Riccardo Pes was born in 1987 in Spilimbergo, Italy. He currently studies at the Royal College of Music, London, on the Artist Diploma course under the tuition of professor Melissa Phelps. He is an RCM Scholar, supported by a Soiree d'Or Award, Pauline Hartley Award and the Kathleen Trust. Riccardo previously studied at the Conservatorio di Musica Benedetto Marcello di Venezia and attended the High Specialization Music Courses held by Giovanni Sollima at Accademia Nazionale Santa Cecilia in Rome. He graduated the highest mark and the congratulations of the jury.
Riccardo has attended international masterclasses with Franz Bartolomey, Frans Helmerson, Ludwig Quandt, Michael Sanderling, Johannes Goritzki, Gustavo Tavares, Julian Arp, Maria Kliegel, Enrico Dindo, Michael Flaksman and Jelena Ocic.
As a soloist, Riccardo has played with I Solisti Veneti conducted by Claudio Scimone, and performed the Tartini Cello Concerto in A Major in Padua and with the Ensemble Serenissima, and the Vivaldi Concerto in B-flat, unpublished, at the Theater Zancanaro in Sacile. He has played music for solo cello from Bach to Morricone at the Aha! Festival at the University of Gothenburg, Terre di Maremma Festival, High Notes Festival in Lucca, Biennale of Venice.
As chamber musician Riccardo has worked with important musicians such as Mario Brunello, Giovanni Sollima, 100 cellos of Teatro Valle Rome and Triennale of Milan. He regularly plays in a cello and piano duo with Matteo Andri, and also with I Solisti Veneti in Padua performing works by local composers, Ferruccio Busoni Orchestra in Trieste with pianist Roberto Plano on various recording projects.
As a collaborative cellist, Riccardo has worked with the scientist Margherita Hack, writer Alessandro Marzo Magno, poet Morten Sondergaard, photographers Giuliano e Gianni and Cesare Borghesan, as well as actors and contemporary circus artists. Riccardo played as part of the commemorations of the 150th anniversary of the Founding of Italy (broadcast live on Mogliano TV) and has collaborated with the electronic artist and European competitions winner, Jens Thomsen (Suns festival, 'Nordic Matters' at Southbank Centre in London).
Riccardo has studied composition with Battista Pradal and recently published his first solo album called Cellina Work. He has made recordings for the music labels Velut Luna, Concerto (Milan), Irene (Spilimbergo) and for the national magazine Amadeus.
Riccardo received the “Man of Peace” Award after his performance at the Tibet Pavillion in Venice last summer, where he has also been given an honorary passport for Tibet.
Riccardo has won First Prize (concerto competition category) and Second Prize (recital category) at the Richmond Festival Competition; Second Prize at both the Hatfield and District Festival Competition and Piove di Sacco Competition.
Riccardo plays a cello made by Edgar Russ in Cremona, 2014.
Kumi Matsuo was born in Tokyo, Japan. Kumi graduated from the Toho Gakuen High School of Music and the Toho Gakuen University of Music in Tokyo. In 2007 she moved to London for her further study at the Royal College of Music where she gained an Artist Diploma and a Masters of Music in Performance. Kumi studied piano with Jyoko Gondo, Mikhail Voskresensky, John Blakely and Ashley Wass. Her study was supported by the Charles Napper Award, the Russell Gander Award and the Rohm Music Foundation.
In 2008 Kumi gave her London debut playing Ravel’s Piano Concerto for Left Hand in Cadogan Hall with RCM Sinfonietta conducted by Peter Stark. She is also the winner of the 5th Louisiana International Piano Competition in 2013, Second Prize winner at the 75th Music Competition of Japan in 2006, Third Prize at the 22nd Ferrol International Piano Competition in 2008 and First Prize and the title of Competition Laureate at the 6th Isidor Bajic International Piano Competition in 2012. She adds a unique combination of grace and power to her interpretations of classical masterpieces.
An accomplished concert pianist, Kumi has played with orchestras such as Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Galicia Symphony Orchestra, Banatul Symphony Orchestra and Rapides Symphony Orchestra. Kumi has given numerous solo recitals and chamber music concerts in major venues throughout the UK and Japan including Elgar Room at Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Bristol Cathedral, National Gallery, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Tokyo Opera City Hall, Kioi Hall and Oji Hall.
Free recital (retiring collection)