PIANIST
Recognized as a multiple award-winning pianist, Juraj Růžička's career unfolded with brilliance, stability, and a remarkably beautiful sound. While the stage may no longer be his primary canvas, his piano skills persist as the cornerstone of his compositions, creating a harmonious bridge between classical mastery and modern innovation.
CONCERT CAREER
His musical journey commenced at the tender age of 4 when his innate talent and musicianship emerged. A prodigy in the making, Juraj's prowess led him to the Bratislava Conservatory and later to the esteemed Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he honed his skills under the guidance of the acclaimed Slovak pianist, Professor Peter Toperczer.
Renowned for his brilliance, absolute stability, and a remarkable, soft tone color—especially evident in his interpretations of Mozart and Chopin—Juraj captivated audiences as a concert soloist and recording artist. His dramatic virtuosity shone through in beloved genres, such as piano toccatas. Notably, he recorded a set of three immensely challenging toccatas, including Prokofiev's Toccata, Toccata by Juraj Hatrík, and Toccata by Eugen Suchoň.
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
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Winner of the Hummel Piano Competition in Bratislava, 1998
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Winner of the Jan Cikker Competition in Banská Bystrica, 1999
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Special commendation of the jury at the International Peter Toperczer Piano Competition in Košice, 1999
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4th place at the International Piano Competition in Košice, 2001 (with a prize for the best interpretation of a composition by Eugen Suchoň awarded by Slovak Music Fund)
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Laureate of the International Piano Competition in Ústí nad Labem
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Absolute winner of the Competition of Conservatories, Slovakia, 2006
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Finalist for the prestigious Yamaha Scholarship, Prague 2012
COLLABORATIONS
While excelling as a soloist, Juraj's musical journey extended beyond the spotlight. His versatility as a sought-after chamber player and opera accompanist earned him praise and love. Serving as the piano accompanist for the celebrated Prague performance of Leonard Bernstein's MASS with Vojtěch Dyk in the role of The Celebrant, Juraj also contributed his talents to productions such as Zdeněk Fibich's "Pád Arkuna" and Josef Mysliveček's "L'Olimpiade" at the National Theatre in Prague.
OPERA ACCOMPANIST
As an opera accompanist, Juraj Růžička has lent his talents to renowned institutions like the National Theater in Prague, Children's Opera Prague, International Conservatory Prague, and the Academy of Performing Arts, to name a few.
His collaborative efforts extended to working with distinguished conductors such as John Fiore (National Theater Prague - Zdenek Fibich/The Fall of Arcona, 2014, directed by Jiří Heřman), Václav Luks (National Theater Prague - Josef Myslivecek/Olimpiade, 2014, directed by Ursel Hermann) , Carl Davis (The Last Train to Tomorrow - recording and Czech premiere with the Czech National Symphonic orchestra and Children's Opera Prague), John Drummond (Czech premier of opera Schoolgirl Revolution, Nová Scéna, 2011) and Jan Chalupecký (The Estates Theater Prague - Bedrich Smetana / The Bartered Bride, W. A. Mozart / Don Giovanni)
As a soloist's collaborator, Juraj most notably partnered with Michaela Rózsa Růžičková. Their collaboration, celebrated for its extraordinary musical synchronicity and creativity, graced many notable concerts. Invitations took them to perform recitals in Wageningen, Holland, and in the famous Eroica Saal in Vienna.
Today, live performances no longer take center stage in Juraj's pursuits; however, his profound piano skills persist as a pivotal element in his compositional arsenal. With an emphasis on leveraging the expressive capabilities of the piano, he intertwines intricate melodies and harmonies, infusing each composition with the emotive resonance only achievable through his virtuosic piano mastery.
In this next chapter of his musical journey, the piano serves not just as an instrument but as a conduit for the rich tapestry of emotions and stories woven into each piece.