88x8 Zela Margossian and Emily-Rose Šárkova

Two of our favourite pianists, equally grounded in European folk and classical traditions, both energetic and original, creating new music with great respect for the traditions which have forged them. Zela was born in Beirut of Armenian heritage, studied in Armenia at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, and since moving to Sydney has pursued the large ensemble ethno-jazz passion she developed there. Loved and respected by musicians and audiences alike, I have never heard her play solo. Emily-Rose studied classical, jazz, AND composition at the Sydney Conservatorium. She has travelled and studied in Germany, Argentina, and Poland, diving deep into classical piano, klezmer accordion, and tango dance as well as a dozen other musical excursions. She is a genius and multi-instrumentalist, who we will have the great pleasure of hearing on her first instrument.