Program :
Félix Mendelssohn – Trio n°1 en ré mineur
Arenski – Trio n°1 en ré mineur
Enescu – sérénade lointaine
Trio Biography
The Parhélie is a rare and fleeting meteorological phenomenon that occurs when the sun’s rays, low on the horizon, pass through a cloud of ice crystals; thanks to a phenomenon of light refraction, three stars appear to appear in a solar halo. The Parhélie Trio incorporates this founding idea as the matrix of its aesthetic; it interprets works in terms of lighting, color, and reverberation, which pushes it to constantly question
its interpretation and its perspective on the repertoire.
The Parhélie Trio, a member of the CNSMD in Paris, is in residence at the Singer-Polignac Foundation and at the European Center for Chamber Music ProQuartet.
Spotted in 2023 during the Lyon International Competition, the trio was invited by Vincent Coq (Trio Wanderer) to participate in a residency at the La Roque d’Anthéron Festival.
Since then, they have regularly performed at various renowned festivals and academies such as La Chaise-Dieu, Jeunes Talents, Les Pianissimes, Les Automnales du Château de Compiègne, and more. The trio will also make their Chinese debut in the summer of 2025 with a three-week tour.
The Parhélie Trio won first prize at the FNAPEC European Competition, the Piano Trio Prize at the ISA Festival (Austria), and was a finalist at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition in 2023. For its various projects, the Parhélie Trio is supported by the Société Générale Foundation “C’est vous l’avenir” (It’s You the Future), Catherine Delepelaire, and via ProQuartet, Crédit Agricole Ile-de-France, as well as the Peters family.
Individual Biographies
Lilya Chifman began learning the violin at the age of 4 and joined the Conservatoire de Paris (Regional Conservatory of Music), where she studied with Larissa Kolos and Florin Szigeti until the Concert Cycle. At 16, she won first prize at the Vatelot-Rampal Competition, then first prize at the Académie Internationale de Flaine. She subsequently joined Marianne Piketty’s class at the CNSMDL (National Conservatory of Music).
In 2021, the CNSMDL offered her her first opportunity to perform as a soloist in Prokofiev’s First Concerto at the Auditorium de Lyon, accompanied by the Conservatoire Orchestra conducted by Alexandre Bloch. Since then, she has regularly performed as a soloist with other orchestras, notably with the Echo Philharmonic Orchestra, with which she has performed Mendelssohn’s Second Concerto and the Beethoven Concerto.
Lilya has also been admitted to the Jaroussky Academy for the 2022/2023 academic year (Debussy class) and is studying with Nemanja Radulovic. She plays a Galen Hartley violin made in 2022 and is receiving an ADAMI scholarship.
Cellist Enguerrand Bontoux was drawn to chamber music at an early age; at the age of 16, he formed the Bellefeuille Quartet at the CRR de Boulogne-Bt, with which he performed at numerous festivals in France, Belgium, Italy, and at venues such as the Philharmonie de Paris. He then studied with Anne Gastinel at the CNSMDL, where he founded the Trio Parhélie, and obtained his Master’s degree in cello unanimously with honors.
He has performed as a soloist, notably in Beethoven’s Triple Konzert at the CNSMDL with the Parhélie Trio, and in Haydn’s C Concerto with the Colonne Orchestra (conducted by Christophe Coin). He also regularly shares the stage with Raphaël Pidoux and the Cello8 Octet at festivals such as La Folle Journée in Nantes, the Cello Biennäle in Amsterdam, and Les Invalides.
He has also been invited to perform at the Opéra de Lyon, the ONL de Lyon, and the Orchestre National d’Auvergne.
Enguerrand plays a Bernardel Père cello, loaned by the Rosoor family, through the Talents & Violon’celles endowment fund.
Ivan Foucher is a versatile pianist; A true Swiss Army knife, he studied orchestration, composition, analysis (and percussion!) at the CRR de Saint-Maur, where he unanimously received his advanced training award. He then joined the CNSMD de Lyon in David Selig’s class.
Alongside his activities with the Trio Parhélie, of which he was a founding member, he met soprano Yara Kasti. They formed the DuOdyssée, which won awards at the international competitions of Mélodie de Gordes and Mélodie Française de Toulouse. The critically acclaimed duo has been invited to numerous festivals in France, such as Les musicales du lubéron, Présence compositrices, Les saisons de la voix, Jeune Talent, and in venues such as the Opéra de Clermont, the Petit Palais, the Opéra de Massy (recital with Karine Deshayes).
Furthermore, Ivan is also an orchestrator-arranger. In 2023, he made arrangements for the lyrical season of the CNSMD in Lyon, he also collaborated with the vocal ensemble EOS XXI, and made arrangements for the trio Parhélie.
Programme :
Maurice Ravel
Jeux d’eau
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Prélude Fugue Forlane Rigaudon Menuet Toccata
Entracte
Frederic Chopin
Four Impromptus
No.1 in A-flat major, Op. 29 No. 2 in F-sharp major, Op. 36
No. 3 in G-flat major, Op. 51 Fantaisie Impromptu, Op. 66
Two Waltzes
D-flat major, Op. 70 No. 3 A-flat major, Op. 64 No. 3
Two Rondos
Rondo a la mazur in F major, Op. 5 Rondo in C major, Op. 73
B i o g r a p h y
Chinese Pianist Junwen Liang stands as a preeminent classical pianist, lauded for his “captivating” (Stroll Magazine) performances and recognized as “an extremely gifted and promising young artist” by the New York Concert Review. Originally from Nanning, China, Junwen embarked on his piano journey at the age of 9, unveiling his prodigious talent with a solo debut at 13.
In recent years, Junwen has graced distinguished venues across the United States, leaving an indelible mark on the classical music landscape. His performances have resonated in renowned venues such as Cohen Family Studio Theater, Robert J. Werner Recital Hall in Cincinnati, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and the Academy of Music at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Notably, he has collaborated as a soloist with orchestras including the Central Texas Philharmonic, Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra, and Ithaca College Symphonic Orchestra. Junwen’s interpretation of Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra received acclaim, reaching the public through broadcast on WSKG radio in New York State. His artistry was further acknowledged with an invitation to present a solo performance on WRTI Classical Radio in Philadelphia in August 2022.
In the 2022-23 Season, Junwen’s exceptional artistry shone through in performances at Lake Barcroft Concerts, the Tuesday Concert Series in Washington, DC, the Sunday Recital Series at Saint Thomas in New York, and the Trinity Concert Series. His upcoming debut in concert series across North America, including engagements at the Arts Club of Washington, Concerts at Valley Cottage, WIYAMS @ Georgetown University, and the Sevenars Music Festival. Underscore the anticipation surrounding his stellar career, with more concerts to be announced soon.
Junwen’s commitment to musical excellence is also exemplified by his participation in prestigious music festivals, including Texas State International Piano Festival, Lunigiana International Music Festival, The Leon Fleshier Academy, Art of the Piano at CCM, Atlantic Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Orford Musique, and Philadelphia Young Pianists’ Academy. He has worked with famous pedagogues and concert pianists including Piotr Paleczny, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Gary Graffman, Jerome Lowenthal, Ching-Yun Hu, Andre Laplante, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Vladimir Feltsman, Robert McDonald, Ursula Oppens, Jeremy Denk, and more.
A recipient of numerous awards, Junwen’s trajectory began with victories in esteemed competitions in China at the age of 12. This journey continued globally with triumphs in the New York International Piano Competition, Naftzger Young Artist Competition, Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Juliusz Zarębski International Music Competition (Poland), and WPTA Spain. Notably, he secured first prizes in the Crescendo International Music Competition, Nouvelles Etoiles International Music Competition (France), The Princeton Festival International Piano Competition, YMIC International Music Competition, Philadelphia International Piano Competition, and The American Prize. In Spring 2019, Junwen’s achievements were crowned with the exclusive Spencer Merit Award at the National Society of Arts & Letters in Bloomington, an honor given to only one pianist that year.
In addition to his solo career, Junwen extends his musical talents engaging as a collaborative pianist with professional instrumentalists and singers in the thriving music scenes of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore County, Maryland. Recognized for his exceptional collaborative skills, he was honored with the title of “Outstanding Collaborative Pianist” at the Peabody Institute and featured in their esteemed Noon:30 Concert Series. Furthermore, Junwen’s collaborative ventures led to his participation in a piano quintet, coached by Michael Kannen, director of Peabody’s Chamber Music Program. The quintet’s outstanding artistry earned them the distinction of being the only chamber group from Peabody selected to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Master Class Series, offering a unique opportunity to collaborate with Ludwig Quandt, principal cellist of the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Junwen is now completing a Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, under the tutelage of Richard Goode. His past mentors include Christopher Guzman (Penn State), Roberto Plano, Edward Auer (Indiana University), and Charis Dimaras (Ithaca College).
Junwen is represented worldwide by Price Attractions.