Program and Artist Biography

Artist Biographies

A compelling musical personality, violinist Leonid Sushansky began his musical studies with his mother, Rimma Sushanskaya, a pupil of the legendary David Oistrakh. Mr. Sushansky received early recognition when he appeared on the Marvin Hamlisch TV Special for Showtime performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto at age 12. From age 13, Mr. Sushansky was a scholarship student at the renowned Juilliard School, where he remained for seven years under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay. He was also coached by the great violinist, Isaak Stern. At age 15, Mr. Sushansky was invited by Zubin Mehta to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in a performance of theTchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Mr. Sushansky completed his graduate studies at the University of Maryland with Daniel Heifetz and has received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Young Emigré Musician Award, the Leningrad Young Musician's Competition, the Westchester Conservatory Competition, the University of Maryland Concerto Competition, the New York Philharmonic National Young Artists Competition, the Bergen Philharmonic Competition and the Inter-Cities Foundation Award.

Pianist Carlos César Rodríguez made his recital debut in his native Venezuela aged five and made his orchestral debut as soloist aged eleven. Soon after arriving in the United States to continue his music studies, he became a finalist in the New York Philharmonic Young People’s Competition. At age 21 Mr. Rodríguez made his Carnegie Hall debut at the Weill Recital Hall. He studied with Clifton Matthews at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, with Joseph Kalichstein at the Juilliard School, and with Thomas Schumacher at the University of Maryland. Recognized as a versatile virtuoso who generates excitement in the Hispanic and Spanish repertoire, Mr. Rodríguez also displays a flair for Mozart, the romantics, and the avant-garde. He has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center and the White House, in Washington D.C.; Merkin Concert Hall and the Americas Society in New York; and the Royal Palace of Music in Salzburg, Austria. Mr. Rodríguez is a member of the piano faculty at the Levine School of Music and guest artist and coach for the Domingo/Cafritz Young Artist Program with Washington National Opera.