PROGRAMME

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Sonata No. 4, Op. 7
I. Allegro molto e con brio

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 in G-flat major, D. 899

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Waltz Op. 34 No. 1 in A-flat major

Olivier Messiaen (1908–1992)
La Colombe (“The Dove”) – from Préludes

Arvo Pärt (b. 1935)
Partita, Op. 2 – Toccatina, Fughetta, Larghetto, Ostinato

Ernst von Dohnányi (1877–1960)
Serenade, Op. 10
I. Marcia: Allegro
II. Romanza: Adagio non troppo (quasi andante)
III. Scherzo: Vivace
IV. Tema con variazioni: Andante con moto
V. Rondo (Finale): Allegro vivace

ALEKSANDRA GALUSHKINA (born May 2012) began playing the piano at the age of five. She is currently a 7th-grade student at the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet (MUBA) in the piano class of Jekaterina Rostovtseva. At just eight years old, she performed with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, playing Haydn’s Piano Concerto in C major. Galushkina has won prizes at international piano competitions in more than 20 countries, including Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Her recent achievements include: Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition 2025 – First Prize and a special prize for the best performance of Haydn; Tapiola International Piano Competition 2025 – laureate with two special prizes; National Pianists’ Competition “Eesti Kõla 2024” – First Prize with two special prizes; Takács Piano Competition 2024 – Third Prize; MozArte International Piano Competition 2024 – Third Prize. She has received recognition from the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research four times (2022–2025) for outstanding international achievements. In 2023, she was awarded the MUBA Talent Prize presented by the Music Trust PLMF and the Kelam family. Galushkina has participated in the Chetham’s International Piano Summer School (UK) and taken part in masterclasses with renowned professors.

KARINA ROSTOVTSEVA (born 11 August 2003) began her musical studies at the Tallinn Music High School in the violin class of Niina Murdvee and later continued under Pille Tralla. From 2022 to 2024 she studied at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT) with Professor Mari Tampere-Bezrodny. She further developed her studies through the Erasmus+ programme in Poland at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice with Professor Beata Warykiewicz-Siwy, where she continued her bachelor’s studies in parallel both in Katowice and at EAMT under Mari Poll-Novakovic. Karina regularly participates in masterclasses with Professor Erik Schumann (Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts) and Professor Anna Gutowska (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna). She has received numerous awards at international competitions, including First Prize at the Zagreb International Violin Competition (Croatia, 2022), multiple first prizes at the László Spezzaferri (Italy) and Danubia Talents (Hungary) competitions, as well as special prizes in chamber music categories. In 2017 she performed with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, and in 2021 she was selected to perform Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 with the Brescia Festival Orchestra. In 2023 and 2025 she received the Rain Lõhmus scholarship, and in 2024 the Estonian scholarship for the advancement of higher music education. In September 2025, she performed Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in D minor with the Ars Musicae chamber orchestra under conductor Sara Corriga in the concert series “Lunch Break with Music.” In 2026, she was selected for the Estonian Concert mentorship programme LIFT.

ALI AMISHOV is a violist of Azerbaijani origin based in Tallinn. He is currently completing his master’s studies in viola at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Professor Johanna Vahermägi. He has performed as a soloist with various ensembles as well as with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and the EAMT Student Orchestra, and regularly appears as both a chamber and orchestral musician. Ali is currently the principal violist of the Musica Vivere string orchestra and has previously held principal positions in leading orchestras in Azerbaijan. In 2025, he was awarded Second Prize at the Estonian String Players Competition.

EKKE RAINER ARNDT (born 15 September 2004) began studying the cello at the age of six. He is currently studying at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre under Professor Henry-David Varema. In 2023, he graduated from the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet (MUBA) as part of its first class, achieving top marks in his specialty under teacher Mart Laas. Since the 2024/25 season, Arndt has been a member of the orchestra of the Estonian National Opera. At national competitions, Arndt has won First Prize three times and Second Prize once in his age group at the “Best Young Instrumentalist” competition. At the Estonian Young String Players Competition-Festival, he has received the laureate title three times (2023, 2021, 2018). In international competitions, he won Second Prize and a special prize for the best performance of a Latvian composition at the 9th Augusts Dombrovskis Competition in Riga (2017), and Second Prize along with a prize for the best performance of a virtuoso piece at the “Young Musician” competition in Tartu the same year. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, Kristjan Järvi Ensemble, Nordic Symphony Orchestra, Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Young (Amsterdam 2019, conductor Pablo Heras-Casado), ESYO (Italy, 2018 and 2019), the Tallinn School of Music and Ballet Symphony Orchestra, and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. A particularly notable experience was performing in Scotland at the Bridge Festival (2022) with an eight-member ensemble of the Music Trust PLMF and participating in the festival orchestra. He has also taken part in numerous masterclasses.