Profile of Judges
Anastasiia Voloshyna
Owner of La Vita Music and Art Center in Sharjah for the last 9 years. Anastasia has Graduated from the Music College and the University of Culture And Art in Ukraine. Special subjects is Piano, Classical Vocal, Choir Conductor and Music Theory Her students have won several Competitions like Best of the best, Burjuman Rising Stars, Arabian music festivals, Young Talent Music Competition and many more. Has taught many famous celebrities.
Asel Chonkoloeva
An experienced music teacher, graduate of Moscow Academic College, majoring in Vocals and Piano. Has been teaching music and English for 10 years, with many students successfully passing international exams and becoming laureates of contests and festivals, also a founder and conductor of a chamber choir in Moscow. A passionate music lover, dedicated to passing it down to the next generation of musicians and helping youngsters develop professional skills to realize their ambitions.
Elipas Cahaponon Sibua
National Director TEAM UAE, World Championships of Performing Arts Music Teacher for Vocals, Piano and Guitar at Sumbarke School and Modern Music Show Composer of the movie “Fisherman: 2022 CANNES World Festival Fibalist Expo 2020 Dubai Performer.
Jaroslav Orlicek
Jaroslav comes from Slovakia, in the heart of Europe. His journey to music started at the State Conservatory of Music in the capital city, Bratislava where he studied musical instruments such as trumpet and piano. During his study he has gained knowledge on other music instruments such as flute, akordeon, or bandoneon. Part of his life he has performed as a musician in different music bands and projects; folk, pop, ska, jazz, tango argentino music and many others. One of the most important was a Mexican mariachi music band, in which he had the opportunity to travel the world. At the moment he works as a pedagog of music and music instruments in Dubai, where he transfers his professional experience to young musicians.
Ranen Francis
Ranen Francis is a contemporary musician who started his musical journey at the tender age of 9. Raised from a highly influential musical family from his grandfather M S Fernando who is a legendary icon in the genre of baila to his father Rohan Francis who had contributed his fair share of expertise to the development of music in srilanka, he was exposed to great taste in music. He received his first instrument a keyboard but on his 17th birthday he embraced guitar as the main tool to follow his passion. Ranen started playing with local bands soon after he realised that he has what it takes to showcase his interest and performed in locals clubs and restaurants around the country. Having played the popular music that was there at the time, he realised that he needed to upscale his taste in music and knowledge.He took a step forward in learning Music theory and migrated to United Arab Emirates to work and study. By completing his studies up to second year degree level under the British curriculum he was also exposed to interact with international artists who he had the pleasure of working with. Ranen gained most of his knowledge by observing world-class musicians and the immense amount of commitment to the love of music he has. After returning to his country from a long years away from home he decided to dedicate his knowledge to young musician and students who are eager to learn the language of music. Ranen has become a loving tutor who understands the joy of learning and development of one.
Nellie Petrova-Parsons
Nellie Petrova-Parsons, FTCL, is a pianist and an opera singer. After completing her Master’s degree at the National Music Academy “P.Vladigerov” in Bulgaria, she has performed extensively in her native country and Europe. She has been living in the UAE for the past 22 years working as freelance performer and a music educator. In 2003 Nellie has founded Vocal Studio Orpheus in Knowledge Village where she still teaches and passes her knowledge to the next generation of young musicians and teachers. Many of her students went on to continue their music education in most prestigious music colleges in US and Europe.
Alena Katovich
Alena Katovich is a vocal and piano teacher at Vocal Studio Orpheus. Having worked as a teacher for over 15 years, she has often been invited to judge different music festivals and competitions within the UAE, such as Best of the Best, Millennium Melodies, Singing Sensations and Kalinka among others. Among her many students is the Grand prize winner of the Young Musicians of the Gulf competition held in Manama, Bahrain last January 2020, Sourav Roy, who also won the same competition in 2021 for the Piano category.
Jonathan Ramgopal
Jonathan is a choir director – his senior school choir was the winner of Choirfest Middle East 2019 at the Dubai Opera; a music director who has scored professional and amateur school theatre productions that include Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera, Almost Alice, Hansel & Gretel, Wizard of OZ, and a composer who has scored movies and ads – most recently, the sonic branding for Toblerone and CBI. As well as performing for audiences in excess of 10,000 people Jonathan has had the privilege of playing for various dignitaries such as H.H. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, U.S. President Bill Clinton and award-winning Indian composer A. R. Rahman. Jonathan is currently Director and Owner of Vocal Studio Orpheus – a school for virtuoso students in Dubai Knowledge Village; and is both – the Music and Rock & Pop Specialist as well as Head of Business Development for Trinity College in the Middle East.
Desmond Anokuru
Desmond Is a music educator having over many years experience of teaching. He has a Bachelors Degree in Education and he is an expert in the Kodály music pedagogy. He is a multi instrumentalist , teaching piano, keyboard, flute, voice, clarinet, sax and violin etc. Currently he is the music teacher at Al Diyafah Hight school Dubai .
Nelson D’souza
Nelson D’souza, founder of the Young Talent Music Competition now in its third edition. A Violinist, Guitarist , Singer and Songwriter and Music Producer has performed with the famed Paranjoti Choir from Bombay, India, Bombay Chamber Orchestra and the Dubai Chamber Orchestra. Has also conducted several Musical Recitals in Schools and runs performance-based Music Clubs in Schools in Dubai. Also runs an Audio recording Studio. Mr.Nelson has also produced three Music Albums under the label of “Muzikminds”.
