Jassen Todorov – violin and Ng Chong Lim STM – piano will play a concert dedicated to the violin sonatas by J. Brahms. They will play all three sonatas in their entirety. Do not miss this special musical event at the St. Sophia church in Ohrid on the 20th June 2018 at 21:00 h.

Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, op. 78  (1878–79)

Violin Sonata No. 2 in A major, op. 100 (1886)

Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1887)


Jassen Todorov has distinguished himself as one of the most prominent violinists of his generation. Dubbed “an outstanding violinist… a player to watch” by the British music journal The Strad, Mr. Todorov has performed throughout Europe, Australia, Asia, South American and North America, including recitals at Carnegie’s Weill Hall in New York, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Melba Hall in Melbourne.

With a repertoire including works from all styles and epochs, Mr. Todorov has recorded the complete sonatas of Bach, Brahms and Ysaye, as well as Beethoven’s Sonatas Nos. 6 and 10. The Strad described him as “a violinist of rare technical ability…he brings musicality to his performances…his left hand is able to deliver Ysaye’s demands in the many mercurial passages with commendable accuracy” and the American Record Guide portrayed it as “high praise…an important release for admirers of Ysaye’s music.”

A top prize winner of national and international competitions, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Harid Conservatory, Florida, and his master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. From 2000 to 2003, he served as the teaching assistant to Professor Oleh Krysa at the Eastman School and held a violin position at the University of Rochester. Mr. Todorov is the recipient of prestigious awards including the Eastman award for excellence in teaching and the Crystal Lyre for achievements in music. Currently, Mr. Todorov is a Professor of Violin at San Francisco State University and Visiting Professor of Violin at Xinjiang Arts University, China.

An award-winning photographer and an active pilot, he holds a Commercial Pilot’s License and Flight Instructor Certificate. Visit Mr. Todorov on the web at www.jassentodorov.com.

Mr. Todorov plays a 1778 Tomaso Eberle violin.


Ng Chong Lim STM

Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pianist–composer Ng Chong Lim studied at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London under the tutelage of Professor Frank Wibaut. He continued his piano studies with Professor Elza Kolodin and subsequently with Professor Beat Furrer at the Universitat fur Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz, Austria for music composition.

Chong Lim has performed both as a soloist and chamber musician in many international venues, such as England, USA, Holland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ukraine, Brazil and Japan with recent appearances at ‘Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas Project’ in Singapore and he was invited to “Opusfest” International Piano and Chamber Music Festival, Philippines. He performed at 2014 “21st New Music Festival” held in Almaty, Kazakhstan and 2018 International Taipei Piano Maestro Festival. Chong Lim has served as juror of international competitions, including The 5th & 6th ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition in Malaysia, The Jakarta International Piano Competition held in Indonesia and National Music Competitions for Young Artists in Philippines.

A keen composer, Chong Lim has had his works commissioned by and premiered in various countries. Notable works include “Rimba”, “Window” and “Xiang”(premiered by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 2006-7), “Amorphous” for String Orchestra (premiered at “Streams” New Music Festival in Brauweiler, Germany, 2010), “Footprints” for Piano Solo (premiered at “John Donald Robb Composers’ Symposium, New Mexico, USA, 2011), “Shadows” for Piano and Malay Traditional Instruments (premiered at “International Festival Of Classical Music” Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2011).

For his great contribution to the Malaysian music scene, Chong Lim was awarded STM (Pingat Setiawan Tuanku Mukhriz – Associate-Order of Loyalty to Tuanku Mukhriz) by the Yamtuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in 2011.