Avita Duo violin/piano recital: Beethoven, Biber, Lily Boulanger, and Dohnanyi

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644-1704) Sonata Representativa (1669) Allegro Nachtigal (Nightingale) Allegro Cu Cu (Cuckoo) Fresch (Frog) Adagio Der Hahn (The Rooster) Presto Die Vachtel (The Quail) Cantabile Die Katz (The Cat) Mussquetir Mars (Musketeer March) Allemande Ernő Dohnányi (1877-1960) Violin Sonata in C sharp minor, Op. 21 Allegro appasionato Allegro ma con tenerezza Vivace assai Lily Boulanger (1893-1918) Four Pieces for Violin and Piano D’un matin de printemps Nocturne. Pièce courte Pièce Introduction—Cortège Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Violin Sonata No.7, Op.30 No.2 Allegro con brio Adagio cantabile Scherzo: Allegro Finale: Presto with Avita Duo Avita Duo, featuring Katya Moeller on violin and Ksenia Nosikova on piano, has been praised for “technical excellence, emotional intensity, and unity of purpose” and “fresh, committed playing, always powerful and concentrated”. The collaboration between these two award-winning soloists has flourished over 15 years, leading to versatile and captivating performances across the globe. Committed to broadening exposure to classical music, Avita Duo aims to impact audiences both internationally and locally. The Duo prioritizes community engagement and outreach, frequently performing at public schools, community centers, and retirement homes, presenting educational workshops and teaching masterclasses. Their programming strives to highlight both standard repertoire and the works of lesser-known composers. This mother-daughter partnership culminated in their first CD recording of Lera Auerbach’s Twenty-Four Preludes for Violin and Piano, alongside the world premiere of Oskolki in 2022. This groundbreaking CD, released on the Hänssler Classic label, has garnered enthusiastic reviews from prominent critics, who lauded it as “absorbing, dramatic, compelling, audacious, and riveting”. Ksenia Nosikova was praised as “First rate” (Fono Forum), “Full of dramatic intensity” (International Piano), and “Impressive musicianship, musically very poetic” (Boston Globe). Her extensive repertoire comprises of masterworks and lesser-known compositions and includes over thirty piano concertos. Among her twelve critically acclaimed CD recordings are complete Années de Pèlerinage by Franz Liszt and Aus Meinem Tagebuch, Op. 82 by Max Reger. Nosikova’s concert engagements span prestigious venues across the globe, from Shanghai City Hall in China to City Hall Theatre in Hong Kong, Chetham’s International Piano Series in England, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and Sala Cecilia Meireles in Rio de Janeiro, to name a few. A graduate of Moscow Conservatory and University of Colorado, Dr. Ksenia Nosikova is a professor and co-chair of the piano department at the University of Iowa School of Music. She has been a faculty member at Wiener MusikSeminar International Master Classes, Amalfi Coast International Music Festival, Schlern/Semper International Music Festival, and PianoTexas International Music Festival and Academy, among others. Ksenia Nosikova is a Steinway Artist and was inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame. Violinist Katya Moeller, 21, was called a “phenomenal instrumentalist” and praised for her “dramatic and convincing performances” and “exquisite interpretations”. She was named Prix Rodolphe et Helen Tissières at the 2024 Verbier Music Festival Academy, the First Prize Winner of the World Bach Competition, ODIN International Music Competition, Walgreens National Concerto Competition, the Charleston Baroque Music Competition, and Grand Prize Winner of the ENKOR International Violin Competition, among others. Her NYC based string quartet, DragonBoot Quartet, received the Grand Prize in the senior division of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition. As a member of the Peresson and Dasani String Quartets, she won Gold Medal at the St. Paul String Quartet Competition, Grand Prize at the Chicago International Music Competition, and Silver Medal at the Fischoff Сhamber Music National Competition. Katya is a Senior at the Juilliard School, studying with Masao Kawasaki. Previously she studied with Almita Vamos. She has participated in numerous master classes, including Midori, Gyorgy Pauk, Paul Huang, Mihaela Martin, David Finckel, and Julian Martin. She received scholarships at Aspen Festival, Yellow Barn Festival, Bowdoin Festival, and was one of nine violinists invited to the 2024 Verbier Festival Academy in Switzerland. This past summer Katya attended the Perlman Music Program Chamber Workshop.