JURY


			
						
				   
						 						 
							
							   MAXIM KUZIN
							   							
 
							
								Dr. Maxim Kuzin

Lecturer/Conductor, UCSB Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir

The University of California, Santa Barbara
https://www.music.ucsb.edu/people/maxim-kuzin


Ukrainian-born conductor Maxim Kuzin serves as Music Director of the Symphony Orchestra at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA and is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting at UCLA with Professor Neal Stulberg. Before arriving in the U.S. in 2014, Mr. Kuzin held concurrent positions in Ukraine as Music Director of the Reinhold Glier Kyiv Institute of Music’s Symphony and Chamber orchestras and Head of the Opera Preparation Department of Dnipro Glinka Conservatory of Music. He has also served as Music Director for Krivoy Rog Music Theatre and “Ricochet” New Music Ensemble of the National Composer’s Union of Ukraine, and worked as a conductor at the President’s National Orchestra of Ukraine, the Kiev National Operetta Theatre, and Opera Theatre of the National Tchaikovsky Music Academy of Ukraine.
Mr. Kuzin has toured Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia and has served as a guest conductor of orchestras in Eastern Europe and in the United States including the National Symphony Orchestras of Ukraine (Kyiv) and Georgia (Tbilisi), Vladivostok Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), UCLA Philharmonia and Symphony orchestras, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, National Radio Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, and others.
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Mr. Kuzin began music studies at age seven at the Lysenko Boarding Music School for Gifted Children, specializing in choral singing and conducting, with a piano minor. Maxim Kuzin is a recipient of the Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Scholarship Award (2017-18) and was designated as an “Emerging Artist” by the League of American Orchestra’s Symphony Magazine in 2005.
							
 
						 
					  
				   
				
							
				   
						 						 
							
							   ALLA KONVISER
							   							
 
							
								Pianist Alla Konviser, while still in Russia, after receiving her Masters in Piano Performance, held a position of a concertmaster and a piano coach with Minsk State Musical and Pedagogical Academy. In the last over 20 years Alla has became an accompanist to many Los Angeles musicians such as international star Aida Vedischeva, soloist of Bulgarian National Musical Theatre Mariana Popzlateva, Romanian star Carina Cheriach, Russian opera singer Gregory Rusanovsky, award winning classical vocalist Veronica Bell, and many others.

For the last 15 year, Ms. Konviser has also been working with legendary violinist-virtuoso Daniel Shindarov. She has appeared in many musical festivals, concerts, and TV programs. Alla’s diverse interests in wide variety of music and exceptional technical skills allow her to seamlessly morph into many different musical styles, from classical to pop to jazz which make her irreplaceable to any musician she works with. In addition to her busy performing schedule, Ms. Konviser is holding a position of faculty member of music and ballet departments at Santa Monica College, Joffrey Ballet Company, and Idyllwild International School of Arts. She also teaches and coaches private piano students.
							
 
						 
					  
				   
				
							
				   
						 						 
							
							   LARYSA KULCHYTSKA
							   							
 
							
								Born in Ukraine, pianist and composer Larysa Kulchytska is an impassioned artist, solo pianist and master pedagogue.

Larysa is the member of National Association of Composers USA and the member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

She received her Master’s Degree in music from Lviv Conservatory in Ukraine and for 10 years has been a professor at the Drohobych Music College. Inspired by the idea of creating her own music school, where she would be able to bring to life her artistic vision, Larysa established a music studio called “Sonore” in Lviv. All of the kids were part of an elite vocal group “Sonore.” Larysa believes that voice instruction greatly enhances the development of professional skills of any pianist, including the improvement of pianistic intonation, expression, sensitivity of musical phrasing and dynamics. At the time of establishment of her studio “Sonore,” Larysa started writing her own songs for the members of the studio’s vocal group. These songs were recognized for their musicality and beauty and were chosen for National television, TV and Radio shows. The vocal group “Sonore” performed in numerous Ukrainian cities as well as in abroad. Members of “Sonore” became the winners of the National and the International competitions.

In 2001, Larysa brought her daughter, Olga to Los Angeles, CA to compete in the World Championship of the Performing Arts. Olga Kulchytska won the Silver Medal Award for performing the original song composed by Larysa Kulchytska.

Since 2002, Larysa has been an active Los Angeles based piano and voice instructor. In 2015, Larysa released her album “Singing Piano – Music for your Soul “. Her original music has gained international praise on the social media outlets such as YouTube and Facebook. Her YouTube channel can be found at youtube.com/larysakulchytska. People from all corners of the world appreciate her soulful and sensitive compositions. Her wish is to have her music be accessible and enjoyable for every listener.

Larysa is currently an active solo piano performer in Los Angeles, who shares her passion for music at various events. She also works on composing songs for original album “Singing Piano – Music for Your Soul”, part 2.