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QUATRE-MAINS PIANO DUO

STANISLAV JAR & LAURA BALICOV

ABOUT PIANO DUO

QUATRE-MAINS Piano Duo began its musical activity in 2018 when both pianists were performing for the first time together the 2nd Suite by S. Rachmaninoff at Organ Hall in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. Since then, Laura and Stanislav are giving numerous recitals in The Netherlands and in their homeland. Their program consists various quatre-mains masterpieces like "Petrushka" by I. Stravinsky, Fantaise in F minor by F. Schubert, Mozart Sonatas, all Brahms' Hungarian Dances and Dvorak's Slavonic Dances and many others. In September 2023 Quatre-Mains Piano Duo was entitled by Moldovan President as "Emerited Artists of Moldova". 

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LAURA BALICOV

​Laura Balicov was born in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. Began her piano studies at the age of 9 at the Music Lyceum "Ciprian Porumbescu" in class of  Larisa Jar. 

During Lyceum study years Laura won several national and international competitions and scholarships

National Competition “Delphic Games” , Chisinau, Moldova, Golden Medal.
International Competition “E. Coca”, Chisinau, Moldova, I Prize. 
International Competition "P. Constantinescu", Ploiesti, Romania, I Prize and Grand Prix.
International Competition "Orpheus", Targu-Jiu, Romania, I Prize.
International Piano Competition “F. Chopin” , Bacau, Romania, Grand Prix.
National Competition "Z. Tkaci" , Chisinau, Moldova, I Prize.
International Piano Competition “Pro Piano” , Bucharest, Romania, I Prize.
Winner of "Novye Imena" Scholarship.
Winner of Municipal Scholarship, Chisinau, Moldova.

Laura's debute as a soloist was in 2013 with the Moldova National Symphonic Orchestra in Chisinau, where she performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 15 in B-flat Major , conductor - Steven Huang (USA).

In 2015 Laura performed with National Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacau Atheneum (Romania) Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major with conductor Cristian Lupes.

Upon graduation from Music Lyceum, Laura Balicov continued her studies at the Royal Conservatory in Hague, The Netherlands with professor Naum Grubert. While studying with Naum Grubert, Laura gave many recitals in Moldova and The Netherlands.
In 2017 Laura performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor with Philharmonic National Symphony Orchestra in Chisinau, conductor - Alexandru Ganea (Romania).

In 2022, Laura Balicov completed her master's studies with David Kuyken at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. 

Laura participated in many masterclasses with Ronald Brautigam, Frank Braley, Alexander Paley, Eduard Kunz, Sergey Kovalenko.

STANISLAV JAR

Stanislav Jar was born in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova in 1984. Began his studies in the art of piano at the ‘C.Porumbescu’ Music Lyceum in Lia Oxinoit's class. While studying with Lia Oxinoit, Stanislav has won numerous prizes in international competitions: 1995 - “Eugen Coca” International Piano Competition (Moldova) – winner.1997 -"Cita di Sinegalia" (Italy) – certificate. 1999 -"Pro-Piano" International Piano Competition (Romania) – winner. 2000 - Winner of "Remember Enescu".International Piano Competition and special prize ”Constantin Silvestri” (Romania).2000 - elected to participate at "Delphic Games" (Moscow, Russia) representing his country. 2001- Winner and Special Price for the best interpretation of Mozart, Sonata for two pianos (D-major) at "Gnesin" International Piano Duet and Chamber Music International Competition (Novomoskovsk, Russia).In 1998 - participant in "Adda Caspi " Piano Master-Classes (Israel).Stanislav Jar first débuted with the Moldova National Symphony Orchestra in Chisinau performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto under the masterful conducting of Valentin Doni.  Upon graduation from "C.Prumbescu" Music Lyceum, Stanislav Jar continued his studies at the Centenary College of Louisiana, USA with the world's most famous and recognized pianist, Mark Zeltser.  While studying with Dr.Zeltser, Stanislav Jar gave recitals in Shreveport, Louisiana and Tyler, Texas.  During his first year in the United States, he was chosen to represent Centenary College in Dallas, Texas, at the 2001 “Steinway & Sons” Music Festival.  In the summer of the following year, Stanislav Jar visited Moldova to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the National Philharmonics Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Valentin Doni.Stanislav Jar’s American debut with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra under the notable conducting of Per Brevig (Norway) took place in November, 2002 in Tyler, Texas.  In June 2003, Stanislav continued to divide his time between his native country of Moldova and the United States, and went on to receive rave reviews for his performance of Prokofiev’s Piano concerto No. 3, under the conducting of Valentin Doni of the National Symphony Orchestra of Moldova.In Spring 2004, Stanislav Jar gave a number of recitals throughout New-Jersey. The same year, in June he gave a recital at the Organ Hall in Chisinau, Moldova, followed by a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano concerto No .1 with the Swiss conductor Cristoph Escher.In July 2005, Stanislav Jar was invited to play at the International Piano Festival “Les Nuits Pianistique”, organized by ‘Alliance Francaise en Moldavie’, and performed S.Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 with Cristoph Escher.In September 2006, Stanislav was invited to give a recital in Belgium in “De Rode Pomp” Concert Hall.Following his Belgian debut, Stanislav gave a recital at the Organ Hall in Chisinau. Also there, he performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 with the Japanesse conductor. Stanislav was inaugurated as the solo artist at the National Philharmonic of Moldova.In 2008, Stanislav Jar completed his post-graduate studies with Sergey Kovalenko, at the Academy of Music in Chisinau.In 2009 Stanislav Jar enters the class of world’s renowned concert-pianist Alexander Paley (USA) and continues his studies at ‘La Schola Cantorum’ in Paris, France.  In 2010, being permanent guest performer at “Les Nuits Pianistique” International Piano Festival, Stanislav Jar performs Double Concerto for Piano and Orchestra by F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy together with French pianist Samuel Parent and the conductor Didier Talpain (France).While studying with Mr. Paley, Stanislav Jar wins 4th prize in “Pancho Vladigerov” International Piano Competition (Bulgaria, 2011) and becomes prize winner in “3eme Concours International de Piano de Lyon” (France, 2011).Same year Stanislav Jar performs a number of concerts with French pianist Marie-Catherine Girod and Alexander Paley, Bach Concerti for Two and Three Pianos in France and Moldova. That year Moldovan newspaper “Timpul”,writes an article about Stanislav Jar being “Moldova’s first pianist, prize-winner of a major international piano competition in 20 years”. Same year Stanislav Jar achieves “Diplôme de Virtuosité while studying at ‘La Schola Cantorum’.In the summer of 2017, a performance of Rachmaninov’ Piano Concerto No. 2, brought standing ovation at the closing concert of the festival.Since 2019 Stanislav Jar moves to The Nederlands and together with Laura Balicov, a talented and gifted pianist from Moldova, they perform a considerable amount of repertoire for quatre-mains-including 21 Hungarian Dances by Brahms, Schubert ‘Fantasia', Rachmaninof Op.11 as well as Mozart and Debussy and others.Same year the duo performs a series of concerts in their  homeland - Double Bach concerto BWV 1061 under the conducting of Alexandru Ganea (Romania) and Organ Hall Chamber Orchestra in Moldova.Followed by a piano-duo recital ‘Homage à Rachmaninoff’.In October 2022 Stanislav Jar graduates his PhD studies in Romania, Iasi.Curently Stanislav Jar lives in Den Haag, teaching and performing.

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CONTACT

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