2015 Competition

Milan Siljanov
bass-baritone

Milan Siljanov is the First Prize and Audience Prize winner of the Lied-Duo competition at the 50th International Vocal Competition in `s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

He is currently continuing his vocal studies as a full scholarship awardee — generously supported by The Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers — at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London with Professor Rudolf Piernay.

He was a finalist in this year’s prestigious Gold Medal competition at the Barbican Hall and will give his debut at Tonhalle Zurich, Switzerland, this year.

Nino Chokhonelidze
piano

With her duo partner, Milan Siljanov, Nino Chokhonelidze won the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the 50th International Vocal Competition in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in September 2014.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, she studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and later with Prof. Hans-Jürg Strub at the Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland.

In 2013 she was awarded the Pianist Prize at the International Schubert Competition for Lied duos in Dortmund, Germany. Further accolades include First Prize in the category for piano duo at the Kiwanis competition in 2011 (Switzerland) and Second Prize at the Concours National pour trio instrumental – Prix Géraldine Whittaker in 2012.

She is an alumnus of both Heidelberger Fruhling (Germany) and the Schubert Institute in Baden bei Wien (Austria).

Samuel Hasselhorn
baritone

Baritone Samuel Hasselhorn, born in Göttingen, Germany in 1990, won first prize in the 2013 International Schubert Competition, as well as the Prix de Lied in the 2013 Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition.

He was a fellow of Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, and has performed in New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall as a participant in Marilyn Horne’s The Song Continues programme.

Samuel’s first CD Nachtblicke with Lieder by Schubert, Pfitzner, and Reimann was released in December 2014. Recent debuts include concert appearances at Gewandhaus Leipzig and Hamburg’s Laeiszhalle.

Renate Rohlfing
piano

Sought after as a vocal accompanist, chamber musician, and orchestral pianist, Renate Rohlfing has performed with some of the world’s leading artists, including James Conlon, Anna Netrebko, and Frederica von Stade.

She started the 2014/15 season as resident pianist at the Spoleto Festival, followed by the Ravinia Festival, and enjoyed a busy concert season with singers and her piano trio, LONGLEASH, whilst serving as a vocal coach at Bard College.

Future engagements include music staff at LA Opera and Spoleto Festival, along with a tour of Scandinavia. Renate is from Honolulu, Hawaii, and a graduate of The Juilliard School.

James Newby
baritone

Baritone James Newby is currently studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance under the tutelage of Alison Wells.

He is winner of the Joyce Budd second prize at the junior Kathleen Ferrier Bursary awards, the Trinity Laban English Song Competition and the Trinity Laban Oratorio/Cantata award.

James is a great lover of song and has performed in recital throughout the UK. He is also very fortunate to have performed in masterclasses with some of the world’s leading figures on Lieder and song: Graham Johnson, Wolfgang Holzmair and Ian Partridge.

Panaretos Kyriatzidis
piano

A versatile, award-winning musician, Panaretos is gaining a reputation as a collaborative performer. He has performed extensively in the UK and recently won joint first prize at the Gerald Moore Award.

Panaretos holds a Postgraduate Artist Diploma and a Master’s degree with Distinction from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where he is currently a Leverhulme Junior Fellow in Piano Accompaniment.

During his studies Panaretos won first prize in numerous competitions and also received the David Gosling Prize for excellence in accompaniment and the John Thompson Prize for chamber music.

Nino Chokhonelidze
piano

With her duo partner, Milan Siljanov, Nino Chokhonelidze won the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the 50th International Vocal Competition in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in September 2014.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, she studied at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and later with Prof. Hans-Jürg Strub at the Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland.

In 2013 she was awarded the Pianist Prize at the International Schubert Competition for Lied duos in Dortmund, Germany. Further accolades include First Prize in the category for piano duo at the Kiwanis competition in 2011 (Switzerland) and Second Prize at the Concours National pour trio instrumental – Prix Géraldine Whittaker in 2012.

She is an alumnus of both Heidelberger Fruhling (Germany) and the Schubert Institute in Baden bei Wien (Austria).

Kate Howden
mezzo-soprano

Australian mezzo-soprano Kate Howden studied at Trinity Laban College of Music of Dance, and then at the Royal Academy of Music with Elizabeth Ritchie and Jonathan Papp. Recent performances include title role in Cendrillon, Isolier (Le comte Ory), Satie’s Mort de Socrate with Joanna Macgregor at King’s Place, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle and Ravel’s Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé.

Kate is grateful for support from the Australian Music Foundation (with the Riddiford Trust), Jennie Blythe, Matthew and Sally Ferrey and Help Musicians UK’s Tutton and Licette awards.

This summer she will be singing in the Glyndebourne Festival Chorus and in September will join the National Opera Studio.

Sachika Taniyama
piano

Born in Toyota City, Japan, Sachika Taniyama grew up in Birmingham. She has performed internationally, including in Belgium, Turkey, the USA and Japan.

Sachika won the Oxford Lieder Young Artists Platform Competition with the countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim in 2013. Sachika was awarded both an Undergraduate and a Master’s degree in Solo Piano from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and was taught by Charles Owen.

She has studied Piano Accompaniment with Michael Dussek at the Royal Academy of Music and graduated with distinction. Sachika is a member of faculty at the St Paul’s Cathedral School.