Concert of Rugilė Juknevičiūtė (cello) and Simonas Poška (piano)
September 10th, 7:00 PM
Program:
- J. Brahms Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2 in F Major, Op. 99
- F. Poulenc Sonata for Cello and Piano FP143
Simonas and Rugilė are performing together as a duo once again. Having previously created exceptional concert programs, this time the duo returns to the stage with two major works from the golden repertoire of cello and piano, contrasting in musical language and character: sonatas by J. Brahms and F. Poulenc.
Simonas Poška was awarded second place and a special prize for the highest-ranking Lithuanian participant at the 2023 IX International M. K. Čiurlionis Piano Competition. In March 2024, Simonas performed in Paris with the Orchestre symphonique de la Garde républicaine, an event attended by Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Gitanas Nausėda. Simonas has also performed with the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, VMU Chamber Orchestra, St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra, and the New European Chamber Orchestra (Orchestre de Chambre Nouvelle Europe).
In 2018, Simonas was honored by the President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, for promoting Lithuania’s name in international competitions. In 2019, the Vilnius City Municipality awarded him the Small St. Christopher Prize for his musical achievements in 2018. From 2018 to 2020, he was supported by the M. Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation “Support for Lithuanian Children.” Since 2022, Simonas has been a scholarship recipient of the “Live Music Now Hannover” foundation. Simonas studied at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art under Eglė Jurkevičiūtė-Navickienė from 2008 to 2020, and since 2020, he has been studying at the University of Music, Drama, and Media Hanover in the piano class of Prof. Roland Krüger. Since 2018, he has been mentored by pianist Prof. Mūza Rubackytė.
Rugilė Juknevičiūtė, a 19-year-old performer, has been recognized both in Lithuania and abroad by renowned musical legends such as Prof. D. Geringas, M. Rubackytė, I. Monighetti, and M. Maisky. Rugilė has performed in over 30 concerts with various orchestras in Lithuania, Germany, and Austria. She continues to be invited to perform with the St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra of Vilnius City Municipality, the Lithuanian National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Klaipėda City Chamber Orchestra, the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art Symphony Orchestra, and the Kaunas Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. From 2011 to 2023, Rugilė studied in the class of D. Jakštas at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art. From 2018 to 2022, she regularly improved her skills under Prof. I. Monighetti in Basel, Switzerland, and since 2021, she has been studying with Prof. M. Zdunik in Warsaw, Poland. In 2023, she began her studies at the Zurich University of the Arts under Prof. Thomas Grossenbacher. From 2018 to 2023, she was a scholarship recipient of the M. Rostropovich Charity and Support Foundation “Support for Lithuanian Children.” Together with her sister, violinist Lina Juknevičiūtė, she organizes the annual Camino Lituano music festival.
Concert organized by: Vilnius 1 Soroptimist International Club
Event partner: Vilnius Town Hall
