Guest Artists Miroslav Hristov and Chih-Long Hu performs works for violin and piano by Beethoven, Debussy, and Bartok. 

• Beethoven's Violin Sonata, Opus 12, Number 2 in A Major
• Beethoven's Violin Sonata, Opus 12, Number 3 in E-flat Major
• Rachmaninoff's Romance, Opus 6
• Passepied from Debussy's Suite Bergamasque
• Bartok's Roumanian Folk Dances

About 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 the 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).

With over twenty years of teaching experience, Dr. Miroslav Hristov has gained recognition as one of the leading violin pedagogues in the country. In the last several years, students from Dr. Hristov’s studio have earned top prizes at national and international competitions, including the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, The ENKOR International Solo Violin Competition, the Music Teachers National Association (National Finalist), the Cleveland Orchestra of Tennessee Aria and Concerto Competition, among many others.

Recent teaching awards include the Tennessee Music Teachers Association Teacher of the Year, the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher Award, the University of Tennessee Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award, and the University of Tennessee School of Music’s Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award, an award nominated by and voted on by the UT School of Music Student Advisory Board.

Recent graduates from Dr. Hristov’s studio have received full scholarships and assistantships to attend prestigious graduate programs around the country, including Indiana University, University of Houston, Arizona State University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Appalachian State University, and Columbus State University. Others have secured competitive jobs, including appointments to the violin faculty of the Universidad Pontifica Católica de Puerto Rico, Crown College, as well as performing arts organizations, such as the National Symphony of Ukraine, the Lexington Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, among others. Many of his students participate in prestigious festivals, such as the Aspen Music Festival, Meadowmount Music Festival, and Yo-Yo Ma’s Winter Music in China. Miroslav Hristov is professor of violin 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.

About Chih-Long Hu

A native of Taiwan, pianist Chih-Long Hu’s performance career was launched after receiving honors including the Taipei National Concert Hall Arising Star, the Chi-Mei Artist Award, and prizes from the Mauro Monopoli International Piano Competition in Italy, the Concurs International De Piano D’Escaldes-Engordany in Andorra, the Takamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan, and San Jose International Piano Competition in California.

An active performer, Hu performs extensively as a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. His recent performance highlights include concerto performances of Rachmaninov’s Paganini Rhapsody, Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, solo and chamber recitals in China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Ireland, France, Canada, and throughout the U.S. Hu’s performances have been broadcast in “Performance Today” through NPR stations across the U.S. His CD albums “Formosa Caprices”, “Complete Rachmaninov Etudes-Tableaux”, and “Goldberg Variations” have received critical acclaims.

Recipient of the UT Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching Award and named “Teacher of the Year” by Tennessee Music Teachers Association, Knoxville Music Teachers Associations, and Appalachian Music Teachers Association, Hu is committed and passionate in teaching. He strives to cultivate and inspire curiosity in meaningful expressions and to help his students discover their individuality through the music.  

Hu holds a doctorate of musical arts in piano performance from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree from Taipei National University of the Arts, and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from National Taiwan University. Hu is currently the Sandra G. Powell Endowed Professor of Piano and the coordinator of keyboard studies at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.​​