Alexander Markov has been hailed as one of the most captivating musicians in the world today. Lord Yehudi Menuhin has written, "He is without doubt one of the most brilliant and musical of violinists: Alexander Markov will certainly leave his mark on the music-lovers of the world and in the annals of the violin virtuosi of our day." 

The Gold Medal winner at the Paganini International Violin Competition, Mr. Markov has appeared with some of the world's greatest orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, l'Orchestre de Paris, the Montreal Symphony, the BBC and Detroit Symphonies as well as the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Concerto highlights include performances with such celebrated conductors as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, John Nelson, Neeme Jarvi, Sir Neville Marriner, Ivan Fischer and Franz Welser-Most.

Alexander Markov has established a reputation second-to-none in the 19th-century virtuoso repertoire. His recent Warner DVD release of Paganini's 24 Caprices for solo violin caused a sensation, and he remains one of the very few violinists who program the entire set in a single recital.

Awarded a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1987, Mr. Markov made his New York debut recital at Carnegie Hall, has appeared with Christoph Eschenbach conducting the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra at Avery Fisher Hall and has performed with other celebrated orchestras including the Houston, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Jerusalem orchestras. In addition, Mr. Markov has recorded five CDs for the Erato/Warner Classics and was featured in the widely acclaimed film The Art of Violin. He has also appeared in concert with such luminaries as Martha Argerich.

Alexander Markov was born in Moscow and studied violin with his father, concert violinist Albert Markov. By the time he was eight years old he was already appearing as a soloist with orchestras and performing double concertos with his father. Markov emigrated to the U.S. with his parents and  now resides in New York City.

These skilled aerialists and acrobats have performed in over 70 countries; for millions live, and millions more through their appearances on most major television networks.  In addition to their traditional stage performances, they have shared laughter, silliness, and the spectacle of circus arts at hospitals, orphanages, and veteran’s homes.  Since their debut, they have become New York City's signature aerialists, having performed in Times Square,  South Street Seaport, and the Jacob Javits Center.  The performers have created shows for MACY’s, MAXIM, BUD-LIGHT, HX, NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINES and notable charities such as the USO, the HRC, the CHILDREN’S VILLAGE, and CHAI LIFE, and they have appeared with such performers as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Snoop Dogg and Patti Labelle.

British born violinist Jane Hunt, also known as the "Violin Venus", is quickly becoming one of the most talked about violinists in both the UK and USA. Making her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2007 and having appeared as a soloist at Radio City Music Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Cannes Film Festival and Sir Elton John's Lifeball Concert, the Violin Venus captivates audiences wherever she performs. Combining the beauty and refinement of classical music with the energy of folk and jazz, Ms. Hunt is an eclectic high-energy performer. She recently appeared at the 2008 U.S. Open Tennis tournament and at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall along with such notables as Nicole Kidman and Michele Obama.

Gjilberta Gelaj

A native of Albania, Gjilberta Gelaj appeared at Carnegie Hall as a member of the Passionata Trio in 2002 and 2003, and has given numerous solo, chamber music and orchestral performances throughout the New York and New Jersey area. In 2006, Gjilberta became a member of the New Jersey Philharmonic Orchestra and has since performed frequently at Carnegie Hall and toured extensively in South Korea. She has performed in various master classes including with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Gjilberta is a cello/violin faculty member of the Abrons Art Center located in Manhattan and C Note Music School in Cortland Manor, NY. She has taught extensively in both her native country and the United States. Gjilberta is proud to be a Charter Member-Associate Artist of the Hudson Valley Piano Club.

Chinese-born guzhen (Chinese zither) performer Xianzi Ai, also known as the "Fairy" is a graduate of the famous performing arts school in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province.  Ms. Ai has received a number of awards including the gold award in the July 2007 China Folk Instrument Solo Competition and third place in the 2005 Chinese Eastern Zither Competition. The guzhen is a traditional Chinese musical instrument and parent instrument to the Japanese koto, the Mongolian yatga, the Korean gayageum, and the Vietnamese đàn tranh.

Singer Lara Janine is also an accomplished songwriter, pianist and violinist. Her second album, It's My Time, was recently released as a follow up to her self-titled debut album.

No stranger to performing, Lara has been seen in the roles of Otilie in Dvorak in America (Los Angeles), Jasmine in Aladdin the Musical, and Elphaba in Wicked (Japan). She regularly performs the national anthem for the Stanley Cup champions The Anaheim Ducks and is the voice of the singing Barbie doll "Princess Anneliese." She was named Top Female Vocalist by the California Thespian Festival, and has been a Featured Artist along with Britney Spears and Destiny's Child on Trollz.com, and was nominated three years in a row by the Orange County Music Awards, including Best Alternative Artist and Best Female Artist. Lara was awarded Top Female Vocalist in Pop & Overall by Garageband.com. Her songs have been featured on programs such as Access Hollywood, Degrassi, and How Do I Look?

New Tang Dynasty TV Lion Dance Group

The Lion Dance (pronounced Wu-Shi) is an important tradition in China. During the dance, often accompanied by gongs, drums and firecrackers, performers mimic a lion’s movements from inside an elaborate and colorful costume. Often part of festivities like Chinese New Year, restaurant openings, and weddings, the lion dance is believed to bring luck and happiness if well-performed. It is has been featured in major Chinese motion pictures including the Once Upon a Time in China series and the Shaolin Temple movies starring Jet Li.

Although they are not native to China, lions arrived there via the famous Silk Road. Rulers in present day Iran and Afghanistan sent lions to Chinese emperors as gifts in order to secure trade rights with Silk Road merchants. The lion dance dates back to the Han Dynasty (205 B.C. to 220 A.D) and reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty (716-907 A.D.) when it was especially performed during religious festivals. Variations on the lion dance can also be found in Korea and Taiwan.

April Zhu is a gifted and accomplished player of the pipa. The pipa is a plucked Chinese string instrument. Sometimes called the Chinese lute, the instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body. It has been played for nearly two thousand years in China, and belongs to the plucked category of instruments. Several related instruments in East and Southeast Asia are derived from the pipa; these include the Japanese biwa, the Vietnamese đàn tỳ bà, and the Korean bipa.

Pianist Donna Weng Friedman has performed as a soloist with many world-class symphony orchestras throughout China, South America, Europe and the United States. Her performing credits include recitals at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Caramoor Music Festival, Symphony Hall in Shanghai, the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, Le Jeu de Paume in Fontainebleau, France and Tillett Gardens in St. Thomas, USVI.  An American of Chinese heritage, Ms. Weng Friedman has performed as guest artist with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble at Caramoor, Bargemusic, Weill Recital Hall, and Merkin Concert Hall, and has collaborated with clarinetist David Shifrin, violinist Mark Peskanov, violist Paul Neubauer, and cellist Carter Brey. She has conducted master classes at the Beijing and Shanghai Conservatories and has been on the faculty of the Mannes College of Music Preparatory Division since 1989.  A winner of numerous prestigious piano competitions and awards, Ms. Weng Friedman is the music supervisor and pianist for the award-winning film documentaries Frames of Life,  Living Liberty and Morris Engel: The Independent. She will perform in and preside as the Artistic Director for the Music, Art and Technology festival to take place in Shanghai, China during the Shanghai Expo 2010.

Congolese Dance Troupe

Prisca Ouya, Alexis Doster-Pennerman, Coreen Robledo, Aida Issaka

Choreographer and lead dancer Prisca Ouya trained in traditional Congolese dances with her late uncle Malonga Casquelourd. She is a member of Ellen Stewart's Great Jones Company, the resident theater company at LaMaMa Theater. These dynamic and powerful dances originated in the Kongo Empire, what is today Angola, the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The enjoys an abundance of mineral resources (cobalt, uranium, oil, copper and diamonds) as well as a highly developed tradition of arts and crafts, particularly music and sculpture.

Carolina Catalan Carabia

An accomplished dancer, Carolina Catalan Carabia is a native of Spain and a flamenco devotee. The distinctive Spanish art form comes to life in her riveting performances.

The performances by the six talented dancers of the Boston-based Sabor Masacote Dance Company are  predominantly salsa. Most of the dancers have training in diverse disciplines, such as ballet, modern, and jazz. The music, dance and multimedia ensemble performs frequently throughout the United States as well as in Europe and Asia.

A native of Liverpool, England, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Kenny Cunningham is an accomplished performer who has been delighting audiences for over 25 years. His musical influences and inspirations include Simon & Garfunkel and his fellow Liverpudlians, The Beatles. Says Kenny: "I have always been amazed with the process of song writing.  It is something that I've never had to work at.  Over the years thoughts/music just came out... I take no responsibility for what you may hear, blame some cosmic miscreant somewhere."

Photo courtesy of Kenny Cunningham

These talented sisters are singer harpists who play classical, contemporary and traditional music. Venues have included the White House, Disney, Lincoln Center, and Radio City Music Hall to name a few. Corina recently appeared on the TV program America's Got Talent and the sisters have a song on the Sex & the City in syndication commercial and have been heard on the in-flight audio of Continental Airlines and Aer Lingus. The sisters are part of the family band, the Spirits of Gilbride.