Lisa has worked in Australia and Europe as an administrator in education, hospitality and entertainment. She also works for ‘2samen’, organising and coordinating after-hours and summer activities for children from 4 - 15 years of age. She has previously worked for the Aids Trust (Sydney), Today’s Art Festival (Den Haag), Newport Jazz Festival and Bevrijdingsfestival. Virtuosi welcomes her invaluable support as a native ‘Haagsenese’ speaker. She was selected on the basis of meeting precisely the requirements of the Virtuosi leadership team, and has provided administrative support and systems for Dutch taxation and payroll, as well as record keeping for students from the outset of our operations in Holland.

Ilya Ziblat- Shay was born in 1975, Haifa, Israel. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in composition and teaching from the Rubin academy in Tel Aviv, and is currently pursuing his Masters degree in composition at Koninklijk Conservatorium, The Hague. Ilya has previously taught both music theory and music literature for the Neve-Eliezer Conservatory (Tel Aviv), as well as double bass and bass guitar for the Akko Conservatory, in addition to serving as an educational mentor to the Ahuzat Yeladim school in Haifa, Israel. Also a choral conductor, Ilya composes classical, acoustic and electronic music, adhering as closely as possible to the spirit of sponteneous, heart-felt, improvisational music as possible. Examples of Ilya’s most recent work can be heard on his ‘myspace’ homepage.

Gergo was born in Hungary in 1975, and is a Graduate of Franz Liszt Music Academy on Bassoon, Chamber Music and Music Education, having taken special classes and master classes on the recorder throughout his studies. He held the post of Principal Bassoon with St. Stephen Symphonic Orchestra, Budapest, for a number of years has been co-founder and Artistic Leader of Ensemble Dolce e Furioso and. Besides his wide-scale chamber music activities on both the recorder and bassoon, he has been performing extensively with various other Symphonic and Baroque orchestras all over Europe, including Donhanyi Orchestra, Animato, Capella Savaria, Savaria Baroque, Orfeo Orchestra and Concerto d’Amsterdam. Gergo held a recorder teacher’s position for four years in Kodaly Music School, Budapest. He also participated in implementing ‘The Glory of Knight,’ – a series of thematic musical and other artistic activities for primary school students, – and has twice been guest teacher for the Louis August Jonas Foundation in New York. He now studies Historical Bassoon at the Royal Conservatory, The Hague, and among other activities he has been a founding member of the institution’s Historical Wind Octet and Wind Quintet. Gergo speaks Hungarian, English, German and French, and we are proud to invite him to lead our recorder department at Virtuosi.    

Graham Flett studied composition in the Netherlands (M.M. Royal Conservatory of the Hague) and in Canada at Toronto's York University (B.F.A. in music). His compositions have been performed by world-class ensembles in Europe and in North America and is currently active composing new pieces for upcoming performances. Aside from being a composer Mr.Flett is also a proficient guitarist and a knowledgeable piano player, and has had numerous years teaching experience these instruments to students of all ages and levels. Samples of Graham’s work can be found on his webpage - www.grahamflett.ca

Dorota was born in St. Petersburg but was raised in Cracow, where she started her musical education at the School for Young Talent on Piano. She holds undergraduate degrees on both oboe and piano. Dorota graduated from the Cracow Academy of Music with her Master’s degree in modern oboe and teaching in 2004 and from Royal Conservatiore in The Hague with Bachelor degree in historical oboes in 2009, under guidance of Frank de Bruine. She was awarded the S. Cohen prize in 2006, and has undertaken masterclasses with Alfredo Bernardini, Michael Niesemann, Elizabeth Wallfish, Jaap ter Linden, Peter van Heyghen, Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Laurence Cummings. She is founding member of "the OBOE ensemble" and plays regularly with "The Bach Orchestra of Netherlands" and baroque orchestra "Nova Silesia". She specialises in preparing piano and oboe students for the ABRSM Exams, as well as group theory lessons for all students.

Inez’s studies began when she was seven on the violin, moving to flute and piano at age eleven. She was principal flutist of the International Youth Symphonic Orchestra and in 2004 won 1st Prize in the IX National Competition for Young Instrumentalists. Currently, she is studying flute in the class of Thies Roorda (Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in Hilversum) at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. She has worked under Emily Beynon (Concertgebouw Orkest), Kersten McCall (CO), Rien de Reede (CO) and has participated in international masterclasses given by Patricia Morris (piccolo), Trevor Wye, William Bennett, and Wil Offermans (extended techniques). She has performed in Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, France and Holland as a chamber musician and soloist, most recently as a duo with guitarist Sanja Plohl for the Zeehelden Festival in The Hague.

Sarah began harp lessons at the age of seven in her home town, Paris, France. She studied harp at the National Regional Music Conservatory of Boulogne-Billancourt with Mr Daniel Douay (Principal Harpist with Paris Bastille Orchestra) and Pascale Schmitt, also taking private lessons with Professor Skaila Kanga from the Royal Academy of London. She obtained her Diploma of Higher Education in Music under Eira Lynn Jones at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (UK). She is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Music with a minor in pedagogy at the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague (Netherlands) with Ernestine Stoop. Sarah has performed in France, UK, USA, South Africa, Switzerland and Spain.

Robert de Bree was born in Apeldoorn in 1985. During his early years he was taught by Marjoke van Die and Marjolijn van Roon. After this he finished the preparatory training of the Conservatory of Amsterdam with Paul Leenhouts and Walter van Hauwe. He now studies recorder at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague with Dorothea Winter and oboe with Frank de Bruine. Robert has followed master classes with a.o. Alfredo Bernardini, Simon Standage, Daniel Brüggen and Marijke Miessen.

He won first prize (and the prize for best execution of a contemporary work) at the international recorder competition in Utrecht (SONBU 2004) and was also a multiple prize winner at the Prinses Christina Concours(2005).

Robert has performed for the Nationale Reisopera, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ and de Doelen in Rotterdam and is one of the founding members of Scroll Ensemble. His interests are teaching, literature and arts on the stage.

Emma Elkinson (B.Mus.Perf.L.R.S.M.) has studied in Canada, London and her native Ireland before coming to the Royal Conservatory of The Hague to undertake Masters with Barthold Kuijken, Robert Aitken, Patrick Gallois and Alison Melville. She has recorded for Naxos with the Aradia Ensemble and Toronto Chamber Orchestra, the soundtrack for the award-winning film In America as well for composers Carol Anne Weaver and John Buckley. Emma has appeared variously as soloist and principal flautist for the Classical Music Consort, Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Dublin Concert Band, Irish Youth Wind Orchestra, Irish National Youth Orchestra and Dublin Symphony Orchestra - and has even performed in Italy for the Pope! Emma has extensive teaching experience in extended techniques, historical performance, flute, recorder and theory in both schools and tertiary settings, in addition to her private studio students.

Stephen Caruana has been teaching drums since 1998. In those 11 years Stephen has completed two Conservatory studies. The first in Australia, studying Jazz Drums, the Second in Holland, studying Latin Percussion. Prior to those study years, Stephen grew up listening to and playing Rock, Pop and Metal. Stephen enjoys sharing his knowledge of music to students of all levels and ages and has an approach to teaching and learning that is enthusiastic and customised for each student. During the lessons, students learn to read music, rudiments, play grooves and most importantly, learn to play songs. All lessons are conducted in English…(with a sprinkle of the Australian accent to make it more unique).

“I believe that both the teacher and student continue to learn from each other, we share information.”

Virginia Quiles was born in 1982. She obtained her Diploma in Clarinet

Teaching from the Valencia Conservatory of Music. She later graduated

in Clarinet Interpretation at the High Conservatory of Music, simultaneously receiving a Degree in Audiovisual Communication from the University of Valencia in addition to her Pedagogic Competence Certificate. Virginia has followed master classes with Alan Damiens, Charles Neidich, Jose Luis Estelles, Joan Enric Lluna (soloist, Orchestra of the Palau de les Arts “Reina Sofia” of Valencia), Enrique Pérez (soloist of the Spanish National Orchestra) and J.V. Herrera (soloist, Orchestra of Valencia). She currently studies at the Conservatory of Rotterdam under the guidance of Nancy Braithwaite. She performs regularly with various Orchestra’s and Chamber groups, and has six years teaching experience. She previously worked as a clarinet teacher for the School of Music of the Music Society “La Popular” of Pedralba, and in the School of Music “Taller de Música Jove” in Valencia.

Clara graduated from The Royal Conservatiore (Koninklijk Conservatorium) as Master of Violin in 2009 under Vera Beths and Philippe Graffin. She performs regularly with collaborations such as The Hague String Variations (NL) and Amici Chamber Players (USA). She has most recently premiered new works at the Heidelberg Fruhling Festival as part of the Enesco Octet, and worked with the Rotterdam Kamerorkest; while also serving as concertmaster of the Royal Conservatory Orchestra during her Master studies. Clara has extensive teaching experience both in the USA and abroad and is a warmly welcomed addition to the Virtuosi string faculty. An extensive biography and more detailed information about Clara’s concert activities can be found on her artistic website: www.clara-kim.com 

Born in London in 1982, Victoria Nair Price studied Music and Pedagogy at Birmingham Conservatoire (UK), and at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar (Germany) where she graduated winning the Recorder Prize. She came to The Hague as a student of Reine-Marie Verhagen at The Royal Conservatory in 2005, and currently lives in Voorburg with her husband and son Sam. She is passionate about working with children and enjoys presenting music in a creative and spontantous way which makes learning fun. She teaches the Recorder, Early Years and Musicianship, English through Music for ‘Earlybird’ and conducts music workshops with all age groups. In addition to teaching, she performs as soloist with the Baroque ensembles Musica Dolce and Nova Hollandia.

Born in Mexico City in 1980, Santiago completed a his Bachelor studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music taught under David Tanenbaum, before coming to the Maastricht Conservatory and now Royal Conservatory in the Hague to complete his Master studies. He has previously taught at the Amadeus Academy, CIDEG (Centre for Research and Development) and CIEM (Centre for Research and Musical Studies). Prizes and awards include the Conaculta International Studies Scholarship, Taxco Guitar Competition (Special Award), Conaculta Young Performer’s Scholarship and Paracho Guitar Competition (3rd Place). He has given Solo recitals in San Francisco, USA; Mexico City, Taxco, Xalapa, Mexico; Maastricht, Rotterdam) and Den Haag. From 2003-2005 he was the Guitarist for ‘Les Miserable’ and now performs regularly with the Mexican Folk group Serenata Mexicana. www.serenata.nl

Kirsten began her musical journey at the age of four, at the Cork School of Music, Ireland. There she studied music theory, piano and cello. She has, since then, been a multiple prize winner in both national and international competitions. From 2002-2003 she was accepted for a period of study as a “young student” with Prof. Arbo Valdma, piano, and Prof. Maria Kliegel, cello, at the Hochschule für Musik, Köln. Since 2005 Kirsten has studied with Prof. Barry Snyder at Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, and with Prof. Elena Lapizkaja at the Universität der Künste, Berlin. She currently studies with Prof. Naum Grubert at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam.

Solo piano performances include those at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Bantry, the Boyle Arts Week, the Triskel Arts centre, and the Crawford Art Gallery, among others. She has also performed with cellist Matthew Huber in London, with singer Jamie Munn in Berlin, and with The Vanbrugh String Quartet in Cork. Kirsten has taken part in masterclasses given by Tatiana Zelikman, Fanny Waterman, Jiri Hlinka, John Perry, Alicja Fiederkewicz, Philip Martin, Ewa Poblocka, Hugh Tinney, Barry Douglas, Pascal Roge and Marcel Baudet. She also performs as part of a piano-duo with her sister, Rebecca. They have given concerts in Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Rome, & Kö.

Tullia Melandri graduated in Piano at Rovigo’s Conservatoire in 1998 with the maximum mark. She studied chamber music at Siena’s Accademia Chigiana and at Imola’s Pianistic International Academy with Pier Narciso Masi. She obtained the Master degree in Piano at Livorno’s Conservatoire, where she studied with Daniel Rivera. Her thesis on the unknown composer Lamberto Caffarelli was selected for the publishing by the cultural association “Amici del Mascagni”. Distinguished in several musical competitions in Italy both as a chamber musician and soloist, she is active in chamber music in various formations, both at the modern piano as well at the fortepiano, in which instrument she is specializing with Bart van Oort at the Royal Conservatoire in Den Haag. She performed, inter alia, for Ravenna’s “Giovani in musica” festival and Utrecht’s “Oude Muziek” fringe festival, and in Bologna’s Villa Aldrovandi-Mazzacorati, Siena’s Palazzo Chigi Saracini, The Hague’s KorzoTheatre and Dr. Anton Philipszaal. In 2002 she graduated in Conservation of Cultural Heritage (Musical Specialisation) at the Bologna’s Athenaeum with a thesis on the choral books of the Dominican Convent of Forli’. She has a long teaching experience.