Italian Splendor: Vivaldi, Giuliani & Paganini

guitar

Guitarist Łukasz Kuropaczewski is well on his way to becoming a major figure on the worldwide classical music scene. Born in 1981 in the small Polish town of Gniezno, Łukasz began studying guitar at the age of ten. At 13, his early talent brought him to the attention of the distinguished guitar teacher Piotr Zaleski with whom he studied from 1994-2003.

Upon receiving a Master’s degree from the Academy of Music in Wroclaw, Poland, he traveled to the U.S. on a full scholarship to study with Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Institute, where he was awarded an Artist Diploma in 2008. During this time, he performed concerts in his native land and around the world, demonstrating his remarkable passion and precision to enthusiastic audiences.

violin

Praised by The Strad as an “utterly dazzling” artist, with “a marvelous show of superb technique” and “mesmerizing grace” (New York Classical Review), violinist Danbi Um captivates audiences with her virtuosity, individual sound, and interpretive sensitivity. A Menuhin International Violin Competition Silver Medalist, winner of the prestigious 2018 Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant, and a recent top prizewinner of the Naumburg International Violin Competition, she showcases her artistry in concertos, solo recitals, and in collaboration with distinguished chamber musicians.

ensemble

Jonathan Ong, violin
Dorothy Ro, violin
Abigail Rojansky, viola
Jonathan Dormand, cello

Acclaimed as an “outstanding ensemble…cohesive yet full of temperament” (The New York Times), the Verona Quartet has firmly established itself amongst the most distinguished ensembles on the chamber music scene today. The group’s singular sense of purpose most recently earned them Chamber Music America’s coveted 2020 Cleveland Quartet Award, and a reputation for its “bold interpretive strength, robust characterization and commanding resonance” (Calgary Herald). The Quartet serves on the faculty of the Oberlin College and Conservatory as the Quartet-in-Residence. In addition to its position at Oberlin, the Quartet holds residencies at Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance and North Carolina’s Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle. As committed advocates of diverse programming, the Verona Quartet curates the UpClose Chamber Music Series on behalf of the COT, electrifying audiences from concert halls to craft breweries with their “sensational, powerhouse performance[s]” (Classical Voice America).