Performers
Mark S. Doss
Grammy Award Winning bass-baritone Mark S. Doss has graced renowned stages worldwide, leaving an indelible mark with his powerful performances. From his recent lead roles in Leoš Janáček’s From the House of the Dead at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma to his captivating portrayal of William Daley in Kris Defoort’s The Time of Our Singing in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Doss continues to captivate audiences with his unparalleled talent. Notable highlights include his New York Philharmonic debut at Geffen Hall (Lincoln Center), where he mesmerized audiences in two performances of Here I Stand: Paul Robeson’s 125th Birthday Celebration. Doss's illustrious career spans prestigious opera houses across the globe, including Milan’s Teatro alla Scala, Turin’s Teatro Regio, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Renowned for his commanding presence and rich bass-baritone, Doss has graced the stage in a multitude of roles, from Argante in Rinaldo to Germont in La Traviata. As a Grammy Award winner and recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the George London Opera Prize, Doss's contributions to the world of opera are a testament to his unparalleled talent.
Principals of Pegasus: The Orchestra
led by artistic director and principal conductor, Karen Hakobyan from piano
PERFORMERS:
Pegasus: The Orchestra
Karén Hakobyan | artistic director, principal conductor, & piano
Eiko Kano | Violin I, concertmaster
Stani Dimitrova | Violin II, principal
Andrew Gonzalez | Viola, principal
Ari Evan | Cello, principal
KARÉN HAKOBYAN | artistic director, principal conductor, & piano Described as “a musician of abundant gifts and bountiful ideas” by New York Concert Review, and “an immensely talented and dynamic performer” by Deseret Morning News, Armenian American conductor, pianist and composer Karén Hakobyan is a versatile force on the international music scene. Since his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of seventeen, he has performed in major concert halls in Armenia, Argentina, Mexico, Germany, UK, Belgium, France, Japan, and the US. Karén regularly appears in prestigious festivals and concert series. Some of his festival performance highlights include: the "Lille International Piano(s) Festival" in 2005 (Lille, France), "The Pianist as Composer" Festival in 2008 (New York), Keys to the Future" Contemporary Music Festival in 2009-2010 (New York), the Gina Bachauer International Festival in 2015 (Utah), Festival Musique d'Abord in 2017 (Barbizon, France) and the Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concerts in 2018 (California). Karén is the Founder, Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of Pegasus: the Orchestra, based in New York. As part of Pegasus’s Fifth Anniversary Season in 2022-2023, Maestro Hakobyan conducted all five Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos with five soloists in a single night in Lincoln Center to great critical acclaim. Hakobyan also conducted a special program featuring Glenn Dicterow, the legendary former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, and Pegasus’s concertmaster, Eiko Kano, performing Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins. In his New York Classical Review article, David Wright said, "Hakobyan and his players punched out an incisive ritornello and snappy answers to the soloists, while Glen Dicterow and Eiko Kano played an exhilarating game of stretto tag.” Notable conducting engagements include: Hakobyan conducting Armenian National Chamber Orchestra in Armenia and Ryuku Symphony orchestra combined with top principals from Tokyo in Japan. Upcoming conducting engagements include concerts featuring virtuoso pianist Sergey Babayan performing Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in Carnegie Hall and 2007 Tchaikovsky International Competition gold medalist, cellist Sergey Antonov performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations at Merkin Hall. A multi city tour in USA with its program “Americana” celebrating Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue Centennial is planned. Karén is a top prizewinner of multiple international piano and composition competitions and holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, and the University of Utah. He has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras across several continents. His recordings have been broadcast on WQXR Radio (New York City), WMFT Radio (Chicago), WSKG Radio (New York), Argentine National Radio, Monterrey’s (Mexico) Op. 102 station, Armenian National Radio, Al Jazeera TV, Public TV of Armenia and Voice of America TV (International). www.karenhakobyan.com
EIKO KANO | Violin |, concertmaster Praised as an artist with “electrifying intensity and lyrical expression” by Kyoto Newspaper and “mesmerizing interpreter” by Ongakuno-Tomo Magazine, Japanese violinist Eiko Kano is known for her sensational and dynamic performances. Eiko has a thriving international career as a soloist as well as a chamber musician frequently collaborating with distinguished artists such as principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Albrecht Meyer, Eugene Drucker of the Emerson String Quartet, and violinist Ani Kavafian while also working closely with living composers and premiering new works. She is a top prizewinner of multiple international competitions such as the 4th International Competition of Tokyo. As a result of winning the prestigious Forval Scholarship, Eiko was granted the Stradivarius “Reinville” violin for 2 years. She currently serves as an assistant concertmaster in the Grammy Award-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra and regularly plays in the New York Philharmonic.
STANI DIMITROVA | Violin II, principal Stanichka Dimitrova, whose playing has been described as “wonderfully full in tone and exuberant in performance” by the San Francisco Classical Voice, was a winner of the 2010 Concerto Competition at Stony Brook University, which resulted in a solo performance of the Sibelius Violin Concerto. She has also been a First Prize winner in the “Barbara Krakauer Scholarship Award” Competition at the Associated Music Teachers League in New York City, “Hopes, Talents, Masters” International Competition in Dobrich, Bulgaria, “Svetoslav Obretenov” National Competition in Provadia, Bulgaria, and was a Top Prize winner of the National Competition for Austrian and German Music in Burgas, Bulgaria. Ms. Dimitrova is a graduate from the Juilliard School, where she studied with Sally Thomas. She received her doctoral degree at Stony Brook University, studying with Philip Setzer, Pamela Frank, Soovin Kim and Philippe Graffin. In 2017 Stanichka made her Carnegie Hall solo debut in Weill Recital Hall under the auspices of St. Cyril and St. Methodious International Foundation. She is founder and artistic director of PhiloSonia chamber music series, designed to create a personal connection between audience members and classical music. For more information visit: www.PhiloSonia.com Currently appointed as a Teaching Artist for the New York Philharmonic’s Philharmonic Schools Program, Stanichka participates in a variety of outreach activities and performances in public schools throughout New York.
ANDREW GONZALEZ, Viola, principal Hailed by The Strad magazine for his “warm hearted playing and mellow tone”, New York-based violist Andrew Gonzalez lives a fulfilling career as both a soloist and chamber musician, performing in prestigious venues throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. As a sought-after chamber musician, his playing has allowed him to collaborate with respected ensembles such as the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Sejong Soloists, as well as members of the Guarneri, Juilliard, Tokyo, Orion, Borromeo, and Vermeer quartets. Also an accomplished teacher, Andrew served as a fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect from 2016-2018 and teaches chamber music in the Heifetz Institute’s “Program for the Exceptionally Gifted.” In the fall of 2020, Andrew became the new violist of the Jasper String Quartet.
ARI EVAN | Cello, principal Born and raised in New York, cellist Ari Evan recently finished his fellowship at Ensemble Connect—a prestigious two-year residency at Carnegie Hall that combines first-class performance opportunities with community engagement and entrepreneurship projects. Prior to Ensemble Connect, Ari studied Timothy Eddy at the Juilliard School, where he received his master's degree in 2017. A versatile chamber musician, Ari has performed with renowned artists including Shmuel Ashkenasi, Colin Carr, Miriam Fried, Gary Hoffman, Hsin-Yun Huang, Ani Kavafian, Itzhak Perlman. Robert McDonald, current/former members of the Cleveland Quartet, Artemis Quartet, as well as members of the Berlin Philharmoniker, New York Philharmonic, and Met Opera Orchestra. His festival appearances include the Krzyzowa Music Festival, Ravinia, IMS Prussia Cove, the Perlman Music Program, the Olympic Music Festival, and many others. Passionate about community engagement and teaching, Ari is the founder of the Forest Hills Chamber Music Series, striving to promote Jewish music and bringing classical music to the community he grew up in. Also a fond traveler, Ari’s musical endeavors have also brought him to Japan, Poland, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, France, England, Canada, and throughout the US. He hopes to see more of the world through music in the near future!
Dr. (Hon) Aaron Mair
Dr. (Hon) Aaron Mair is a retired New York State public health epidemiological-spatial analyst, environmentalist, and 57th national president of the Sierra Club with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his international climate work from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Dr. Mair is the Adirondack Council’s “Wilderness Campaign Director” responsible for connecting all New Yorkers to the nation’s largest environmental treasure. As a national environmental justice movement pioneer, founder, and activist of the Arbor Hill, NY community in Albany, he was responsible for the creation of the W. Haywood Burns Environmental Education Center and the Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation. He currently lives in Schenectady, New York and works for the Adirondack Council. Strategic leader with a record of success directing programs and campaigns for social change. Background includes strategy, external affairs, brand development, and movement building. Strong operations and management experience. Experienced in working with diverse groups with differing agendas. Accomplished advisor, and coach. Recognized for project management, facilitation, initiative, collaboration, and inclusive leadership. Critical thinker with dedication to ongoing learning and development. Mair was elected president of the Sierra Club on May 16, 2015, and was the organization's first African-American president. Mair has been a life member of the Sierra Club since 1999. Since that time, he has held many leadership positions with the Sierra Club: National Environmental Justice and Community Partnerships Chair 2010–present; National Diversity Council 2008-2010. New York Atlantic Chapter Chair 2003-2004; International Human Rights/Environment 2003–present; Environmental Justice 2002-2008; Wilderness, Water Quality/Habitats 2006-2011. He is a graduate of Binghamton University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology and a certificate in Southwest Asia and North Africa Studies. Mair also trained at Rhode Island's Naval Education and Training Center and attended The American University in Cairo. He participated in Binghamton University's Political Science Doctoral Program, but left the program to begin State service in 1988. In 1995, Mair founded the Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation, which was a member of the White House Council on Environmental Quality from 1998 to 2000. He also founded, served as board member, and lectured at the W. Haywood Burns Environmental Education Center in the Albany Capital region of New York. In 1999, Mair was a founding member of Friends of Clean Hudson. In 2000, Mair received an EPA Environmental Quality Award for cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the Hudson River. Mair also served as a board member at the New York League of Conservation Voters in 2000. Internationally, Mair has participated in the United Nations Climate Change “COP” Conferences since 2015 – 2028.