Lynn Kuo, violin Marianna Humetska, piano Since 2006, violinist Lynn Kuo and pianist Marianna Humetska have performed together as duo and chamber music collaborators throughout North America and Europe. Formerly known as Duo Les AMIS, a transatlantic violin-piano duo based in Canada and Ukraine, Kuo and Humetska's performances together have been hailed as "mesmerizing" and "captivating" (Pinawa Life). Individually, Kuo and Humetska have captured top prizes in competitions that have included the Galaxie Rising Star Award of the CBC, the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, and the Tchaikovsky International Competition for Young Musicians. As duo and chamber music collaborators, Kuo and Humetska have championed numerous contemporary works and have given world premieres by composers Michael Pepa, Alice Ho, Daniel Foley, Constantine Caravassilis (Canada), and Viktorija Ćop (Croatia). Together, they have performed at international music festivals that have included Canada's soundaXis Festival, Croatia's Music Biennale Zagreb Festival, Ukraine's Contrasts Festival and Kiev Music Fest. As members of Toronto's Les AMIS Ensemble, Kuo and Humetska were invited by both Hungary's gypsy orchestra Rajkó Band in Budapest and the Lviv Philharmonic in Ukraine to perform Canadian composer Michael Pepa's Fantaisie bohémienne. They have also appeared as soloists with the Penderecki String Quartet in Serbia and Romania performing Chausson Concerto for Violin, Piano, and String Quartet. In 2012, Kuo and Humetska, along with virtuoso yangqin player Anna Guo, premiered Canadian composer Alice Ho’s Si Yi - The Four Arts with Ottawa's Thirteen Strings, conducted by Kevin Mallon. Press: “…we were both blown away by Lynn Kuo and her classical violin…” …“Ms. Kuo was a delight right from the start”…” It was as though Ms. Kuo and her instrument became one…” …“She (and the music) were mesmerizing, and accompanist Marianna Humetska only emphasized the imagery. So captivating…” “Kuo's technique appears flawless, and she has the ability to extend a note from one end of her bow to its very tip, all the while maintaining a clear, strong tone. Beethoven was followed by Fantaisie bohemian [sic] by Canadian composer Michael Pepa.” … “The high notes pierced the air with beautiful clarity, and the music was filled with tension that held your attention throughout, the trickling notes of the piano adding to the drama. At times the violin sounded like a flute, and Kuo's command of both the lower and higher octaves was very impressive.” “Intermission was followed by work from another Canadian composer, Winnipegger Sid Rabinovitch [sic]. … This contemporary number was very dramatic, showcasing the deft piano stylings of Ms. Humetska.” Louise Daymond, Pinawa Life “I never expected a made-in-Russia arrangement of Gershwin melodies to raise the roof in a classical concert, but that’s what happened. Igor Frolov’s (b.1937) Concert Fantasy on Themes from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Op. 19, for violin and piano, (1991) seemed to free the duo from their classical corsets and got the joint jumping. Maybe it was Lynn Kuo’s banjo sounding pizzicato on “I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing,” or Marianna’s bluesy “Summertime” riffs that made this part of the concert take off into the blue. ” Stanley Fefferman - Showtime Magazine "The meat of the program was a pair of pieces by the Chinese-Canadian composer Alice Ping Yee Ho. Capriccio Ballo for violin, piano, and strings… The soloists were violinist Lynn Kuo and pianist Marianna Humetska… rendered a persuasive account of the score. The other Ho piece was the world premiere of a Thirteen Strings commission, The Four Arts for violin, piano, yangqin and strings. In four movements, it ...was undoubtedly the highlight of the evening." Richard Todd, The Ottawa Citizen "Very good performers! ...This unexpected ensemble, an international company that cherishes their art. … It is an interesting phenomenon, and we are pleased that they come. Along with that, we can see that they are enthusiasts who came and spoke to show their skills..” Miroslav Skoryk, Project Coordinator, Artistic Director of the XXI International Festival "Kyiv Music Fest 2010", on Duo Les AMIS as members of Les AMIS Ensemble, as quoted in http://composersukraine.org/index.php?id=2499 Lynn Kuo, violin “…. Lynn Kuo’s violin is dramatic, both rousing and melancholy..." - Showtime Magazine Violinist Dr. Lynn Kuo has appeared as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and Europe. As guest soloist, she has performed with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Thirteen Strings (Ottawa), Canadian Sinfonietta, Brandon Chamber Players, Nexus percussion ensemble, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Bulgaria), Cantus Ensemble (Croatia), Lviv Philharmonic, Lviv Virtuosi (Ukraine), and as special guest soloist with Hungary’s gypsy orchestra, Rajkó Band. In demand as an interpreter of new music, Lynn has given numerous world premieres in both North America and Europe of acoustic and electroacoustic solo and chamber works written by international composers. These works have been written for her and various ensembles that have included the Les AMIS Ensemble, Duo Vita (with John Oliver guitarist/composer), and Duo Les AMIS (with Marianna Humetska, piano). In 2012, Lynn, joined by Marianna Humetska, piano; Anna Guo, yangqin; and Ottawa’s Thirteen Strings (directed by Kevin Mallon), gave the world premiere of Si Yi – The Four Arts, a commissioned work by Alice Ho for violin, piano, yangqin, and string orchestra. Maintaining a busy performance schedule, Lynn has also performed with Gros Morne Summer Music’s resident ensemble Dark by Five and the Les AMIS Ensemble in four European concert tours. Lynn continues to collaborate with leading artists, having performed solo and chamber works with such artists as the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, the Penderecki String Quartet, Christoph Eschenbach, the Gryphon Trio, clarinettist Lori Freedman, and with other eminent artists at the University of Toronto New Music Festival and Music Biennale Zagreb Festival (Croatia). Lynn’s performances have been broadcast on Canadian, Serbian, and Hungarian radio and television. In 2010, Lynn recorded music of Nino Rota for the NAXOS label, recording with pianist Mary Kenedi. With pianist, Marianna Humetska, Lynn will be releasing a debut CD, LOVE: Innocence, Passion, Obsession in Winter 2013/14. Based in Toronto, Lynn is the Assistant Concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, in addition to performing with the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Lynn has also performed as guest concertmaster of orchestras that have included the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Opera Hamilton, and has also served as adjudicator, guest artist, teacher, and lecturer at Canadian festivals and universities. Lynn completed her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto dedicating her research to the subject of holistic health and injury prevention in orchestral string musicians. Marianna Humetska, piano Pianist Marianna Humetska is a winner of numerous prizes and diplomas in international competitions, among which include the Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians and Diaghilev Competition in Moscow, “Virtuosos of the Year 2000” Competition in St. Petersburg, Dvarionas Competition in Vilnius, and the Honens Competition in Calgary. Ms. Humetska is also a winner of the “Galaxie” Rising Stars Award of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the “Debut” Young Artists Auditions, and the Marusia Yaworska Award from the University of Ottawa. Born in Lviv, Ukraine, Ms. Humetska holds a Diploma with Honours from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto, and a Masters Degree from the Lviv Music Academy. Marianna Humetska regularly concertizes in some of the world’s prestigious music festivals, which have included the Kuhmo Festival (Finland), Rheingau Festival (Germany), Tibor Varga Festival (Switzerland), Music at the Institute in New York (USA), Music Biennale Zagreb (Croatia), Niagara International Music Festival (Canada), Kyiv Music Fest, Festival of Contemporary Music “Contrasts”, “Virtuosos”, Chamber Music Sessions, and Bach-Fest (Ukraine). Ms. Humetska has also performed in some of the world’s most celebrated concert halls: the Great Hall and Rachmaninov Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Steinway Hall and St. Martin-in-the-Field Church in London, Kasinosaal in Wiesbaden, George Enescu Hall in Bucharest, Kolarac Hall in Belgrade, Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Chapelle Historique in Montreal, Ukrainian Institute in New York and Chicago. Her performances with orchestras have included concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, London Soloists, Russian National Orchestra, Festival Orchestra of the Banff Art Center, Orchestra of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto (Canada), Geminiani Orchestra (Italy), Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Lugansk Philharmonic Orchestra (Ukraine). In addition to her solo and orchestra performances, Ms. Humetska is also very much in demand as a chamber musician and collaborative artist. Marianna Humetska has collaborated with artists such as Victoria Loukianetz, Jovan Kolundjia, Jeffrey Solow, Thomas Sanderling, Gary Kulesha, Simon Streatfield, Shauna Rolston, Lynn Kuo, Rachel Mercer, Lori Freedman, Joseph Macerollo, Miriam Konzen, Joaquin Valdepenas, Mark Skazinetsky, Ingrid Attrot, Aviv String Quartet, Tokai String Quartet, and Penderecki Quartet, among others.