Historical
Piano Concerts Series
About
the Musicians
Daniel Kurganov
Russian-American violinist Daniel Kurganov,
born in Minsk, Belarus, grew up near Chicago and began his musical
studies on the piano. He completed his studies at the Zurich University
of the Arts in Switzerland, studying under Rudolf Koelman, protégé of
the legendary Jascha Heifetz, and additionally received vital private
instruction from Ilya Kaler, Desiree Ruhstrat, Alexander Belavsky and
Alla Danichkina. Kurganov is also an alumnus of the Keshet Eilon Music Center in Kibbutz Eilon, Israel, where he completed the International Mastercourse.
Sharing
knowledge and ideas with students and young people has been at the
forefront of Daniel’s activities. In addition to holding a private
class of students, Daniel has worked with the Boston Philharmonic
outreach program, bringing music performance and education to
underserved communities, and has led a workshop on improvisation in the
classical idiom with talented musicians in Japan. Daniel is also the
creator of ARCO: a suite of innovative digital tools for violinists and
violin teachers designed to enhance the way they practice, learn, teach
and access resources.
Some highlights of recent seasons include
solo appearances with the New Hampshire Philharmonic, performances at
the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, recital tours throughout Boston and
Chicago, and multiple concert tours of Japan with his chamber group
“Kurofune Ensemble” and with the Boston Chamber Orchestra. In Sion,
Switzerland, Kurganov was invited by Shlomo Mintz and Rudolf Koelman to
take part in “The Violins of Hope” project, where he had the honor of
performing on a violin rescued from Auschwitz. In Boston, Kurganov
performs as a member of the Essex Chamber Players.
2018 saw a
new album release with pianist Constantine Finehouse on the Spice
Classics label. The disc, featuring masterworks of Brahms, Prokofiev,
Tchaikovsky and others, was met with positive reviews. Fanfare (magazine)
lauded Kurganov’s “smoldering intensity” and “ingratiatingly idiomatic
violinistic personality. Kurganov’s and Finehouse's recital brings
together a wide variety of styles, rendered with an effervescence and
panache that earn it its recommendation.” ArtsFuse journal wrote
“Kurganov gives a tour de force performance, superbly impassioned.”
We welcome Daniel Kurganov's first appearance in our Historical Piano Concerts.
