BIOGRAPHIES

Iraida Poberezhnaya holds two Doctoral Degrees in Harp, one from Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music and another from Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with Olga Erdeli, a prominent harpist, People’s Artist of Russia. Iraida Poberezhnaya received her Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Harp from Azerbaijan Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Poberezhnaya is a winner of International Competition (Baku, 1990), and a participant of International Competition in Israel (Jerusalem, 1995), and USA International Competition (Bloomington, 1995).
Dr. Poberezhnaya is a concert harpist with a broad repertoire. She performs solo and in ensembles in Europe and in the United States. She has recorded “Silvestre Revueltas” CD with Santa Barbara Symphony – 1999, KOCH Release: “Ave Maria” CD recording with R. Lucente, 1998 Release solo album "La Source" in 2010, and "Isn't It Romantic?" in 2019.
Dr. Poberezhnaya’s teaching experience includes Azerbaijan Conservatory of Music, Baltimore Music School, Baltimore School for the Arts , University of Central Oklahoma, and Wilkes University.
Dr. Poberezhnaya performed with Santa Barbara Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Tulsa Opera, Santa Maria Philharmonic, Stanislavski Opera and Ballet Theatre (Moscow).
Dr. Poberezhnaya is an active member of American Harp Society. She was a President of Santa Barbara and Oklahoma City Chapters of the American Harp Society before she moved back to Baltimore. Dr. Poberezhnaya is a former Director of Santa Barbara Harp Festival (2000-2002). Her contributions to the Harp Community include publications in the American Harp Journal. Among her contributions to the World Harp Community was her recital at the 10th International Harp Congress in Amsterdam, Netherlands in the Summer of 2008. She is a winner of Maryland Arts Council Award in 2015 and 2010, and a recipient of a honorary certificate of Russian Cultural Center Washington, DC as a recognition of her contribution to building cultural bridges between USA and Russia.

Dr. Ildar Khannanov, assistant professor of the Peabody Conservatory of Music, holds Ph.D. and M.A. in music theory, University of California, Santa Barbara (dissertation topic: Russian Methodology of Music Theory and Analysis) (2003); aspirantura of Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (1993); Diplom of Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (1988); degrees in piano, theory and composition from Ufa Specialized Music School (1982). Studied music theory with Pieter C. van den Toorn, Michael Beckerman, Yuri Kholopov, Valentina Kholopova and philosophy with Jacques Derrida (UC Irvine 1997-2001). Presented papers on topics of Russian music theory and analysis, theory of performance, semiotics and methodology of aural skills at the national and international conferences.Publications include the book Music of Sergei Rachmaninoff: Seven Musical-Theoretical Etudes, "Line, Surface and Speed: Nomadic Aspects of Melody", a chapter in Sounding the Virtual: Gilles Deleuze and Philosophy and Theory of Music, articles on theory of formal functions, approaches to analysis, music of Sergei Rachmaninov and Dmitri Tiomkin in Vereiniging voor Musiektheorie, Goldbergstiftung, Res Musica, Theoria, Acta Semiotica Fennica, Film Music Journal and Musical Academy Quarterly, as well as philosophical studies in Sinij Divan and Logos. Dr. Khannanov is the editor of the International Division of the journal Problemy Muzykal'noi Nauki.
In addition to all mentioned above, Dr. Khannanov is an active performer and composer. He presents piano concerts all over United States as a soloist, as well as in ensembles.
One of his recent awards in composition are EDIPLAY Festival in Paris, 2021, for the best short film and best music, and Grand Prize for Three Preludes in 2022 "Soundwaves" St. Petersburg- Shanghai International Composition Competition.
Dr. Khannanov enjoys composing on spot, so you might hear his instant improvisations during performances.