TIME, DATE, PLACE: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, Strong Auditorium, University of Rochester
WHAT: Violinist Maria Rączka and pianist Ivanka Driankova perform selections by Polish composers Wieniawski, Paderewski, Szymanowski, Chopin, and Zarzycki.
Rączka began her training in violin at the Wieniawski Academy in her native city of Lodz, Poland. She continued her education at DePaul University School of Music and Northwestern University before coming to the Eastman School of Music, where she is currently pursing a doctorate. She has studied with numerous violinists, including Mark Zinger, Gerardo Ribeiro, Ilya Kaler, and Mikhail Kopelman. She has given recitals and chamber music concerts and premiered contemporary music in Poland, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Driankova has a diverse career as a solo and chamber music performer, piano teacher and vocal coach. A native of Plovdiv, Bulgaria, she began studying piano at the age of five, winning her first national competition at the age of eight. She completed her doctoral degree in piano performance from Eastman in 2008 under the direction of pianist Rebecca Penneys. Driankova has toured in France, Germany, and Austria, and performed as a soloist throughout the United States. She has participated in music festivals in the United States, Bulgaria, Macedonia, France, and Germany.
ADMISSION: The concert is free and open to the public.
SPONSOR: The University of Rochester's Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact the Skalny Center at 585.275.9898.