Timothy Fain, violin
Violinist TIMOTHY FAIN won First Prize at the 1999 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He gave acclaimed debuts in the Young Concert Artists Series in New York at the 92nd Street Y, in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and in Washington, DC at the Kennedy Center. The Washington Post wrote: “Timothy Fain has everything he needs for a spectacular career.” In May, 2002, Mr. Fain made his New York concerto debut with the New York Chamber Symphony conducted by Gerard Schwarz at Alice Tully Hall. On November 25, 2002, he will be presented in the Young Concert Artists Series at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall.
In 1999, Timothy Fain performed the Glazunov Concerto in Mexico under the baton of Jorge Mester as winner of the Mexico City Philharmonic Prize of YCA, and was reengaged to give two performances of the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the orchestra in 2001. Other appearances as soloist have included the Bartók Violin Concerto with the Juilliard Symphony conducted by Otto-Werner Mueller and concertos with Oxford Chamber Symphony in Philadelphia, Minnesota’s Mankato Symphony and New Mexico’s San Juan Symphony, the Mansfield (OH) Symphony and California's South Coast Symphony. During the 2002-2003 season, Mr. Fain performs the Mendelssohn Concerto with the Fargo-Moorhead (MN) Symphony Orchestra, the Bruch Scottish Fantasy with the Albany (GA) Symphony, and the Glazunov Concerto for the JCC of Greater Washington in Rockville, MD.
Mr. Fain currently performs concerts as a member of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two, and has performed chamber music at the Spoleto/Italy, Marlboro, Ravinia, Santa Fe, Caramoor, Moab, Martha's Vineyard and Chamber Music Northwest Festivals and at New York’s Bargemusic. In addition, he has recently joined the Rossetti String Quartet, as first violinist.
Mr. Fain has played on the Holland Music Sessions World Tour in the U.S., Canada and The Netherlands, including two solo recitals at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He has recently given recitals for the JCC of Greater Washington, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, the Richland Performing Arts Association in Ohio, and the Washington Center for the Performing Arts in Olympia, and appears in recital for the Classical Concert Series in Pinehurst, NC and at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center during the 2002-2003 season. A native of Santa Monica, California, Timothy Fain attended the R.D. Colburn School of Performing Arts and the Crossroads School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied with Victor Danchenko, and a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School, where he worked with Robert Mann. Mr. Fain has also studied with Aaron Rosand, Haroutune Bedelian and Laura and Eduard Schmieder, and played in masterclasses for Isaac Stern, Peter Oundjian, Miriam Fried and Ida Haendel. He is recipient of a 2001 Avery Fisher Career Grant.
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Finghin Collins, piano
Since taking first prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Vevey, Switzerland in 1999, Irish pianist Finghin Collins enjoys a flourishing career that embraces Ireland, Europe and the United States. Aged just 25, he has already performed with such prestigious orchestras as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to great public and critical acclaim.
Having won all the important awards for piano in Ireland, Finghin Collins has gone on to achieve major international success. In September 1999 he won first prize at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Vevey, Switzerland. Previous successes included semi-final prizes at both the Leeds and Dublin International Piano Competitions in 1996 and 1997.
He also took first prize at the Rencontres Internationales de Jeunes Pianistes in both Paris and Strasbourg (1998).In December 1998, Finghin was the winner of the Classical Category at the National Entertainment Awards at the National Concert Hall, Dublin. In May 1999 he gave a critically acclaimed début recital at the Wigmore Hall, London. In June 2000 he gave the world première performance of Irish composer Gerry Murphy's First Piano Concerto (dedicated to Collins) in the Czech Republic, which was released on CD by Vienna Modern Masters in Spring 2001. In October 2000, Swiss record company Claves released a CD featuring Finghin Collins' performances of Mozart and Beethoven at the 1999 Clara Haskil International Piano Competition.
Early steps with his sister Mary were followed by extensive study with internationally acclaimed Irish pianist John O'Conor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, from where he graduated in 1999 with a first class honours degree awarded by Dublin City University. In June 2002 he completed three years of post-graduate study with French pianist Dominique Merlet at the Conservatoire de Musique in Geneva, graduating with a premier prix avec distinction (first prize with distinction).
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Christina Lawrie, piano
Pianist Christina Lawrie attended Holland Music Sessions in 1999 and 2000, working with Lazar Berman, John O’Conor and Jan-Marisse Huizing.
In January 05 she made her BBC Radio 3 debut on the “In Tune” programme, with a live solo performance of Tippett’s 4th Piano Sonata, ahead of her Purcell Room performance of the same work. She makes her Wigmore Hall debut in July 05, with a solo recital sponsored by Park Lane Group. (www.parklanegroup.co.uk) In October 05, Christina makes her third recital appearance at the Purcell Room, in the “Fresh Young Musicians’ Platform” series.
As a 2004 Park Lane Group Young Artist she made her South Bank debut at the Purcell Room. The Observer praised her "formidable intellect and boundless technique...Fantastic playing", and Musical Opinion described her as "a very gifted young player..". As a result of this recital, when one of the 2005 PLG Young Artists dropped out, six weeks before the concert, Christina was asked to step in for the 2005 series. Musical Pointers remarked of her performance “In a few weeks and by special request she had learnt the complete programme already scheduled for an indisposed PLG Young Artist. That included Tippett's rhapsodic and elusive 4th sonata, played from memory with complete assurance and remarkable aplomb; an astonishing feat of professionalism.”
Christina studied at Chetham’s School of Music and Cambridge University, and went on to study with Yonty Solomon at the Royal College of Music in London. She has won numerous accolades both nationally and internationally. She was a finalist in the Royal Overseas League Piano Competition in London, and a winner of the Blackheath Hall Young Artists auditions, as well being a prizewinner at the Marsala International Piano Competition. She continues to receive generous support from the Scottish Arts Council. She is a member of the Keyboard Staff at St. Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh.
