Ruta Kuzmickas
piano
Pianist Ruta Kuzmickas has established herself as an avid performer in both traditional and unconventional settings. Her engagements span from solo recitals to chamber and new music concerts that have taken her to venues in the United States and Europe. She has participated in masterclasses with noted artists such as Emanuel Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Philipe Bianconi, and Frederic Chiu.
Born to a Lithuanian family in Utah, Ms. Kuzmickas began her musical training at age six with Ekaterina Melkamini and made her debut as a concerto soloist with orchestra at age nine. While in Portland, her training continued with Dr. Jean-David Coen. Ms. Kuzmickas went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in piano performance at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University as a student of Dr. Robert Roux. Other studies have included work with pianist Ann Schein during two consecutive summers at the Aspen Music Festival and School. In 2020, Ms. Kuzmickas completed her master’s degree at Rice University as a student of Dr. Jon Kimura Parker.
Ms. Kuzmickas is an active multidisciplinary artist with a focus in music, poetry, visual art/illustration, and photography. Her poems have been set by composers Alex Berko, Max Vinetz, Sarah Grace Graves, and Caroline Shaw. Recent projects include recordings of the complete Chopin Ballades as well as a guest appearance for pianist Hunter Noack’s In A Landscape series. Ms. Kuzmickas’ second book of poetry, Per Se Phone, has just been published by No Reply Press. Most recently, she has been songwriting and releasing music with Kenneth Edwards under the artist name Ru.
Sponsor: Laurana Mitchelmore