Imelda Gabs is our brand ambassador for the Privia and Celviano musical instrument series. She enjoys using her PX-S7000 for both practice and live performances and has also performed multiple times on the Celviano AP-750.
- PIANIST AND PRODUCER
The 26yo independent singer, pianist and producer grew up in Switzerland where she studied the piano, violin and singing. As she naturally dived into composition and songwriting, performing quickly came her way.
At 14yo, the young Swiss, belgian and congolese artist had her live debut at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels (BE) alongside her late father, jazz pianist Doctor Gabs, followed by the W:HAlll (BE) where she got to play with organ legend Rhoda Scott and Miriam Makeba's former drummer, Vic Pitts.
In 2017 she joined the Montreux Jazz Academy where she got to meet Yaron Herman, Elina Duni, Trilok Gurtu, and performed her song "Heartbeat" with bassist Marcus Miller. That same year she got invited to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival, opening for Lianne La Havas and The Roots. This led the young artist to officially start her professional music career.
Imelda Gabs likes to mix varied sounds and treats her audience with a sonically rich blissful electro-acoustic musical journey, which her self-produced debut single "Fallen Angel" fully embodies. Brilliantly infusing her dark pop inspirations with cinematic visuals by Swiss director Dariy Mambetov, the single was internationally praised and set the tone for what was to come.
In 2021 the Montreux Jazz Festival invited her to join their lineup once more. She also opened for french singer Camélia Jordana during the festival Les Créatives and presented her second single and music video, "Alter Ego".
Her self-produced debut album "SYNOPSIS" was released in 2023. It includes her two singles "Reckless" and "Thieves". This album led her to perform across Europe, both solo and with her band.
On the verge of a new chapter, Imelda Gabs is currently working on new music set to be released in 2025, as well as her 2nd album.
- VIDEO
"She is a revolutionary with a brilliant technique, someone who goes against the grain; no punk of the classical scene but not entirely refined either, an artist who tells stories with her hands", MDR declared when Kateryna Titova’s debut recording of works by Rachmaninoff was released by Sony Classical in 2009.
- A VIRTUOSO MAGICIAN
Kateryna was born in Ukraine in 1983 and grew up in Russia. She began playing the piano when she was five years old and has studied in Kharkov and Moscow, Münster and Dresden, Manchester and Bologna. Following many performances and extended stays all over the world, Kateryna eventually settled in Germany where she now lives with her family.
Kateryna Titova has won first or second prize at twenty international piano competitions, including the 2002 Alicia de Larrocha Competition in Andorra, the 2004 International Russian Music Piano Competition in San José, California, the 2005 International Anton Rubinstein Competition in Dresden, the 2008 James Mottram International Piano Competition in Manchester and the 2013 Spanish Composers International Piano Competition in Madrid.
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- SOLOIST AND CHAMBER MUSICIAN
Titova says: "Fantasy — it is only given to human beings: the ability to create images in the mind which do not exist in reality."
Both as a soloist and as a chamber recitalist, Kateryna Titova has performed throughout Europe, Russia, Ukraine and in the USA with orchestras such as the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the "Philharmonie der Nationen" symphony orchestra and—under the direction of Maxim Vengerov—the Prague Philharmonic. Recitals have taken her to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, the Bad Kissingen Summer Festival, the International Music Festival in Viana do Castello in Portugal, the Dresden State Opera, the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Lesinsky Hall in Zagreb and Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
Brittani Washington has not only toured as a keyboard player with the international star Beyoncé for over six years, but also works with many top-class musicians such as Jay-Z, Kanye West and CeeLo Green (Gnarls Barkley). Alongside her job as a professional musician, Brittani is also committed to supporting homeless musicians and abused women in her home state of Texas (USA).
- MUSIC UNITES PEOPLE
Brittani first came into contact with CASIO and the Privia digital pianos during a cooperation with the Modern Music School chain of music schools. She toured numerous european cities, sharing her love of playing music with hundreds of children and young people. On this tour, she always used the digital pianos, the sound and design of which impressed Brittani right from the start.
Since then Brittani performed in numerous concerts, music videos and joint projects with CASIO. Since 2019 Brittani Washington became the official Privia brand ambassador of CASIO Music.
- VIDEO
Irene Veneziano, born in Italy in 1985, is one of the most talented pianists of her generation. She has thrilled audiences worldwide with performances at highly prestigious venues such as the "Teatro Alla Scala" in Milan, the "Chinese Theater" in Los Angeles and the "Tata Theater" in Mumbai.
- VIRTUOSO WITH AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION
Thanks to her outstanding talent, she has received a number of awards such as the "G.Sinopoli" prize in Italy, the honorary title of "Visitante Distinguida" (honoured guest) in Peru and honorary membership in the "Beijing Bravoce Music Club" in China. She is a recipient of the national cultural award "Toyp 2017" and was included in the "Donne. Mujeres italianas que han cambiado la historia" exhibition in Spain, which featured Italian women who've had a significant impact on history.
Irene Veneziano has won over 30 piano competitions, was a semi-finalist in the prominent "F. Chopin" competition in Warsaw and even shone as a finalist in the "International German Piano Award" in Frankfurt am Main.
- VIDEO
- ADEPT COLLABORATOR
The list of musicians that Irene has already had the opportunity to work with includes celebrated artists such as W. Bennett, A. Griminelli and M. Caroli, as well as composers such as Y. Bashmet, S. Kochanovsky and R. Seehafer. Since 2016, Irene Veneziano has been the official brand ambassador of the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid series.
Debby Smith belongs to a rare group of musicians who have the whole package: She is not only eye-catching on the stage, but she is also a "true" musician who started at an early age. Debby was already playing the piano at age six, and just a little later she was energetically collecting choir and band experience. She wrote her first songs at 14 years old and by then the young musician had chosen her path.
- FIRST ENGAGEMENTS AT 15
After seven years as an established member of the Living Water gospel choir in Hamburg, Debby Smith stepped into the spotlight and took her first tentative steps as a solo singer in bars and at events, for which she was booked because of her special repertoire of cover songs and original compositions.
Studio engagements for backing vocals and adverts followed when Debby was still just 15, and eventually she started working hard on her own material with help from producers and professional musicians.
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- A MIX INSPIRED BY POP, SOUL AND JAZZ
But what does Debby's music sound like now? Take a blender, throw in some pop and soul and finish it all off with a pinch of jazz. Featuring personal and honest lyrics by a woman in her mid-twenties, her music offers a pleasure that entertains and inspires both musically and linguistically. Debby's star has only just begun to rise into the musical heavens, yet she already has the knowledge of a professional.
- A NOTEWORTHY NEWCOMER
Whether as a front woman of various band projects, on stage in Malaysia, Chile or the USA, or in the studio with musical giants like producer Frank Peterson (who has worked with the likes of Sarah Brightman), the attention from the music world for this promising and fresh newcomer is growing steadily. Let's finish with perhaps her most personable fact: Debby does not rely on her success — quite the opposite in fact. She remains down to earth and hardworking, as since 2011 she has been studying for her bachelor's degree at the HfMT University of Music and Theatre in Hamburg. Her major, of course, as in life is singing.
Kristian Terzic is an award-winning pianist and keyboard player, session musician, arranger and composer from Croatia. He has already been named Best Keyboard Player several times with his receipt of the Status award.
- AN EXPERIENCED ALL-ROUNDER
He gained his musical experience performing in Europe, the Middle East and the USA, both as a band member and as the frontman of his own jazz fusion band. Kristian plays on various live TV programmes and for popular pop/rock artists. As an arranger with experience in different music styles, he has also worked on music projects for Bollywood films.
- VIDEO
- HIS OWN ALBUM WITH AN ALL-STAR LINE-UP
In 2012, Kristian released his first self-titled instrumental jazz-fusion album, which was very well received and received three nominations for the Porin music award (the Croatian Grammy). Kristian is currently working on his second album, with Simon Phillips (Toto, Jeff Back, Mick Jagger) on the drums, Mike Miller (Chick Corea, Gino Vanelli) on guitar and Hadrien Feraud (Chick Corea, Zawinul Legacy Band) on bass. The album was recorded at the Phantom Recording Studios in Los Angeles and will be released in 2018.
- RELIES ON CASIO INSTRUMENTS
Kristian often uses CASIO instruments and relies on the PRIVIA-Pro PX5S and PX-560M stage pianos, the XW-P1 synthesiser, the MZ-X500 keyboard and the Grand Hybrid GP-500 digital piano.
CASIO Music Community
Discover the world of CASIO brand ambassadors – inspiring artists who perform, compose and shine on international stages with CASIO digital pianos and keyboards. Learn more about their personal stories, their musical background and their current artistic goals. Be inspired by their diverse styles – from classical and jazz to pop and experimental music – and gain valuable insights into the world of electronic musical instruments. Become part of the Casio Music Community and experience how music transcends borders and connects people.
