ABOUT MARKO TOPCHII

Marko Topchii, a renowned classical guitarist born into a musical family in Ukraine in 1991, has garnered widespread acclaim for his exceptional talent and numerous competition victories. With over 100 awards in international classical guitar competitions, including First Prizes in prestigious events such as the International Guitar Competition Francisco Tarrega and the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition in New York, Marko has established himself as a one of a kind musician in the classical guitar world.

Marko’s performances have graced some of the most esteemed venues worldwide including Carnegie Hall (New York), the Salle Cortot (Paris) and Yamaha Ginza Hall (Tokyo). His collaborations with orchestras, spanning more than 15 concertos for guitar and orchestra, showcase his depth and flexibility as a guitarist.

Beginning his guitar studies at the age of four under Volodymyr Homenyuk, Marko went on to graduate from the Kharkiv Conservatory and pursue advanced studies under notable mentors like Volodymyr Dotsenko and Yuri Aleksik. In 2018, he joined the professional studies programme of the San Francisco Conservatory in the class of Judicaël Perroy, with whom he continued his studies at Haute Ecole de Musique de Geneve as part of the Master Soloiste programme.

Common hour performance featuring saxophone quartet ~Nois. Q&A to follow the performance.

ABOUT ~NOIS

Take your preconceived notions of ‘noise’ and toss them out the window. Equal parts “fiendishly good and fiendishly goofy” (Chicago Tribune), ~Nois is a Chicago-based saxophone quartet dedicated to connecting with diverse audiences through the creation of new work. Since its founding in 2016, “~Nois continues to legitimize the saxophone quartet as a premiere ensemble formation for classical music” (Brutal New Music) through commissioning repertoire that is thought-provoking, engaging, and honestly just really good, by some of today's most inspiring compositional voices. 

Hailed as “technically superb and musically brilliant” (Cleveland Classical) the ensemble has been awarded top prizes at numerous prestigious chamber music competitions including the M-Prize International Arts Competition, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and have presented over 130 performances spanning 24 states. With more than 100 world premieres to date, the members of ~Nois have had the privilege of working closely with some of the world’s leading voices in composition including Nico Muhly, Augusta Read Thomas, Shelley Washington, among others.

~Nois’ recorded output boasts a wide variety of genres and styles, including their debut album “Is This ~Nois”, which was heralded as “fresh and intense” (The Whole Note) The group’s highly anticipated sophomore album, “Kinds of ~Nois”, will be releasing in March of 2024 on the label Bright Shiny Things, in collaboration with the composer collective Kinds of Kings. 

~Nois is János Csontos (he/him), Julian Velasco (he/him), Jordan Lulloff (he/him), and Hunter Bockes (he/him). For more information, visit www.noissaxophone.com

ABOUT ~NOIS

Take your preconceived notions of ‘noise’ and toss them out the window. Equal parts “fiendishly good and fiendishly goofy” (Chicago Tribune), ~Nois is a Chicago-based saxophone quartet dedicated to connecting with diverse audiences through the creation of new work. Since its founding in 2016, “~Nois continues to legitimize the saxophone quartet as a premiere ensemble formation for classical music” (Brutal New Music) through commissioning repertoire that is thought-provoking, engaging, and honestly just really good, by some of today's most inspiring compositional voices. 

Hailed as “technically superb and musically brilliant” (Cleveland Classical) the ensemble has been awarded top prizes at numerous prestigious chamber music competitions including the M-Prize International Arts Competition, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and have presented over 130 performances spanning 24 states. With more than 100 world premieres to date, the members of ~Nois have had the privilege of working closely with some of the world’s leading voices in composition including Nico Muhly, Augusta Read Thomas, Shelley Washington, among others.

~Nois’ recorded output boasts a wide variety of genres and styles, including their debut album “Is This ~Nois”, which was heralded as “fresh and intense” (The Whole Note) The group’s highly anticipated sophomore album, “Kinds of ~Nois”, will be releasing in March of 2024 on the label Bright Shiny Things, in collaboration with the composer collective Kinds of Kings. 

~Nois is János Csontos (he/him), Julian Velasco (he/him), Jordan Lulloff (he/him), and Hunter Bockes (he/him). For more information, visit www.noissaxophone.com

Danielle Vergara is a second-year vocalist from Augusta, GA pursuing a degree in music therapy. She has been in Women's Glee Club and Repertory Singers and is currently in the Hugh Hodgson Singers and Dr. Petrongelli's voice studio. Outside of the SOM, she works as a staff singer at Commerce Presbyterian Church. She is a part of Sigma Alpha Iota and serves as the Music Chair, is in the Music Therapy Student Association, and UGACDA. She is incredibly grateful to be a student ambassador for the HHSOM!

Audrey is a fourth-year vocal performance and music education major from Decatur, GA. During their time at the Hugh, they have served as the Hodgson Singers president, been on the board of ACDA and CNAfME, been in UGA’s production of A Little Night Music, as well as participated in the Opera Scenes program and five of the seven UGA choral ensembles. They are also a staff singer at Athens FUMC, where they are directing the preschool choir for the fall of 2024.

At the University of Georgia, Jacob Torbert (he/him) is a 4th year pursuing a BM Music Education degree. As a part of the Tuba & Euphonium Studio, he has his share in being in many ensembles such as the British Brass Band, the Wind Symphony, the Symphonic Band, and the Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble. During his time at the music school, he also has become an active member with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Tau Beta Sigma, both Greek orgs that involve music as a building block for both brotherhood and sisterhood.

Jackson (she/her) is a second-year music therapy major, and a first generation college student from Taylorsville, GA. Her primary instrument is saxophone, and she is involved in Dr. Quarles’s saxophone studio. She has been a member of the “Saxtion” in the Redcoat Marching Band since her first year. Jackson is an active member of UGA’s Iota Zeta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, where she currently serves as Fraternal Education Officer, as well as a member of the Music Therapy Student Association. Outside of school, Jackson enjoys reading and taking care of her plants.

Lillie Sims is a third-year choral music education major from Lawrenceville, GA, and she is thrilled to represent the Hugh Hodgson School of Music as a student ambassador. She is a soprano studying in Dr. Gregory Broughton’s studio. Lillie has sang in several UGA Choirs, including Women’s Glee Club, Repertory Singers, and Hodgson Singers. She is also heavily involved in GMEA, CNAfME, and ACDA. Lillie currently serves as the PR Chair of UGACDA.