JURY DESIGNATED FOR THE (PRB) ROUND
Meet Jury Members of the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB)
Christopher Chen
International Conductor - CHAIR
Born in Kaohsiung, Christopher Chen graduated from the Peabody Conservatory Johns Hopkins University with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree.
In 2005, he won the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award, followed by an invitation to collaborate with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival. From 2007 to 2011, he was Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Jiangsu Symphony Orchestra, professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Artistic Director of the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.
In 2013, he began leading the Academy of Music of Suzhou University and the following year he led the Baroque Camerata Orchestra in Taiwan and the Tapiola Youth Symphony Orchestra in Finland. He has worked with orchestras in Europe, USA, Asia and Russia. Since 2022 he is the Principal Guest Conductor of the Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2016 Chen became General and Artistic Director of the Jiangsu Center for the Performing Arts in Nanjing, P.R. China and while there personally invited many outstanding musicians and ensembles including Z. Mehta, V. Gergiev, A. Netrebko, L. Kavakos, A. Nelsons, A. Sladkovsky, K. Zimerman, the Vienna, Munich, Israel, and London Philharmonic Orchestras,.
Dr Chen is one of the Experts of The Thousand Talents Plan — the highest award for foreigners in China and is Distinguished Professor at the Communication University of Zhejiang in Hangzhou. He resides in Australia, China and Finland.
Ibrahim Yazici
Music Director Istanbul State opera and ballet
Born in 1970 in Ankara, İbrahim Yazıcı studied piano, composition, and conducting at the Ankara State Conservatory. He continued his studies at the “Conservatoire Regionale de Musique de Perpignan” and graduated with three “Premier Prix”. Additionally, he worked with Gilbert Varga and participated in master classes across various European countries. The artist completed his master’s degree at Hacettepe University and fulfilled his proficiency in art program, which he started at Bilkent University, at Dokuz Eylul University.
İbrahim Yazıcı’s intensive and diverse conducting career commenced in 1995 at the Ankara State Opera and rapidly expanded to conducting orchestras such as the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Brandenburgische Staatsorchester, Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, Camerata de France, and Ensemble Resonanz Hamburg. He has performed at prestigious concert halls like the Presidential Symphony Orchestra and all major symphony orchestras in Turkey, as well as the Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Essen Philharmonie, Moscow International Music House, Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Liederhalle Stuttgart, Palais des Beaux Arts Bruxelles, Berlin Konzerthaus, Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center, and Seoul Arts Center. In 2000, he conducted the operas “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi” at the Puccini Festival in Valencia. In April 2008, he performed with the Turkish Presidential Symphony Orchestra at the International House of Music in Moscow. He has also been featured in Europäischer Musik Sommer Berlin, CBS Korea, Bella Pais, Mersin, and Istanbul International Music Festivals. In 2012 and 2013, he conducted Fazıl Say’s Nazım Oratorio in high-profile concerts in Wuppertal, Essen, and Frankfurt.
He has recorded numerous works by Turkish composers such as Ahmed Adnan Saygun, Fazıl Say, Muammer Sun, and Turgay Erdener on CD and DVD.
In 2002, İbrahim Yazıcı was awarded Hacettepe University’s “Artistic Encouragement Award”, the “Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia” by the President of Italy in 2005, and “Conductor of the Year” in 2012.
Since 2017, Yazıcı has also turned to composition and taught at Hacettepe University, Ankara State Conservatory, and the Music and Performing Arts Faculty of Bilkent University. From 1998 to 2007, he was the conductor of the State Polyphonic Choir, served as the General Music Director of the İzmir State Symphony from 2007 to 2012, conducted at the Mersin State Opera and Ballet from 2013 to 2015, and was a conductor at the İzmir State Opera and Ballet from 2015 to 2023. He has been Artistic Director of KODA from 2020 to 2024. Between 2014 and 2024, he served as the Music Director of the Olten Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently the General Music Director of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet.
Hossein Pishkar
International Conductor
The Iranian conductor Hossein Pishkar appears with the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish Royal Opera Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini, Orchestra Regionale della Toscana, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Staatsorchester Stuttgart and the WDR-Sinfonieorchester.
Notable debuts in the past have included Bizet’s Carmen (stage direction: Barrie Kosky), Shostakovich’s The Nose (stage direction: Àlex Ollé), Verdi’s Aida and Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito at the Royal Danish Opera, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (stage direction: Barrie Kosky) at the Staatsoper Stuttgart and Verdi’s Rigoletto (stage direction: Cristina Mazzavillani Muti) at the Ravenna Festival.
In the 2025/26 season Hossein Pishkar will debut with the Haydn Philharmonic Orchestra in Bolzano, Janacek Philharmonic in Ostrava and the Orchestra of the Lithuanian Opera. He returns to the Belgrade Philharmonic, Orchestra Regionale della Toscana, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Qatar Philharmonic and the Pazaislis Music Festival Lithuania
As an assistant he worked with François-Xavier Roth in the production of Philippe Manoury’s Lab.Oratorium with the Gürzenich-Orchester and as second conductor he took over performances at the philharmonic halls in Cologne and Paris, as well as at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. Hossein Pishkar was an assistant of Sylvain Cambreling at the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie for Berg’s Lulu Suite and Rebecca Saunders’ violin concerto Still.
Hossein Pishkar won the prestigious German Conducting Award in 2017, an international competition for young conductors organised by the German Music Council in partnership with Cologne’s leading musical institutions. Additionally in 2017 the German Music Council presented him with the Ernst-von-Schuch Sponsorship Award from the Ernst-von-Schuch Family Foundation.
Hossein Pishkar has received further tuition in masterclasses with Riccardo Muti (Aida in Ravenna in the context of the Italian Opera Academy) and Sir Bernard Haitink (Lucerne Festival
Orchestra). He has participated in Germany’s prestigious Dirigentenforum programme, taking classes with John Carewe, Marko Letonja, Nicolás Pasquet, Mark Stringer and Johannes Schlaefli.
Before moving to Düsseldorf to study conducting with Rüdiger Bohn at the Robert Schumann Hochschule, Hossein Pishkar studied composition and piano in Teheran, where he was born. In Iran he has conducted the Teheran Youth Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Teheran Music School.
Rodolfo Barráez
Associate Conductor Singapore Symphony Orchestra & Simón Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
A natural communicator with infectious charisma, Berlin-based Venezuelan conductor, Rodolfo Barráez, brings remarkable vivacity, sensitivity, and zeal to his artistry. The 2025-26 season sees him continue his tenure with both the Singapore Symphony and the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela as Associate Conductor.
Awarded first prize at the 2023 Hong Kong International Conducting Competition, previous competition successes include first prize at the 2018 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México International Conducting Competition (OFUNAM), and second prize at the 2020 Siemens-Hallé International Conductor Competition in Manchester.
Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic starting in the 2023-2024 season, Rodolfo Barraez has collaborated extensively with the Orchestra, conducting them at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl in performances of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Joshua Bell’s The Elements Project .
Rodolfo has also recently conducted the Münchener Kammerorchester on their tour of South America, the Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela on their tour of China, and the Appasionato Orchestra at the Verbier Festival. Making his European debut at the Philharmonie Berlin in 2019 with the Hauptstadt Sinfonie-Orchester, other recent highlights include debuts with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Hallé Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Gävle Symfoniorkester, Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias, Orquesta Sinfónica y Coro Radio Televisión Española, Bogotá Philharmonic, Yucatán Philharmonic, Querétaro Symphony Orchestra, UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra, and Minería Symphony Orchestra.
In 2024, Rodolfo conducted the Singapore Symphony for their live recording of the Butterfly Lovers Concerto , released on Pentatone, which reached #1 on the Apple Music (Worldwide) Classical Music chart, #4 on the UK Official Specialist Classical Music chart and #6 on the US Billboard Traditional Classical Music chart. Having completed a Bachelor degree in conducting at the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes de Venezuela, Barráez also studied a Bachelor and Master degree in conducting at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin.
Strongly influenced by his own remarkable education as part of El Sistema under the guidance of José Antonio Abreu and Teresa Hernández, Rodolfo is committed to contributing to music education. In 2019, Rodolfo founded the Falcón Conducting Workshop; an organisation which nurtures and supports the development of emerging conductors through masterclass and workshop series in his hometown as well as worldwide at high renowned institutions such as the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas. In addition, as part of El Sistema Greece and supported by the Hilti Foundation, Rodolfo provided performance training to young musicians from deprived communities in Greece, furthering his passion for bringing young people together through music performance and education.
Rodolfo formed the intrinsic roots of his conducting career as an eminent violinist. Previously a member of the Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo has performed under Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, and Gustavo Dudamel at venues such as Teatro Alla Scala Milan, London’s Royal Festival Hall, Salzburg Festival, and Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space.
George Pehlivanian
French / American Conductor
Born in Beirut, Maestro George Pehlivanian’s extraordinary musical journey began at a young age, with piano lessons at the age of three and violin lessons at six. In 1975, he relocated to Los Angeles with his family, where his passion for music flourished. He honed his craft under the mentorship of renowned maestros Pierre Boulez, Lorin Maazel, and Ferdinand Leitner. After earning the prestigious Diploma di Merito from the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Maestro Pehlivanian achieved a remarkable milestone in 1991 by winning the Grand Prize at the Besançon Conducting Competition, awarded unanimously by the esteemed international jury. Notably, he remained the first and only American for over six decades to receive this distinguished honor, solidifying his place among the most revered figures in the world of conducting.
Since then, Maestro George Pehlivanian has solidified his reputation as one of the preeminent conductors of his generation. He has graced the world’s most prestigious concert stages, leading an impressive roster of renowned orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia, Israel Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Leipzig Gewandhaus, NDR Hamburg, and the Orchestra of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. His collaborations also extend to the Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra Nazionale della RAI Torino, BBC Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, and prominent German orchestras such as the Bamberger Symphoniker, hr-Sinfonieorchester, the Norddeutsche and Südwestrundfunk Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Saarländisches Staatsorchester, the Dortmunder and Bremer Philharmoniker.
Further notable appearances include performances with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orquesta Nacional de España, Belgian National Orchestra, Orchestra del Teatro di San Carlo, Teatro Comunale di Bologna, I Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, l’Opera di Genova, Verona, Parma, Bari e Trieste, la Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini, Orquesta Radio Televisión de España, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, among many others.
In North America, Maestro Pehlivanian has captivated audiences with leading engagements with the Houston Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Toronto Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Honolulu, Puerto Rico, Vancouver, Ottawa, Quebec, and the Pacific.
His global presence extends to performances with the Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Fedosseyev Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Japan Virtuosi Symphony, and the symphony orchestras of Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Qingdao, and Shanghai.
In the winter of 2017, Maestro Pehlivanian made history as the first conductor of Armenian descent to lead the Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey in Ankara, and was subsequently invited to lead the Borusan and Istanbul State Symphony Orchestras. This groundbreaking achievement highlights his enduring legacy and exceptional contribution to the global music community.
Equally distinguished in the operatic and symphonic realms, Maestro George Pehlivanian has led some of the most prestigious opera houses across Europe and the United States. His operatic repertoire includes Jenůfa, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Ernani for the New Israeli Opera; La Traviata at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg; Tosca at the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux and St. Etienne; the Dutch premiere of Riders to the Sea in Rotterdam; La Voix Humaine at the Cité de la Musique in Paris; and Otello, Cavalleria Rusticana, and Gianni Schicchi at Teatro San Carlo di Napoli. Additional productions include Pique Dame and Andrea Chénier at Teatro Lirico in Cagliari; La Damnation de Faust at Teatro San Carlo in Naples and Teatro Regio in Parma; and Carmen for Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Istanbul State Opera, and Long Beach Opera, all of which received widespread acclaim.
Maestro Pehlivanian has also made significant contributions to contemporary opera, conducting the world premieres of Le Jour des Meurtres by Pierre Thilloy at l’Opéra-Théâtre de Metz and Sette Storie per Lasciare il Mondo by Marco Betta. His critically acclaimed production of Boris Godunov at Teatro Massimo in Palermo stands as a testament to his visionary artistry.
Throughout his career, Maestro Pehlivanian has collaborated with many of the world’s finest artists, including violinists Maxim Vengerov, Leonidas Kavakos, Midori, Vadim Repin, Hilary Hahn, Lisa Batiashvili, Leila Josefowicz, Renaud Capuçon, Sarah Chang, and Joshua Bell; cellists Misha Maisky, Boris Pergamenchikov, Gautier Capuçon, and Lynn Harrell; pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Katia Buniatishvili, Arcadi Volodos, Fazil Say, and Emmanuel Ax; and iconic musicians such as Gidon Kremer, Gil Shaham, and Maurice André. His collaborations also include legendary vocalists such as Mirella Freni, Ruggero Raimondi, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Leona Mitchell, Leo Nucci, Vladimir Galouzine, and Denyce Graves. This impressive list reflects his status as a conductor of the highest caliber.
In recognition of his leadership and artistry, Maestro George Pehlivanian served as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Slovenian Philharmonic from 2005 to 2008. He has also held prominent Principal Guest Conductor positions with the Residentie Orkest of The Hague, Wiener Kammerorchester, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and served as Principal Conductor of the Teatro Lirico di Cagliari.
Maestro Pehlivanian has been a distinguished presence at major international music festivals including the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, White Nights Festival of Saint Petersburg, Aix-en-Provence, MITO Milan, Radio France Festival in Montpellier, Jeunesse Musicale in Vienna, Bruckner Festival in Linz, Verdi Festival in Parma, Ravenna Festival, Aspen Music Festival, and the festivals of San Sebastián, Santander, Ravello, Madrid, Cannes MIDEM, El Escorial, Ljubljana, Granada, Osaka, and Kyoto.
His discography reflects his versatility and commitment to excellence. It includes a double CD release on Virgin Classics/EMI with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic and recordings for BMG with the London Philharmonic. He led the world premiere recording of works by Zhukov with the Residentie Orchestra for the CHANDOS label, recorded works by Rodrigo with the Orquesta Nacional de España for STUDIO SM, and recorded Liszt’s complete works for piano and orchestra with pianist Louis Lortie and the Residentie Orchestra for CHANDOS, earning critical acclaim from Gramophone Magazine. He also recorded works by Christian Jost for Coviello and released Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony with the Joven Orquesta Nacional de España on the IBS Classical label, marking the first time a Spanish orchestra recorded this work.
In September 2023, SONY Classical released Maestro Pehlivanian’s recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He continues to record actively with the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and has produced more than a dozen recordings, as well as recordings of major Slovenian composers with the Slovenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 2011, Maestro George Pehlivanian founded the Touquet International Music Masters in France. In 2012, he was appointed Professor of Conducting at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris, and in 2013 became Director of the Postgraduate Conducting Department at the Higher School of Music Education Katarina Gurska in Madrid.
In 2020, Maestro Pehlivanian founded the Slovenian Festival Orchestra, an ensemble recognized for its artistic quality and social mission. Its Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy tours annually in Slovenia and provides opportunities to young musicians, with approximately 75 percent of its members being highly skilled freelance artists. The orchestra has been invited to perform at the Ravello Festival in 2024.
Maestro Pehlivanian is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Pehlivanian International Conducting Competition, scheduled for November 2026 in Bled, Slovenia. Alongside the competition, he initiated the Sustainable Career Development Conference, an international forum bringing together artists, educators, and cultural leaders to address structural challenges in classical music careers and promote more sustainable and inclusive professional pathways.
