BERNIE MALLINGER – VIOLIN He studied at the Music University Graz (Classical Violin/Concert). After finishing studies Mallinger stayed for some months in the USA (New School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard School in New York). Since 1997 free-lancing artist. In the following years cooperation at about 100 CD-productions in the field of Jazz, Folk, Pop, and New Music. Stage work from duo up to work as soloist with big bands and orchestras. Performances in numerous theatre- and show productions. Since the winterterm 1999/2000 lectureship at the University of Art/Graz (dep. Jazz). Further pedagogical work within the frame of workshops and jazzdays in Austria, Spain, and in the USA. JOHANNES DICKBAUER – VIOLIN He studied at the „Mozarteum“ in Salzburg with Benjamin Schmid, later at the university in Vienna with Gerhard Schulz (Alban Berg Quartett). Currently he is a student at the Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, in the studio of Pamela Frank. He’s winner of several competitions as „Prima la Musica“ or „Stefanie Hohl“ in Vienna. Dickbauer appeared as a soloist with the Vienna Conservatory Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, in which he had the great possibility to play under Sir Yehudi Menuhin. In January 2004 he performed a concert in the Vienna “Konzerthaus” as winner of the competition “Musica Juventutis”. He’s member of the Vertigo String Quartet which was the winner of the International Competition “Duchi acqua viva” in Atri in 2006. CYNTHIA LIAO – VIOLA Born in Taipeh, Taiwan. First studies of viola and composition in Taiwan. Studied viola at University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna with Thomas Kakuska. 2000 graduation with the title “Magistra artium”. Chamber music studies with members of Artis Quartett, Wiener Sextett and Alban Berg Quartett. First solo performance at the age of 13. Subsequently concerts with orchestras in Austria (Vienna Mozart Orchestra), Italy, Taiwan, Corea and the USA. 1995-1997 Principal Viola of the "Wiener Jeunesse Orchester", 1998-1999 of the Vienna Chamber Opera and 2001-2003 of the milanese symphony orchestra “Giuseppe Verdi”. 2002 Invitations as soloist at the „Teatro La Fenice“ in Venice; 2004 group leader of the violas in Brucknerorchester Linz. Since 2003 Member of Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber Philharmonic. Since 2005 member of the Ensemble Reconsil Vienna for contemporary music. Liao performed with chamber orchestras at numerous festivals, as Wiener Festwochen, Bregenzer Festspiele, Klangfruehling Festival, Kammermusik Festival Stresa etc. ASJA VALCIC – CELLO Asja Valcic studied with V. Despalj (Zagreb/Croatia), L. Teraspusky (Massachusetts/USA), N. Schahovskaja (Moscow/Russia) and K. Georgian (Detmold, Germany). Graduation with Soloist's Diploma. She attended master classes with B. Pergamenchikov und B. Greenhouse. She has played chamber music with G. Schulz (Alban Berg Quartett), H. Schoneweg (Cherubini Quartett), I. Bolton (Brodsky Quartett), I. Bieler (Melos Quartett), A. Engegard (Orlando Quartett), T. Brandis (Brandis Quartett), and many others. As a soloist she performed with the Zagreb Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic and the Westfälische Kammerorchester, conducted by the likes of Kazushi Ono and Zubin Mehta. In 1995 she won the „Concours international de jeunes concertistes de Douai“ in France. For her recordings of the Sonatas of Shostakovich and Schnittke she was awarded the German Record Critics' Award in 1998. Valcic is teaching at the music academy of Zagreb (Croatia), at the Dartington International School of Music/England, in Chioggia/Italy and at the university of music Detmold/Germany. Since 2008 she is playing in duo with Klaus Paier.