Stephanie Zyzak, violin

Biography

Praised for her sensitive musicianship and heartfelt playing, violinist Stephanie Zyzak is gaining a reputation as one of the finest musicians of her generation.

Stephanie made her first solo appearance at the age of seven with the Starling Chamber Orchestra in the Aspen Music School and became the youngest recipient ever to be awarded the Aspen Music School New Horizon Fellowship. The following year, she performed in Germany as an invited guest of the Internationale Kunst – Akademie Liechtenstein (IKAL). She has had the opportunity to perform as a soloist and tour with ensembles in Germany, Russia, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and France. In 2004, she made her debut with the Louisville Orchestra, and has performed with orchestras such as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Dayton Philharmonic, and Southeast Missouri Symphony. Other notable performances include an appearance on Praire Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and an invitation to perform as an honored guest at the Lotus Festival for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

A passionate chamber musician, she has performed at festivals including the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, and the Marlboro Music Festival. She has also had the privilege of collaborating with artists such as Ralph Kirshbaum, Ida Kavafian, Kim Kashkashian, Miriam Fried, Jamie Laredo, Robert McDonald, and Joshua Bell.

Stephanie received her Bachelors and Masters degrees as a student of Miriam Fried at New England Conservatory, and is completing her doctorate degree at City University of New York, The Graduate Center with Mark Steinberg. Currently, she is a fellow at Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect.

She performs on a 1778 Joseph and Antonio Gagliano violin, generously on loan from Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute.