Chinese-American pianist Jian Liu has appeared on concert stages in Europe, America, Asia, and Australia, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Steinway Hall in New York. He appeared as featured soloist with orchestras including Symphony Orchestra of National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Yale Philharmonia, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, among others. In 2017, Jian performed four recital tours in China and US, and his recording of Sarajevo: A Collection of New Zealand Piano Works was released on Atoll and received critical acclaims. He will perform Benjamin Britten Piano Concerto, Op.13, with Orchestra Wellington in July 2018.
New Zealand violinist Martin Riseley studied at Juilliard where he completed Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. He has played chamber music with leading artists of our time, including Pinchas Zukerman, Yo Yo Ma and John Kimura Parker. Since returning to New Zealand, he has premiered John Corigliano’s Red Violin Chaconne, given performances through the country of the complete Paganini Caprices, and partnered Diedre Irons for regular recitals. He has also made the first CD recordings of various chamber works of Douglas Lilburn and the Meditations on Michelangelo by Jack Body.
Cellist Inbal Megiddo has given many concerts in Europe, Asia, America, Israel, and New Zealand, including performances in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Berlin Philharmonie. Her recording of the Bach Suites was released on Atoll in 2017 to critical acclaim. Recent engagements have included performances with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Ukraine Philharmonic, the Lithuanian Philharmonic Orchestra, performances at the Lincoln Center in New York, NZ premieres of the Weinberg and Villa Lobos cello concertos, and concerto and recital tours in Israel, New Zealand, and Asia. Inbal is also the founder and director of the Cellophonia festival in Wellington.