Pula Music Festival
Vioin professor
The List of Jury
Goran Končar, chairman (Croatia)
Goran Končar, one of the most prominent Croatian violinists, studied at the Music Academy in Zagreb with Martin Barić and Josip Klima, and obtained a Masters degree in the class of Leonid Kogan at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow in 1978. He also studied with Max Rostal in Bern and Henryk Szeryng in Geneva, then with Yfrah Neaman in London where he was Neamans assistant at the Guildhall School of Music from 1981 to 1983. He has been teaching at the Music Academy of the University of Zagreb since and held master classes in Madrid, Berlin, Turin, Milan, Sidney, Tokyo, Beijing, Stellenbosch and elsewhere. In 2004, he started the LAUS Summer Academy in Dubrovnik together with the world's greatest violinists (Zakhar Bron, Viktor Tretyakov, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Leonid Sorokow etc.). Apart from that Koncar is Member of jury in many major international competitions.
His international solo career began in 1982 with guest performances in a majority of European countries, as well as USA, Japan, Korea and Israel. From 1984 to 1994 he was the Concertmaster of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, Croatian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra and Zagreb Philharmonic. As a soloist he has performed
with renowned orchestras and conductors all over the world. He won first and special prizes at national competitions, as well as the Music Life Award in Moscow (1980) for his performance of D. Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 for violin and orchestra, the First prize at the International Competition in Bratislava (1984) and numerous other accolades. Among the awards received, the Vladimir Nazor Award (2006) holds a prominent place. He pays special attention to the performances of classics of the 20th century (D.Shostakovich,B. Bartok,A.Berg,I.Stravinsky,Z.Kodaly B. Martinu, S. Gubaidulina, A. Nilsson, B.Papandopulo etc.) and contemporary pieces, which is why numerous composers have dedicated their works to him (Boris Papandopulo,S.Šulek, Milko Kelemen, Giuseppe Gavazza, D. Holloway, Ivo Malec,D.Bobić.F.Đurović). His first record was released by EMI in 1984 in London, and he recorded for BBC, CBS, France Musique, HRT and other radio and TV stations. Croatia Records released one of the rare integrated performances of complete Eugene Ysaye solo violin sonatas, and in 2018. He finished first recording for Parma records, New York. From 1987 to 2012
Koncar was first violinist of the Zagreb Quartet and for a full quarter of a century his skill and art were part of this oldest Croatian and European chamber ensemble.
Ka Hou Fan
(Macau)
Ka Hou Fan, born and raised in Macau, is a distinguished conductor recognized for his dynamic artistry and musical sensitivity. In 2023, he was awarded the 2nd prize at the prestigious International Competition of Young Conductors Lovro von Matačić. Since 2022, he has held the position of Assistant Conductor and artist-in-residence at the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier. He currently divides his time between Vienna and Montpellier.
Fan began his musical journey at the age of four with piano lessons, later transitioning to the flute under the tutelage of Mr. Liu Cheng at the Macau Conservatory. His passion for orchestral conducting led him to further his studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, and the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
In 2019, Fan joined the prestigious Nationale Master Orkestdirectie, a collaborative program between the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. This program provided him with opportunities to assist renowned conductors and lead various professional orchestras across the Netherlands and globally.
Fan has benefited from the guidance of esteemed mentors such as Jac van Steen, Ed Spanjaard, Kenneth Montgomery, Antony Hermus, Fabio Luisi, Bertrand de Billy, Uroš Lajovic, Simeon Pironkoff, Vladimir Kiradjiev, Johannes Wildner, Nicolás Pasquet, Martin Hoff, Markus Frank, and Dominique Rouits.
Throughout his career, Fan has conducted numerous esteemed orchestras, including the Opéra Orchestre National Montpellier, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Rotterdam Sinfonia, London Symphony Orchestra, South Netherlands Philharmonic, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Residentie Orkest, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Gstaad Festival Orchestra, Silesian Philharmonic Orchestra, Hungarian State Opera Orchestra, and Vienna Chamber Orchestra.
Andreas van Tol
(Sweden)
Winner of the 2021 Neeme Järvi Prize, Swedish conductor Andreas Patrik Hansson held the position of assistant conductor with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester in Switzerland during the season of 2022-23. Andreas is also establishing himself within the field of 19th-century performance practice, bringing a fresh historically informed approach to the romantic symphonic repertoire. He has a keen interest in contemporary performance and has premiered several contemporary works. Most recently the Jazz Concerto for Violin, Jazz trio and Chamber Orchestra by Gàbor Barta together
with the Chamber Orchestra of Lausanne. In December 2020 he premiered and recorded the chamber orchestra version of Martijn Padding’s Unequal Parts with pianist Rutger Janssen as soloist. In 2023, Andreas van Tol made his official debut with Die Zauberflöte together with Opera2Day on their tour spanning the entire Netherlands.
Andreas has previously worked as assistant conductor with both the Norwegian Radio Orchestra on Hänsel und Gretel and the Residentie Orkest on Die Fledermaus, and, in the spring of 2022, assisted a production of The
Apocalypse together with Opera2Day and The Netherlands Bach Society. He was also chosen as a conducting fellow at Bergen National Opera’s festival Opera By The Fjord in the summer of 2021.
In April 2022 Andreas van Tol made his debut with Philharmonie Südwestfalen to great reviews. The fall season also saw his debut, in October, and return, in November, with the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne. In November he was also chosen as the first assistant conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester, starting from January 2023. Additionally in
November, he was reinvited for the third time for concerts with the Norwegian Army Band. In December 2022 he was invited to the coveted masterclass with maestro Riccardo Muti on Verdi’s Requiem.
As a symphonic conductor, Andreas has considerable professional experience, having conducted concerts with a range of professional orchestras. 2018 saw him conducting concerts with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra,
and Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra. 2019 brought another project with Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra, as well as concerts with the Nordic Chamber Orchestra and a tour with the aforementioned Norwegian Army Band. In 2021 he was reinvited for another tour with the Norwegian Army Band as well as debuted with the Residentie Orkest in The Hague, Netherlands.
Conductor
Sergej Kravchenko
(Russia)
Sergey Kravchenko, a world famous Russian violinist, will start giving classes to young talents in the Mediterranean province of Antalya as part of a project.
Kravchenko, 71, said he admired Antalya after giving two concerts in 2006, which prompted him to buy a holiday house in
2010.
His first trip to Antalya was in 1994 and later came again to perform at the Aspendos Ancient Theater in 2006.
He said that he took stage in various parts of the world, but none of them had inspired him as much as the concert he gave in
Aspendos. “There is no such acoustic in any other part of the world. I fell in love with Antalya and Aspendos. Its historic and natural beauties inspired me the most. There is such a beautiful mosaic here. People from all over the world are living here without any problems. The Mediterranean attracts me so much,” he said.
For Kravchenko, Antalya carries special significance, he said the sea and the mountains of the province reminded him of the Ukrainian city of Odessa, where he was born and raised.
Kimiko Nakazawa
(Japan)
Kimiko Nakazawa graduated from Niigata University in Japan. Thanks to a scholarship from the Japanese government, he continued his studies in 2000 in Vienna and at the Mozarteum in Salzburg with L. De Barueri. In 1991, she founded the Vienna-Tokyo Ensemble. She gave solo recitals in many famous halls such as Carnegie Hall, Wiener Konzertkaus, Beethovensaal in Bonn and others. She has performed with many orchestras such as the World Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wiener Kammerorchester. He also appears in NHK FM programs and on television. She recorded numerous sound carriers, including all the violin sonatas and concertos of W. A. Mozart. She is also known for the master classes she holds for young talented violinists. Her students won first prizes at national competitions in Japan in 2006 and 2007. She plays an extremely valuable Romanov Stradivarius violin.
Philip A. Draganov
(Switzerland)
Prof. Philip A. Draganov – C.V.
Hamburg born violinist and conductor, Philip A. Draganov, has enthralled audiences in Europe, Asia, and the USA with his ... „impulsive virtuosity... and exuberant musical power” (Hamburger Abendblatt).
He had his debut as soloist at the age of only twelve with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra in the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg and has since enjoyed a multifarious international career.
Philip A. Draganov has performed in many renowned concert halls such as Carnegie Hall/New York, Tonhalle Zürich, the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing, Kölner Philharmonie, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Festspielhaus Baden- Baden and Alte Oper in Frankfurt. In addition, Draganov has performed at important music festivals such as Aspen Music Festival/USA and Schleswig-Holstein-Musik-Festival. In addition to solo performances, recitals and chamber music concerts.
Draganov has numerous concert experiences at all levels: as a soloist, chamber musician or concertmaster of various orchestras.
He has worked with conductors such as Günter Wand, Herbert Blomstedt, Bernard Haitink, Christoph von Dohnány, Michael Tilson Thomas, Christoph Eschenbach, Alan Gilbert, Sir Roger Norrington and Kent Nagano.
Philip A. Draganov has received high acclaim for his recordings and CDs. His latest CD, the “Violin Battle” was distributed by SONY Music in Europe and by Naxos worldwide.
His edition of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto was published with the Gilgenreiner-Verlag in Switzerland.
Philip A. Draganov is professor of violin at the Bern Academy of the Arts (HKB) and also teaches at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).
In addition, he is the Artistic Director of the Swiss International Music Academy (SIMA).
More information at www.youth-classics.org.
He gives master classes in Europe and Asia and acts as a juror at international competitions.
In addition he is a board member of the European String Teacher`s association.
Among his current and former students are concertmasters and members of European orchestras (Berlin Symphony Orchestra DSO, Berlin Radio Orchestra RSB, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam….) as well as winners and prizewinners of numerous international violin competitions such as the International Tibor Varga Violin Competition (Sion, Switzerland), the International Fritz Kreisler Competition (Vienna, Austria), the International Marschner Competition (Germany). ), the Michael Hill Competition, the "Concorso Violinistico Internazionale Andrea Postacchini" (Fermo, Italy), the International Berlin Music Competition or the International Louis Spohr Competition for Young Violinists (Weimar, Germany).
Philip A. Draganov plays a violin by Stradivarius student Tomaso Balestrieri from 1769, but also enjoys playing modern instruments by violin makers Stephan von Baehr (Paris/Hamburg) and Peter Greiner (London/Zurich).
He lives near Zurich with his wife, a pianist, and his two children.
Further information at www.Draganov.ch.