Boglarka Gyorgy, violin & Amy Butler, piano

BOOKING REQUIRED - book free tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/howdenminster/t-oklaaa

Programme

Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending (original version by the composer for violin and piano)

Franck - Sonata in A major

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www.boglarkagyorgy.com

A spark of passion for music ignited by Bizet’s Carmen led violinist Boglarka Gyorgy to pursue a career as an artist from a young age. Originally from Hungary, Boglarka has also called Israel home, and music making has subsequently taken her to many countries. She is currently based in Birmingham, England.

Boglarka has a particular passion for contemporary music and as such, often plays with the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Through this ensemble as well as through her work with the NEXT ensemble, she has had the opportunity of working together with some of world’s most renowned contemporary composers and musicians such as Brian Ferneyhough, the Arditti Quartet, Marton Illes, Alexandra Greffin Klein, Ensemble CourtCircuit, Rebecca Saunders and Andrew Hamilton, from whom she was given the privilege of performing the UK premier of his piece titled “WALDO” at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Birmingham Record Company day, which was recorded live for “Hear and Now” series on BBC Radio 3. Boglarka was also invited to play as a guest artist in a new project of modern music called Metronóm in Hungary and performed a delightful program featuring works by Gyorgy Kurtag, Lajos Sari, Andras Gelleri and Adam Baraz. 

Boglarka has performed extensively as a soloist and as a chamber musician at major international festivals and masterclasses throughout Europe and Asia including the Budapest Spring Festival, Keshet Eilon, Sommerakademie PragWienBudapest, Lichfield Festival, the 11th International Music Festival in Moscow and the Birmingham International Piano Chamber Music Festival to name a few. She has won numerous awards including 2nd prize at the Kovacs Denes National Competition, 1st and Grand prize at the International Music Arts Festival in Balassagyarmat, award for excellence at the National Erno Dohnanyi Chamber Music Competition, 3rd prize and special prize for the best performance in contemporary music at the National Ede Zathureczky Competition, 2nd and special prize for her performance of the János Vajda solosonata at the National Wieniawski Violin Competition. 

Aside from her solo engagements, Boglarka enjoys exploring orchestral works and recently she was invited as a guest to lead orchestras such as the Solihull Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of St. John, Bromsgrove. She also plays with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. 

Boglarka completed her Master's degree in Violin Performance in the class of Professor Eszter Perenyi and Adam Banda and graduated with the highest honours from the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. During her studies in Hungary, she made her concerto debut performing Bartok 2nd Violin Concerto with the Savaria Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gergely Madaras. She also received a full scholarship to study with Irina Svetlova at the BuchmanMehta School of Music in Israel where she also had the privilege of working with Zubin Mehta. She completed a personal study programme at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Professor Wen Zhou Li and Oliver Wille for which she was awarded a generous scholarship, provided by the Joseph Weingarten Memorial Trust. 

She has taken masterclasses with Ani Schnarch, Michael Frischenschlager, Ulf Schneider, Giovanni Guzzo, Zachar Bron, Jan Repko, Yair Kless, Nicola Benedetti, Chai Liang, Hagai Shaham, Barnabás Kelemen, Péter Lissauer and Ilya Kaler. Boglarka firmly believes that it is important to pass on the knowledge that she acquired to the next generation of aspiring young musicians. Along with private one-to-one lessons, she has also given masterclasses in the Adam Gyorgy Castle Academy. 

Boglarka is performing on a violin by Cuypers from 1797, kindly on loan to her from the Harrison-Frank Family Foundation

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Amy Butler began learning the piano at the age of five, studying with Diana Bushby and with British concert pianist Martin Roscoe. After gaining her ABRSM Performance Diploma she studied for four years at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she won a choral scholarship and took part in many university recitals. She graduated in 2009 with a first class degree.

Amy enjoys an active performing career across the country as a soloist, accompanist and ensemble pianist. She has performed at numerous venues including Hull City Hall, Southwell Minster, Wakefield and Ripon Cathedrals, Christ Church Southport, Holy Trinity Hull, Beverley Minster, Bourneville Concert Series and Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery.

Amy especially enjoys working with other musicians; some of her regular duo partners include flautist Chris Hill, tenor Steven Goulden and pianist Peter Sproston. She is a staff pianist for the East Riding Schools' Music Service, working with music students from all over the county, and regular accompanist for the Beverley Male Voice Choir and Snaith & District Choral Society.