Valentin Kovalev is a passionate and dedicated classical saxophonist who is seeking to elevate the voice of saxophone in classical music. Named the winner of the most prestigious international saxophone competitions, Valentin is also the recipient of significant awards from foundations in France (Fondation pour la vocation), Russia (the Rostropovich Foundation), and the United States (Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia). His international career spans performances as a soloist across the U.S., Russia, France, Andorra, and Asia.

Valentin was recently named a winner of the 2024 CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Competition and, in addition, received the coveted Audience Award. As the recent winner of the esteemed Naumburg Foundation 2022 Saxophone Competition, during the 2023-2024 season Valentin gave a sold-out debut recital at Carnegie Hall premiering the newly commissioned piece by GRAMMY Award-winning composer Steven Mackey.

As an active educator, Valentin enjoys teaching masterclasses around the world. Having served as a saxophone professor at Rowan University in New Jersey, Valentin is excited to start in his next role as a visiting professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Valentin has recently recorded his masterclass and podcast for an online educational platform AdLibitum Class. In August 2023, Valentin had the honor of joining the acclaimed electronic dance music violinist, Lindsey Stirling, on stage in Portsmouth, VA, for a captivated audience of 6,000 people.

One of Valentin’s most significant achievements has been cultivating an engaged community of music lovers across his social media platforms. Valentin’s Instagram account (@valentinkmusic) has reached 45,000 followers, while his YouTube channel (V&A TV) has 33,000 subscribers. These platforms have allowed him to share his passion for the saxophone, inspire others, and foster a global community of music lovers. Valentin is a Henri Selmer, Paris artist, Conn-Selmer artist (USA), and is represented by the Concert Artists Guild. His musical journey from Siberia to studying saxophone in Moscow, obtaining an undergraduate degree from the esteemed Paris Conservatory, and completing a Master’s degree at the University of Michigan, exemplifies how determination and passion can surpass geographical limitations.

Nathan Canfield serves as a staff pianist at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. An eager collaborator, he cherishes frequently performing with musicians from his native Illinois and beyond, including members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute. He has also worked alongside musicians of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, as well as members of other major orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States as a rehearsal and recital pianist. Beyond performing, Canfield is also a passionate arranger and transcriber for his instrument. His latest projects include arrangements of Sergei Rachmaninov’s lesser-known works, as well as a program of “Golden Age” piano duo transcriptions set for performance in 2025. Canfield is an alumnus of Northwestern University, completing a Master of Music degree under the guidance of James Giles.