Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was born in Panama, emigrated to New Orleans and then to Chicago and New York City, becoming a legendary pianist/bandleader/arranger/composer, and Louis Armstrong’s long-time collaborator and musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering bassist/guitarist/vocalist and holder of advanced degrees from Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music, who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Ruth Brown. Not surprisingly considering her pedigree, Catherine Russell is a one of a kind musician and vocalist. A graduate of American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Catherine has toured the world, performing and recording with David Bowie, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash, Carrie Smith, Toshi Reagon, Wynton Marsalis, Dr. John, Joan Osborne, Vince Giordano, and many others, appearing on over 200 albums.

In 2012, Catherine Russell won a Grammy Award for her appearance as a featured artist on the soundtrack album for the HBO TV series Boardwalk Empire. In 2013, Catherine contributed 3 songs to the soundtrack album for the movie Kill Your Darlings, starring Daniel Radcliffe as a young Allen Ginsberg.

A sixth album, Harlem On My Mind, was released in September 2016, on the Jazz Village label, receiving a Grammy Nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Popular classical music: Strauss, Brahms, Sviridov, Khachaturian, Petrov, etc. played by Samara Philharmonic Orchestra

Mozart, Haydn, Rossini, Petrali, Gershwin.

A graduate of Dr. Carlos de Campos Conservatory, Tatuí-SP, Joander Santos first came in contact with music as a child born to a family of singers and evangelical instrumentalists. At the age of eleven, he was already playing with the musical groups of the church.

Looking for deeper musical insight, he entered one of the major music schools in Latin America – Dr. Carlos de Campos Drama and Music Conservatory, Tatuí-SP. During his studies, he performed as a singer and guitarist with many projects ranging from big bands and jazz combos to theatrical companies. He also studied arrangement, composition, African-Brazilian rhythms and the history of Brazilian music.

After the Conservatory, he toured Egypt, Italy and Russia, delighted to be delivering Brazil's unique musical message to places far beyond the country’s borders. Joander continues composing his original music and developing his art in a bid to make this world a better place.

Polina Shamayeva graduated from the Rostropovich Voronezh College of Music (the Choral Conducting Department) in 2006 and the Popov Academy of Choral Art with degrees in choral conducting (2011) and solo singing (2016). She attended master classes of Lyubov Kazarnovskaya, Darren Zimmer (2015), Michael Paul (2016), and Sara Allegretta (2016).

The singer has performed in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Moscow International Performing Arts Centre, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the State Kremlin Palace, Megaro Mousikis Athinon (Greece), the Osaka Symphony Hall (Japan), the Minato Mirai Hall (Japan), and at other venues. She took part in the Colmar International Festival directed by Vladimir Spivakov (France), Rheingau Musik Festival (Germany), the Moscow Easter Festival, the “Transfiguration” Festival of Arts (Yaroslavl), the “Kruzheva” International Music Festival (Vologda), the Dinara Aliyeva International Music Festival OperaArt, and some others.

Yana Diakova, Samara-born mezzo-soprano and «The Grand Opera» 2017 quarter-finalist, is also to take part in the concert.