldeutsche Kammerphilharmonie.
Domenico has collaborated also with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Chiavari, Orchestra Filarmonica Italiana, Orchestra Filarmonica di Torino, Orchestra Sinfonica “G. Verdi” di Milano and Orchestra del Teatro Olimpico di Vicenza.
A large part of his musical activity has been in chamber music groups with different projects and performances with many ensembles in Italy, France, Finland, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. In 2015 he started a collaboration with Finnish pianist Folke Gräsbeck with many performances in Italy, France and Finland. Together they have performed, besides the more traditional repertoire (such as Franck, Grieg and Beethoven Sonatas) the whole cello and piano production by Jean Sibelius and Ferruccio Busoni.
DANIEL MOUREK
Czech clarinetist, holds the position of solo clarinet in the Flanders Symphony Orchestra. Daniel has played with the Orchestre de la Radio France, Basel Symphonic Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, United Nations Orchestra, Opéra de Toulon, Chamber Orchestra of Prague and Treplice Philharmonic. He is winner of several international competitions, including the Concours International Debussy in Paris, Concours International Jaques Lancelot in Rouen & International Prize Concertino in Prague.
OENE VAN GEEL
Dutch jazz violist and composer, Oene van Geel (1973) is a musical adventurer. Influenced by jazz, Indian music, chamber music and free improvisation, he uses his virtuoso improvisation skills and his talent for composition for a wide range of musical activities.
He has toured Europe, the Middle East, India, Japan, the United States and Canada.
As a player he is currently active with the following ensembles / bands: Estafest, Haanstra & van Geel, Zapp4, duo with multi-instrumentalist Setareh Nafisi, duo with pianist Philipp Rüttgers, Philipp Rüttgers Quintet, duo with dancer Miri Lee and in trio with Goda Zukauskaite (dance) and Rob van den Broek (visual artist). In addition to playing with these formations, he is regularly invited as an improvising guest soloist.
He received the VPRO Boy Edgar Prize (2013), the Sena Performers Toonzetters Prize (2012, with Zapp4), the Kersjes Prize (2005, with Zapp4), the Deloitte Jazz Award (2002), the Dutch Jazz Competition (2001) and the Jur Music Prize Naessens Music Prize (2000).
DÉBORAH SALAZAR
Franco-Mexican operatic soprano, her roles include Blondchen at the Opéra de Clermont-Ferrand, Leïla at the Salle Cortot, Gretel at the Opéra d'Avignon et de Clermont-Ferrand, Alcina with the Opéra Nomade company, Le Pâtre in Tosca as well as Kate Pinkerton. in Madama Butterfly at the Metz Opera, Contessa di Ceprano in Rigoletto at the Metz and Reims Opera, Kätchen in Werther at the Massy Opera, Pamina at the PBA in Charleroi, Frasquita at the Michel Theater in Paris, La Matelote in Le Pauvre Matelot by Darius Milhaud or the title role in La Chimène by Sacchini with the ARCAL company.
This season, she is a member of Paris Frivoles as well as the ARCAL professionalization program where she had the pleasure of working with speakers such as Inaki Encina Oyon, Mariame Clément and Benoît Dratwicki.
In 2023, she will be Clarice in Il Mondo della Luna by Haydn at the Opéra de Metz.
Déborah has already performed in concert at the Opera of Avignon, Bordeaux, Massy, Lille, Antwerp and Ghent as well as in festivals such as Armel Festival in Budapest or the Folle Journée de Nantes. She sang with the Symfonieorkest Vlaanderen.
Winner of numerous competitions, she won a First Melody Prize in the Bordeaux competition, a Young Hope Prize in the Béziers competition, a 3rd Prize in the Bellan competition, the Center Français de Promotion Lyrique prize, as well as the Young Talent Prize in the Avignon Opera, the CFPL prize at the Clermont-Ferrand competition, a 3rd prize at the International Triomphe de l'Art Competition in Brussels and the First Prize at the V. Bellini International Competition.
MAÉVA LAROQUE
French violinist, holds the position of 2nd soloist of the first violins in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of Liège. Maéva has played with Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Lille National Orchestra, Bordeaux National Orchestra, Lyon Opera House; she was also a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester. As a chamber musician, she took part in many festivals including the Arbanassi Summer Music in Bulgaria, Torroella di Montgri Festival in Spain, BWD12 Chamber Music Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival, and Cordes en Ballade in France. As a member of the Kantu trio, she collaborated with Guy Danel and the Prazak Quartet.
MONIKA MŁYNARCZYK
Polish violist, is currently working as co-principal viola in the orchestra of the Brussels opera house La Monnaie/De Munt. She is a former member of the Chamber Orchestra of The National Forum of Music in Poland. Monika has played with Luxembourg Philharmonic, Antverp Symphony Orchestra and also as a co-principal in Opera of Florence and principal solo viola with Belgian National Orchestra. As a chamber musician she took part in festivals such as Encuentro de Santander, Pablo Casals Festival, Festival Musiq'3 & Festival Midis-Minimes.
EDUARDO TONIETTO
Italian-Brazilian cellist, as of 2022, has been appointed solo cello of the Flemish Chamber Orchestra. He has also collaborated as a guest solo cello with Sinfonietta Cracovia, Brussels Chamber Orchestra, and Polish Art Philharmonic; as a second solo cello, he has collaborated with the Belgian National Orchestra as well. Eduardo has taken part in several international festivals and performed in prestigious venues, such as La Seine Musicale (Paris), Rheingau Musik Festival (Germany), Arte Amanti Int. Chamber Music Festival (Belgium), Musiq Alpe (France) and this coming season he will perform in Teatro 'La Fenice' (opera of Venice), Arnold Schoenberg Center (Vienna), Galuppi Festival (Venice), Citizens' Garden Concerts of the European Parliament (Brussels), Royal Theatre Carré (Amsterdam). He has also given masterclasses at the University of Rio de Janeiro and as a soloist he performed accompanied by the Brasília International Summer Course orchestra and by the Brasília University Symphony Orchestra. Passionately active in chamber music, Eduardo is also the artistic director of Brussels Muzieque.
MONIKA DARS
Lithuanian pianist, is a laureate of the Joseph Darche Piano Prize (Brussels) and received the 2nd prize at Luigi Nono Chamber Music Competition (Italy). With the Urban Piano Quartet, she is a winner of the Supernova 2019 competition (Belgium) and the Nordic Strings chamber music competition (Denmark).
As a soloist, she already performed accompanied by the Lviv Chamber, Lithuanian State Symphony, Kaunas Symphony, National M.K. Ciurlionis School of Arts (Symphony and Chamber orchestras).
In 2019 and 2020, Monika performed regularly for the Lincoln Center of Performing Arts in NYC.
Monika appeared at prestigious European festivals such as Encuentro de Santander (Spain); Harmos Festival (Portugal); Academie Internationale d`Ete de Nice (France); Thy Chamber Music Festival (Denmark); Rencontres Musicales Internationales d’Enghien, Midis-Minimes, Resonances (Belgium); Apeldoorn Festival, Akoesticum Talent Program (The Netherlands); Aurora Festival (Sweden); Bieszczady Bez Granic Piano Forum (Poland); National Students` Academy (M.Rostropovich foundation), Christopher`s Summer Festival (Lithuania).
The recordings of Monika have been broadcasted by National Radio and Television (Lithuania), Musiq3, Klara, Notele (Belgium), BRAVA (The Netherlands) channels.
GORDON FANTINI
Italian bassoonist, holds the position of principal bassoon at the Belgian National Orchestra.
He has also collaborated with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Venice Opera "La Fenice", Filarmonica of "La Scala" of Milan, Berner Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Kammerorchester Basel and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra of London.
In 2019, Gordon was a prize winner of the Sàndor Vègh Competition that has seen him as a soloist with the Budapest Festival Orchestra in October 2020.
As a soloist, Gordon has performed Vivaldi’s “La Notte”, Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and many performances of Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto with the Ensemble “Accademia dell’Annunciata” of Abbiategrasso. In September 2012 he was also invited by the Chamber Music Society of Colombo (Sri Lanka) to play two concertos by Vivaldi and he was the first bassoon player to perform as a soloist on the island.
ANTON JAKIMENKO
Jazz Clarinetist, bein in Tashkent, Uzbekistan which is in the middle of Central Asia, Anton had daily contact with an ancient eastern culture; Uzbekistan has a large variety of music styles and musical instruments and absorbed many cultures around the world throughout the centuries. From the age of 10 Anton and his parents had to leave Uzbekistan as refugees and they came to the Netherlands where Anton could continue to develop his musical talents. In the Netherlands Anton started playing the clarinet in his new country, he got the chance to develop his music talents and in 2003 he was admitted to the Youth Talent Class at the Prince Claus Conservatory. In 2004 Anton won the first prize at the Prinses Christina Concours, giving later solo concerts with the Noord Nederlands Orkest. He followed masterclasses with classical clarinet players like Martin Fröst, Karl Leister, Charles Neidich, Julien Hervé, Reinier Hogerheijde and Pierre Lafay. Eventually Anton became interested in improvisation and began to study jazz, being admitted in 2016 to the master program of jazz clarinet at the Conservatory of Amsterdam with the teacher Joris Roelofs, Simon Rigter, Jasper Blom and David Kweksilber. In this institution, Anton followed masterclasses from Bob Mintzer, Dick Oatts, Yuri Honing, John Clayton and John Riley. At this moment Anton is active as a multiinstrumentalist and plays a variety of styles.