Masterclasses Haliaeti

Vienna-based Ukrainian violinist Vira Zhuk continues the rich traditions of the Ukrainian violin school, tracing her artistic lineage to David Oistrakh through her mentors in Ukraine and Austria. Her playing blends Ukrainian virtuosity and depth of tone with the refinement of Viennese musicianship. As both soloist and chamber musician, she has performed in more than 35 countries across five continents, appearing at leading venues including the Musikverein Wien, Konzerthaus Wien, Flagey in Brussels, Auditorio Nacional de Música in Madrid, and the Danish Royal Opera.

Zhuk is a founding member of the award-winning ensemble Immersio Vienna, recognized with honors such as the Brivio Sforza Award, the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “New Sound of Austrian Music” distinction, and the Bank of Austria Prix d’Arts. She is also active as a pedagogue and mentor, serving on juries and giving masterclasses internationally, including in China, Chile, Spain, and Mexico.

A prodigious talent from an early age, Zhuk made her debut at seven at the National Philharmonic of Ukraine and performed as a soloist by age ten. She studied in Kyiv before continuing her training in Vienna with Pavel Vernikov at the Musik und Kunst Universität der Stadt Wien, and in Florence at the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole.

Committed to contemporary music, Zhuk has collaborated with leading composers and premiered over 50 new works. Her discography includes several recordings with Trio Immersio. In 2025/26, she co-founded the Immersio Vienna Academy in Kyiv, supporting the next generation of Ukrainian musicians.

As guest principal violist, he has collaborated with distinguished ensembles including the hr-Sinfonieorchester, Camerata Bern and Münchner Kammerorchester.

A dedicated chamber musician, Marko was a member of the Adelphi Quartett Salzburg, with which he received prizes at the Wigmore Hall Imternational String Quartet Competition, and Premio Paolo Borciani String Quartet Competition. Earlier chamber music engagements included the Testore Quartett and the Amar Quartett.

He has appeared at major festivals and performed alongside artists including Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Valentin Erben, Sergio Azzolini, and Ilya Gringolts. As a soloist, he has performed with the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester and the Bosch Streichsolisten.

Born in Ćuprija, Serbia, Marko began playing the violin at the age of six before turning to the viola at fourteen, studying with Tomislav Milošević. He continued his studies with Thomas Riebl.

He performs on a viola made in 1996 by Hiroshi Iizuka.

Swiss cellist Flurin Cuonz (b. 1986, Winterthur) studied with Thomas Grossenbacher in Zurich, graduating with honors in 2009, and later completed his Performance Master’s degree with Clemens Hagen in Salzburg, also with distinction. During his studies, he received multiple competition and study prizes, and following a successful internship with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich (2008/09), he was frequently invited to return as a substitute.

A dedicated chamber musician, Cuonz is a founding member of Trio Rafale (est. 2008), an ensemble that has achieved international recognition. The trio won first prize at major competitions in Melbourne (2011) and Osaka (2014), leading to an active international career with performances across Europe, Asia, and Australia.

In addition to his chamber music work, Cuonz appears regularly as a soloist and orchestral musician. He has served as principal cellist with ensembles such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, Camerata Bern, Kammerakademie Potsdam, and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. His artistic development has been shaped by influential musicians including Eckart Heiligers, Rainer Schmidt, and Eberhard Feltz.

Alongside his performing career, Cuonz is deeply committed to teaching, with a particular focus on chamber music. Since February 2025, he has served as principal cellist of the Musikkollegium Winterthur. He performs on a cello made by Peter Westermann in 2003.

Cellist, arranger, and chamber musician Ofer Canetti maintains a multifaceted career spanning solo performance, orchestral leadership, recording, and teaching. From 2019 to 2026, he served as principal cellist of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, appearing frequently as soloist and contributing numerous recordings, orchestrations, and string arrangements, while also serving as head of the orchestra’s artistic committee.

Canetti performs regularly as guest principal cellist with leading ensembles, including La Monnaie in Brussels, the Staatsorchester Stuttgart, the Musikkollegium Winterthur, and the SWR Symphonieorchester. Since 2025, he has been a member of Immersio Trio Vienna, touring internationally and participating in educational and outreach initiatives, including work in Kyiv, Ukraine. His earlier chamber music engagements include membership in the Amar Quartet and collaborations with the Aviv Quartet.

As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras across Europe, Israel, Ecuador, and Georgia. His discography includes the 2025 recording of Paul Ben-Haim’s complete works for cello, released on Capriccio in collaboration with SWR and Naxos Germany, as well as recordings for CPO. In 2026, he will release the world-premiere recording of Stefania Turkewich’s complete chamber music.

Canetti studied in Tel Aviv, Cologne, and Salzburg, and is active internationally as a teacher and artistic director.

Active as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Rok Palčič brings a multifaceted skill set to his leadership of the Art Music Society, where he serves as President and shapes its artistic vision and long-term strategy. He is also the CEO of Music School 21 and Chevy Chase Music, developing innovative teaching models that integrate in-person and online instruction, and Artistic Director of the Cultural Arts Society Ars Haliaeti, extending his impact internationally.

Palčič demonstrates a sustained commitment to contemporary music, particularly through his curatorial work with the Art Music Society’s Call for Scores. In this capacity, he engages in the selection, performance, and critical dissemination of newly composed works, situating them within broader artistic and cultural contexts. His parallel focus on recording these compositions reflects an investment in their documentation, preservation, and long-term accessibility, thereby contributing meaningfully to the expansion and visibility of the contemporary repertoire.

As a performer, Palčič appears regularly in chamber music settings, collaborating with both established and emerging artists. His work is defined by a strong emphasis on clarity of vision and interpretation, resulting in performances that are both structurally compelling and communicative. He pursued his musical studies in Cologne and Graz, continued at the University of Florida, and earned his doctorate from the University of Maryland.

At the core of his work is a commitment to community-building—creating meaningful connections between artists, audiences, and students while fostering a more inclusive and forward-looking musical ecosystem.

Dates

July 18–25, 2025

Location

Besenghi degli Ughi Palace (Izola Music School)

Concerts and Workshops

There are just so many places to visit in our little town, but here is a list of "pre-approved" choices.