June 1, 2011

Ashu performed as soloist at the prestigious Musical Olympus International Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia on May 25, 2011, performing saxophone concertos by Jacques Ibert and Astor Piazzolla with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic.

The week-long concerto festival features the First Prize winners of the top major international competitions, including the Sibelius Violin Competition, Chopin Piano Competition, Queen Elizabeth Competition, ARD Munich Competition, Callas Grand Prix, Liszt Piano Competition, and more.

At the festival's conclusion, Ashu was selected by audience vote as the winner of the festival's prestigious top prize ("Audience Award"). He will be presented with the award in a special concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2012, where Ashu will again perform as concerto soloist with orchestra (program to be announced). The prize includes a valuable jeweled egg commissioned by the festival from renowned Russian artist Vladimir Milhailov.

Among the festival's honorary committee are Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, Yo-Yo Ma, Yuri Temirkanov, Montserrat Caballe, Placido Domingo, Mariss Jansons, Valery Gergiev, and Daniel Barenboim.


Press release for award (online translated)

Festival program & participants (May 22-31, 2011)

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