Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series presents: Manhattan Piano Trio Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. at the Gualala Arts Center

Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series will present the Manhattan Piano Trio concert on Sunday, April 13 at 4:00 p.m. Hailed by critics as a Grand Departure from the usual, Manhattan Piano Trio (MPT) is one of the most prominent, exciting and active emerging chamber music groups in America.

They are the Grand Prize Winner of the 2006 Plowman Chamber Music Competition, 2007 Yellow Springs Music Competition and Runner Up at the 2006 Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition. They are also the recipient of the 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Classic FM Listener's choice award in Melbourne.

Since they formed during the summer of 2004, MPT has given over 250 performances at many prestigious venues spanning 28 US states. The Trio comprises Milana Strezeva (Piano), Dmitry Lukin (Violin) and Dmitry Kouzov (Cello). The "Dmitrys" are from St. Petersburg (Russia) and met Milana, a Moldovan born American pianist literally on the "front steps" of The Juilliard School. Individually, the trio members are all award-winning soloists in their own right and have performed at many leading concert halls in the world.

Milana Strezeva is a 1996 Arts Recognition and Talent Search Awardee. She is winner of the Yamaha Piano competition and Young Artist Competition (FL) as well as IBLA International Competition (Italy).

Dmitry Kouzov is the 1st prizewinner at the International Beethoven Cello Competition (Czech Republic), a two-time laureate of the "Virtuosi of the Year 2000" Festival Competition (Russia), winner of the 2005 Juilliard Cello Concerto Competition and recipient of the 2006 New York Cello Society's Rising Star award.

Dmitry Lukin is a second prizewinner at 2005 International Violin Competition of Sion-Valais (Switzerland), where he was also the recipient of the "Audience Choice" award. He is also a Laureate of Mravinsky International Music Competition (Russia) and Takasaki International Competition (Japan).

In recognition, MPT has been invited and featured on the esteemed Rising Artists Series by Ravinia Music Festival (IL), Merkin Concert Hall (NYC) and Kravis Performing Arts Center (West Palm Beach, FL). Some additional highlights of MPT's past and present seasons include concerts at Fairmont Chamber Music Society (WV), Lakes Music Festival (MN), Whitaker Arts Center (PA), Detroit Symphony Orchestra (MI), Dunn Center for the Arts (NC), Alice Tully Hall, Cutco Arts Theatre and Steinway Hall (NY), North Dakota Museum (ND), Richland Chamber of Commerce and Prizery Arts Center (VA), Academy Art Museum (MD) and South Padre Island Concert Association (TX).

MPT has also performed on the Fine Arts Series of Emory University, East Georgia College, Young Harris College, Dalton State College and Gordon College (GA), St. Vincent College, Thiel College, Allegheny College, Kings College and Misericordia College (PA), Bemidji Univ. and Hamline Univ. (MN), Mayville Univ. (ND), Shenandoah Univ. Wesleyan College, William & Mary College, Randolph-Macon College and Bluefield College (VA), Castleton College (VT), Troy Univ. and Jacksonville State Univ. (AL), Franciscan Univ. (OH), Elmira College, Hobart & Smith College, SUNY Cortland and Baruch College (NY).

2007-08 season marks MPT's first overseas tour of South Africa and Germany which includes recitals and orchestral collaborations in Pretoria, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban. This is in addition to over 70 concerts at many celebrated concert series in every part of the United States. As part of their outreach and gift to the community, MPT was also one of the first chamber groups to perform in New Orleans (University), post Hurricane Katrina.

In addition to their demanding concert and recording schedule, MPT is committed to music education, giving concerts, master-classes and special children's shows. This is also one of the primary goals of the ensemble.

Tickets are $20 for advance purchases; $5 more on the day of the concert (buy your tickets early!). Children and young people ages 7 through 17 are admitted free. Advance tickets are available at the Gualala Arts Center or at the Dolphin Gallery in Gualala. For advance credit card (Visa and MC) purchases by telephone, call the Arts Center at 707-884-1138. For further information visit our website, GualalaArts.org.

The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email info@gualalaarts.org.

Serving the coastal communities of northern Sonoma & southern Mendocino Counties.