Nihat AgdacBorn in Famagusta, Nihat started playing the violin at the age of eleven and completed his bachelor degree with 1st Class, Distinction in 2007. He was appointed in the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, Ankara, after his studies. He performed in the USA, the UK, Europe, China and Russia. He appeared as a soloist with different orchestras and ensembles including the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestras, Orchestra Purpur and appeared as a guest violinist with the City of Birmingham Symphony and London Symphony Orchestras where he played in major concert halls including the Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, Philharmonie in Berlin, Musikverein in Vienna and Theatre de Champs-Elysee in Paris to name a few. He was invited to play for Maxim Vengerov at his masterclass. Nihat graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He is leading the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Nicosia and is the Artistic Director and the Leader of the Cyprus Chamber Orchestra.
Nihat is grateful to Guildhall School Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Borusan Asim Kocabiyik Foundation, Talent Unlimited, Karmi Village and all the individuals for their financial support for his studies. |
Natalie NeophytouBorn in 1991 in Cyprus, Natalie Neophytou graduated in 2013 with First Class Honours from the Royal Academy of music in London where she gained a postgraduate scholarship to study oboe with Melanie Ragge and cor anglais with Sue Bohling. First prize winner of the ‘Leila Oboe Prize’, Natalie began her music studies from an early age studying piano, oboe and theory in Cyprus. Before attending the Royal Academy, she completed her bachelor degree in oboe performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she studied with Richard Simpson, David Walter, Gordon Hunt and Nicholas Daniel.
During her studies, Natalie has worked with distinguished conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Gianandrea Noseda, Michael Tilson Thomas, Vladimir Jurowski and Takuo Yuasa. She has attended numerous masterclasses with well known oboists including Thomas Intermuler at the Oboe Summer Course in Corfu and Jean Louis Capezzali during the Summer Music Academy at Sion in Switzerland. As a freelance performer Natalie is an extra player of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra where she very often performs and has also worked with other professional orchestras like the National Radio Orchestra (ERT) in Athens, Orion Orchestra, Aleph Chamber Orchestra and Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra in London. Since 2016, Natalie works as an oboe teacher at the European University and the Music Gymnasium and High schools of Cyprus. Natalie is the Artistic Director and principal Oboe of the Cyprus Chamber Orchestra. |