About the performers:
Gwenyth Aggeler:
Gwenyth Aggeler is a 17-year-old guitarist from Denver, CO. She began studying the guitar at age 6 with Aaron Medina and continued her studies in middle and high-school with Alex Komodore. Gwenyth has been awarded prizes in several competitions including a prize in the New York Guitar Competition, first prize in the Kithara Virtual High School Guitar Competition, first prize in the Eastern Music Festival High School Guitar Competition, and second prize in the junior and senior divisions of the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition. She was also featured on NPR’s radio program From the Top in February of 2019 and recently performed on From the Top’s live-stream concert series. Gwenyth has performed in master classes with Los Romeros, Jason Vieaux, Martha Masters, Judicaël Perroy, and Thomas Viloteau. She is currently a student of Maestro Manuel Barrueco.
Sameer Agrawal:
Sameer Agrawal, 15, is a Merit Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, a pre-college training program for advanced string and piano students. He currently studies with Sang Mee Lee, and began studying violin at age 5 with Suzuki teacher Debbie Crosser. He is also a Fellow of the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, a mentorship and scholarship program for underrepresented groups in classical music. Sameer made his solo orchestral debut at age 12, playing Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen with the Northeastern Illinois University Symphony Orchestra. He has also soloed with the Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra of Chicago, the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, and Northside College Prep Chamber Strings. He has been a prizewinner at the DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers, Walgreens National Concerto Competition, Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest Concerto Competition, Midwest National Chamber Music Competition, Sejong Cultural Society Competition, Music Festival in Honor of Confucius, and the Chicago Chamber Music Festival Concerto Competition.Sameer has twice appeared on WFMT's Introductions, a radio program highlighting young classical musicians. He was a featured soloist on the 2019 Stars of Tomorrow concert series, and will be performing a recital as part of the Young Steinway series in 2020. He has also performed at Make Music Chicago, the Thirsty Ears Classical Street Music Festival, and presented recitals and pre-concert performances at Symphony Center. Sameer has participated in masterclasses and guest coachings with Robert Lipsett, Daniel Phillips, Danielle Belen, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Desiree Ruhstrat, Sibbi Bernhardssohn, Steven Tenenbom, the Cavani Quartet, the Lincoln Trio, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Summer studies have included Center Stage Strings and the Chicago Chamber Music Festival, where he has worked with Simon James, Danielle Belen, Elbert Tsai, and Jaime Gorgojo, among others.
Veronika Grabovskaya:
Veronika Grabovskaya is currently study with Prof. Natalia Shameyeva at The Gnesin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow. Veronika received her Bachelor's in 2019 and now pursuing her Masters of Harp Performance. She took master classes taught by Irina Pashinskaya (Moscow) and Chantal Mathieu (France). Also since 2017 has various interships with Catherine Michel.
Veronika is an active solo harpist. She performed with major orchestras, including Belarusian State Academic Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the National State Television and Radio Company (Belarus), Festival Orchestra Britten-Shostakovich (Russia). Now she is principal harp in National Academic Concert Orchestra of Belarus. Laureate of international competitions in Austria, Italy, Portugal, France, Ukraine and Russia. At the moment Veronika also teaches harp to 8 gifted children at the Republican Gymnasium-College under Belarusian State Academy of Music (Belarus, Minsk).