Biography of Popov and Vona, Duo Pianists

Pianists Lark Popov and George Vona are known for their evocative and exciting performances of music for two pianos ranging from Bach to Bernstein to Berio. After their New York recital debut, they were praised by the New York Times for their fine sense of pianistic colour and their lively and involving interpretations. They have performed in the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, Hungary and England, where they made their London recital debut. Among their performances are appearances with the Hartford Symphony, The Banff Festival of the Arts, the Metropolitan Opera Gala Ball , the American Liszt Society and the Vancouver New Music Festival.

Popov and Vona's second CD, The Book of Mirrors, was nominated for a 2000 Juno Award. It is a collection of new works for two pianos and percussion by Canadian composers which range in style from Latin jazz to German Industrial music. Internationally renowned percussionists Beverley Johnston and Salvador Ferreras join them on the disc. Popov and Vona's first CD has been broadcasted frequently by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Popov and Vona have combined their traditional performing and teaching experience with the production of interactive multimedia. The Book of Mirrors also features an interactive multimedia CD-ROM guide to the works on the audio disc. The multimedia CD-ROM includes video clips, interviews with the composers, stunning graphics, and many interactive demonstrations of the concepts and influences at work in the pieces. It was designed and produced completely by Popov and Vona and was accomplished with the financial assistance of the Ontario Arts Council and the Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Record. They are currently producing a new series of CD-ROMs designed to teach musicianship.

Lark Popov and George Vona have also distinguished themselves as soloists, winning prestigious awards such as first prize in the Joanna Hodges International Competition and a grant from the Floyd Chalmers Foundation. Both studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music and at the University of Toronto, where they both earned their Bachelor of Music in Performance degrees. Both of then continued their musical education in the United States at the Hartt School of Music, where Ms Popov received her Master of Music and Mr. Vona received his Doctor of Musical Arts. They count among their most important teachers Marian Brunelle, Earle Moss and Luiz de Moura Castro and were privileged to have coached with with Gilbert Kalish and Anton Kuerti.