Dr. Miroslav Hristov

Violinist Miroslav Hristov was hailed by Fanfare Magazine for his "razor sharp technique" and a "full palette of tonal colors." He presents master classes and performs extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in several international festivals and concert series, including the Musical Treasures series in Carnegie Hall, the Interharmony International Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, the Sofia Music Weeks International Festival, the Balabanov House Music Days, the Big Arts Concert Series in Florida, and the Fredell Lack Series in Houston, Texas. Recent performances include solo and chamber performances in the national recital halls of Taiwan and Singapore. Hristov was First Prize winner of the International Violin Competition "Dobrin Petkov," and a prizewinner for the MTNA Collegiate String Performance Competition

Hristov has recorded for Centaur Records, Romeo Records, Blue Griffin Records, the Divine Arts Record label, Bulgarian National Radio and WUOT Knoxville. His recordings are broadcast on NPR stations across the United States and abroad. As part of the internationally-acclaimed Kaleidos Duo with pianist, Vladimir Valjarevic, Dr. Hristov's recordings and performances have received rave reviews from The Strad Magazine, Fanfare, DUMA (Sofia, Bulgaria), and Lucid Culture (New York).

Hristov has presented his research on Eastern European pedagogical methods for violin at conferences around the world, including the International College Music Society Conference, the American String Teachers Association National Conference, and the Music Teachers National Association Conference. A dedicated teacher, his students have won numerous competitions, and many hold prestigious scholarships and professional appointments. Recent teaching awards include the 2014 Tennessee Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year, the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher Award, and the University of Tennessee School of Music's Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award. 

Miroslav Hristov is Professor of Violin and Coordinator of Strings at the University of Tennessee. He is also Founder and Director of the University of Tennessee's Ready for the World Music Series, which brings renowned artists to perform and talk about musical styles and literature from diverse regions around the world, emphasizing each region's contribution to western classical music.

Dr. Yu-Fang Chen

A native of Taiwan, Dr. Yu-Fang Chen is the Assistant Professor of Violin at Ball State University. 

She received her Doctoral of Musical Arts degrees on both violin and viola performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2013, under the tutelage of Benny Kim and Scott Lee. As a sought-after performer and pedagogy, Chen has been invited to teach and perform at various music institutions and festivals, including the Sunflower Music Festival and the Heartland Chamber Music Academy in U.S.A, the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy, and Thailand International Composition Festival in Salaya, Thailand, etc..

Chen has won many awards and competitions and her career as a performing artist is extensive. Her international performing career has taken her to more than fifteen countries on five continents, and she continues to perform as a guest musician internationally with various concert artists, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. She has worked with renowned soloists and conductors, such as Pinchas Zukerman, Yefim Bronfman, Christoph von Dohnanyi, and Seiji Ozawa, just to name a few.

Chen served as an Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas from 2015-2017. She was a member of the Indianapolis Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and the Academy of Taiwan.

As an enthusiastic performer of contemporary music, Chen has commissioned, premiered, and recorded many compositions by living composers. Her recordings can be found in ABLAZE and Parma Recordings.