Winners of the Web Concert Hall Competition 2002

Winner (Honorary Mention)- Grigory Alumyan (Cello - Russia), a native of Moscow, studied at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He has performed with distinguished musicians, such as, Aleksei Kornienko, Elena Denisova, Martin Ostertag, Ulf Holscher, Hartmut Holl and Martha Argerich. He has won 1st prize in UNISA International Music Competition in Pretoria and 1st prize from Swedish International Duo Competition in August 2002. [Interview] [Performance]

Winner (Honorary Mention)- Alexei Soutchkov and Maia Berdieva (Piano Duo - Russia) - Alexei born in Moskow and Maia born in Turkmenia (Ashgabad) and together as a performer, they have won thirty five international competition and capturing twenty-four first prizes, which includes, Mendelssohn-Cup in Taurisano in 2002, Coppa Pianisti d'Italia in Italy, Premio Seiler International competition, and Fifth International Festival in Fivizzano. Both pianists have studied at Ciaikovsky conservatoire in Moscow. [Interview] [Performance]

Winner (Honorary Mention) Michal George (Guitar - South Africa) - Born in South Africa, he has won four national and international competitions. Awards include, first prize in National Guitar Competition in South Africa and Rosilia Ablan Prize in Guitar in US. He graduated from University of the Witwatersrand and the Cleveland Institue of Music. [Interview] [Performance]

Winner (Honorary Mention) - Patrick Jee (Cello - USA), received top prizes, including the Andre Navarra Cello competition, the Holland-America Music Society Cello Competition and the Irving Klein International String Competition. He has performed with Buffalo Philharmonic, the Rochester Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Toulouse, the National Orchestra of Toulouse and the Orchestra de Chambre Regional D'Ile-de-France. Received Masters of Music from the Yale school of music under the tutelage of Aldo Parisot with whom he continues to study at the Juilliard School. [Interview] [Performance]

"gifted virtuoso"... "...lustrous suavity and a satin-smooth bowing and singing line" - Harris Goldsmith/New York Concert Revies

Winner (Honorary Mention) Melissa Robinson (French Horn - USA))- born in US, she has won national and international solo competitions, performed in ensembles throughout the United Sates and Europe. She has performed with Rome Festival Orchestra as a soloist and is currently doctoral student in Indiana University. She teaches horn at Drake University and performs with the Drake University Faculty Brass Quintet. She is also a proficient pianist. [Interview] [Performance]

Winner (Honorary Mention) - Antal Szalai (Violin - Hungary) was born in Budapest, Hungary and studied with Laszlo Denes at the the Bela Bartok Secondary School of Music. In 1992, he won first prize at the Janos Koncz National Violin competition. Since 1995, Antal has been the student of Peter Komlos (1st violinist of the Bartok String Quartet) at the Franz Liszt State University of Music. [Interview] [Performance]

"He is a very fine player, remarkable talent." - Pinchas Zukerman

"A born violinist who has a great future ahead of him." - Tibor Varga

Stephen Pettitt's review of the CD in BBC Music Magazine's September 2002 issue:
"The sound he makes is refined and smooth and he possesses a fabulous technique. In Bach's D minor Partita he demonstrates an enviable ability to afford the music plenty of space - partly through his strict control of tempo, heard in the Corrente - and a relish for building the broadest of structures in his majestic reading of the famous Chaconne."

Winner (Honorary Mention) Andrew Mah (Guitar - Canada) - Born in Canada, he toured France with the ensemble 'Guitares Nouvelle France' premiering some of the the earliest work of Canadian composer and guitarist Patrick Roux and has been a finalist in music competition at both the national and international level. He has studied at Conservatoire de Musique de Quebec a Hull and University of Toronto.[Interview] [Performance]