Born in 1976 in Moscow, Jacob Katsnelson started music studies at the age of six. In 1993 entered Moscow conservatory to study with prof. Eliso Virsaladze. Since 2001 – assistant to Prof. Elisso Virsaladze at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky conservatory. He performed as a soloist across Russia as well as in Austria, Germany, Spain and France. As a member of Akadem-trio (Jacob Katsnelson (piano), Irina Petukhova (violin), Boris Lifanovsky (cello)), Katsnelson performed a lot in Russia and abroad. In November 1999 the trio won the First and six special prizes at the Second Open National Taneyev chamber music competition. In December 2000 – 2nd prize at the XXI Trapani (Italy) International chamber music competition.
Jacob Katsnelson participated in different international music festivals, including 6th International festival in commemoration of Oleg Kagan. He is a recipient of a Diploma at the 10th International Bach competition in Leipzig and a Diploma at the International Queen Elizabeth competition in Belgium (1999). He is also a Laureate of the Second International piano competition in Tbilisi (Georgia) and a Laureate of the 1st International Svyatoslav Richter competition in Moscow (2005). Katsnelson teaches at the Special Gnessin music school affiliated to Moscow conservatory since 1998 and also works as an assistant to Prof. Eliso Virsaladze at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
An artist of an inspirational talent,Luba Kostenko was branded an art prodigy whilst still attending the Fine Arts School in Leningrad, Russia. She won first place to the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts in Leningrad in 1965. With over 100 candidates per place, competition was fierce and of exceptionally high standard.
She was taught by the distinguished professors E. E. Moiseyenko, I. P. Veselkin, P. T. Fomin, D. A. Shuvalov and A. A. Mylnikov, among others. Copying the Old Masters at the Hermitage, the Russian icons and the works of Manet and Kandinsky at the Russian State Museum formed an integral part of Kostenko’s training. In her final “diploma” year in 1971 Kostenko had already ventured outside the boundaries of traditional academic painting. Her works demonstrated maturity, attributable to an established master and displayed a profound understanding of the difference between blind imitation and the conscious pursuit of academic traditions within the artist’s own aspirations.
In 1973, Kostenko was invited to participate in an important exhibition at the State Tretyakovskaya Gallery in Moscow entitled “Self-portrait by Russian and Soviet Artists of 18th–20th centuries”. Her work was exhibited alongside the outstanding artists of the past and was praised for its technical strength and innovative vision. In 1975, portraits by Kostenko were selected for an exhibition “Portraits of Contemporaries” at the Russian State Museum in Leningrad. Already recognised as a strong portraitist, Kostenko painted portraits of known musicians, actors and artists. Portraits of Evgeni Mravinski, Yuri Temirkanov, Valery Gergiev and Alexander Kantorov occupy an important place in her work. A composition called “The Orchestra”, inspired by the Kirov theatre orchestra and painted in 1980 has been acquired by the State Museum of Fine Arts in Rostov-on-Don where it remains part of the museum’s permanent display. A number of other art museums have acquired paintings by Luba Kostenko. Her composition “Family” is at the Pskov Museum of Fine Art alongside paintings by Vassily Kandinsky. The “Conductor”, along with two other works by Kostenko appears next to Kazimir Malevich’s work in the Serpukhov Museum of Fine Arts. Kostenko’s paintings have been acquired by the State Tretyakovskaya Gallery and the Russian State Museum in St Petersburg and have been included in the Encyclopaedia of Masterpieces. A large collection of her works can be seen in the State Art Museum of Altai Region in Barnaul, the Theatre Museum in St Petersburg and the Museum of History of St Petersburg.
Kostenko’s first solo exhibition was in 1979 in Leningrad and in 1984 she had a major retrospective exhibition in Tbilisi, Georgia. After that Kostenko began exhibiting her work in countries outside the Soviet Union, including shows in Vienna, Dresden, and Rio. In 1989 and 1990 her paintings were sold at auctions at the Galerie Drouot, Paris.
Described by art historians as having the vitality of Kandinsky’s palette, the boldness of Modigliani’s style and the virtuosity of the Old Masters, Kostenko’s works are always recognizable thanks to her sharp, and at times paradoxical outlook on the world, and her ability to see the special and the unique in what she depicts. Kostenko’s trademark style has evolved over the years and has earned her a reputation as an established master with a distinct personality. Her highly expressive sculpturesque language, be it in paintings or works on paper, flows from her confident ability to combine linear composition with a sharp perception of colour.
Since 1990 Kostenko had dozens of solo shows and participated in numerous exhibitions. She has been living in Western Europe painting, teaching and inspiring people to open their hearts to art. Her art lessons focus on the ability to bring out an inner sense of colour, which she believes every person possesses. She has created her own artistic style called “lubism” which forms the essence of her unforgettable works of art and provides inspiration to young and accomplished artists. Kostenko is sought after by private collectors and receives regular portrait commissions. Her paintings appear alongside the masterpieces of some of the most renowned artists of the twentieth century.
Cellist Sandi-Jo Malmon is an active chamber music and orchestral performer. She made her Lincoln Center debut in 1991 with the Boston Quartet, of which she was a founding member. A founding member also of the Kaleidoscope Chamber Music Ensemble, she has performed as an Artist in Residence at the Mill Pond Center for the Arts in Durham, NH, and has appeared in concert at various venues around New England, in the Midwest, on the eastern seaboard and in Europe. She is currently a member of the Eleva Chamber Players (Vermont) Lake George Opera Festival (New York) and Trio Veritas. She has performed with the New Hampshire Symphony, Opera Boston, Cantata Singers, the Boston Secession, the Hanover Chamber Orchestra and the Handel Society Orchestra at Dartmouth College. Ms. Malmon has recorded for Blue Hill Records, North Star Records, Lakewest Records, and Pamet River Recordings. Sandi-Jo Malmon is currently on the adjunct cello faculty of Northeastern University. Sandi-Jo Malmon received degrees in cello performance from The New England Conservatory of Music, the Longy School of Music, and Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Ms. Malmon is the Librarian for Collection Development at the Loeb Music Library at Harvard University.
Four representatives of the Central Library System of the St. Petersburg Frunzenskiy District will be coming to Boston to participate, for the second time, in the Educational Bridge Project's festivals. This year's delegation includes (on the photo: Left to Right) Delaida Glebovskaya, Kirill Smirnov, Olga Sidorova, and Anna Baranova. Librairans' visit includes meetings and round-table discussions at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science Simmons at College, one of the best programs in the country, as well as visits and presentations at the local children's schools' libraires, such as Park School and Brookline High School.
Представители Центральной Системы Библиотек Фрунзенского района Санкт-Петербурга приезжают в Бостон во второй раз для участия в фестивале Проекта "Образовательный Мост". В составе делегации этого года DELAIDA GLEBOVSKAYA, OLGA SIDOROVA, ANNA BARANOVA и KIRILL SMIRNOV. В программе пребывания делегации - встречи и обсуждения, дискуссии и презентации в Симмонс Колледже, который по праву имеет репутацию одного из лучших в стране ВУЗов по подготовке специалистов в областях библиотечного дела и информационных технологий, а также обмен опытом с работниками местных школьных библиотек - Park School and Brookline High School