ABOUT RACHEL VARGA
Rachel Varga has been critically acclaimed for her "...rich, warm tone...", "...innate musicality..."; and her "...flawless technique...". The daughter of concert violinists Ruben Varga and Norma Jones Varga, Rachel began her musical studies at the age of three with her parents. She first performed in public at the age of four. At the age of eight she made her recital debut at Central Synagogue in New York in a joint recital with her father. At the age of ten, Miss Varga made her concerto debut with the North Jersey Symphony Orchestra playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. She quickly followed this with performances of Sarasate's "Zigeunerweisen", Saint-Saens' "Havanaise" and "Introduction and Rondo Capricciosso" and the Paganini First Violin Concerto. In 1983, she made her debut at Carnegie Hall, again playing the Mendelssohn Concerto.
Miss Varga was a winner of the 1987 Artists International Competition, and made her recital debut the following season at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. Since then, she has become one of the top competition prize winners from her country, receiving awards from many competitions including the Palm Beach International Invitational Competition, the Vianna da Motta International Competition, The Szigeti International Competition in Hungary, and the Washington International Competition.
In 1993, Rachel Varga was selected by a distinguished panel of judges to become the first woman to receive the prestigious Montgomery Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Award. She served as the resident soloist and concertmaster of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra for the next two years, during which she continued to concertize internationally and was also awarded the Waldo Mayo Award for an Outstanding Young Violinist. In 1995, Rachel Varga won the First Prize and the Audience Prize in the XXII International Competition of Musical Performance in Vi¤a del Mar, Chile. Her subsequent performances at the International Music Festival in Frutillar, Chile caused the Chilean press to declare her the star of the festival. In a review of her performance of the Bruch "Scottish Fantasy", "El Mercurio" raved: "...The North American, Rachel Varga, an exceptional young violinist...left the audience suspended with the uniform beauty of her sound and her flawless technique...Without doubt a definitive example of virtuosity and instrumental mastery."
Miss Varga has played concerts and recitals in the United States, Europe, Japan, the Caribbean, and Latin America; with such orchestras as the Zagreb Symphony, La Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco, The Budapest Radio Symphony, La Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile, La Orquesta Sinfonica Del Estado De Mexico , La Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota, and La Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica. Her repertoire currently includes about thirty concertos and several complete recital programs. Her expressive performances and beautiful tone have inspired comparisons to such artists as Jascha Heifetz and Mischa Elman.
Her performance of the Sibelius Concerto was praised as "...masterful..." by Robert Sherman on a WQXR radio broadcast. Other critics have also been impressed. The Strad calls her a "...powerful player..." who gives an "...impassioned performance..."
The Montgomery Advertiser raved: "...[Miss Varga] captivated her near capacity audience throughout with her rich warm tone and musical understanding of very challenging material... an exceptionally fine performance, sensitive, and very well executed... She tossed off double, triple, and quadruple stops as if they were child's play. Bounding through the violin's range with consummate ease and accuracy, it was a tour de force..which showed rare mastery and musicianship..."
The Sheboygan Press says: "... It's hard to think of a more winning, charming, polished young artist..she played the familiar Sibelius concerto with rich warm tone and the control of the experienced performer she is."
La Razon in Bolivia says: "...[Varga] amazed us with her vigor, assurance, and unquestionable technique...sweetness and electrifying vigor..."
Rachel Varga holds the degree of Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. Always interested in teaching and developing young talent, Miss Varga has taught several international master classes, and currently works with many young students on a regular basis, teaching violin and chamber music. She is a recipient of two superior teaching awards from Queens College in New York.
up
AWARDS AND PRIZES
-
1st Prize and Audience Prize: XXII Concurso Internacional de Ejecucion Musical " Dr. Luis Sigal ", Vina del Mar, Chile. 1995
-
7th Prize: Lipizer International Competition . 1996
-
Winner: The Evelyn C. Kelley Scholarship. 1996
-
Winner: The Waldo Mayo Award for an outstanding young violinist. 1994
-
4rth Prize: The Washington International Competition. 1994
-
1st Prize: Montgomery Symphony Orchestra Fellowship Competition. 1993
-
4rth Prize: Szigeti International Violin Competition and Special Prize for best interpretation of the Modern Hungarian Work. 1992
-
1st Prize: Friends of the Bergen Philharmonic Violin Competition. 1992
-
Winner: Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition. 1991
-
2nd Prize: Vianna da Motta International Violin Competition. 1991
-
5th Prize: Greater Palm Beach Symphony International Invitational Competition. 1991
-
Special Merit Prize: Artist's Association International Competition. 1988
-
1st Prize: Artist's International Competition. New York. 1987
-
Merit Scholarships: Manhattan School of Music. 1986-1992
-
up
CONCERTO ENGAGEMENTS
- Rockland Symphony Orchestra: Lalo - Symphony Espagnole. 2006
- Musica Bella Orchestra of New York: Glazunov - Concerto. 2003
- Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile: Prokofiev - Concerto no. 2 in g . 2003
- Musica Bella Orchestra of New York: Brahms - Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. 2003
- Musica Bella Orchestra of New York: Bach - Brandenburg Concertos, Concerto for two violins. 2002
- Musica Bella Orchestra of New York: Mozart - Concerto in G major. 2002
- Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica: Sibelius - Concerto in d minor. 2001
- Doctors Orchestral Society of New York: Mendelssohn - Concerto in e minor. 2000
- Doctors Orchestral Society of New York: Brahms - Concerto in D major. 2000
- Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica: Bruch - Scottish Fantasie. 2000
- Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica: Vivaldi - Four Seasons ; Ravel- Tzigane . 1999
- Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota: Lalo - Sinfonie Espagnol. 1997
- Gadsden Symphony Orchestra: Vivaldi - Four Seasons Vaughan-Williams - The Lark Ascending. 1997
- The Centre Symphony Orchestra: Brahms Concerto in D. 1997
- North Jersey Symphony Orchestra: Bruch - Scottish Fantasy. 1996
- Orquesta Filarmonica del Estado de Mexico: Stravinsky - Concerto in Re.
- 1996 Orquesta Sinfonica de Bolivia: Paganini - Concerto in D. 1996
- Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile: Sibelius - Concerto in d. 1996
- Frutillar Music Festival, Orquesta Sinfonica de Chile: Bruch - Scottish Fantasy. 1996
- Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota: Sibelius - Concerto in d. 1995
- New Amsterdam Symphony: Paganini Concerto No. 1 in D. 1995
- Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco: Ponce - Concerto. 1995
- Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional, Dominican Republic: Ponce- Concerto. 1995
- Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Bolivia: Sibelius - Concerto in d. 1995 Brahms - Double Concerto. 1994
- Senior Concert Orchestra of New York: Bruch - Scottish Fantasy. 1994, Carnegie Hall
- Montgomery Symphony Orchestra: Bartok - Concerto #2. 1994 Khatchaturian - Concerto in d. 1993 Vaughan-Williams - The Lark Ascending. 1993
- Sheboygan Symphony: Mozart - Concerti. 1993 Sibelius- Concerto. 1992
- Orquesta Sinfonica de Puerto Rico: Ponce - Concerto. 1993
- Bergen Philharmonic: Dvorak - Concerto in a. 1993
- Bronx Symphony: Prokofiev - Concerto #2 in g. 1993
- Budapest Radio Symphony: Brahms - Concerto in D. 1992
- Ferenc-Erkel Chamber Ensemble: Vivaldi - Four Seasons Mozart- Concerto #3 in G. 1992
- New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble: Dvorak - Concerto in a. 1992 Sibelius - Concerto in d. 1990
- Rockland Symphony: Beethoven - Concerto in D. 1994 Dvorak - Concerto in a 1992
- Manhattan Symphony: Sibelius - Concerto in d 1993
- Zagreb Symphony of Yugoslavia: Brahms - Concerto in D. 1991 Prokofiev - Concerto #2 in g. 1991 North Jersey Symphony: Beethoven - Concerto in D. 1994 Prokofiev - Concerto #2 in g. 1990 Tchaikowsky - Concerto in D. 1986 Saint-Saens - Havanaise. 1982 Sarasate - Zigeunerweisen. 1981 Mendelssohn - Concerto in e. 1979
- Senior Concert Orchestra of New York. Mendelssohn - Concerto in e. 1983. Carnegie Hall Crossroads and Dobbs Ferry Opera Orchestras: Frequent Performances including: Beethoven - Concerto in D, Paganini - Concerto in D, Lalo - Symphony Espagnol, Saint-Saens - Rondo Capriccioso
up
BROADCASTS
- Radio Costa Rica. (concert).1999, 2000, 2001
- Osorno Radio. (concert and recital). 1996
- Columbian Television. 1995
- Chilean Television. 1995
- WHIL fm91.3, Mobile AL (recital). 1995
- Bolivian T. V. (concert). 1994 , 1995
- Wisconsin Cable T. V. (concert). 1992
- Mc.Graw Hill "Young Artists Showcase " (concert). 1992
- Bob Sherman's " Listening Room". 1990
- Danish T.V. 1988
up
RECITALS
- William Patterson University: 2001
- QMS Faculty Concert Series: 1996-2002
- Cornell University: 1998
- Queens Public Library Classical Concert Series: 1998
- The Pen And Brush, New York. 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002
- First Night Wayne. 1997
- Palacio de Comunicaciones, La Paz, Bolivia. 1997
- Port Washington Public library. 1996
- Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango Sala de Conciertos. Bogota , Colombia. 1996
- Catherine Kramer Recital Series, New York. 1993-1996, 2000-2002
- Osorno, Chile. 1996
- Vina del Mar, Chile. 1996 Frutillar Music Festival. 1996
- Fairhope Recitals Artists Showcase. 1995
- MSO Fellowship Recital Series. 1993-1995
- The Gillary Gallery concert salon. 1992-1996
- Long Island Composers Alliance. "Meet the Composers Series " 1991, 1992
- Tenafly Public Library. 1990-1994
- Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. 1988, 1991
- Manhattan School of Music. 1987-1992
- Espoo Centre, Finland. 1990
- Tokyo Bunko-Kaikan, Japan. 1989
up
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- National Music School, Costa Rica, 2001
- Bach Academy, Costa Rica. 2000, 2001
- Conservatory of La Paz, Bolivia. 1994,1995,1996
- University of Santiago de Chile. 1996
- Modern School, Santiago, Chile. 1996
- Sheboygan, Wisconsin. 1993
- Violin Faculty. Pinault School of Music. 1999-2003
- Violin Faculty. Hollis Woods Music School. 1998-1999
- Violin and Theory Faculty. Bayside Music Academy. 1997-1999
- Violin and Theory Faculty. The Queens Music School. 1995-2002
- Violin Faculty. Huntingdon College, AL. 1993-1995
- Sectionals with Montgomery Youth Orchestra. 1994, 1995
- Private Students since 1992
up
TEACHING AWARDS
Queens College Young Performers' Competition Superior Teaching Awards. 1997, 1998
ORQUESTRAL EXPERIENCE
Montgomery Symphony Orchestra. Concertmaster 1993-1995
Manhattan Philharmonia. Concertmaster, Principal 2nd, section 1986-1988
Manhattan Symphony. 1988-1992
Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. 1986-1992
EDUCATION
Manhattan School Of Music
-Master of Music, 1993
-Bachelor of Music, 1990
Teachers: Ani Kavafian, Ariana Bronne, Raphael Bronstein, Norma Varga, Ruben Varga
Master Classes: Josef Gingold, Franco Gulli, Schmuel Ashkenasy, Nathan Milstein , Igor Oistrakh Yehudi Menuhin, Joseph Fuchs, Ani Kavafian
Chamber Music: Marc Silverman, Joseph Seiger
