with the beginning of the New Year let me introduce to you some of our most compelling artists, who have just closed the ranks of ICG over the past few months.

Joseph Esmilla, violin Juillard scholar Joseph Esmilla is a much sought after violinist and orchestral conductor having worked under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay, Masao Kawasaki and Jens Ellerman. He pursued professional studies in violin and chamber music with Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley of the Guarneri Quartet. Joseph participated in summer festivals and programs such as Aspen, Interlochen, Dartington and the International Summer Academy at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. An avid chamber musician, he was the violinist of Triode, with Albert Tiu (piano) and Sean Katsuyama (cello), member of the Harrisburg Players Collective. He collaborated with distinguished musicians of the Corigliano, Dali and Kronos string quartets, the violinists Alex Kerr and Odin Rathnam, the cellist Daniel Gaisford and pianist Stuart Malina, who is the music director and conductor of the Harrisburg Symphony. While maintaining an active concert career, he served as faculty member of the University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Towson University, Elizabethtown College and Shippensburg University. WEBSITE: www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/JEsmilla.htm Henryk Wieniawski Polonaise Brilliante in D major [5:48] Joseph ESMILLA, violin Rudolf GOLEZ, piano

Ekaterina Verbovskaya, piano Ekaterina Verbovskaya was born 1988 in Kaliningrad at the Western most tip of Russia on the Baltic Sea at the border to Poland. In 2007 she finished her studies at the Frédéric Chopin Music College in Moscow after having studied with Irina Gabrielova (People’s Artist of Russia Award). Presently she in studying at the Moscow Conservatory with Professor Kseniya Knorre (People’s Artist of Russia Award). At the tender age of 10 she won first prize at the Debussy Festival in Kaliningrad, then only 2 years later third prize at the 2nd International Russian Competition bringing her several scholarships from the Russian Performing Art Foundatation, e.g. the V. Spivakov foundation, the K.Orbelyan's foundation and Senator's scholarships. Ekaterina has meanwhile performed on some of the world's greatest stages e.g. at the The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory and the Terrace Theater of the John F. Kennedy Center. She travels frequently playing solo as well as with symphonic orchestras in concerts in Russia, Italy, France, Germany and USA. WEBSITE: www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/KVerbovskaya.htm Johann Sebastian Bach "Das Wohltemperierte Klavier" Prelude and Fuge #23 in B major, BWV 892 [6:12]

Matthias Alteheld, piano "Liedbegleitung" After initially studying in Detmold he continued studying in Karlsruhe with Mitsuko Shirai and Hatmut Höll finishing his studies with “cum laude”. 1995 he received first prize at the „Paula Lindberg-Salomon Competition“ in Berlin. 1999 he was then awarded a scholarship from the „Deutsche Musikwettbewerb“ consequently being invited into the Federal selection of „Konzerte Junger Künstler“. This resulted in the founding of the Arsis Trio with Pirmin Grehl (solo flute at the Konzerthausorchester Berlin) and Hanno Dönneweg (solo fagotto at the Radiosinfonieorchester Stuttgart). The Trio has since been performing nationally and internationally. While attending the 4th International Competition “Franz Schubert und die Musik der Moderne” Matthias received in 2000 together with the soprano Evgenia Grekova a special award. 2001 he was awarded 2nd prize at the „1. Internationalen Wettbewerb für Liedkunst Stuttgart 2001“ jointly with the Swedish baritone Hakan Vramsmo. Matthias Alteheld regularly gives concerts and recitals within a wide repertoire. He was guest at the "Rheingau Musikfestival" and at the “Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern”. There exist a number of recordings with the SWR, NDR and BR radio stations. Matthias currently lives in Bretten near Karlsruhe and works as a free lance musician focusing on Lied and chamber music. He also teaches piano, acting as repetiteur and as a conductor. Since 2006 he holds a lectureship for “Gesangskorrepetition and Liedgestaltung” at the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe. WEBSITE: www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/MAlteheld.htm Alban Berg aus "Sieben frühe Lieder" "Nacht" [4:16] Ena Maria ALDECOA, soprano Matthias ALTEHELD, piano Venue: Schloss Gottesaue, Karlsruhe

Oksana Ratkovska, lyric soprano Oksana Ratkovska was born into a musical family. Her mother is a performing concert pianist and professor for piano at the Ukrainian College for Music in Kiew. Initially she learnt piano before enrolling in voice with Prof. T. Djolas at the College R.M. Glier. In 2002 she joined the choir at the “National Opera Ukraine”. In 2004 she enrolled in the opera class at the National Academy of Music with Prof. A. Wostrjakov followed by on-stage experience with the ensemble “young opera” in Kiew. 2006 Award at the International Voice Competition “21st Century Art” at Kiew 2008-2010 Master Classes with Prof. A. Carangelo, P. Dvorsky, N. Hillebrand, M. Blahusiakova and I. Parik 2010 Master of Voice at the National Academy in Kiew 2009 (until today) engagements at the opera in Halle, Germany (Puccini) 2012 Scholarship Award of the Richard-Wagner-Stiftung Next to her singing engagements Oksana is currently learning German. She feels much attracted to Verismo, in which she could express herself most freely. Some of her favourite roles are Mimi (La Bohème), Liu (Turandot) and Violetta (La Traviata). Recordings are following shortly. WEBSITE: www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/ORatkovska.htm

Benjamin von Reiche, tenor In 2007 Benjamin gave his operatic debut at the Oberlin Opera Theater as Lysander in Benjamin Britten's “A Midsummer Night's Dream”. Then followed Liberto in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea, Prince Charmant in Massenet's Cendrillon and Tamino in Mozart's Magic Flute. The Berlin Society for Early Music chose Benjamin to appear in a German-Montenegrin production of Monteverdi's L’incoronazione di Poppeia, which was premiered in Kotor and at the Royal Theater Zetski Dom in Cetinje, Montenegro in the summer of 2006. He has also appeared in The Beggar’s Opera in 2006. In summer 2011 Benjamin resumed the role of Tamino at the Kammeroper in Frankfurt am Main. 2010 he received his B.M. in Vocal Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory, where he was mentored by Associate Professor of Singing Lorraine Manz. Prior to coming to Oberlin, he studied with Dr. Mark Gruett of Berlin. Furthermore, he took lessons with Marylin Horne, Richard Miller and Barbara Schlick. On matters of interpretation, he enjoyed working in particular with vocal coaches Howard Lubin, and Robert Nassmacher of Berlin. Currently, Benjamin is mentored by Professor of Singing Ks. Wolfgang Millgramm. His coach is John Dawson from the Deutsche Oper Berlin. WEBSITE: www.isis-concert-group.com/biographies/BvonReiche.htm Richard Wagner "Das Rheingold" "Immer ist Undank Loges Lohn!" [4:21]

Finally, here are two precious contibutions that might stir your interest:

Johannes Brahms "Ein deutsches Requiem" op.45 "Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit" [5:48] Ena Maria ALDECOA, soprano KammerChor Hofheim Monteverdichor Budapest Kammerphilharmonie Rhein-Main Choir Master: Prof. Éva KOLLÁR Direction: Hans-Georg DECHANGE Venue: Parish Church "Peter und Paul", Hofheim am Taunus

Andreas Pahler, tonewood specialist and luthier Tonewood specialist Andreas Pahler climbs the mountains of Tyrol carefully selecting the right trees, that will give him the ideal wood for violins, celli and double basses. Andreas is quite well known amongst the leading luthiers around the world, and he ships them the very best he can find. This 28 minute film produced by nobody less than the National Bavarian Television "Bayerischer Rundfunk" gives the novice some insight into the laborious preparations and processes, that the wood must go through, until it becomes the raw material of the luthier who, finally brings it to life. At present this film is in German, but English subtitles are expected shortly. Watch out for them. Andreas Pahler: "Die Waldmeister: Holz macht Musik"

Announcement of Concerts

Chamber Music | Ingelheim am Rhein | Sunday, 15. Jan. 2012 at 17:00 Works by Clara Schumann, Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms Roger Chase, Viola – studied at the Royal College of Music, London * recurring guest with the Royal Chamber Orchestra * soloist with the famous Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Giacomo Battarino, Piano - Professor at the Conservatory of Music Giuseppe Verdi in Milan and the Istituto Musicale Pareggiato Giacomo Puccini in Gallarate * He gave masterclasses at the Mozarteum in Salzburg * New York debut with Mozart KV 467 in Merkin Hall with the New York Chamber Virtuosi directed by Igor Bukhvalov. Place of Venue: Versöhnungskirche Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Str. 1 55218 Ingelheim

Respectfully,

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