A Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory graduate, Yuliya Basis is a sought-after collaborative pianist and educator. She has appeared in recitals at numerous New York City venues as well as abroad, and serves on the piano faculty of the United Nations International School and the British International School. Yuliya and Andrii formed their violin and piano duo in 2002. Since then, they have performed in the US, Taiwan, Russia, and Ukraine, and released two albums, Go 4 Sonatas (2008) and Intervals (2013), featuring Andrii's classical works. They have also toured with Andrii's contemporary rock fusion ensemble, Lost World Band, which has released several critically acclaimed albums. Since February 24, 2022, the duo participated in many fundraising events to aid Ukraine.

A New York-based violinist and composer Andrii Didorenko was born in Dnipro, Ukraine, to a family of professional violinists. Andrii took his first violin lessons with his parents and made his debut with an orchestra at the age of 10. He earned his graduate and postgraduate degrees from Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and appeared as a soloist with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Moscow Camerata Chamber Orchestra. From 1999 to 2004, Andrii lived in Taiwan where he taught, performed, and debuted as a composer. Since moving to New York in 2006, Andrii performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician. Most of his works have been premiered, published, and recorded in the US; among his compositions are virtuoso pieces for solo violin, a double concerto, various chamber works, and student pieces. Since the start of the war, he has written several pieces inspired by Ukrainian folk music.

Aaron Irwin is clarinetist, multi-woodwind player, and composer originally from rural Illinois. He has been described "a compelling original composer" (Steve Futterman, The New Yorker), and is a sought-after commodity in both the jazz and commercial worlds. His latest recording, Music for Sextet was released on Innova Recordings in January of 2021. He has seven other recordings as a leader with various instrumentations. In addition to his own groups, Irwin has performed with many leading jazz voices in the New York jazz community including the Grammy-nominated Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Bob Sabin’s Tentet, The Mike Fahie Jazz Orchestra, the mixed wind group Weathervest, as well as pop performers Kristen Chenoweth, Rufus Wainwright, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, and The Roots. Irwin maintains a busy schedule as a freelance musician, performing in jazz clubs, concert halls, and Broadway theaters working with many of New York’s finest musicians and bands. He is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of teaching experience and currently serves as an adjunct saxophone professor at Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland, and woodwind instructor at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York.

Sabina Torosjan, originally from Tartu, Estonia has been an active freelance performer since graduating from The Juilliard School having studied with Sally Thomas and Lewis Kaplan. She plays regularly with Ensemble Mise-En and RAM whose focus is in contemporary music from around the world. She has recorded with iconic folk singer Pete Seeger, Jennifer Hundson, composer and guitarist Terry Champlin, as well as appearing on SNL. Sabina enjoyed being the violinist for the Off Broadway production of Fiddler On The Roof in Yiddish for its entire run ending in 2020. She also loves spending time with her two kids.

Violinist Mariya Polishchuk is a passionate chamber musician and champion of new music. She is constantly working to bring an understanding of contemporary music to modern audiences, while breathing a unique personality and new life into commonly performed works. Recent projects include performing works by Cristobal MarYan, Lacy Rose, and John Stone. She has performed on distinguished stages such as Carnegie Hall and David Geffen Hall, as well as across the globe, including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Russia, and Switzerland. A frequent performer and collaborator with MusicTalks, she connects with diverse audiences, making music of different eras accessible to audiences from all walks of life. Born in Moscow, Russia, Polishchuk immigrated to the United States with her family at a young age and immediately began her musical pursuits with her parents, also professional musicians. She was later trained by esteemed pedagogues, Isaac Malkin and Elisabeth Zeuthen Schneider.

 

A. Didorenko - Nereids for three violins and piano

P. Hindemith - Plöner Musiktag No. 3: two duets for violin and clarinet

A. Copland - Nocturne and Ukulele Serenade for violin and piano

D. Milhaud - Suite op. 157b for violin, clarinet, and piano

E. Kálmán/A. Didorenko - The Circus Princess Fantasy for violin and piano

Aaron Irwin, clarinetAndy Didorenko, violinMariya Polishchuk, violinSabina Torosjan, violinYuliya Basis, piano