Julia Okrusko was born in 1983 in Vilnius, Lithuania. She began to play the violin at the age of 6, and in 1992 she became a student at the National M. K. Čiurlionis Arts School in Vilnius with violin teacher Beata-Marija Vasiliauskaite-Šmidtienė. In 1997, Julia was awarded the 3rd Prize at the International W. A. Mozart Competition in Riga and Diploma at the International B. Dvarionas Competition in Vilnius. In 1998, she was awarded the 1st Prize at the International Berlingske Tidende Competition in Copenhagen. Julia was awarded the 1st prize at the National J. Fledžinskis Competition and the 1st Prize at the National Chamber Music Competition „Pavasario Sonata“ (“Spring Sonata”) in 1999. She was awarded a Laureate Diploma and Special Prize for performance of a composition by B. Dvarionas at the International B. Dvarionas Competition in 2000, the 1st Prize at the International A. Glazounov Competition in Paris and Special Prize at the International J. Heifetz Competition in 2001. Julia began her studies at the Lithuanian Music and Theatre Academy with professor Undinė Jagėlaitė in 2002. She was awarded the Landsbergis Scholarship and participated in concert tours with KREMERata Baltica chamber orchestra. Julia attended masterclasses of A. Fischer, D. Stulgytė, M. Gantvarg, M. Švėgžda von Bekker, A. Resnikovsky, B. Garlitsky, G. Pauk, G. Turchaninova, and performed in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, and USA as a soloist and member of chamber ensembles. In 2005 she began graduate violin performance studies with Dana Mazurkevich at Boston University where she received her Master’s Degree and Performance Diploma. Julia was awarded the Gran-Prix at the J.S.Bach Competition in Boston in 2006. As founding member and first violinist with the New England String Quartet, Julia performs in Boston and the New England area. Having made their debut at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, the ensemble is featured in concert series across New England including 3rd Sundays @ 3, Menotomy, Bach’s Lunch, Parma Music Festival and the Chromatic Club of Boston. Quartet’s discography includes “Quadrants: Modern String Quartets”, “Perceptions: Points of View for Small Ensemble”, “Allusions”, “Unbridled – Chamber Works by Sergio Cervetti”, “Sarah Wallin Huff: Soul of the Machine”, “Scott Pender: 88+12″, “Darkness to Light – The Music of Jeffrey Jacob” released by Navona Records.
E-mail: [email protected]
E-mail: [email protected]