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Twin sisters Ambra and Fiona have been performing successully since 2002 mainly as a duo and also in other formations such as piano trio, piano and string quartets, as soloists with orchestra; in addition, they have accompanied singers at recitals and performed in special Their concert activities include various festivals and cultural events in Switzerland, Italy (at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza), Holland, Austria (at the Mozarteum in Salzburg), Germany (Berlin), USA (New York), Bahamas (Music Society), Suriname (fund raising concert in Paramaribo for the local music school), Australia, USA. They have also been awarded prizes at international chamber music competitions. Various TV transmissions have been made in Switzerland and abroad about their activities. They both started violin and piano studies at the age of 7. Further to their high school education, they continued their studies in music at the Swiss Italian Conservatoire in Lugano/Switzerland and thereafter at the Zürich/Winterthur Musikhochschule. Ambra was taught by Alberto Lysy, received an excellent artistic education by Prof. Peter Rybar and graduated with merit under the guidance of Igor Karsko in Lugano, followed by performance studies in Rudolf Koelman's violin class and Wendy Champney's viola class at the Musikhochschule in Zürich/Winterthur. She graduated in 2004 obtaining the Concert Diploma with top marks and distinction. Following her main interest in chamber music she has been attending other master courses with Nora Chastain, Friedemann Rieger and the Carmina quartet in Zurich. She graduated in 2005 with highest marks and distinction as a «Piano Chamber Musician» and as accompanist of lyric singers. Their musical education was enhanced by attending Prof. Pier Narciso Masi's chamber music master class at the International Piano Academy in Imola/Italy which they recently completed successfully obtaining the Master degree with highest marks. In addition, Ambra has been an active participant at master-classes held by Peter Rybar, Emanuel Hurwitz in London, Gérard Poulet, Ingolf Turban, Arnulf von Arnim, Robert Cohen, while Fiona has been an active participant at master-classes with Sergio Fiorentino, Paul Badura Skoda, Arnulf von Arnim, Robert Cohen, Sandro D'Onofrio a.o. Prominent composers have written music specifically for the Albek Duo. Italian composer Alessandro Lucchetti's Fantasy on Themes from Giacamo Puccini's "Tosca" received its world premiere recording on their Eroica South of the Alps CD. Patrick Jonathan recently completed Postcards from K.L., a chamber work for violin, piano and percussion dedicated to the Albek Duo. The well-known American composer William Perry wrote his Gemini Concerto: An Entertainment for Violin, Piano and Orchestra for Ambra and Fiona Albek, who presented the world premiere with the Pioneer Valley Symphony, conducted by Paul Phillips. It is being recorded for Naxos Records by the Albek Duo and the National Symphony of Ireland. |
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Fiona was taught by Nora Doallo in Lugano graduating with merit ; she continues her performance studies in Friedemann Rieger's piano chamber music classes and the Lieder performance class in Zürich/Winterthur.