Joelle Brandon, Mezzo-Soprano

Carmen
G. Bizet

Nikica Lesic, Piano - Croatia

Desert Flower
Vladimir Bodegrajac

Prelude, in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5
Sergei Rachmaninoff 

Goran Karan
Tenor - Croatia

Goran Karan is an internationally renowned tenor from Zagreb, Croatia. 
He has performed numerous concerts throughout the United States and Europe including concert tours in Austria, Germany, Italy, France, England, Australia, Ireland, Scotland and Turkey.
Beyond the success of Mr. Karan’s solo singing career has been his work on the theatrical stage.  He has performed in productions throughout Europe in the lead role of musicals such as: “Circle”, “Hair”, “Jesus Christ Super Star”, “Grease” and “Tommy”.  
In 1995, Mr. Goran Karan was presented with an award from Croatian Discography Association for the “Hit of the Year” for a song called “Priznaj mi”.  That same year he played the leading role in a musical “Circle",
created by Dino Zonic.  In 1998, Mr. Karan again starred in a leading role in the musical “Rock It” at the Ronacher Theatre in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Karan published his first solo album “Kao da te ne volim” in 1999.  This album was the best selling record in Croatia and sales went platinum.  He was awarded the title “Singer of the Year 1999” by the coalition of Croatian radio stations and national magazines and won the celebrated national festival, “Melodije hrvatskog Jadrana”.  In 2000, Mr. Karan won the highest national competition award, Dora 2000, and was selected to represent Croatia at the international competition, “Euro Vision” in Stockholm, Sweden.  He has won the prestigious Porin Award (Croatian Grammy Awards), three times in the “Best Album”, “Best Male Performance and “Best Duet” categories.  The sales for his hit album, “Vagabunda” went platinum in 2000.

Nikica Lesic
Concert Pianist - Croatia
   
Master Professor of Liszt-Ziloti Piano Technique

Internationally acclaimed concert pianist Nikica Lesic was born in the ancient Roman
city of Split, Croatia, where he began his extensive piano education and training spanning
25 years. He has collaborated with prominent world pianists and master professors:

*  Master Professor of Liszt-Ziloti Technique Marina Ambokadze
* Professor L.Naumov of the Moscow Conservatory P.I.Tchaikovsky
*  Russian pianist and Professor Igor Laszko
* Professor and pianist Eugen Indjic, Schola Cantorum de Paris
*  Professor and pianist Christine Paraschos, Paris
* Pianist and Professor Pavica Gvozdic of the Zagreb Music Academy

Mr. Lesic completed masters programs at Yerevan State Conservatory, Armenia,
and at Ino Mirkovic Music Academy, where he was awarded the title of Master
Professor of the Liszt-Ziloti Technique.
His extraordinary career has taken him from the Split Summer Festival to
Carnegie Hall, where he made his American debut.
He has performed in concert halls throughout Europe and United States.
In concert, Mr. Lesic unveils the secrets of this oldest and most complex
of piano techniques. He displays a high level of professionalism, pianistic virtuosity,
and soulful musicality that makes his performances spell-binding and unique.
His current repertoire includes but is not limited to works by:
Rachmaninoff, Khachaturian, Taktakishvili,
Babadjanyan, Liszt, Scriabin, Debussy