Brahms – Sonata No. 1 in G major op 78
Janacek – Violin Sonata
Ysaye – Sonata for Violin Solo No 5 ”Aurora”
Prokofiev – 5 Melodies op. 35bis for Violin and Piano
Szymanowski / Paganini – 3 Caprices for Violin and Piano
In 2007 Kristine Balanas was invited to study on a full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. As well as her degree Kristine received Her Royal Highness Princess Alice the Duchess of Gloucester’s Prize of 2012 for Exemplary Studentship. Kristine has been awarded a further scholarship to con tinue her studies on the Academy’s Master of Arts postgraduate course. Other awards at the Academy include the John Waterhous e Prize 2009, Mica Comberti Prize 2010, Wolfe Wolfinsohn Prize for string quartet 2010.
Kristine has won prizes in many international competitions. She has won the 1st prize as well as the ‘Virtuoso Prize’ in 12th International Violin competition in Kloster Schontal and first prize in the National Competition for Violinists, Latvia, in 2004 and 2008 .
Reinis Zarins ’ playing has been described as “electrifying”, with “unerring judgment” ( International Piano Magazine ), while boasting “magnificent tone” ( Diena ) and “thrilling clarity” ( Boulezian ).
As a student, Reinis has garnered the first class honours and a “Student of the Year” title; as a competitor, he has won top prizes in eleven international competitions, including first prizes in B.Smetana International Competition (Czech Republic), Jaques Samuel Piano Competition (UK), and “Brother and Sister” piano – duo competition in St.Petersburg, (Russia).