Bio
About Argos Trio
The Argos Trio was formed by its original members in 2007. The members youthful passion has won audiences all over the country. Their superb interpretations of baroque to contemporary music is charismatic, fiery, and unabashed. Violinist, Liana Koteva Kirvan, Cellist, Lars Kirvan, and their newest member, Pianist, Chiao-Wen Cheng combine the strict, yet artistic training of the Eastern European School, with the refined freedom of the American conservatory.
The Argos Trio was recently praised after performing Shostakovich's Trio No. 2 on the opening night of Strathmore Halls Music in the Mansion series, as giving, "a defining performance of what must have been one of the greatest piano trios of the twentieth century." -Stephen Neal Dennis, allartsreview4u.com. Most recently, the Argos Trio was heard live on the WXXI radio station in greater Rochester with an, "exciting and passionate performance - a dynamic duo of strings." -Chris Van Hof.
Liana Koteva Kirvan, violin
Violinist, Liana Koteva Kirvan is originally from Bulgaria and moved to the U. S. when she was fifteen to pursue advanced musical studies. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Harid Conservatory in violin performance studying with Sergio Schwartz, and then continued her studies at the Eastman School of Music for a Masters degree under the tutelage of Zvi Zeitlin. Liana has won numerous solo competitions including: Grand Prize of the Wallenstein Violin Competition, Grand Prize of the Boca Pops Competition, and top prizes in the NSAL Competition, and the Escandido International String Competitions. She is the recipient of the Most Promising Young Artist award from Bulgaria in 2001. Liana has attended the Santa Barbara music festival and participated in the prestigious New York String Seminar. Liana has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra sin 2001. She has also recorded the complete Brahms Violin Sonatas that can be found locally and online at www. CDBaby.com. She performs on a modern violin by renowned maker, Kurt Widenhouse.
Lars Kirvan, cello
Cellist, Lars john Kirvan, grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, where he began his cello studies with Loran Stephenson of the National Symphony Orchestra. He later continued his musical education with renowned retired Cleveland Orchestra principal cellist, Stephen Geber. Lars has been a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra and the Verbier Chamber Orchestra. He was a member of the New World Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Michael Tilson- Thomas. Lars has traveled all over the world performing in their most prestigious concert halls. He has collaborated in chamber music performances with artists such as Maxim Vangerov, James Buswell, Leonidas Kavakos, Dimitry Sitkovesky, Heinrich Schiff, Laurence Lesser, and Corey Cerovcek, to name a few. Mr. Kirvan was appointed 3rd chair cellist of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 2008. Lars performs on a modern cello by an award winning luthier, Raymond Schryer.
Chiao-Wen Cheng, piano
Pianist, Chiao- Wen Cheng was born in Taiwan. She has appeared as a recitalist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Taiwan. She has won numerous piano Competitions including First prize in the Cliburn/McElroy/Dayas/Gorno Scholarship Competition (2006); First prize winner in the Wyoming Music Club Scholarship Competition (2006); Winner in the ETTV Talented Artist Scholarship Competition in Taiwan (2005); First Prize in the EcElroy, Dayas, Baur Scholarship Competition (2004); Winner in the ETTV Talented Artist Scholarship Competition in Taiwan (2004), to name a few.
As a chamber musician, Ms. Cheng has performed in numerous festivals including International Piano festival in Taiwan, International Keyboard Institute and Festival at Mannes, and Aspen Summer Music Festival. She has also performed with many artists such as Ronald Barron, Ixi Chen, Victoria Chiang, David Halen, Michael Kannen, Jane Marvine, Katherine Needleman, James Olin, and Ko- Ichiro Yamamoto. Ms. Cheng began piano lessons with her aunt at the age of four. She completed her Bachelors Degree at the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music as a student of Frank Weinstock where she received Van Cliburn Scholarship, and her Masters degree at the Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University as a student of Benjamin Pasternack where she received the Clara Ascherfeld Award. Additional teachers include William Black, Che Chang, Ya- Jung Hong, and Dave Skvorak.
Ms. Cheng is currently pursuing her Doctoral Degree at the Eastman School of Music where she studies with Barry Snyder.
