vicováIgor Karško was born in Slovakia. He studied under Karol Petroczi at the Conservatory of Music in Kosice and under Jiri Tomasek at the Prague Academy of Music where he graduated with honours. In Prague he also received lessons in chamber music and conducting. In 1991 he was invited by Yehudi Menuhin to the Menuhin Academy in Gstaad (Switzerland) , where he studied under ?Menuhin and Alberto Lysy . He became a member of the Camerata Lysy and the Gustav Mahler youth symphony orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado, and he became concert leader of the State Philharmonia Kosice. Since 1991 he has been a member of "The Serenade Strings Trio". This ensemble has won numerous prizes, including first prize in several categories at the international chamber music contest of Trapani (I) and Caltanissetta in 1991. He has given solo and chamber music concerts all over Europe. Since 1993 he has been concert leader of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra.
Jozef
Lupták
Currently one of
the most prominent personages in the Slovak musical scene, Lupták is a
graduate of the Performing Arts College (VŠMU) in Bratislava and the Royal
Academy of Music in London . He is also a laureate and winner of
national and international music competitions.
His career as a soloist has brought him to play with conductors
including Andrew Parrott, Jiří Bělohlávek, Leoš Svárovský, Daniel Gazon,
Domonkos Héja, Andrew Mogrelia etc. He regularly plays with chamber music
partners as Nora Škutá, Igor Karško, Ronald Šebesta, as well as with
Robert Cohen, Vladimir Mendelsson , Beny Schmid, Rena Sharon, Peter Mikuláš,
Mark Gothoni, etc. He often cooperates with the legendary
Slovak rock pianist/composer and improvizer Marián Varga, American singer Julee Glaub
and singer and producer Jeff Johnson as well as Irish flutist Brian Dunning.
His other particular interests include music of the Jewish and Roma peoples.
In 2011 he premiered in Levoca, together with an ensemble led by the English
pianist and composer Mark Latimer, music by Norbert Bodnar, Marco
Berlinguer and Latimer himself.