Composer Olga Harris

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Julia playing Chopin

Biography

A true romantic pianist, Julia Mortyakova brings a unique voice to the instrument – a fresh, yet, mature interpretation of the great masterpieces, as well as new music. Julia’s repertoire ranges from Baroque to the music written today. As a captivating performer, Julia’s stage presence has mesmerized audiences around the world.

As an active performing artist, Julia has given solo recitals in Florida, Michigan, New York City, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington D.C., Moscow, Russia.

Julia has been a soloist as well as a chamber musician at major festivals including: Aspen Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, and South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts. She has also been a performer in the Columbia International Festival in Columbia, South Carolina, and at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In the summer of 2003 Julia gave a solo recital at the American Embassy in Moscow, Russia, and performed on the compositional recital of composer Olga Harris at the prestigious Gnessin Academy in Moscow.

In the summer of 2007 Julia had her Italian debut at the Assisi Music Festival in Assisi, Italy, where she was a concerto soloist with the Assisi Festival Chamber Orchestra, as well as a solo pianist in various concerts.

Julia also has a great passion for chamber music. In the summer of 2002 she gave a chamber music recital at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Julia’s talent has been recognized on both state and national level. She is the winner of the 1998 South Carolina State Auditions, and the 2002 Sigma Alpha Iota Region V National Summer Scholarship for study at the Aspen Music Festival.

In addition to her performing experiences, Julia has had extensive professional training in her field. A native of Moscow, Russia, she is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, and Vanderbilt University, where she majored in Piano Performance and Philosophy. She earned her Master’s Degree in Performance at New York University, where, as a graduate assistant, she was an adjunct piano instructor teaching keyboard harmony, as well as undergraduate piano students. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Keyboard Performance at the University of Miami.

Julia’s principle teachers have been: Michael Coonrod, J. Robert Floyd, Irina Krivchenko, Miyoko Lotto, Craig Nies, and Fabio Parrini.

Julia has played in masterclasses by Seymour Bernstein, George Crumb, William Entriken, Bill Grubb, Paul Kantor, Martha Strongin Katz, Anthony De Mare, Ursula Oppens, Rita Sloan, and Robert Weirich.

Equally active in the life of her professional colleagues, Julia is the president of the University of Miami Graduate Student Association, as well as the president of the University Of Miami Collegiate Chapter Of Music Teachers National Association.

Continuing to pursue her love of combining music and philosophy, in the spring of 2007 Julia presented her paper, “Existential Piano Teacher,” at the College Music Society’s Southern Chapter Regional Conference in Miami, Fl, and College Music Society’s Pacific Central Chapter Regional Conference in San Francisco, CA.

Julia is a member of College Music Society, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Music Teachers National Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.

For further information, please contact Julia

Email: mortyakova@gmail.com