Ithay Khen
is considered one of today's leading Israeli cellists. His teachers include W. Böttcher, J. Schwab, U. Wiesel, L. Quandt and his own father, Uri Khen, who saw him through his first steps on the cello. In addition to the Clermont Prize as best young Israeli cellist, Ithay Khen was also awarded first prize in the cello and chamber music competition at Tel Aviv’s Rubin Academy of Music. Following his studies at the HDK in Berlin, he was a stipendiary of the Herbert von Karajan Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1996 to 1997 he was a solo cellist at the Royal Philharmonic of Antwerp, before advancing to become fi rst solo cellist of the Nuremberg Opera. Among the orchestras with which Ithay Khen has made guest appearances as a soloist are the Budapest Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic of Antwerp, the German Chamber Orchestra of Berlin and the Israel Chamber Orchestra.

Atsuko Koga
was born in Fukuoka, Japan. After graduating from three years of training in Tokyo, she transferred to the “Conservatoire Nationale Supérieure de Musique de Paris,” where she completed her flute studies with a grade of “excellent.” She has been awarded at many international competitions, including the first prize at the “Lutéce” in Paris, at the “Jeunesse Musical” in Bucharest and again in Paris at the “Gaston Crunelle.” Among the venues at which she attained second prize are “Maria Canals” in Barcelona, “Le Sprendel” in Tokyo and the international chamber music competition “Caltanisetta” in Italy. Atsuko Koga has been a soloist for, amongst others, the Toho Philharmonic in Tokyo, the “Orchestre de CNSM de Paris,” the Philharmonie Jeunesse Musical in Bucharest and the Magdeburg Philharmonic. Atsuko Koga’s concerts have been documented in many recordings for radio and television in Japan and Europe.