Julius Andrejevas (Lithuania)

 

Has been studying piano (graduated in 1965, class of professor A. Dvarionienė) and composition (graduated in 1971, class of professor E. Balsys) at Lithuanian State Conservatory, current Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. His activity comprehends many areas, such as performance, composition, teaching and administration.

Julius Andrejevas is a founder of the musical ensemble Musica Humana, has been performing with the ensemble as a pianist and a harpsichordist for 15 years. Together with this ensamble he has given concerts across Europe, recorded CD's. He has been giving concerts as a soloist and a member of chamber ensembles. In 2001 he has been working as a general director of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

From 1989 to 1991 Julius Andrejevas was a chairman of the board of the Lithuanian Composer's Union. From 1991 to 1998 he has been teaching piano in a private conservatory Mayeusis in Vigo (Spain), he has been also working as a deputy of the director. Since 1999 Julius Andrejevas has written pieces in various gendres, including opera Sad fairy tale, Concerto for Piano, Concerto for Violin, concerto for piano and string ensemble Para una ave que no vuelva, misteria for soprano, clarinet, viola and piano Canto segundo, cycles for chorus A Thrush and A Phoenix, Duo for violin and viola, pieces for piano, violin, cello, chamber music pieces, he also creates music for theatre and movies, music for children. Pieces by Julius Andrejevas are performed not only in Lithuania, but also in Japan, Sweden, USA, France, Germany, Israel, Poland, Finland, the composer has won awards for them.

Curently Julius Andrejevas is a professor at the Chamber Music Department at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. He has been giving masterclasses in Portugal, Spain, Russia (St. Petersburg), Estonia, Latvia. In 2012 he has been giving masterclasses during the European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) session in Vilnius. He is a member of the Jury in the National and International Balys Dvarionas Competitions, International F. Chopin Competition in Narva, Estonia and International Piano Competition in Saint Petersburg. Among the famous students of prof. Julius Andrejevas is the laureats of the international competitions Trio CLAVIOLA (J. Juozapaitis (viola), V. Giedraitis (clarinet), U. Antanavičiūtė (piano), Piano Trio fortepijoninis trio K. Okushiba (piano) D. Dė dinskaitė (violin), G. Pyšniak (cello).

J. Andrejevas has been awarded with the Medal of the Independence of Lithuania (2002), the Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2012).

 

Justas Dvarionas (Lithuania)

 

Justas already flourished into a skillful performer with his own musical identity at the age of eleven when he represented his country at the "Virtuosi per Musica di Pianoforte" International Piano Competition in Czechoslovakia. From this event Justas returned home as triumphant Laureate. 

His extraordinary and growing abilities eventually lead him to the Moscow P.Tchaikovsky Conservatoire for graduate and post-graduate studies, both of which he completed with highest honours (studying under Prof. Lev Vlassenko and Mikhail Pletnev). After the initial five years of study, Justas' professor, Lev Vlassenko, found that his young student's "natural talent had bloomed and he had become undoubtedly an accomplished artist." Justas' pianistic and musical abilities were enhanced through his acquaintances pianist Sviatoslav Richter and Elisso Wirssaladse.

Justas' early career continued successfully. During his final years of study he won the Italian "Viotti" International Piano Competition in 1992. Justas also received special awards from both the Portuguese "Porto" International Piano Competition and the "International M.K. Čiurlionis" Piano Competition in Lithuania, meriting the respect of jury chairman Daniel Pollack: "Justas Dvarionas from Lithuania left me with one of the biggest impressions...[he] has unique interpretation."  

Justas has returned to Italy several times for successful solo performances at the Puccini Theatre in Merano, where he was hailed an enormous talent by local reviewers. Justas also has performed in solo, chamber music or with orchestras in Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Russia, United States of America, Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic, Austria, Peru, England, Japan and more.

Justas Dvarionas teaches talented young pianists at the M.K. Čiurlionis High School for the Arts in Vilnius, Vytautas Magnum University Music Academy in Kaunas – many of his students have won prizes at prestigious international competitions. He has also held many Master Classes of his own in Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, Norway, France, Russia, Japan, Peru, Lithuania and other countries.

Justas Dvarionas is Vice-President (for international competitions) of EMCY (European Music Competitions for Youth), has served as jury member in many international competitions (like the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition, USA; Aarhus International Piano Competition, Denmark; Liszt Junior Piano Competition, Germany; N.Rubinstein International Piano Competition, France; Pyabhang Sanitwongse Piano Competition, Thailand; International Radio Competition for Young Musicians 'Concertino Praga', Czech Republik, Aarhus International competition, Denmark,  V.Krainev Competition in Ukraine and others); he was also on the board of the Lithuanian Cultural Foundation, Lithuanian independence movement Sajūdis, as well as one of the founders of the Lithuanian Think Tank “idėjų šaltinis”

These days Justas teaches and plays concerts in Lithuania and abroad, is very active in countries and international cultural and musical life – organizes and participates in jury in national and international competitions. His last engagements include concerts, teaching and jury activities in Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Fumiko Eguchi (Japan)

 

Fumiko Eguchi is acclaimed as one of the most prominent pedagogues in Japan. Beginning her piano studies with Susumu Nagai in Japan, she subsequently studied at Toho School of Music with Jun Date. She continued her studies in Europe and has performed numerous solo and chamber music recitals as well as concerts with orchestras. Nurturing many composers and artists, she has devoted herself to developing young talents as a chairperson at Yamaha Masterclass since its establishment in 1988.

She is always in demand for masterclasses and lectures throughout the country and abroad. Since 2010, she has been a faculty member at Ishikawa Music Academy and Asia International Piano Academy and Festival. Masataka Goto, one of her students, won the Liszt Competition in 2011. Eguchi's contributions in music education extend widely and she is actively involved in editing and publishing of many books, adult piano courses, along with other musical activities. She has also been a jury member of many international competitions.

Currently, she is a professor at Showa University of Music (Chair of Piano Department), Director of Showa Music and Ballet Studio, Director of Music Research Centre and Chair Professor at Piano Art Academy. She also serves on board of Piano Teachers’ National Association of Japan and is a Special Member of the Executive Committee of International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia.

Grigory Gruzman (Germany)

 

Grigory Gruzman was born in 1956 in Leningrad, Russia (today St. Petersburg).He began his piano lessons at the age of five. Due to his exceptional talent, he was admitted to the Music School for the specially gifted children at the Leningrad Conservatory. During his school-time, performed more than 300 times in numerous cities in Russia.

In 1974, Gruzman began his studies at the Jerusalem Academy of music under professor Yali Wagman (ex-pupil of Rosina Lhevinne at the Julliard School of Music). During his last two years at the Academy Gruzman studied with professor Gregory Haimovsky (ex-pupil of professor Yakov Zack in Moscow; Y. Zacк was a winner of the 3rd International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw). He also attendet piano chamber music lessons with professor Alexander Tamir.

In 1977, Gruzman was accepted into University of Music (Hochschule für Musik) in Freiburg, Germany, where he studied with the world-renowned professor Vitalij Margulis. Two years later he completed his artistic exam. Directly after his successful exam, Gruzman was offered a piano-teaching post at the same University. 1979 he attended an intensive courseheld by Diego Diez (ex-pupil of Claudio Arrau) in New York. He also participated in master classes held by distinguished artists like Claude Franck, Leon Fleisher and Alfred Brendel.

In 1980, Gruzman was appointed as the lecturer for the main subject-piano at the Music Academy (Akademie für Tonkunst) in Darmstadt, Germany, thus becoming one of the youngest music teachers in the german institutes for music. At the same time, he resumed his studies in Freiburg under professor Margulis. He then completed his concert exam (Konzertexamen) as a soloist in 1982 (in Freiburg). In the same year, he achieved an award with distiction at the international piano competiton in Monza; and in 1984, he was a finalist in the international piano competition in Vercelli (both in Italy). "On such an interpretation of Rigoletto Paraphrase, I've been waiting all my life," once said Herbert von Karajan and has invited Gruzman to Salzburg.

In 1986, his international concert carrer, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, wich has been growing steadily and rapidly achieved a break-trough as he joined forces with two of his colleagues to form the „Shostakovich Trio“ (1986-1996). The ensmble performed on world-renowned podiums; such as Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Wigmor Hall in London, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, to name bute of few. Critics from all over the world have been continuously proclaiming this trio to be one of the best ensembles of present day.

His numerous (more than 1000 times after his emigration from Russia) concert performances, appearances as a lecturer on international master courses and member of international jurys has brought him onto stages in almost every country in Еurope, the Far East, Latin-America, Australia and the USA. Everywhere his concerts are received with enthusiasm by the audience, the press, as well as the experts. About 100 of his best performances have already been broadcast by TV and radio stations all over the world. His numerous trio-arrangements and especially his arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky's „Pictures at an Exhibition“ for piano-trio have been received with enthusiasm by the public and the press world-wide. The Shostakovich Trio has performed from 1986 until 1996. When Misha Katz, cellist of the Trio, began to perform as conductor, the ensemble broke his carrer up.

Since 1988 Gruzman has been giving numerous performances of the complete cycle of Chopin's 24 Etudes. His CD of the Etudes, Op. 10 and Op. 25 by Frédéric Chopin (organo phon 90 112) was received in 1998 with a best estimation in music press. Gruzman is the only pianist who has recorded the complete Suite "Play Piano Play" by Friedrich Gulda (CD: organo phon 90126, Bach – Gershwin - Gulda). In 1998, Grigory Gruzman was named Professor for piano at the University of Music (Musikhochschule) in Hamburg.

2005-2014 Gruzman was president of the International Rachmaninov-Society (with headquarters in Darmstadt). In 2006 he was appointed as professor to the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar. Here his obligation is not only to teach as a professor at the university but also at the Music High School Schloss Belvedere (special school for gifted children). His students have won over 50 awards in national and international competitions. He is artistic director and jury chairman at international Rachmaninov (Frankfurt) and Liszt (Weimar) piano competitions for young pianists.

 

Aleksandras Jurgelionis (Lithuania)

 

Has been studying in Kaunas ten Year Music School, Kaunas J. Gruodis Music School with professor Balys Dvarionas and his student Teresė Klimavičiūtė. In 1961 graduated from Lithuanian State Conservatory, the class of professor Balys Dvarionas. During the uears of study prepared the first piano recitals in Vilnius, Klaipėda, Panevėžys and Druskininkai.

He started his musical educational work in Druskininkai, later on at Instrumental Music Department of Vilnius Pedagogical Institute, at Lithuanian Academy of Music, the Pedagogical Department, at Balys Dvarionas School of Music. For three years he has been working in Havana, at the Higher Art Institute and at the Private Conservatory in Spain. From 1974 he is working at National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts.

For ten years he has been the director of the school. The students of Aleksandras Jurgelionis have won in various republican and international competitions. Besides his pedagogical activity he has been giving concerts as a soloist and chamber musician of various ensembles in various cities of Lithuania, in Spain, Cuba and Russia. He is one of the co–founders of the 1st National Balys Dvarionas Competition in 1974 and a jury member and member of the organising committee of many other next Balys Dvarionas National and International Competitions. He is often invited to jurys and other competitions.