Denis Bouriakov (ARAM)

Principal Flute of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Denis has enjoyed one of the fastest growing careers amongst the flutists of his generation. He has won numerous awards at many of the world's most prestigious international flute competitions, including Jean-Pierre Rampal, Munich ARD, Prague Spring, Carl Nielsen and Kobe competitions.

Denis has made several recordings, including the Bach Double concerto with William Bennett and English Chamber Orchestra. His first solo CD album was released in 2009, which included the world's premiere recording of the Sibelius Violin Concerto on the flute. His next solo CD will be recorded in 2011 in Japan. Denis has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, "Moscow Virtuosos", Prague Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble of Tokyo, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble of Paris and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.

Denis was born in 1981 in Crimea (now Ukraine). In 1991, he was given a place at the Moscow Central Special Music School, where he studied with Professor Y.N. Dolzhikov. Since the age of 11, Denis has played in Russia's premier concert halls, such as the Big Conservatoire Hall and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. With the support of the "New Names" International Charity Foundation and the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation, he played as a soloist in concert tours to over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, South America and the USA. After graduating from the Moscow Central Special Music School in 2000 he went on to study at Royal Academy of Music with Professor William Bennett (OBE) in London. After his graduation in 2004, gaining the DipRAM diploma for an outstanding Final Recital, the Royal Academy of Music awarded Denis the "Principal's Award" as well as the "Fellowship Award" for the 2004-2005 academic year, which involved him giving lessons and classes for flute students at the Royal Academy. In 2006, the Academy awarded Denis with the prestigious title of ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music). During his time in London, Denis freelanced as Principal Flute with the Philharmonia of London, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Leeds Opera North, Frankfurt Radio Symphony and Russian Orchestra of London.

Only a year after graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, Denis gained his first job as Principal Flute with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland, where he also taught at the Tampere Conservatory of Music for 3 years. In 2008, he was appointed Principal Flute with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and later that year he won the highly coveted position of Principal flute with the Metropolitan Opera, New York. Denis has been very active as soloist, orchestral player and teacher. His 2011 engagements include concerts and master classes in the USA, Japan, UK, Switzerland, Portugal and Colombia.

Akiko Iguchi, an Island Music Center piano teacher for the past 2 years, has been an active performer both as a soloist and a collaborative pianist in the Seattle area since 2005. A native of Yokohama, Japan, she began her piano studies at the age of five. Ms. Iguchi has earned both Bachelor and Master Degrees with full scholarship from Indiana University School of Music, and is currently pursuing Doctor of Musical Arts at University of Washington School of Music. She has studied piano with Reitei Yoh, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Edmond Battersby, and Craig Sheppard. Ms. Iguchi won the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association Competition and Indiana University Concerto Competition. She has attended several summer festivals including Courchevel International Music Festival in France, and won a full scholarship to Leipzig International Summer Festival. As an active collaborative pianist she was selected as an official pianist for International Clarinet Association competition held in Japan, 2005. She also formed "Duo Indiana" with Boston-based flautist Yuji Kano and gave their first performance in Yokohama, Japan in 2006. They are invited back to Japan to perform again in the summer of 2010.