Igor Karsko and Jana Karskova, violins

Igor Karsko was born in Slovakia. He studied under Karol Petroczi at the Conservatory of Music in Kosice and under Jiri Tomasek at the Prague Academy of Music where he graduated with honours. In Prague he also received lessons in chamber music and conducting. In 1991 he was invited by Lord Yehudi Menuhin to the Menuhin Academy in Gstaad (Switzerland) , where he studied under Alberto Lysy and Yehudi Menuhin. He became a member of the Camerata Lysy and the Gustav Mahler youth symphony orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado, and he became concert leader of the State Philharmonia Kosice. Since 1991 he has been a member of "The Serenade Strings Trio". This ensemble has won numerous prizes, including first prize in several categories at the international chamber music contest of Trapani (I) and Caltanissetta in 1991. He has given solo and chamber music concerts all over Europe. Since 1993 he has been concert leader of the Lucerne symphony orchestra. He plays the famous violin "Il Viotti" manufactured by Lorenzo Stononi (Cremona 1768).

Jana Karskova was born in Slovakia too. She studied under the same professors as Igor Karsko at the Conservatory of Music in Kosice and at the Prague Academy of Music. 1991 she continued her studies at the Menhuin Academy in Gstaad under Alberto Lysy. Her final collegiate concert was rated "excellent". On the occasion of attending a master course given by Professor Libermann she went to Prague. During her studies she won several prizes at Czechoslovakian music contests. 1988-90 she was a memeber of the Gustav Mahler youth symphony orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado. She has given recitals and solo perfomances with various orchestras in Czech, Slovakia, Italy, France and Switzerland and chamber music concerts in Paris and Berlin (string trio, quartet). 1991-92 she was a member of the Camerata Lysy. Since 1996 she has been a member of the Zurich chamber orchestra.

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