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Solomiya Ivakhiv > Violin
Violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv has quickly earned a reputation for performing with “distinctive charm and subtle profundity” (Daily Freeman, New York) and “crystal clear and noble sound” (Culture and Life, Ukraine). Known for performing both as chamber musician and solo violinist, many of her concerts are broadcast on National Public Radio, Voice of America Radio, Ukrainian National Radio and Television, and Chinese Hunan Television.
In the 2013-2014 concert season, Dr. Ivakhiv performed in New York’s Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall for three different concerts. One of the concerts was presented by the Ukrainian Institute of America, Music at the Institute (MATI), celebrating their 25th anniversary concert series, of which she has been artistic director for the past three seasons. Other performances this season included solo appearances with Kammermusik Bodensee (Switzerland), Charleston Symphony (South Carolina), Knox-Galesburg Symphony (Illinois), and Londontowne Symphony (Maryland).
Recent performances include recitals at CBC’s Glenn Gould Studio (Toronto), the Ethical Society (Philadelphia), WMP Series (New York), and Tchaikovsky Music Academy (Kyiv).
Dr. Ivakhiv has been guest concertmaster with the Fresno Philharmonic in California; principal violinist for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops; visiting concertmaster of Symphony Orchestra Augusta; and frequently performs in the Baltimore Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra.
Highly sought as a chamber musician, Dr. Ivakhiv collaborates with renowned artists such as Joseph Silverstein, Gary Graffman, Roberto Díaz, Claude Frank, Steven Isserlis, Gil Kalish, Philip Setzer, Eugene Drucker, and Valentina Lisitsa.
Dr. Ivakhiv has appeared in many national and international chamber music festivals including Tanglewood and Embassy Series (USA), Musique de Chambre à Giverny (France), Prussia Cove (England), The Banff Centre and Ottawa Chamber Fest (Canada), Modern Music Contrasts and KyivFest (Ukraine), Music Festival (Netherlands), and Verbier Festival (Switzerland).
An avid proponent of contemporary classical music, Dr. Ivakhiv enjoys working with living composers. She debuted Angels’ Touch by Ukrainian composer Yevhen Stankovych in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and also premiered his Violin Concerto No. 2. Other premieres include “Three Songs for Henie” by American composer Eli Marshall, a chamber piece by John Mackey with the Jean Ruddy Dance Company. She soloed with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and recorded original music by Philadelphia-based composer David Ludwig.
As soloist in the United States, Dr. Ivakhiv has performed with the International Symphony and Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra (Michigan), Henderson Symphony (Las Vegas), Londontowne Symphony (Maryland), Orchestra of Southern Utah, and the Civic Orchestra of New Haven. Upon the visit of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko’s visit to the United States, Dr. Ivakhiv was selected to perform in a celebratory concert to mark the occasion.
As international soloist, Dr. Ivakhiv has performed extensively in her native Ukraine with the Lviv Philharmonic (debut at age 12), Virtuozy Lvova, and the Ukrainian National Symphony. In China, she appeared with the Hunan Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to her widely acclaimed violin performances as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, Dr. Ivakhiv is an active violin pedagogue. Prior to joining the faculty at Ohio University, she has conducted master classes, taught as visiting professor, and collaborated with prestigious universities including West Chester University, Utah’s Tuacahn Summer Arts Institute, Bard College Conservatory Prep Summer Camp, Swarthmore College, Keweenaw String Festival, Temple University Music Preparatory, Curtis Summerfest, Guangzhou and Hunan Conservatories in China, SUNY Fredonia (New York), and Mansfield University. She is currently on the faculty at Mannes College the New School for Music Extension Division.
Passionate about educating young musicians, Dr. Ivakhiv regularly collaborates with various high schools in outreach programs around the U.S. She also created and presented children’s programs in collaboration with Ukraine’s “Muzychna Ukrayina” publishing house in order to ignite the interest of a younger demographic in classical music. Dr. Ivakhiv is the recipient of international top prizes and honors including the Sergei Prokofiev and Yaroslav KocianInternational Competitions, the Fritz Kreisler and Charles Miller Award from the Curtis Institute of Music, and the Award from the President of Ukraine.
As a graduate from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Dr. Ivakhiv studied with Joseph Silverstein, Pamela Frank, and the late Rafael Druian. During this time, she was concertmaster of both the Curtis Symphony and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestras. Dr. Ivakhiv holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University where her principal teachers were Philip Setzer and Pamela Frank. Visit her website: solomiyaivakhiv.com
“…Ivakhiv’s performance had distinctive charm and subtle profundity… She neither drives nor chases a score, she illuminates it.” Daily Freeman, New York
“…so mature and flexible was the tone and interpretation.” Sarasota Herald Tribune, Florida
“…creative vital energy, swift motion, virtuoso ease…” Art-Postup, Ukraine
“…amazingly easy, natural, and lively, a crystal-clear and noble sound.” Culture and Life, Ukraine
“…strings pulsed rapidly and lively with the spring colouring….There were youth and life themes singing by [the] violin which made a strong impression on the audience…” Changsha Evening, China
