Clarinetist Amy Gloverand and pianist Milena Zhivotovskaya make up the New York based Duo Ephelia. On this program, they present works of Claude Debussy, Milena Zhivotovskaya, and Francis Poulenc.
Duo Ephelia, a New York based clarinet and piano team, is dedicated to performing topic-centered recitals that are artful, entertaining, and informative. This approach led to a debut recital at the Klavierhaus, NYC as well as appearances at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, the Kauffman Center, the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, and the New York Czech Center’s Bohemian National Hall as well as Yamaha Piano Salon, Roerich Museum, and Rutgers Camden’s Mallery Concert Series. A union of the southwestern US and Eastern Europe, the duo’s individual members bring unique influences to the ensemble: originally from Kiev, Ukraine, the duo’s pianist, Milena Zhivotovskaya, embraces the contemplative post-Romantic works of Eastern European composers, while native Texan Amy Glover grew up playing clarinet in wind bands, which gave way to an interest in contemporary music. This combination of influences gives rise to intriguing thematic-based programming that explores diverse genres. In addition to their recitals, the duo gives a variety of inventive educational programs.
Performer-composer Milena Zhivotovskaya has been awarded at the ASCAP Young Composers Competition and the Young Artist Piano and Composers Competition at the American Fine Arts Festival. Her compositions have been heard on BCFM Radio Bristol’s Jerry Cowhig Show, and she recently premiered works by British composers in the Piano Triets at Colston Hall in Bristol, England. Ms. Glover has appeared with the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra and is also a member of the Texas New Music Ensemble and the Sound Hive Contemporary Ensemble, which recently premiered her first original composition. Additionally, she was a finalist for the International Clarinet Association’s Orchestral Competition in Los Angeles. She has also been in residence at the Banff Centre’s Performance Today. Both musicians hold Master of Music Degrees from the Mannes College of Music, where they first met. Their mentors include David Krakauer and Charles Neidich.
Recent concert highlights have included a performance of their thematic recital program The Age of the Romantic and From the Stage to the Canvas workshop at Art on the Corner in Brooklyn, New York as well as a performance at Roerich Museum in Manhattan, which featured an original composition by Ms. Zhivotovskaya.
