VIOLIN FACULTY

 

Dejan Bogdanovic began his violin studies at the Art Academy of Novi Sad University, one of the most prestigious cultural centers of the former Yugoslavia (Vojvodina), and later graduated from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow under the tutelage of the famous violinist Viktor Tretiakov. Mr. Bogdanovic attended the School for Specially Gifted Children. At that time he was a multiple winner of the National Prize for Young Violinists.

 

Mr. Bogdanovic began performing at the age of 10 and, at 17 he gave his orchestral debut with the Dubrovnik Philharmonic Orchestra performing Paganini s First Violin Concerto. From that moment he began performing with many Chamber and Symphony orchestras, such as Philharmonic Orchestras of Belgrade, Zagabria Soloist, Philharmonic Orchestras of Sarajevo, Monstar, Prague, Vienna Youth Orchestra, Orchestra of Festival of Portogruaro and Khumoand among many others performing most of violin concerto repertoire. He also performed in recital throughout Canada, Former Soviet Union, Hungary, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Germany.

 

At the age of 19, Mr. Bogdanovic became a Laureate at the International Competition of Vienna (final round was broadcasted on Eurovision). In 1987 he was the First prizewinner at the National Yugoslavian Artist Competition. This prize has been given only to three violinists during the past 50 years. Mr. Bogdanovic was a guest artist at many International Festivals, including Khumo International Festival (Finland), Dubrovnik Summer Festival, Portogruaro Music Festival (Italy), Casals Music Festival (France), and the Festival of Rome Ciril e Metodie . He has recorded for broadcast Companies in Austria, France, Italy, Finland, Spain and Russia.

 

At the age of 21 Mr. Bogdanovic became the youngest teacher at the Art Academy of the University in Novi Sad. He taught in many master classes throughout Italy: Bolzano Siracusa, Padova, Portogruaro, Trieste, Salerno, Pesaro and Chioggia

 

Raisa Mussakhajaeva graduated with High Honors from the St. Petersburg State Conservatory in 1980, where she studied with Professor Michael Vaiman and Michael Belyakov.

 

Ms. Mussakhajaeva has been teaching violin very successfully for the past 28 years, and specializes in students starting from the age of 5 through graduate level. She gives her students the best of the Russian Violin School tradition, superior technical skills, beautiful violin sound and very interesting score interpretation.

 

Among her students there are winners of National and International Competitions, such as the Michaelangelo Abbado International Competition (Italy), Franz Schubert International Competition (Italy), A. Yampolsky International Competition (Russia), Rovero d Oro (Italy), etc. Many of her students are members of State Orchestras of Kazakhstan. Some students went on to study further at Universities in the United States and Europe.

 

Ms. Mussakhajaeva serves as the Vice-President at the Kazakh National Academy of Music (KazNAM) in Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan.

 

Ms. Mussakhajaeva gives master classes at the International Music Festivals in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, and Russia. She frequently serves as a jury member in the International Competitions.

 

Violinist Bagdat Abilkhanov s numerous accomplishments include such awards and prizes as the Grand Prize as well as the President s Trophy Award Winner at the Second International Shabyt - Inspiration Competition (Kazakhstan); he is the Grand Prizewinner of the 2000 & 2002 Rovero d Oro International Competition (San Bartolomeo al Mare, Italy); winner of the Yampolsky International Competition (Russia), Winner of the National Competition in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Second Prizewinner of the 2001 Cantenicetta International Competition (Sicily, Italy), The Third Prizewinner of the 1999 & 2001 Schostakovich International Competition(Moscow, Russia). He is also a recipient of the National Medal Eren Enbegi Ushyn and a prizewinner of the National Daryn (Kazakhstan).

 

In 1997 Mr. Abilkhanov became the first violinist of the State String Quartet of Kazakhstan. He teachers included B. A. Berlinsky, from the Borodin Quartet, N. Braynin, Z. Nissel from the Amadeus Quartet, Milan Scampa from the Smetana Quartet, Gunter Pikhler from the Alban Berg Quartet, Bogumia Smekal from the Yanochek Quartet, and the Bartok Quartet.

 

Mr. Abilkhanov is the concertmaster of State Chamber Orchestra Academy of Soloists and is the first violinist of the President s Al - Farabi String Quartet. He is also a professor at the Kazakh National Music Academy, where he teaches violin and Chamber Music.

 

Mr. Abilkhanov was born on May 3, 1975, in Kzyl-Orda region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In 1992 he entered the Kulyash Baiseitova (Almaty) special school and in 1998 he graduated from the Violin Department of the Kurmangazy State Conservatory.