Biographies
Dr Carlos Alvarado
Conductor
Colombian born Carlos was appointed Musical Director of the Manly-Warringah Choir in April 2003.
Having won a full scholarship from the Colombian Institute of Credit to study in Russia , Carlos obtained his Doctorate of Opera and Symphonic Conducting at the Tchaikovsky Conservatorium of Music of Moscow where he studied under Gennady Rozhdestvensky. He also undertook higher studies in choral conducting , piano theory and voice technique, and was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree in choir conducting from the same Conservatorium.
In 1990-92, he was invited by Professor Hellmuth Rilling and the International Bach Academy of Stuttgart to take part as an Active Conductor in various courses and festivals with the Bach Collegium Orchestra and the Gachinnger Kantoire Choir in Stuttgart (Germany), Moscow and Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
During the past ten years he has been successful in many international conducting competitions. He has also been touring as conductor in Russia, Spain, Italy, Brazil and Colombia. He has made records for the National Radio and TV and conducted the Colombian Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphonic Band and the Symphonic Orchestra del Valle.
Carlos has been Professor of Symphonic and Choir Conducting at many Universities and Conservatoria in Colombia. He is currently conducting the Wollongong Conservatorium Choir and other vocal and instrumental groups there, as well as teaching conducting at the Australian International Conservatorium of Music.
He was selected by Symphony Australia to audition for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra with the five best conductors of Australia (2002-2003)
Carlos was appointed conductor of Wollongong Symphony Orchestra in 2004.
Alexandra Loukianova
Concertmaster
Alexandra, renowned Russian violinist, has a Master of Fine Arts from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatorium where she studied under Professor Galina Barenova.
She has enjoyed international success as a solo violinist, interpreter of chamber and orchestral music. She was the Concertmaster of the Russian Ministry of Education Orchestra, first violin of the XXI Century Chamber Orchestra, and with this group she toured throughout Ireland. She was also soloist of the Ensemble of Soloists of Tula (Russia), with whom she performed throughout Russia and the Ukraine.
From 1994 to 2002 she was Associate Concertmaster of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Bogota (Colombia). At that time she was also Associate Professor of the National University Conservatorium of Colombia.
As soloist, Alexandra has recorded many recitals and concerts with orchestra for the Colombian National Radio and Television. She has also performed in the most prestigious concert halls and auditoriums in Colombia. More recently she has performed in various venues in Wollongong and Sydney, including a recital at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and was performing regularly with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra till recently.
Alexandra currently works as a violin teacher at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music. Since 2003 Alexandra has been Concertmaster for the Manly Warringah Choir’s orchestra and since 2004 Concertmaster for the newly – formed Wollongong Symphony Orchestra.
Angela Ferguson
Accompanist
Our very talented rehearsal pianist and accompanist, Angela Ferguson, has been with the choir for 18 years. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from the NSW Conservatorium of Music and, since graduation, has freelanced as a bassoon player for many professional and amateur orchestras in the Sydney, Newcastle & Wollongong regions, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Opera House Orchestra & the Hunter orchestra. She has also accompanied many soloists on the piano for recitals and examinations.
Angela has played piano accompaniment for many of Manly-Warringah Choir's concerts, and on some occasions has joined the orchestra as a bassoonist.