Special Note: The Rodrigo Estate has approved the performance of the 2nd movement of the Concierto de Aranjuez, with special permission granted by Ediciones Joaquín Rodrigo in commemoration of the composer's 25th death anniversary. Notably, both the composer and the soloist are blind, adding significance to the performance.
FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 I. Allegro molto appassionato Jisun Kim, violin
SERGEI LYAPUNOV: Piano Concerto No. 2 in E Major, Op. 38 Yerko Difonis, piano
This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Historic & Cultural Affairs from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Ioana Gandrabur, guitar
Born in Bucharest, Romania, Ioana Gandrabur began playing the piano at the age of five. At twelve, she discovered the guitar and immediately felt a deep connection with the instrument. Under the guidance of Liviu Georgescu and Petre Fartatescu, she embarked on her guitar studies, swiftly achieving success. Within just two years, she emerged as the youngest laureate of the Romanian National Guitar Competition, a title she still holds to this day.
At the age of 16, Ioana Gandrabur immigrated to Canada, where she continued her musical education at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal under the tutelage of Jean Vallières, graduating with honors. Subsequently, she was awarded a full scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service, enabling her to pursue postgraduate studies in Germany. She honed her skills at the Musikhochschule in Köln, Germany, under the mentorship of Hubert Käppel, at the Musikakademie in Basel, Switzerland, under Oscar Ghiglia, and at the Musikhochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany, under Joaquin Clerch, earning degrees from each institution.
Ioana Gandrabur has distinguished herself as a winner of numerous international guitar competitions, including those in René Bartoli (France), Frechen (Germany), and Havana (Cuba).
Currently based in Montreal, Ioana Gandrabur traverses the globe, captivating audiences with her performances and sharing her expertise as a guest teacher and adjudicator at various international festivals. Her music has resonated across Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Morocco.
Valérie Poisson, soprano
Having recently performed the role of Leïla in Les Pêcheurs de perles at the Opéra de Trois-Rivières and Micaëla in Carmen for the ALC in Chambly and the ODTR, Valérie Poisson has also portrayed Elvira in Italy with the AEDO orchestra, as well as the title role of Ora and characters like Pericola and Barbarina (Marriage of Figaro) in Montreal. Her repertoire extends to Fiordiligi at the Halifax Festival, a First Lady in The Queen of the Night with orchestra in Ottawa, and roles like First Mother (Dead Man Walking) and Kate (Oklahoma!) in Alberta, preceded by Daphnée (La descente d'Orphée) in Orford. Valérie Poisson's performances have graced venues in Canada, Germany, and Italy, reflecting her passion for languages and her status as an artist supported by the Arts Council of Canada and CALQ. She has received grants from various organizations and competitions, including those of several foundations and patrons.
Valérie Poisson has been interviewed by Radio-Canada Halifax, Opale Magazine, Ami-TV, among others, and has lent her voice to projects like the film The Lake. She actively participates in numerous festivals and events, including Orford, AEDO, HSOF, the Desjardins Cultural Festival, the filming of Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, the Festival de la semaine des handicapés, and more. Community involvement holds significant importance for her, as she performs for organizations such as Les Fondations Cypihot, Sans oublier le sourire, Vision sur l'art, AQPEHV, Centre de Réadaptation Lucie-Bruneau, and Iciéla. She was a guest artist and scholarship holder at the Culture et handicap workshop in France.
Currently, Valérie Poisson is working on her first album of romantic French opera arias using immersive technology. In the autumn, she will embark on a tour in Europe to perform with the Bella Music Foundation and for LAB Opera. valeriepoisson.ca.
Jisun Kim, violin Jisun Kim is a highly talented violinist who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Korea National University of Arts in South Korea, where she also attended the pre-college program. Notably, Kim made history as the first blind violinist from Korea to study in the United States and the first disabled student in the String Department at the Manhattan School of Music. Kim's remarkable achievements include winning several awards in prestigious competitions such as the Dong-A Music Competition, the Ewha Kyunghyang Music Competition, Tokyo Helen Keller Music Competition, the Sunhwa Music Competition, and the Music Chunchoo Competition. She also secured the top prize at the Bella Music Foundation International Music Competition for the Blind in 2020, as well as the first prize at the BMFSO Concerto Competition for the Blind in 2024. Kim's exceptional musicianship has led to invitations to perform at renowned venues such as the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, where she showcased her talent as the winner of the GMP International Competition in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, she was selected as the winner of the VSA Young Soloists International Competition, earning her an invitation to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Recently, she captivated audiences with her performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, conducted by Nanse Geum, at the esteemed National Theater of Korea in Seoul. During her studies, Kim received guidance and mentorship from notable professors Nam-yoon Kim and Hyun-mi Kim in South Korea. Later, she pursued further studies at the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Professor Kelly Hall-Tompkins, earning her Master of Music degree in the process. In addition to her impressive performing career, Kim is also a dedicated teacher, training young musicians in the Bachelor of Music department at the Hanbit School for the Blind in South Korea. She also continues to develop her talents as a member of the Hanbit Performing Art Company.
Yerko Difonis, piano Yerko Difonis was born in Valparaíso, Chile, into a musical family. His talent and passion for music were evident from an early age. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa as a child, he underwent eye surgery at the age of five to address the condition. Due to limited educational resources in Chile, Yerko moved to the US at the age of seven to pursue a comprehensive education. He attended primary and part of secondary school in New Jersey and New York. At eleven, he commenced his music studies, focusing on piano at the Filomen M. D'agostino Greenberg Music School in New York. His musical journey intersected with his academic pursuits when he enrolled at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts, majoring in piano, for two years before returning to Chile. In Chile, Yerko continued his musical education for a decade while earning a bachelor’s degree in education, specializing in English Pedagogy. He completed the Chilean conservatory course of study at a private conservatory under Mario Cervantes's guidance. Subsequently, he applied to pursue a master’s degree in music in the US and was admitted to the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in 2020, where he studied under Karina Bruk. Currently, Yerko is in his second year of the Doctor of Musical Arts program at Mason Gross.
Helen H. Cha-Pyo, conductor
Helen H. Cha-Pyo currently serves as the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor at the Wharton Institute for the Performing Arts. Her leadership has transformed the organization into a haven for nearly 2,000 students from 12 New Jersey counties. She oversees four key programs: the New Jersey Youth Symphony, the New Jersey Youth Chorus, the Performing Arts School, and the Paterson Music Project. As the principal conductor of the New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), she has expanded the NJYS jazz program and is committed to championing underrepresented composers through innovative programming and new commissions. She has led international tours to Italy and France and continues to collaborate with numerous artists and arts organizations creating exceptional performance opportunities for young musicians of NJYS.
Previously, she served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Empire State Youth Orchestra for 16 years. Her impact extended to founding ESYO CHIME, dedicated to providing music education for underprivileged youth, and establishing the Helen Cha-Pyo Golden Baton Award. Helen's accolades include The Dove Leadership Award, the Angelos Artist Award, and the Eastman Centennial Award for her leadership in creating equitable access to music education for young people.
A sought-after guest conductor and clinician for All-State and Regional Festival Orchestras throughout the country, she served as a Visiting Associate Professor of Conducting at the John J. Cali School of Music, Montclair State University (NJ), and the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (NJ). Her musical journey began in Seoul, South Korea, and she holds degrees from the Juilliard Pre-College, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and the Eastman School of Music. Cha-Pyo actively serves on the Youth Orchestra board of the League of American Orchestras, mentors at Girls Who Conduct, and engages with the Korean Women International Network. For more about Cha-Pyo, visit helenchapyo.com. helenchapyo.com.
Bella Music Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting talented blind musicians in classical music by providing guidance on the path to excellence. Our programs aim to offer invaluable resources and opportunities to blind musicians, helping them further develop their careers in the professional music industry. Recognizing the challenges faced by visually impaired musicians in an already competitive field, we strive to provide multifaceted resources that not only bolster their resumes but also raise awareness, foster supportive communities, and provide competitive platforms to share their stories with the world. The 2024 BMF International Music Festival series for the Blind, a collaborative effort among blind organizations and musicians worldwide. The festival, occurring on April 28th in Fort Lee, NJ, USA, and on October 15th at the Main Auditorium of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, will showcase the distinguished winners of the 2024 BMFSO Concerto Competition for the Blind, recognized as the only concerto competition for the Blind worldwide,—Jisun Kim - Violin (S. Korea), Yerko Difonis - Piano (Chile), Ioana Gandrabur - Guitar (Canada), and Valérie Poisson - Soprano (Canada)—performing as soloists with the BMF Symphony Orchestra. Given that the UNESCO Secretariat and representatives from 195 UNESCO member states are among the invited guests, the festival at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris holds special significance as it coincides with White Cane Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, as well as recognizing the white cane as a vital symbol of blindness and a tool for independence. Through this event, we celebrate the achievements of blind musicians and demonstrate that they too can achieve independence and make significant contributions to society through music. This event will not only showcase the remarkable journeys of these musicians but also convey a powerful message about the hope and unity that can be fostered through music. www.BellaMF.org
Bella Music Foundation Symphony Orchestra Helen H. Cha-Pyo, artistic director and principal conductor
Violin I Khullip Jeung, Concertmaster Jisun Kang, Assistant Concertmaster Jonathan Block Sunny Hwang Minju Choo Violin II Miyun Chung, principal Hyunjoon Shin Seunghyun Kim Minjoo Moon Adam von Housen Viola Jaewon Chung, principal Yukiko Kuhara Nick Pauly Grace Kim Cello Gloria Kim, principal Jiwon Suh Sojung Lee Dawn Song Bass Jingwan Guo, principal Giuseppe Michael Brent Flute Helen Park Yeyoung Moon Oboe Hyunhee Kim Jacob Slattery (E.H) Clarinet Hyunjoo Kang Roi Karni Bassoon Dillon Meacham Atao Liu Horn Yechan Moon Jisun Oh Dongjun Kim Luis Montesdeoca Trumpet Yosun Yoo Nathan Mckinstry Trombone Natalie Shields Julie Zedeck Taylor Peterson Timpani Jinha Lee Percussion ChiChing Lin Harp (Piano) Mira Kim