JURY
Artem Poludennyi
Started playing music at the age of 7 at the Kyiv Children’s Academy of Arts. From 2003 to 2006, he continued his studies at the Kyiv Secondary Specialized Music School named after Mykola Lysenko. In 2011, he graduated from the National Music Academy of Ukraine (class of Professor Ivan Kucher).
Брав участь у майстер-класах таких провідних майстрів, як: Вен-Сін Ян, Валерій Соколов, Генрік Брендстрап, Хосе Рібера, Денис Северин, Давід Ґерінґас, Гергард Шульц, Штефан Метц та Марк Данель.
Лауреат міжнародних та всеукраїнських конкурсів віолончелістів і камерних виконавців:
Augustin Proházka Competition – First Prize (Košice, Slovakia, 1998)
All-Ukrainian Children’s Festival-Competition of Classical and Chamber Music “Spring Rhapsody” – Second Prize (Kyiv, Ukraine, 2000)
International Competition for Young Performers “Art of the 21st Century” – First Prize (Kyiv, Ukraine, 2002)
Kyiv Open Competition for Young Cellists and Chamber Music Ensembles in Memory of Yuri Polyansky – Second Prize (Kyiv, Ukraine, 2003)
– ІІ премія Всеукраїнського конкурс виконавців на струнно-смичкових інструментах (2008, м. Львів, Україна);
Laureate of the Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition (Kyiv, Ukraine, 2012)
As a soloist, he has collaborated with ensembles and orchestras such as the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyiv Kamerata”, the Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestra, the State Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, as well as orchestras of the Dnipro and Rivne Philharmonics, among others.
2006–2010 – Artist of the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyiv Kamerata”
2010–2011 – Artist of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine (Borys Lyatoshynsky Classical Music Ensemble)
2011–2016 – Artist of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine
2016–2020 – Professor at the Dnipro Academy of Music
Since 2017 – Soloist of the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine
Since 2025 – Soloist of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine
Co-founder of the NotaBene Chamber Group
Kateryna Polyanska
PhD in Philosophy, Professor, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Head of the String Department at the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music (Kyiv Conservatory)
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine. After graduating from the Mykola Lysenko Specialized Music School in 1993, she completed her studies in cello performance at the Tchaikovsky Kyiv State Conservatory in 1998. In 1997, she became a laureate of the Mykola Lysenko International Competition. From 1998 to 2004, she continued her studies in the Assistantship–Internship Program under Professor V. S. Chervov. Upon completion of her postgraduate training, she began working as a lecturer at the Department of String Instruments. In 2010, she defended her PhD dissertation entitled “Aesthetic Education in the System of Training Future Educators.” Alongside her teaching activities, she performed as a member of ensembles and orchestras, thereby maintaining her professional qualifications. Having extensive experience as a performer, throughout her years of teaching at the department she has consistently passed this knowledge on to her students. Over the years, she has taught such subjects as Principal Study (Cello), String Quartet Class, Professional Practice, Teaching Practice, Orchestral Part Studies, Cello Ensemble, and currently lectures the course “Methodology of Teaching the Major Subject in Higher Education Institutions” for Master's students.
Polyanska has extensive experience working with professional artistic ensembles. She has performed as principal cellist and as a member of concertmaster groups in such orchestras as the State Chamber Orchestra “Kyiv Kamerata,” the State Chamber Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists,” the Taras Shevchenko National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Ukraine (Symphony Orchestra), the National Philharmonic of Ukraine (Symphony Orchestra), and the State Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine.
In recent years, she has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in various instrumental ensembles. She possesses a broad concert repertoire. A particular source of pride for Kateryna Polyanska is the Cello Ensemble of the Department’s students, which she founded. K. V. Polyanska is regularly invited to serve on commissions in artistic organizations and continuously participates in artistic programs of Ukraine’s creative unions.
Kateryna Polyanska is actively engaged in international activities. She gives masterclasses at conservatories throughout Europe and performs concerts both in Ukraine and on European stages. She invites world-renowned musicians to give masterclasses and lectures for students. Guests of the department during the past five years have included Bruno Monsaingeon, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Jörg Zwicker, Colin Carr, Mark Caudle, Jiří Bárta, and Meinhard Holler.
Polyanska is also actively involved in career guidance and outreach activities, maintaining close cooperation with numerous music institutions throughout Ukraine. In addition, she serves as a consultant to the Kyiv Municipal Methodological Center for Cultural and Educational Institutions.
She is the author and organizer of numerous artistic, scientific-practical, organizational, and educational projects.
Since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and up to the present day, Kateryna Polyanska has remained living and working in Kyiv.
Mirian KhukhunaishviliGeorgia
Mirian Khukhunaishvili is the new Music Director of the Wrocław Opera, the Principal Conductor of the Elbląg Chamber Orchestra and the co-founder and Music Director of the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra.
Mirian's guest conducting has included orchestras such as Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Athens State Orchestra, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, MÁV Symphony Orchestra, National Radio Orchestra of Romania, Orchestra and Chorus of the Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre, and all major Georgian orchestras.
Forthcoming engagements include debuts with the Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini and the Danish Philharmonic Orchestra, and returns to the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic on tour and to the Gävle Symphony Orchestra.
Mirian is the first recipient of the Ringmann-Jaross Award, a prestigious honour presented by Maestro Christoph Eschenbach. This award not only recognizes his talent but also includes mentorship by Maestro Eschenbach and opportunities to perform in concerts with him.
Mirian assisted Klaus Mäkelä and was a standby conductor on tour with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The repertoire included Bruckner Symphony No.5 and Mahler Symphony No.3.
He assisted and prepared a program with the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra for Maestro Paavo Järvi.
He participated in several significant masterclasses, such as the Conductors' Academy with the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich and Paavo Järvi, where he won both the Paavo Järvi Prize and an international audience award, the Ammodo Conducting Masterclass with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Fabio Luisi, and the Nordic Conductors' Forum with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Klaus Mäkelä.
From 2021 to 2024, Mirian was an invited faculty at the Iceland University of the Arts, where he taught conducting and led the university choir.
In 2020, Mirian earned his doctoral degree in conducting at the Academy of Music in Krakow. He also holds a Master's degree in choral conducting from the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and studied singing with Radosław Żukowski at the Academy of Music in Krakow.
During its five years of establishment under Mirian's musical leadership, the Tbilisi Youth Orchestra has become one of the leading orchestras of Georgian cultural life. It participates in major festivals and collaborates with world-famous musicians such as Gidon Kremer, Paavo Järvi and Bruce Liu.
Mirian is currently based in Zurich, Switzerland.
Maksym Dyedikov
Maksym Dyedikov is a Ukrainian cellist, Honored Art worker of Ukraine, principal cello of the National Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra, and co-founder of the Odesa Classical Music Academy.
A graduate of the Odesa National Music Academy and the Queen Sofia Higher Academy of Music in Madrid (Spain), he is a multiple winner of international competitions and a participant in the most prestigious festivals in Europe. In 2011, as part of the Fundacion Hispano Britanica, he had the honor of playing a concert in front of Prince Charles and the royal families of England and Spain. In 2012, the cello department of the Queen Sofia College of Music awarded him the honorary title of Best Cellist of the Year: the award was presented personally by Queen Sofia of Spain.
Among his teachers were such renowned musicians as Gary Hoffman, Frans Helmerson, Natalia Gutman, David Geringas, Philip Müller, M. Suzuki, L. Power, F. Radosh, and Zakhar Bron.
Olena Khill
Olena Khill is the rector and professor of the Odesa National Music Academy named after A.V. Nezhdanova, candidate of art history, winner of international competitions, progressive scientist, recognized teacher, and active participant in the Ukrainian music education community.
She graduated with honors from the Ternopil State Music College named after S. A. Krushelnytska (class of S. Kyslovets), the Odesa State Music Academy named after A. V. Nezhdanova, and also completed an assistantship-internship in piano under the guidance of Candidate of Art History, Professor P. Mulyar. She is the author of a number of publications in professional journals in Ukraine and EU countries indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, and has participated in over 30 international scientific and practical conferences. She is a member of the International Foundation of Scientists and Educators, the Council for Cultural and Artistic
Education under the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, and the commission for selecting candidates for the President of Ukraine's scholarship for young artists.
From 2017 to 2019, she worked as dean of the piano and theory faculty at the Odesa National Music Academy named after A.V. Nezhdanova, and from 2019 to 2024, she held the position of vice-rector for scientific and pedagogical work and information and innovation activities. She is an expert at the State Service for Quality Education of Ukraine and the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance.
Olena Khill's teaching activities are highly effective: her students and graduates win national and international competitions. As a concert pianist, she performs in many concert halls in Odesa and Ukraine, with a wide repertoire of works by composers from different eras. She is a laureate and jury member of numerous competitions, as well as an active co-organizer of scientific, educational, creative, and charitable projects.
