Luckily for Cholakova, Otaki

� who has toured with numerous world-class ensembles including a performance

at Spivey Hall with Hungary's Kodaly String Quartet this past fall � is

managed by the same organization that manages the Quartet. As a result,

the duo was put on alert as days went by and it appeared that the Quartet

would be unable to arrive in time to fulfill its obligations at Furman

University in Greenville, S.C., Georgia Southwestern State University

in Americus, Ga., and at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake City, Fl.

The program by the two pianists

featured duos by Mozart, Debussy, Brahms and Dvorak, as well as solo performances

A resident of Lilburn, Ga.,

Cholakova was a prizewinner in her native Bulgaria prior to coming to

the U.S. She has been studying with Otaki since January, 2003, and has

received both the University's Spivey Scholarship and Outstanding Performer

Award at the Georgia Music Teachers' Association Spring audition.

Otaki will be performing Chopin's

E minor Concerto throughout the Southeast in February as featured soloist

with the Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra on its debut American tour.

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