ARTEM KONSTANTINOV (Cello)
Born in Russia into a family of musicians, Artem Konstantinov has studied at the Glinka School in Novosibirsk, the Moscow Conservatory and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Artem has studied and collaborated with such distinguished cellists as Mstislav Rostropovich, Kirill Rodin, Alexander Kniazev, Natalya Shakovskaya, Alexander Rudin, Marina Tarasova, and Stefan Popov. Artem has won prizes at numerous competitions, including the Competition of Young Cellists in Russia, the Moscow International Competition of Young Ensembles, the 1995 International Chamber Music Competition in Palma d'Oro, Italy, and the 1997 Russian National Cello Competition. In 2001 he received an honorary award from the Russian Ministry of Culture.
From 1999-2005, Artem served as Principal Cello and soloist of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Professor of Cello at the Shenzhen School of the Arts, and Guest Principal Cello for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently, he is Principal Cellist of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. He also teaches at Yip's Music Centre and Hong Kong Baptist University.
NIKOLAI ALEXANDROV (Piano)
Nikolai Alexandrov was born in 1971 in Moscow. He graduated from Moscow Music College in 1990 and Moscow Conservatory in 1995. At Gnessin Music Academy, he studied with Prof. Lina Bulatova and obtained a doctorate in 1997.
A soloist of the State Concert Organization "Mosconcert", Nikolai has appeared in numerous concert halls and festivals across Russia and Europe. He performs regularly at "Moscow Autumn", an annual international festival for contemporary music. His chamber music partners include cellists Sergei Sudzilovsky and Mikhail Utkin. He has appeared with Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Moscow Symphony Orchestra. Since 2004 he has worked in China as a soloist with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra.
