The Solti Foundation

Arturo Alvarado

An award to contribute to the costs of attending masterclasses with Pierre Boulez at the Lucerne Festival Academy was made to this young conductor from Peru. Arturo is a student of the Paris Conservatoire and the Sibelius Academy in Finland.

A video of Arturo conducting may be found at http://www2.siba.fi

Diego Carneiro

A grant to contribute to the costs of purchasing a new instrument was made to this young cellist from Brazil. The Foundation provided the final tranche of funding already secured from other sources to make the purchase possible.

www.diegocarneiro.com

Martina Filjak

Funding was granted to this young pianist from Croatia to contribute to the costs of attending the 2008 Geneva International Piano Competition and creating a personal website. Shortly after receiving this grant, Martina won first prize at the 54th Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona. She is now completing her studies in the soloist class for pianists at the Hochschule für Musik und Theatre in Hanover. Projects for 2009 include tours in China and Spain and a debut recording for the Naxos label.

www.martinafiljak.com

The Greenwich Trio

Funding was granted to contribute to three projects for the members of this young chamber ensemble, formed at Trinity College of Music in London: coaching with Klaus Metzl of the Alban Berg Quartet, the preparation of publicity material, and making a recording in Italy. On receiving news of the grant Stjepan Hauser wrote, “Words are not enough to express how honoured we are to receive the prestigious Solti Foundation Award. Your financial support makes our future plans much easier to achieve, and your generous help means a lot to us.”

www.thegreenwichtrio.webs.com

Veronika Ilinskaya

This young pianist from Russia was granted funding towards the costs of organising a promotional piano recital. On receiving the grant she wrote, “To me the Solti Foundation stands out among many music organisations for their absolute belief in a young musician’s future. They understand so well what it takes to be an artist in contemporary society and they welcome us for what we really are, for our hard work and determination. Beyond this, it is so inspiring to find people who combine high professionalism with an open heart and wonderful warmth.” Following the completion of a Masters Degree at the Mannes College of Music in New York, Veronika continues her busy schedule of international concerts and recitals. A debut CD of works by Scriabin, Prokofiev and Medtner, will be released in February 2009.

Susanna Kadzhoyan

Susanna was awarded assistance to contribute to her living costs during further postgraduate studies in piano at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. She is currently completing postgraduate studies at the St Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory in the piano class of Ekaterina Murina.

www.susannakadzhoyan.narod.ru

Nina Lejderman

An award was made to this young Swedish soprano, a postgraduate student of the Royal Academy of Music, to contribute towards the costs of extra singing lessons and vocal coaching sessions. Nina has been a soloist with the Stockholm Youth Symphony Orchestra and has given solo recitals and oratorio performances throughout the UK and Sweden. She was a participant at the Accademia Solti’s 2008 summer masterclasses in Italy.

www.accademiasolti.org

Bérengère Mauduit

A grant to this young French mezzo-soprano contributed to her travel and accommodation costs, enabling her to participate in the finals of the Torneo Internazionale di Musica in Verona. Bérengère, a graduate of the Sorbonne, is continuing her vocal training in the UK whilst working as a freelance singer. Future engagements include performances at the Brasov Opera House, Romania, and song recitals in France, Belgium and Germany.

Courtney Mills

This young American soprano was awarded a grant to contribute to the costs of hiring a piano accompanist during an intensive period of vocal coaching with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa. Courtney, a graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, is currently in the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Programme in New York. The aim of this prestigious Programme is to nurture the most talented young artists by providing training and performance opportunities. Courtney made her debut with the Met in 2007, singing the role of the High Priestess in Aida.

Roberto Gomez Ortiz

An award to this young Mexican tenor will contribute to his living costs whilst completing a postgraduate course in vocal studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London (2008/9). Roberto is a graduate of the Opera programme of the Escuela Superior de Musica in Mexico City.

Jovanni-Rey de Pedro

This young Filipino-American pianist was awarded funding towards the costs of attending a piano masterclass with Menahem Pressler, co-founder of the Beaux Arts Trio. Jovanni is currently working towards a doctorate at The Guildhall School of Music in London whilst continuing to give concerts in the US and the UK.

www.jovannidepedro.com

Elizabeth Powell

A grant to this young British soprano will contribute to her living costs during the first year of the Opera Course at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Elizabeth was a participant at the Accademia Solti’s 2008 summer masterclasses in Italy.

www.accademiasolti.org

Evis Sammoutis

An award was made to this young composer from Cyprus to help with travel and living expenses while attending a 4-week residency at the Visby International Centre for Composers in Sweden. The Centre, which promotes contemporary music through concerts, seminars, conferences and educational projects, serves both as a meeting place and a workplace for composers from all over the world. On hearing of his award Evis wrote: “Thank you for this wonderful news… I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Foundation for making my attendance at this Residency possible”.

www.evissammoutis.com

Paloma Trigas

This young violinist from Great Britain was awarded funding to contribute to the costs of repairing a crack in her violin and buying a new set of strings. Assistance was also given to provide a set of portfolio photographs. Paloma, who has studied in the UK and Spain, is a graduate of London’s Guildhall School of Music and the Birmingham Conservatoire (UK).

www.palomatrigas.com

Elena Xanthoudakis

This young soprano from Australia was granted funding to contribute to the costs of attending a course to improve her language skills. Elena, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London and of the University of Melbourne, has already appeared in performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and at English National Opera.

www.elenaxan.com

Georg Solti Accademia di Bel Canto

Three singers, auditioned and selected by the Accademia, were granted funding to attend the 2008 Accademia Solti masterclasses in Castiglione della Pescaia, Italy. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and mezzo-soprano Federica Von Stade led this year’s masterclasses. They were supported by renowned coaches from Italy, the US and the UK who provided tuition in the Italian language, Italian culture and all aspects of interpretation, style and vocal technique. The three were: