Meet the performers.
Alik Snytkin
Violin
Lithuanian-American violinist Aleksandr Snytkin has been praised by critics as “an emerging virtuoso with delicate touch and a sense of intimacy, technical and artistic maturity.” After serving as an assistant concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway for the 2009/10 season, Snytkin returned to become a permanent member of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Marie-Thaïs Levesque Oliver
Cello
Originally from Rimouski, Québec, Canada, Marie-Thaïs Levesque Oliver holds a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, both from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Desmond Hoebig, former Principal Cello of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Richard Aaron. Mrs. Oliver is now a freelancer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where she frequently plays as an extra cellist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, among other groups.
Andrey Ponochevny
Piano
Andrey Ponochevny’s career has encompassed the globe as a preeminent talent among performing artists today. Among his numerous awards, he was twice named “Outstanding Artist in China” (2009 and 2011) in addition to having been given the positions of “Honorable Professor” of Jilin College of Arts (China) and “Visiting Professor” at the Beihua University (China). In his hometown of Minsk (Belarus), he was awarded the title “Minskovite of the year” in 2002.
In addition to his concert career, Ponochevny serves on the teaching faculty of University of Dallas.
In addition to his concert career, Ponochevny serves on the teaching faculty of University of Dallas.
Elena Zyl
Piano
Elena Zyl is the official accompanist at First Frisco United Methodist Church. She is known for her versatility, imagination, and sensitive musicality, is a passionate and devoted advocate of collaborative piano and chamber music, and a piano teacher. She has given recitals with instrumentalists throughout the United States, as well as Japan, Germany, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Belarus.
Her duets with string players, woodwind, vocalists and other instrumentalists gave her a reputation as a first-rate chamber musician and a collaborative artist. In addition, she received multiple awards as the best accompanist in several competitions for young talented artists including Tchaikovsky International competition.
Artem Arutyunyan
Piano
Born in Moscow, pianist Artem Arutyunyan started his piano studies at the Gnessin Children School of Music with Irina Belova – a student of the prominent Russian pianist and pedagogue Evgeniy Liberman. Artem continued his music education at the prestigious Central Special Music School in Moscow in the class of Kira Shashkina. In 2003, Artem entered the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory where he studied under the tutelage of the acclaimed pianist and prize-winner of Tchaikovsky Competition, Arkady Sevidov.
In master classes and festivals, Artem has performed in the concerts of the London Masterclasses, the Int’l Holland Music Sessions and had lessons with Norma Fisher, Jacques Rouvier, Pavel Gililov and Carol Leone.
In master classes and festivals, Artem has performed in the concerts of the London Masterclasses, the Int’l Holland Music Sessions and had lessons with Norma Fisher, Jacques Rouvier, Pavel Gililov and Carol Leone.
Marina Dichenko
Violin
Marina Dichenko studied violin at the Central Music School in Kharkov, Ukraine, continuing her studies at the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow. In 2014 she graduated from the Artist Diploma programme at TCU School of Music. She has won prizes in chamber music competitions in Donetsk, Ukraine, and at the International Taneyev Chamber Music Competition in Russia. In the last few years, she has served as concertmaster of the TCU Symphony Orchestra and the Odysseus Chamber Orchestra and has regularly performed with the symphony orchestras in Plano, Las Colinas, San Angelo, Arlington and Garland. She is currently Teaching Artist on the Youth Music Program in Fort Worth and a violin teacher at Art Wheel Studio in Roanoke, USA.
Dzmitry Ulasiuk
Piano
Dzmitry Ulasiuk is a splendid pianist, emerging on the American scene after winning over audiences in Europe with his ferocious technical skills yet quietly refined ability to coax every detail, every note, every lyrical phrase out of the keyboard. Dzmitry has a zest for life that transfers into musical panache.
Olga Amelkina-Vera
Guitar
Olga Amelkina-Vera grew up in Belarus and moved to the United States in 1997. Olga holds a Bachelor of Arts degree Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in guitar performance from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Music degree in composition from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Olga maintains a busy touring and teaching schedule as a soloist and conductor, as well as with Kithara Duo, her classical guitar duo with her husband Fernand Vera.
Olga maintains a busy touring and teaching schedule as a soloist and conductor, as well as with Kithara Duo, her classical guitar duo with her husband Fernand Vera.
Fernand Vera
Guitar
Born in Houston, TX to a French mother and an Ecuadorian father, Fernand Vera is an active performer, event organizer, educator, author, composer/arranger, and electronic musician. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and Masters of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of North Texas.
Since 2012, Fernand has directed the thriving Guitar Studies program at Collin College in Plano, TX. He is the Artistic Director of the annual Collin College Guitar Festival, held each spring semester.
Since 2012, Fernand has directed the thriving Guitar Studies program at Collin College in Plano, TX. He is the Artistic Director of the annual Collin College Guitar Festival, held each spring semester.