Program

About the Artists

Sophia Szokolay

Canadian violinist Sophia Anna Szokolay made her international debut in 2013, touring as soloist with the Győr Philharmonic Orchestra and giving recitals throughout Hungary. She has since performed throughout Canada, the United States and Europe, and has appeared as a guest soloist with A Far Cry, Toronto Sinfonietta, Etobicoke Philharmonic, Laurentide Festival Orchestra, Taylor Academy Chamber Orchestra, Scarborough Symphony, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Equally at home as a soloist and chamber musician, Sophia has most recently collaborated with Pamela Frank, Johannes Moser, Bonnie Hampton, Michael Kannen, Maria Lambros and Jonathan Crow.

Sophia won first prize at the Plowman International Chamber Competition and Bronze medal at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 2017 with the Ivani Quartet, mentored by Paul Katz and Kim Kashkashian. She received the Borromeo Guest Artist Award in 2018, performing alongside the Borromeo Quartet in Jordan Hall. Her love of chamber music has taken her to festivals worldwide, including Yellowbarn, Perlman Music Program, Taos School of Music, Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, Toronto Summer Music and Holland Music Sessions.

As an advocate of community engagement, Sophia is a Morse Teaching Artist at Juilliard, where she works closely with elementary school students in Harlem. In 2020, she will represent the Perlman Music Program on tour in Florida, performing throughout diverse communities.

Hailing from a multi-generation family of musicians, Sophia began her violin studies at the age of 3. Sophia earned her Bachelor of Music minoring in music theory from the New England Conservatory, studying with Miriam Fried. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Juilliard School, studying with Donald Weilerstein and Catherine Cho.

Sophiko Simsive

Georgian-born pianist Sophiko Simsive has won numerous awards and accolades including the first prize at the Princess Christina Concours in the Netherlands, the Yamaha Piano Competition in Amsterdam, the Young Pianist Foundation Competition, first prize at the Geertruidenberg Klassiek, and GrachtenfestivalPrijs where she performed as Artist-in-Residence during the Grachtenfestival.

Sophiko Simsive has toured extensively throughout North America, Asia, and Europe, and made her debut at Carnegie Hall with cellist Kian Soltani. She has participated in the Verbier International Music Festival, and most recently she was selected as the winner of Music Academy of the West’s second Solo Piano Competition, which will take her on a multi-city recital tour that includes appearances at St. Luke’s in London, Chicago, Santa Barbara and LA. She is represented by Interartists Amsterdam Management.

Sophiko moved to the United States in 2016 to study with Boris Berman at the Yale School of Music. While at Yale, she earned two graduate degrees and performed a concerto with the Yale Philharmonia. Sophiko recently began work on a doctorate at the Manhattan School of Music, where she studies with Dr. Solomon Mikowsky.