Hidden Gems: Music for Piano, Voice, and Cello by Award-Winning Female Composers

Laura Enslin (soprano), Julianna Sabol (soprano), Olya Swart (soprano), Roman Placzek (cello) and Elena Nezhdanova (piano) perform chamber music masterworks.

Program

Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983): Six chansons françaises

Grazyna Bacewicz (1909-1969): Polish Songs

Libby Larsen (b. 1950): Try Me Good King

Lera Auerbach (b. 1973): Selected “24 Preludes for Solo Piano,” Op. 41

Lera Auerbach (b. 1973): Songs of Rebirth (2008) – selection

Danaë Xanthe Vlasse: Mythologies

Gena Branscombe (1881-1977): Spirit of Motherhood

DR. ELENA NEZHDANOVA (piano), has performed in United States, China, and Europe, as
an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. She made a debut with an orchestra at the age
of eight in her native hometown in Russia. In October 2015, Elena had an opportunity to perform
Peter Tchaikovsky’s 1st piano concerto with Sichuan Philharmonic Orchestra in Chengdu, China.
As a solo performer, Elena gave a lecture recital at the Music by Women Festival at Mississippi
University for Women, Civic Morning Musicals concert series in Syracuse, NY; Music House
Recital Series in Greenville, SC; Steinway Piano Gallery in Charlotte, NC, Bösendorfer Hall in
Raleigh, NC, performed at the Interlochen Center for the Arts Summer Camp and was invited to
perform four times at the Lives of the Piano concert series at Manhattan School of Music in NYC.
From 2016-2019, Elena was appointed Program Director for the NC Bach Festival, Inc., where she
oversaw building the Youth Program and performing opportunities for young artists in North
Carolina and beyond. An avid chamber musician, Elena is a co-founding member of the
Nezhdanova-Placzek Duo (piano/cello). Their professional engagements include the American East
Coast, London U.K., Dresden, and Chemnitz's performances in Germany, and four prominent
Czech cities, including Prague. In September 2021, the Duo received “Gold” and “Best Chamber
Ensemble” award at the 3rd World Piano Teachers Association – Singapore International Piano
Competition (Chamber Music category). As an educator, Dr. Nezhdanova was commissioned to
write a published review of Irina Gorin's “Tales of a Musical Journey” books (The Piano Magazine,
2017). She was a guest workshop clinician for North Carolina Music Teachers Association, taught
masterclasses for The Piano League, Opus Ithaca School of Music, and East Tennessee State
University. Internationally, she co-presented for European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) in
Guimarães, Portugal (Summer 2022); presented for professional piano teachers in Olomouc, Czech
Republic and gave masterclasses at the North London Collegiate School in the U.K.
Dr. Nezhdanova is a Lecturer in Piano at Hamilton College. Additionally, she teaches from her
studio at home in Manlius, NY and is on the faculty at Opus Ithaca School of Music.
OLYA SWART (soprano) Born in Ulyanovsk, Russia, Olya showed prodigious singing gift from a
young age and was featured on Ulyanovsk’s regional television as a soloist with the Young Artists
Choir group and at the age of 18 was invited to audition at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. She
received her Bachelor of Music at the Ulyanovsk College of Music and Master of Music degree from
Kazan State Conservatory. As a student at the Conservatory, she performed roles of Susanna
(Marriage of Figaro), Mademoiselle Silberklang (Der Schauspieldirektor), Frasquita (Carmen), Snow
Maiden (The Snow Maiden), Marfa (The Tsar’s Bride), Eliza Doolittle (My Fair Lady), and Adele (Die
Fledermaus). These performances were broadcasted on Tatarstan regional television. From 1987-1991
Olya was a soloist with The Theater of New Musical Forms (Experimental Theater Nouveau)
“Ekipazh” performing across the Tatarstan Republic and Poland in different productions, including
two original rock-operas based on Aleksander Pushkin’s “A Feast in Time of Plague” and “The Stone
Guest.” In 1995, Olya was invited and participated in the masterclass with Italian opera singer Cecilia
Fusco in Giuseppe Tartini of Trieste Conservatory, Trieste Italy. Due to health-related
circumstances, Olya took a hiatus from professional operatic career but never stopped singing,
performing at various churches and different events in Russia and later in the USA. In 2000, Olya
immigrated to the United States with her daughter, pianist Elena Nezhdanova. Since 2005, Olya is
singing with the Syracuse University Oratorio Society, in the chorus of Syracuse Opera and in 2021
performed as part of gala concert for the Oswego opera. Olya is happy to share the stage with her
daughter and will be soon featured in gala concert for The Oneida Lake Arts and Heritage Center,
Sylvan Beach NY performing works by Ukrainian, Russian, and Czech composers.

DR. JULIANNA WRYCZA-SABOL (soprano) has concertized in Canada, the United States, and
Poland, as soloist with orchestras, as a recitalist, and on the opera stage. She is also winner of
prestigious competitions, including the NOA (National Opera Association); the Jerome Hill
Memorial Award in the Metropolitan Opera auditions; the NATSAA (National Assoc. of Teachers
of Singing Artist Auditions); and vocal winner in the Mu Phi Epsilon International Competition. Ms.
Sabol has appeared as a soloist for consecutive seasons with the Platteville Summer Music Festival,
under the direction of Bill McGlaughlin of “St. Paul Sunday Morning”, with the Bach Aria Festival
in Stonybrook, NY., and in chamber music performances with the Syracuse Camerata, Dorothy
Goff Frisch Concert Series, and as recital soloist in her New York City Merkin hall debut. On the
operatic stage she has performed with the Syracuse Opera, Minnesota Opera, and Dorian Opera
Theatre, and on the concert stage with the Syracuse Symphony, Masterworks Chorale, Auburn
Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Dubuque Symphony, Toledo Symphony,
Windsor Symphony, and St. Catharines Symphony. In addition to her performing credits, Dr. Sabol
has had her research on the singer’s voice published by a leading journal and is a certified Kripalu
Yoga teacher and creator of a Syracuse University class entitled “Yoga for Musicians”. She has been
on the artist-faculty of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the University of Wisconsin.
Currently, she serves as Associate Professor of Voice in Setnor School of Music’s Voice Dept. at
Syracuse University. She holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, Bowling Green State
University, and a DMA from the College-Conservatory of Music; University of Cincinnati. She has
studied with such artist-teachers as Rose Bandi, Patricia Berlin, Gary Kendall, Lucy Shelton, Yi-
Kwei-Sze, and Wesley Balk.

LAURA ENSLIN (soprano), performs with orchestras and opera companies, and is an ardent
champion of new music. Keeping her commitment to working with singers of all ages and
backgrounds she founded her private studio, CNY Singing Garden (singinggarden.org). Interested in
the mind/body connection, she draws on her background bel canto training, yoga (200 hour
certified instructor), sound healing (VAH certification, Globe Institute training), and music
improvisation (work with Music for People) to help singers find their own unique voice. “Creativity
is not an exclusive club,” says Laura, who teaches all styles of singing. “Music is one way to reach
our fullest potential, while making a vibrational difference in the lives of each other.”.
Emerging from the pandemic, she was blessed to perform Mary in the opera “Home Burial”
with SNM, a lead in “The School Board” a musical, and new chamber music with Quarentet
Percussion ensemble.  She looks forward to singing the Creation with Mohawk Valley Chorale this
April and to be sharing music of woman composer with her colleagues today.   She has elicited
praise from The Post-Standard (Syracuse), as “superb,” “lovely.” Laura has also been singled out by
The Buffalo News, as a “perfect vessel of beautiful singing,” and The Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester,
N.Y.), which cites her “plush, velvety voice and unfailing sensitivity.”
Laura’s solo engagements have included Symphoria and its predecessor, the Syracuse
Symphony; Buffalo Philharmonic; Syracuse Opera; Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music; Society for
New Music; Springfield (Mo.) Symphony; Lake Placid Sinfonietta; Cayuga Chamber Orchestra;
Onondaga Civic Symphony;  Syracuse University Brass Ensemble; and Syracuse University Oratorio
Society, to name a few. Solo repertoire features music by Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart,
Mahler, and Villa-Lobos. Her operatic and stage roles have included Nedda (I Pagliacci), Gretel
(Hansel and Gretel), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Atalanta (Serse), Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Madame
Herz (Der Schauspieldirektor), Norina (Don Pasquale), Marie (La Fille du Régiment), Laurette (Doctor

Miracle), Cecile (Iolanthe), Mrs. Hayes (Susannah), Dorine (Tartuffe), and Guinevere (Camelot).
University’s Life Sciences Complex. Additional teaching experience includes a 14-year stint at
Syracuse University—first, in the Musical Theater Program and then the Jazz and Commercial
Music applied study track. She also has taught at Nazareth College and the Eastman School of
Music.

DR. ROMAN PLACZEK (cello) The cellist of Nezhdanova-Placzek Duo and a published composer, Czech-born Dr. Roman Placzek, is an internationally recognized soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and a sought-after cello teacher and music educator. As a member of the Duo, Roman is actively performing on the east coast of the United States and in Europe with planning its first visit to Australia and other new and exciting performing and educational activities in Europe, including Italy and the Czech Republic.

Dr. Placzek has performed for and with many distinguished artists, such as cellists Yo-Yo Ma and Carlos Prieto, violinists Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Ruggiero Ricci, Charles Treger, and James
Buswell, pianist Konstantin Lifschitz, famous British actor Corin Redgrave, legendary singer Roberta Flack, and numerous ensembles and orchestras across Europe and the East Coast of the United
States. From 2016-2019, Roman was appointed Executive Director and President of the Board for the NC Bach Festival, Inc.

Dr. Placzek resides with his fiancée Dr. Elena Nezhdanova, and their cat Tigger in Manlius, New York, where he teaches, performs with his new friends and colleagues, and works on his innovative
cello method “The Physiology of Cello Playing.” Roman is also the new Director of Music and Performances at Oneida Lake Arts and Heritage Center in Sylvan Beach, NY.

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