Friday, April 25, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel, 8700 NW River Park Drive, Parkville, MO

The Orchestra of the International Center for Music at Park University will present its final concert of the season at the charming Chapel on campus in Parkville, Missouri. The program will be under the direction of guest conductor Barbara Yahr, now in her twentieth year as music director of the Greenwich Village Orchestra of New York, and who is making a repeat appearance with the ICM Orchestra.

The evening will also feature Diyorbek Nortojiev, a dedicated cellist who is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Cello Performance under the guidance of  professor Daniel Veis. Diyor will be performing the Cello Concerto in C Major by Haydn.

Barbara Yahr

Now in her twentieth season with the Greenwich Village Orchestra, Music Director Barbara Yahr continues to lead the orchestra to new levels of distinction.  A native of New York, Ms.Yahr’s career has spanned from the United States to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Her previous posts include Principal Guest Conductor of the Munich Radio Orchestra, Resident Staff Conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony under Maestro Lorin Maazel, and conductor of the Pittsburgh Youth Orchestra. She has appeared as a guest conductor with such orchestras as the Bayerische Rundfunk, Dusseldorf Symphoniker, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Frankfurt Radio, Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana, Janacek Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony, and the National Symphony in Washington D.C. She has also conducted orchestras in Anchorage, Calgary, Chattanooga, Columbus, Detroit, Flint, Louisiana, New Mexico, Lubbock, and Richmond, as well as the Ohio Chamber Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber, Rochester Philharmonic, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, New World Symphony, and the Chautauqua Festival Symphony Orchestra. She has appeared in Israel conducting at music festivals in Jerusalem and Elat. As an opera conductor, she has led new productions in Frankfurt, Giessen, Tulsa, Cincinnati, Minnesota and at The Mannes School of Music in NYC. In recent years, she coached the actors on the set of the Amazon Series, Mozart in the Jungle, conducted the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, the Chappaqua Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians in a concert to benefit the Musicians of Steel fund.

Diyorbek Nortojiev

Diyorbek Nortojiev, a dedicated cellist, is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Cello Performance under the guidance of world-renowned soloist and professor Daniel Veis.

Originally from Uzbekistan, Diyorbek’s musical journey began over a decade ago at the prestigious Glier School of Music in Tashkent, where he honed his craft under celebrated mentors such as Dadabaeva Nigora and Jakhangir Ibragimov. His talent has gained international recognition, notably in 2024, Diyorbek was honored as the recipient of the Undergraduate Scholarship from the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. In 2018 when he showcased his skills at the IV S. Knushevitsky International Cello Competition in Saratov, Russia, and secured 1st prize at the II “Istedod” International Music Competition in Tashkent that same year. In 2017, he also earned 3rd prize at the A. Jubanov International Competition in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Diyorbek has continued refining his artistry through participation in masterclasses with distinguished musicians such as Na Mula and Suren Bagratuni. While passionate about solo cello repertoire, he also finds great joy in collaborating with chamber ensembles and orchestras.