Acclaimed Pianist and Cellist Open the 2026-2027 Classical Music Series Season at The Mainstay

The 2026-2027 Classical Music Series season opens at The Mainstay in Rock Hall with two international musicians -- Pianist Ramilya Saubanova and Cellist Evanghelina Ciobanu -- who will present an exciting program of duo and solo pieces for piano and cello by J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Dmitri Shostakovich, Mark Maarder, and Andrea Casarrubios. A special feature of the Classical Music Series concerts is a conversation between the musicians and concert organizer Muphen R. Whitney before intermission. This gives the audience a chance to learn about the musicians, their instruments, and their thoughts about the music they chose for this program. Then the floor is open for audience questions -- always a treat! Ramilya Saubanova, Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), is a Baltimore-based pianist originally from the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. Throughout her career, Ramilya has appeared in solo and collaborative performances across Russia, Europe, and the United States. In 2026, she made her Asian debut at the National Recital Hall in Taiwan. Ramilya is the co-founder and president of the Union Square Soirée concert series in Baltimore. She also founded the Tatar Classical Music Project in the United States – an effort that celebrates and shares Republic of Tatarstan heritage through its music, history, and art. In collaboration with the Peabody Conservatory, Ramilya created a film inspired by the project that is scheduled for release in 2027. Ramilya’s honors include Grand Prix laureate awards from the World Vision Music International Competition and the Music Without Limits International Competition. She has been honored with prestigious scholarships including the Presidential Scholarship of Tatarstan. In 2025 she was recognized by the Baltimore City Council for her cultural contributions to the City. Ramilya was educated at the Kazan State Conservatory and the Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University. She has degrees as a Specialist, Master, and Doctor of Musical Arts. Ramilya is a passionate teacher who presents master classes in piano and chamber music that have resulted in her students achieving success in prestigious competitions. Evanghelina Ciobanu was born in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova. She has performed throughout Europe and the United States and in South Korea as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra member. Evanghelina’s orchestral experience includes principal cello positions in the Wonderful Youth Orchestra (Trieste, Italy) and in the National Symphony Orchestra “Tele-radio Moldova” when they toured South Korea. Envanghelia was a member of the Central European Initiative Youth Orchestra (Trieste, Italy), the Chamber Orchestra of the International Center for Music (Parkville, Missouri), and the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in the International Cello Seminar in Sitka, Alaska and the Castleman Quartet Program, based in Upstate New York. Evanghelina has placed highly in several international competitions and she has been awarded scholarships from the Kansas City Music Club and from the Sigma Alpha Iota music organization for her commitment to music. Her other awards include the Civic Engagement Georgie Award from The Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory. Evanghelina received her Bachelor’s Degree in cello performance at Park University’s International Center for Music (Parkville, Missouri) in 2019, and she received a Master’s Degree in cello performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2021. In 2025 Evanghelina completed her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Cello Performance at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University under Alan Stepansky. The Classical Music Series concerts are supported by The Hedgelawn Foundation in Honor of July Kohl and consist of four concerts each season. This season's final three concerts will be on November 15 -- Lutenist and Classical Guitarist Ronn McFarlane; March 7 -- Pianist Carter McMullen and Flutist Amanda Dame; and May 2 -- the Maryland Premiere of "The French Perspective" with Classical Guitarist William Feasley. This concert will be a wonderful event for art and music lovers alike. Commissioned by the Virginia Museum of Art -- which will host its premiere in April 2027 -- the work combines a visual presentation of French Impressionist art with French music of the period presented by Feasley on guitar.

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3801818-0

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3801818-2

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