Wednesday18 June 2008, Rialto Theatre, Lemesos, 20:30
Thursday 19 June 2008, Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia, 20:30
Friday 20 June 2008, Markideion Theatre, Pafos, 20:30
Soloist: Andri Hadjiandreou (piano)
Music Direction: Giorgos Kountouris
Programme:
F. Mendelssohn: Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
L. V. Beethoven: Symphony No. 2, in D Major, Op. 36
Chr. Athinodorou: Black Circles for Chamber Orchestra (World Premiere)
Tickets available at the Theatres’ box office at €10 and at €5 for pensioners
Free entrance for students, soldiers, student card and EURO<26 card holders
Born in Lefkosia, pianist Andri Hadjiandreou began taking piano lessons at the ‘Ethnikon Odeon Kyprou’ where she received her Piano Certificate with Excellence, under the guidance of Loullou Symeonidou. Her musical success began at the age of 18 when she was awarded First Prize and Praise at the 14th Panhellenic Piano Competition in Athens (1999). Mrs Hadjiandreou enrolled at Rutgers University (USA) to study piano performance with distinguished pianist Susan Starr, student of Rudolf Serkin. She was awarded numerous scholarships for her outstanding performance, and she received her Bachelor of Music with “High Honors” (magna cum laude). She continued her studies in piano performance and obtained her Master of Music from the same University. During her graduate studies she worked as a Teaching Assistant at Rutgers, as a vocal and instrumental accompanist for soloists and ensembles, and she was the conductor of Queen’s Chorale and of the German-American Club “Aurora”. In addition, she was a lecturer at the Modern Greek Studies Department at Rutgers. During her studies Mrs Hadjiandreou won several awards and prizes, some of which include 2nd Prize in the South Orange Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and 1st Prize at the Goldsmiths Sinfonia Concerto Competition. She has recorded for CYBC radio and television on several occasions. Mrs Hadjiandreou has worked with Professors Barbara Gonzalez-Palmer, Judith Lefkosia, Jonathan Spitz, Matthew Sullivan, Scott Whitener, and with conductors Patrick Gardner, William Berz, Kynan Johns, Roland Melia, Maciej Zoltowsky, Tim Hooper, and Spiros Pisinos. She is completing her PhD in Performance Practice and Related Studies at the University of London, under the guidance of Andrew Zolinsky (performance) and Anthony Pryer (research), with a scholarship from the A. G. Leventis Foundation. Her PhD thesis is “Intentions and Interpretations: Form, Narrativity and Performance Approaches to the 19th-Century Piano Ballade”. Andri is currently teaching piano at ‘Ethnikon Odeon Kyprou’ and at ‘Mousiko Lykeio’ in Lefkosia.
Born in Lefkosia in 1980, Georgios Kountouris graduated with Distinction from the “Ethikon Odeon Kyprou” as a violinist. Following his army service, he continued his studies at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory and graduated with honours (“Red Diploma”), in 2006. There, he studied conducting with Alexander Alexeev and violin with Antonina Kazarena. He also conducted numerous performances with the Conservatory’s Symphony Orchestra, Opera and Ballet Orchestra and Choir. In 2005 he conducted the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonia, and in the same year he made his début in opera conducting, followed by numerous performances in the following months. In addition to his conducting activity, he also appeared as soloist (violin) with the above orchestras. Shortly after his graduation, Mr. Kountouris was appointed as the assistant conductor of the UCLA Philharmonia and UCLA Symphony orchestras at the University of California, Los Angeles. He was simultaneously engaged with research programs related to his doctorate studies under Professor Neal Stulberg, and was also appointed as one of the five members of Dr. Robert Winter’s research team. At UCLA he also appeared as pianist with chamber ensembles. Since December 2007, Mr. Kountouris works as assistant conductor at the Rimsky-Korsakov Opera and Ballet Theatre in St. Petersburg, and continues his research at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under Professor Alexander Alexeev.
