Inna Kazakova is a most beautiful and gracious lady who met with me last week at the Cayman Music School (CMS) located in Grand Pavilion on West Bay Road.

Inna co-owns the music school that in just a few years has already enjoyed considerable recognition in Cayman’s performing arts. Many of the school’s students have won competitions.

This is due to some extent (yes the student must have talent) to the school’s experienced teachers who bring out the very best in their pupils.

Inna, herself has a B.M degree from Kirjukov Music College and a Master of Music in Musicology with Distinction from Kazan State Conservatory in Russia. She has extensive music background and 19-years teaching experience. Starting as a music teacher at primary school, she continued at high school, and then at university.

While working as a faculty of the Music Department at Mordovian State University, Inna designed and taught a variety of music courses, such as Piano, Music Theory, Music History and Literature, Solfege, Counterpoint, Form and Analysis, Choral Conducting, Choral Arranging, Score Reading, and Harmony. She is also a gifted singer and has performed solo and with groups ranging from chamber ensemble to opera choir.

Last year she accompanied Welsh International soprano, Lisa Carlisle, on piano at a sell out concert at The Wharf.

When I sat down with Inna she told me how excited she was about the fundraiser musical evening at the Ritz-Carlton on Thursday 14^th at 5pm she has planned. For only $125 per person, the patrons will watch a beautiful concert of music performed by teachers and pupils of the school and hear world-class pianist, Simeon Panov, who is also one of the school’s teachers and be served with wine, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. There will also be a raffle and a silent auction.

Simeon Panov is a celebrated concert pianist and singer from Bulgaria who has toured some of Europe’s most esteemed concert halls as both a soloist and in various orchestras. The technical capability and virtuosity of Panov’s style is jaw-droppingly impressive.

Simeon received his Master of Music Degree in Performing Arts from the National Music Academy “Pancho Vladiguerov” – Sofia, Bulgaria in 2004.

He was Laureate of many international piano competitions including: Dimitar Nenov, Lilly & Ferdi Statzer, Seiler, Konzerteum, Yuri Boukoff.

Simeon studied vocal under Rumen Doykov – one of Europe’s most well-known tenors and famous for his belcanto vocal technique.

The proceeds from the concert will go towards providing eight free scholarships to Caymanian children.

“There are many gifted children here in the Cayman Islands who do not have the funds to receive professional musical tuition they need,” Inna explained. “CMS is a privately run school and as such it does cost money to provide the high standard of musical education we offer. It is, therefore, not possible for the school to provide free scholarships solely as an expense we have to cover.

“We are begging the business community and government for help in providing sponsorships of the scholarship programme and supporting the Ritz-Carlton musical dinner. We thought if we were also able to name the scholarships we would be serving two purposes, helping a child (or children) and identifying a Caymanian hero, preferably one that has had interest in music.”

For more information go to [email protected]. Tickets are available at Cayman Music School, Grand Pavilion, West Bay Road. Tel: 938 3838 and 929 2999.