SIMA CLASSICS Professors for Young Artists
ARTUR HAFTMAN
Piano
Artur Haftman is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist who is highly praised for his creativity and musical sensitivity towards the works of Chopin by international music critiques. "I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a young pianist in concert whose sound and initial attacks were as lovely and rounded as that of the Pole Artur Haftman. Maybe only Murray Perahia 40-plus years ago was as ear-opening. “ - David Moran from The Boston Musical Intelligencer.
Born in Stargard, Poland, Artur was highly influenced by his mother, Marzena Haftman, who was also a pianist. He began playing piano at the age of six with Ewa Kubiak-Kubacka and Jolanta Reszelska and made his début performance with Stargard Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of eight.
Since his debut with the orchestra at the age of eight, Artur has received numerous awards in international competitions such as First prize in the Category Virtuosite II in Concours International De Piano Paris – ST. Maur Des Foses and the prize from the publishing house Combre in Paris (2006), First prize at 7th JuliuszZarębski International Music Competition in Łomianki/Warsaw (2007), First prize at 18th National Competition for Young Pianists in Koszalin (2009), First prize at 7th International Chopin Competiton in Narva – Estonia (2010), First prize at 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Szafarnia (2011), First prize at 16th International Piano Festival in Druskininkai in Lithuania (2011), First prize at 18th International Piano Competition in Palma de Mallorca (2011), First prize at International Chopin Piano Competiton in Rzeszów (2012), First prize at International Music Competiton “Musicaclassica” in Moscow, First prize at International Chopin Competition in Sulechow (2012), Gold Parnas” (The grand prize) at International Piano Forum “Bieszczady bez granic” in Sanok (2013), Laureate title at 47th Polish Piano Festival in Slupsk (2013), Second prize at “Cesar Franck International Piano Competition” in Brussels (2014), Second prize at III International Piano Competition ”Villa de Xàbia ” (2015), Second Prize at III International Piano Competition ”Villa de Xàbia ” (2017), First Prize at Thomas Harris International Piano Competition in London, Recipient of Gary and Eleanor Brass Scholarship at Royal College of Music (2019-2020), Recipient of Carnwath Piano Scholarship - only pianist in the entire UK (2020-2021), and more.
Artur is currently residing in London but he performs all around the world. He has performed solo recitals across the United Kingdom, Poland, France, Lithuania, Italy, United States, Slovakia, and Germany. In 2018, he has launched his debut CD in London and sold more than 10,000 copies of the CD. His future plans include Grand Solo Tour in China, Solo Recitals in the United Kingdom, and preparation for his next CD Launch.
Jenny Lee
Violin/Viola
Jenny is an international violinist/violist based in New York and London. Since young age, Jenny was a principal violist of both the LHS orchestra and LHS Chamber Ensemble and learned under Jack Rosenberg of Juilliard School of Music from 2012. She has participated in the New York Little Orchestra and New Jersey Little Orchestra from 2008. She also had played in Joo Young Oh's chamber orchestra in the summer of 2015. In addition, Jenny was concertmistress of the New York Classical Youth Orchestra from 2013 to 2014 and principal violist from 2014 to 2017 and played in Bergen Youth Orchestra and the Bergen Youth Orchestra Symphony as principle violist.
Due to great teachings and opportunities, she has been awarded City of Jersey City Award (April 10, 2014), New York Artists International Competition 1st Place (April 17, 2015), K-Radio International Music Concours 1st Place( May 19, 2015), City of Jersey City Award (June 19, 2015), New York International Music Concours 1st Place(June 19, 2015), New York Artists International Competition 1st Place (July 10, 2015), County of Bergen New Jersey Certificate of Commendation (September 11, 2015), Manhattan International Music Competition 1st Place(October 9,2015), City of Jersey City (October 10, 2015), National Artists Competition 1st Place (July 5, 2016), Englewood Cliffs City Councilman Award (July 6, 2016), Manhattan International Music Competition 1st Place(October 12, 2016), and National Young Artist Concours (July 7, 2018)
And as a result, she has had many opportunities to have solo performances at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Lefrak Concert Hall, DiMenna Center. SIA Chamber Hall, Mozart Hall, Poland Culture Center and Merkin Hall with K-Radio Philharmonic Orchestra . She has studied with Jack Rosenberg, Jinhwan Kim, David Derrico, Bela Horvath and with Yuri Zhislin at the Royal College of Music.
ORPHEUS LEANDER PAPAFILIPPOU
Violin
Orpheus performs as a soloist, leader of the Orfeas String Quartet and is the artistic director of the Music of the Spheres Ensemble. His performances have taken him to Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Orpheus studied at the Royal Academy of Music who awarded him a scholarship to further his solo studies with Carmel Kaine in Australia. His musical mentors include Norbert Brainin and Michael Bochmann. He won first prize in the Concerto Competition at the Richmond Music Festival playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto and the Silver Medal at the Marlow Music Festival.
High points include performing Mozart Violin Concerto No 5 with the Music of the Spheres Ensemble at St Martin in the Fields, Vivaldi Four Seasons in the UK, Greece, Austria and China. Solo performances of violin concertos by Beethoven, Bruch, Mendelssohn and the World Premier of A Greek in New York by Denise Mangiardi, written for Orpheus. Solo tango violinist with the Balletboyz in the Queen Elizabeth Hall South Bank Centre, playing with the Philharmonia Orchestra, leading London Early Opera and The Musicians of London in the Cadogan Hall, recital tours to China and Europe and performing for her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
As a soloist he has shared the stage with violists Professor Yuri Zhislin Royal College of Music including performances of Mozart Sinfonia Concertante and the World Premier of the ‘Ukrainian Fantasy’ by Alla Sirenko for violin, viola and Orchestra with Andriy Viytovych principal Violist, Royal Opera House Covent Garden. His recital partners include internationally acclaimed pianist Alberto Portugheis.
He has appeared on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Cypriot National Television and recorded for BBC Radio.
In 2019 his debut CD as a soloist ‘Colours of Europe’ came out, with works by Vaughan Williams, Elgar, Dinicu, Sadikova and Sarasate.
Orpheus's student successes include first prizes at Festivals and Distinctions in ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall examinations. On recital tours in China Orpheus has given masterclasses in Nanning, Guangzhou and Beihai. He has also given masterclasses in Athens, Greece and in Lithuania
LOIS AU
Basson/Flute
Lois graduated from The Royal College of Music in 2012, where she studied with Martin Gatt, Julie Price and Andrea di Flammineis. She was the winner of both the concerto competition and the bassoon prize in 2009 and enjoyed studying at The Performing Arts Academy, Prague as part of the ERASMUS Programme.
After graduating, Lois held the bassoon chair for The National Theatre’s The Light Princess and has since played as a multi-instrumentalist (clarinet/flute/saxophone) in other west end productions such as Wind in The Willows, Phantom of The Opera, Caroline or Change and Charlie and The Chocolate factory. She has recently held the position of musical director at Shakespeare’s Globe for Richard II and is now enjoying a freelance career, playing bassoon with orchestras such as: Aurora Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, English National Opera, LSO, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Mozart Players, Britten Sinfonia, Irish Chamber Orchestra and World Orchestra for Peace.
Lois is also a frequent session musician and records many film soundtracks, some of which include: The Crown, Rebecca, Cats, Cinderella, Godmothered, Enola Holmes, The Joker and Shazam. She also recorded the #1 album Ibiza Classics with Pete Tong and The Heritage Orchestra, which has sold 100,000 copies since its release in 2018.
MATTHEW LEWIS
Trombone/Trumpet
Born in Ongar, Essex, Matthew began learning trombone with his father aged 5. He then went on to study with David Whitson at the Junior Royal Academy of music. During this time he was a member of the National Youth Brass Band and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.Matthew then continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music under Dudley Bright, Mark Templeton, Matt Gee and Ian Bousfield - Graduating in 2013 with a BMus(Hons) and MA. During this time he was principal trombone of both the European Union Youth Orchestra and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.
Matt has performed as guest principal trombone with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, Aurora Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, CBSO, Britten Sinfonia, English Chamber Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Manchester Concert Orchestra, English Philharmonia, London Contemporary Orchestra amongst others. He also enjoys a varied freelance career that has spanned from recording Mozart Masses on Sackbut with Sinfonia Verdi, to performing at large scale club nights with the Heritage Orchestra.
Matthew is keen to promote the trombone as a solo instrument, one way he has done so is by discovering and performing works that were originally written for other instruments. Having performed works including the Saint-Saens Bassoon sonata and the Telemann Sonata in E minor for Viola de Gamba in recitals across the United Kingdom and America. In January 2020, Matthew was appointed the Principal Trombone of the BBC Concert Orchestra. Prior to his appointment Matthew enjoyed a freelance career spanning ten years working for some of the most prestigious orchestras in the United Kingdom.
As an educator Matthew continues to run workshops across the country promoting the awarness of brass instruments in primary schools. He is also teacher of trombone at the Junior Royal Academy of Music and trombone teacher at Chigwell School and Dulwich College.