Astoro Art Ensemble
The Astoro Art Ensemble was founded in 2014 by violinist Zoia Sorel and cellist Terézia Vargová at the Anton Bruckner Private University in Linz. Since then, their long-standing musical partnership has developed into a chamber music ensemble with a distinctive artistic profile.
Classical chamber music lies at the heart of the ensemble’s work. Its established artistic duo of violin and cello forms the core of the ensemble and is joined by selected musicians for individual programmes, expanding into piano trio, string quartet and other chamber music formations. The repertoire ranges from works for violin and cello to major works of the piano trio and string quartet repertoire, as well as chamber music for larger ensembles.
Nuanced sound, stylistic versatility and a shared musical language developed over many years shape the ensemble’s interpretations. At the same time, Astoro considers programme design an essential part of its artistic identity: works are not viewed in isolation, but placed within thoughtfully structured programmes and broader musical contexts.
Multiple awards at international music competitions in the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Greece and Serbia, as well as appearances at events including the International Brucknerfest Linz and the Reverb Festival Regensburg, mark the ensemble’s artistic journey to date.
Alongside its classical concert programmes, Astoro develops its own formats that offer new ways of experiencing chamber music. These include interdisciplinary concert exhibitions and collaborations with artists from the fields of visual art, literature and other disciplines. By bringing different art forms together, Astoro creates distinctive concert dramaturgies and new perspectives on the chamber music repertoire.
Another area of the ensemble’s work includes selected programmes featuring salon music, film music and original arrangements. With the Munich concert series Munich’s Musical Magic, Astoro has also developed its own moderated concert format, combining chamber and salon music with musical stories and direct engagement with the audience.
Members:
Zoia Sorel
Violin
“…the violinist Zoia Sorel, performing with captivating intensity”
Balduin Sulzer · Kronen Zeitung
Translated from the original German
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Zoia Sorel completed her Master’s studies in violin performance and pedagogy at the National Tchaikovsky Music Academy of Ukraine in the class of Bohodar Kotorovych and Bogdana Pivnenko, and later at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz with Arkadi Vinokurov and Josef Sabaini. She continued her postgraduate studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in the class of Dora Schwarzberg.
Zoia is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions and scholarships, including the Presidential Scholarship of Ukraine for outstanding students, the Edith-Rebhahn Scholarship of the Anton Bruckner University, the Gnesin Chamber Music Competition (Russia), “New Names of Ukraine,” the Festival “Jugend & Musik in Wien,” the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition (Belgium), the Melos International Music Competitions in Italy, and the United Kingdom and others.
As a soloist, chamber musician and concertmaster, she has performed at international festivals such as the Brucknerfest in Linz and the Reverb Festival in Regensburg, as well as in concert tours and recitals across China, Austria, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, and Montenegro.
Apart from performing is Zoia also active as a violin, viola and ensemble teacher in Munich.
Terézia Vargová
Cello
“Terézia Vargová was equally brilliant on the cello in Bach’s Suite No. 4, vividly shaping the musical imagery and bringing both movements to life with atmospheric sensitivity and dynamic elegance.”
Manuel Eser · Münchner Merkur
Translated from the original German
Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Terézia Vargová completed her Master’s studies at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz in the class of Andreas Pözlberger. She previously studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava with Ján Slávik and at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory in Graz with Ruth Winkler.
She is a prizewinner of several international competitions, including the IV. Concorso Musicale Internazionale Melos in Italy, the V. London International Music Competition Melos in the United Kingdom and many others. Her artistic development was supported by the Rotary Club Wels Scholarship (2018) and the Edith-Rebhahn Scholarship of the Anton Bruckner University (2019).
As a performer, Terézia has appeared on numerous international stages and festivals, including the Brucknerfest Linz and the Bischofshofen Festspielsommer under Matthias Schorn (Vienna Philharmonic). She has also worked as guest principal cellist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra.
She has participated in masterclasses with Hannah Roberts, László Mező, Sergej Roldugin, Rudolf Leopold, Georg Baich, Ján Slávik and Patrizio Serino.
From 2022 to 2023 she served as Solo Cellist of the Bad Füssing Kurorchester.
Apart from performing, she is currently active as a cello and ensemble teacher in Munich.
Artistic Partners
Musicians and artists we collaborate with on selected concerts and projects.
Yuliia Samkova
Piano
Yuliia Samkova received her musical education in the Donetsk region and continued her studies at a music college and the Sergei Prokofiev Academy of Music, graduating successfully in 2013.
She is a prizewinner of international competitions and has participated actively in numerous festivals and masterclasses. Her concert activities have taken her to various countries across Europe, South America and other international music centres.
She subsequently worked both as a music teacher and as a pianist in a variety of concert and stage projects, gaining further international performance experience through a range of engagements.
Since 2022, she has been based in Munich, where she is active both as a performer and a teacher. She completed an internship at the Gärtnerplatztheater and regularly takes part in concert projects.
As a pianist, she performs solo and chamber music programmes and appears in concerts in Munich and throughout Germany. Her artistic focus lies particularly in the interpretation of Classical and Romantic piano repertoire.
Olena Sinchuk
Piano
Olena Sinchuk began studying the piano at the age of six, and her musical talent soon became apparent. She pursued postgraduate studies at the State Conservatory in Kyiv, specialising in chamber ensemble performance and earning a qualification as a chamber ensemble soloist.
Alongside her work as a solo pianist, where her musical sensitivity, technical command and rich palette of tone colours shape her performances, she has extensive experience as a chamber musician. She has performed with other musicians on international stages and at festivals, bringing precision, musicality and a distinctive interpretative approach to a wide range of repertoire.
Chamber music has played a particularly important role throughout her career. She performed as part of a piano duo for more than ten years and has also worked in numerous other formations, including duos with various string instruments, piano trios, quartets and quintets.
Her international experience as an ensemble and orchestral musician also includes performances in the United States, where she was a member of the orchestra for an Andrew Lloyd Webber show.
Olena Sinchuk currently teaches piano at the Städtische Musikschule Weinsberg in Germany.