March 15, 2025
Multiple Levels Of Virtuosity
Members of Atrium String Quartet and Friends
Anton Ilyunin and Gary Levinson, violins; Dmitry Pitulko, viola; Anna Gorelova, cello; Jihye Chang, piano
Program includes:
Alexander Borodin: Grand Trio in G Major for two violins and cello
Gabriel Fauré: Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15
Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25, “Alla Zingarese”
The Artists
Violin
Anton Ilyunin
Anton Ilyunin was born into a musical family in the Central Asian city of Ashkhabad in Turkmenistan. He began studying violin with his mother and soon entered the music school for gifted children. He appeared as a soloist with orchestras at the age of nine. He studied at Turkmenistan National Conservatory and Saint Petersburg State Conservatory where he graduated with honors. He continued his education at Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. Between 2001 and 2006, Mr. Ilyunin played in the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. For two years, he was Associate Principal Second Violinist. Mr. Ilyunin is a founding member of the Atrium String Quartet and also performs as a soloist with symphony orchestras.
Violin
Gary Levinson
Gary Levinson is the Senior Principal Associate Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, he began studying the violin at the age of five at the Leningrad Special Music School. He and his family immigrated to the United States in 1977. He began winning top prizes at international competitions. Known for his Bel Canto playing style and adroit technique, Mr. Levinson made his New York Philharmonic solo debut in 1991, coinciding with the completion of his Masters of Music degree at The Juilliard School. Much sought-after as a chamber musician, he has collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, and Eugenia Zukerman. He has collaborated and recorded several CDs, including a bass and violin duo, performed with his father, renowned double bassists Eugene Levinson. It was written for and dedicated to the Levinsons. When not on stage with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra or leading CMSFW, Mr. Levinson performs year round all over the globe. The summer season takes him to various music festivals. He also mentors young musicians through the CMSFW2 emerging artist program. Mr. Levinson performs on an Antonio Stradivari violin, crafted in 1726.
Photo by AJK Images
Viola
Dmitry Putulko
Dmitry Putulko was born in Leningrad where his musical talent was recognized early and supported by his parents, who were professional musicians. Barely five years old, he began lessons at the music school. He continued his education at Rimsky Korsakov Music College in Saint Petersburg. Two years later, he earned first prize in the international music competition in Bulgaria. That paved the way for numerous solo performances with the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Next, he attended the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory for five years. He graduated in 2004 and was offered to play the viola with the Atrium String Quartet, founded four years earlier by his former fellow students. Together with his colleagues, Mr. Putulko has studied in the Netherland String Quartet Academy and later in the Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. He performs as a soloist with several symphony orchestras, as well as with the Atrium String Quartet.
Cello
Anna Gorelova
Anna Gorelova was born in Saint Petersburg and began to study the cello when she was ten years old. While a pupil at the music school, she began playing concerts across Europe as a soloist at international festivals. She graduated in 2003 from the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory with highest departmental honors in cello. Ms. Gorelova has established an international reputation as a soloist and chamber music performer, playing with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra. She continued her education in chamber music at the Netherland String Quartet Academy and Hochschule fur Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin. In 2000, she joined the Atrium String Quartet. As a member of the quartet, she has received numerous awards, including first prizes at international string quartet competitions in England and France. She has performed in prestigious concert halls and festivals in Europe and the United States. Ms. Gorelova plays a cello by Giovanni Battista Ceruti (1798).
Piano
Jihye Chang
Pianist Jihye Chang enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, collaborator, educator, scholar, and advocate for new music in the United States and abroad. Her performances focus on the creative process of collaborating with living composers, curating programs that connect to various audiences, and giving context to contemporary works. She has earned international acclaim in competitions and as a soloist. She recently premiered Igerthi, a piano concerto written for her by Sungji Hong, with Intersection Music in Nashville. In a project called Continuum 88, Ms. Chang has led a collaborative effort since 2016, focusing on different genres of piano repertoire and programming masterworks alongside new commissions by younger composers in the same genres. Her other interests include music by living women composers and Korean composers, which she has brought to American venues. She guest-lectures on music as a means to understand Korean culture. She also specializes in working with young composers in academic settings and has led residencies at Texas Christian University, as well as at campuses in other countries. Ms. Chang graduated summa cum laude from Seoul National University and earned her master’s and doctorate degrees from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She is a faculty member at Boston University and the Brevard Music Center, and is the director of Piano Intensive Bulgaria.
