at last I found time to bring you up to date with the latest developments at ICG.
Here are some memorable events.

Clemens Berg, solo piano 13th March 2011 Börsensaal Mannheim In 2007 Clemens was awarded the Musikpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft together with a purse of €10.000. Since then he has been performing regularly with several philharmonic orchestras some of the great orchestral works for solo piano, e.g. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in g major at the Berliner Philharmonie. He was invited to play at a festive occasion for Bundespräsident Horst Köhler. But he also caters to modern and contemporary works, e.g. by Manfred Trojahn and Hei-Yung Pak. Many concerts were recorded by German radio stations. Clemens has a scholarship from the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes and Jüttingstiftung. www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/CBerg.htm Robert Schumann: Piano Concerto a minor op.54 Clemens BERG, piano SAP Sinfonietta under the baton of Michael SEKKULA a View Concert

Ruggero Barbieri, conductor 5th January 2011 Teatro Gaetano Donizetti Bergamo Ruggero has distinguished himself with a tremendous wealth of symphonic and operatic experience having studied at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatorio in Milano, Scuola Superiore di Musica in Pescara, Civico Istituto Musicale G. Donizetti in Bergamo, Konservatorium für Musik in Vienna and under the legendary Leonard Bernstein at the Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome. He held the post of Principal Conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra for two consecutive terms (1996-2004), bringing the national orchestra to greater heights and leading it on much acclaimed Asian and European tours. www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/RBarbieri.htm Concerto di Natale e Capodanno 2011 Ena Maria ALDECOA, soprano Luca BODINI, tenore Justina KIM, soprano Daria MASIERO, soprano Coro "Canticum Novum", Coro "Voci Bianche" Coro "Schola Cantorum Il Flauto Magico" L'Orchestra Sinfonica Gaetano Donizetti under the baton of Maestro Ruggero BARBIERI a View Concert

Christian Strauss, solo piano 5th December 2010 Kreishaus, Hofheim After Christian managed to attain a first prize together with his piano partner Claudia Hölbing at the International Concours Grieg in Oslo in September 2010, we managed to get a glimpse of his play in one of his concerts. www.konzertpianist-strauss.de Frédéric Chopin: Ballade #1 Christian STRAUSS, piano a View Concert

Jing Yang, viola 10th December 2010 Mozarteum, Salzburg Jing is vice-principal violist of the hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt. She studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the Royal Academy of Music and the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg. Master classes with Pinchas Zukermann, Donald McInnes, Paul Coletti, Hartmut Rohde and Yizhak Schotten. Solo Viola at the World Youth Orchestra (Rome), Amadeus Orchestra Salzburg and the Chamber Orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music. Standby viola for the London Symphony Orchestra and the Camerata Salzburg. www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/JYang.htm Nicolo Paganini: La Campanella Jing YANG, viola Peter WITTENBERG, piano a View Concert

Ena Maria Aldecoa, lyric soprano 6th May 2011 Konzerthaus Karlsruhe Erfolgreiches Orchesterkonzert der Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe In der Reihe "Große Werke - Große Dirigenten" übernahm Mario Venzago das Dirigat und spielte all seine Erfahrung und künstlerisches Vermögen aus. Pressestimmen: „(…)Für die drei Bruchstücke für Gesang und Orchester aus der Oper „Wozzeck“ hatten sich gleich acht Gesangsstudentinnen interessiert (…) Übrig bleiben zwei, zwischen denen sich selbst Dirigent Mario Venzago nicht zu entscheiden wagte. Pfiffige Lösung: Das erste Bruchstück bekam man zweimal zu hören (…) Veronika Pfaffenzeller entsprach dem klassischen Marie-Typ: Groß, etwas herb in der Ausstrahlung und mit einer mächtigen Sopranstimme gesegnet. Ena Maria Aldecoa dagegen war zierlich, auch in der Stimme, aber ihr perfekt fokussierter Sopran war zu großen Ausbrüchen fähig, ihre Gestaltung von höchster Intensität. Zwei junge, begeisternde Aushängeschilder für die Arbeit an der Musikhochschule; ein solches ist selbstverständlich auch das souveräne Orchester, dem die Arbeit mit dem geschätzten Dirigenten sichtlich Freude bereitete.“ – BNN, 10.05.2011 (ICG Redaktionsausschnitt der Hochschulnachrichten).

Amador Tamayo, luthier The work shop of master luthier Amador Tamayo, first in his country, just rolled out its brand new line of "Cremona" models. The spruce comes directly from violin wood guru Andreas Pahler, who cut it at an elevation of 5.000ft in Mittenwald, Germany. It has been carefully tanned for several months according to a 17th century Cremonese recipe. According to studies performed at various Universities this tanning changes the physical properties of the lignin by lowering its attenuation. This and the high-arched top strongly enhance harmonics. We are all very excited to hear this instrument come to life. If interested, contact us for test playing.

Respectfully,

  ISIS CONCERT GROUP
a division of Isis & Partners, Llc. (Delaware)