The music program of the “Ohrid Summer” festival continues tonight with a concert featuring the American-Russian violinist Igor Pikayzen and Macedonian pianist Ilinka Manova. They will perform at the Church of St. Sophia, starting at 9:00 PM.
Igor Pikayzen was born in Moscow and is the grandson of the legendary violinist Viktor Pikayzen. He graduated from the Juilliard School in New York and earned a master’s degree and an artistic diploma from the prestigious Yale University. In 2019, he was appointed as a violin professor at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. Award-winning violinist Igor Pikayzen is considered one of the most talented and sought-after soloists of his generation. In the 2022/23 season, his CD recorded with the London Philharmonic for the Warner Music label will be released, featuring concertos by Glazunov and Tchaikovsky. Additionally, there will be a promotion of the album “Fantasies for Violin and Piano” together with pianist Tatjana Pikayzen.
Macedonian pianist Ilinka Manova, who lives and works in the USA, is the recipient of multiple awards, and her love and passion for music are reflected in her profound study of this art. She completed her initial education in Skopje under the guidance of Professor Valentina Nolcheva. She then continued her studies in the class of Professor Arbo Valdma in Cologne and under Dr. Solomon Mikovski at the Manhattan School of Music in New York. She was awarded a full scholarship for her studies with Stephanie Brown at SUNY, where she earned a master’s degree and an artistic diploma. Currently, she is enrolled in doctoral studies in musical arts under the mentorship of Dr. Angelina Gadeliya at the University of Connecticut.
Ilinka Manova is the recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions, including the first prize at the 29th International Competition for Artists in New York, followed by her solo recital at Carnegie Hall in 2001. She has also been awarded numerous scholarships and prizes, such as the awards from Senigallia in Italy and the State Award of former Yugoslavia at the competition for young musicians in Sarajevo.
Her performances have taken her to various prestigious venues worldwide, including concerts in Taiwan, the United Nations building in New York, the renowned “Steinway” and “Merkin Hall,” and other concert halls in the USA. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has appeared in Paris, Rome, Bonn, Cologne, Geneva, Senigallia, Belgrade, Ljubljana, Skopje, as well as in several cities in Eastern Europe and the USA.
Ilinka Manova is also the director of the non-profit organization ArtAhimsa, which promotes non-violent culture through the arts. She teaches at the music schools “Browning” and “Diller-Quaile” in New York, and her students have achieved laureates in various competitions.
From 2012 to 2022, Manova served as one of the organizers of the “Rondo” platform and competition for young musicians, motivating many young artists to develop their talents through opportunities for concert performances at Carnegie Hall and participation in masterclasses at the “Rondo” summer academy in Geneva, Switzerland.