Julian Schwarz, Cello

Marika Bournaki, Piano

Sunday, October 29, 2023

3 pm

Memorial Hall, OTR

Julian Schwarz was born into a multigenerational musical family. His powerful tone, effortless virtuosity and extraordinarily large color palette are hallmarks of his style. After making his concerto debut at the age of 11 with the Seattle Symphony and his father Gerard Schwarz on the podium, he made his U.S. touring debut with the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2010. Since being awarded 1st Prize at the inaugural Schoenfield International String Competition in 2013, he has led an active career as soloist, performing internationally.

VIDEOS

Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor

Haydn Cello Concerto in C Major

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah

As a chamber musician, Mr. Schwarz performs extensively in recital with his wife, pianist Marika Bournaki. In 2016 the duo was awarded 1st Prize at the inaugural Boulder International String Competition’s “The Art of Duo” before embarking on an extensive 10-recital tour of China in 2017. Mr. Schwarz is a founding member of the New York based Frisson Ensemble (a mixed nonet of winds and strings) and the Mile –End Trio with violinist Jeff Multer and Ms. Bournaki. He collaborates often throughout the country with a number of musicians.

An ardent supporter of new music, he has premiered concertos by Richard Danielpour and Samuel Jones, among others. His recordings include an album of concertos with the Seattle Symphony. A devoted teacher, Mr. Schwarz serves as Assistant Professor of Cello at Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Virginia and on the artist faculty of New York University – Steinhardt.

Marika Bournaki, Piano

Described as “the Celine Dion of classical” by The Huffington Post, Marika Bournaki is at once a world-class performer, dazzling pianist, vivacious young woman and one of the freshest faces on the classical music scene. Ms. Bournaki not only brings distinctive interpretations to favorite standards, but extends her passion for music by commissioning works from younger composers and collaborating with artists from various fields.

Marika Bournaki’s current season includes her debuts with the Bozeman, Duluth Superior, Springfield (MO) and Topeka symphony orchestras, a chamber music program with the Palm Beach Symphony, returns to Boca Raton’s The SYMPHONIA and Canada’s Sinfonia Toronto and programs with her duo partner, cellist Julian Schwarz. Of special note is her continuing survey of Beethoven’s complete 32-work piano sonata cycle, presented by the distinguished Bargemusic in Brooklyn.

Marika Bournaki has appeared as guest soloist with the symphony orchestras of Montréal, Quebec and St. Petersburg along with Romania’s Timisoara Filharmonica, Switzerland’s Verbier Chamber Orchestra and Canada’s Orchestre Métropolitain. In addition to a benefit recital for the Glenn Gould Foundation at New York City’s Carnegie Hall, she has been presented in solo recitals and chamber music collaborations throughout the United States, Canada and the world, including Belgium, England, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Switzerland and South Korea.

A devoted chamber musician, Marika Bournaki performs regularly at Brooklyn’s Bargemusic, the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival and the Frankly Music series in Milwaukee, while serving on the faculties of the Eastern Music Festival and Canada’s Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance. She tours internationally with duo partner cellist Julian Schwarz, and together won 1st prize in the 2016 Boulder International Chamber Music Competition’s “The Art of Duo.” Ms. Bournaki is also a member of the Mile-End Trio with Mr. Schwarz and violinist Jeffrey Multer.

The award-winning documentary “I am Not a Rock Star,” featuring Marika Bounaki and directed by Bobbi Jo Hart, has captivated international audiences of all ages. The feature-length film chronicles Ms. Bournaki’s evolution as an artist from the age of 12 to 20. A runaway success at multiple film festivals throughout the world, screenings of “I am Not a Rock Star” and solo performances were recently presented in Chicago, Dallas, Memphis, Miami, Napa Valley, Palm Springs, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as in Greece, México and Spain. The film has also been seen in Greece (ERT), The Netherlands (NTS), Norway (NRK), Sweden (SVT) theUnited Kingdom (BBC4), Australia (SBS) and New Zealand (Sky). The documentary is the recipient of awards for Best Arts Documentary and Best Editing from the 2014 Canadian Screen Awards.

Marika Bournaki’s innovative approach to her art and performance is reflected in a number of multimedia projects intended to reach out to new audiences. Additionally, her role as Ambassador to the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal’s summer event, “A Cool Classical Journey,” afforded new and stimulating ways to share her music with the public.

Marika Bournaki holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where her principal teachers were Yoheved Kaplinsky and Matti Raekallio. She makes her home in New York City.