MURFREESBORO, NC – The Friends of Music at Chowan University would like to invite all who appreciate music to the next Artist Series on Sunday, October 16 at Murfreesboro Baptist Church, 200 Main Street, Murfreesboro, NC. The concert begins at 3:30 pm andfeatures violist Dennis Krasnokutsky and Serbian pianist Maja Rajković. This free, public event will feature music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sergei Rachmaninov, Svetislav Božić, and Christopher Cook.

Krasnokutsky is principal violist of the internationally acclaimed Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Krasnokutsky is a seasoned chamber and orchestral musician.  Lauded for performances “…building in passion and intensity,’ (The New Times), “…exceptional experience for the audience,” (Srđan Teparić, Radio Belgrade), he had appeared in major concert halls nationally and around the globe including Avery Fischer Hall, Maryisnki Theatre, Kravis Center, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Teatro El Círculo, and more.

A founding member of the Samuel Barber String Quartet, Krasnokutsky’s list of professional orchestral appearances include Reno Philharmonic, Baton Rouge Symphony, New Jersey Capital Philharmonic, Bay-Atlantic Symphony and the Harrisburg Symphony to mention a few.  He has collaborated with a kaleidoscope of artists including Hilary Hahn, Bella Hristova, Sara Chang, Jonathan Biss, Frank Sinatra Jr., Bernadette Peters and more. As a member of the award-winning Rowan String Quartet, he has toured the East Coast giving a number of chamber music recitals. 

Since 2006, he has been a principal violist with the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra with whom he has toured North and South America and the Europe. His collaborative work on recording projects with PVCO and other ensembles can be found on such renowned labels as Naxos, Connoisseur Society, Arabesque, New World Records, and New Ariel. He is a frequent master class clinician and adjudicates competitions around the world. The 2016-17 season will be one of the busiest for Krasnokutsky with a series of chamber music concerts and solo recitals in the United States and Europe, featuring several premieres of newly composed works for the viola.

Dr. Krasnokutsky holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University where he was a student of Michael Tree (Guarneri String Quartet) and Paul Neubauer (Principal Viola, NYP). He performs internationally on a viola made by Sergio Peresson.

Maja Rajković was born in Belgrade (Yugoslavia). She graduated from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, in the class of Konstantin Bogino. She attended advanced studies at “Scuola di Alto Perfezionamento Musicale” in Portogruaro (ltaly). She received her Master of Arts degree at the Academy of Music in Belgrade, in the class of Dušan Trbojević. Employed at Academy of Music in Belgrade as a Full Professor. In 2014 she received her PhD, her dissertation on the: “Polyphonic way of musical thinking” at the Academy of Music in Belgrade, with mentor Dr. Ljiljana Vukelja.  In 1998 she became president of Jeunesses Musicales of Belgrade, in 2001 she became the vice president of the Mediterranean Collaboration of New Musicians.

Dr. Rajković had her first recital at the age of 14, and received several first place prizes at national competitions including: 1984 -Third prize at “Carlo Soliva” International Competition in Italy. Laureat at “Rachmaninov ’93” Concours . 1994 – Audience First prize and official Third prize at 24 Jeunesses Musicales International Competition.  In 2013 she won the Silver medal of the University of Arts in Belgrade for special achievement on the concert stage. Review “ Musica classica” gave her the prize “Performer  of the Year” in 2013.

She has recorded and performed with numerous ensembles including: The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio and Television Symphonic Orchestra, St. George Strings, Belgrade strings, Camerata Serbica.   Additionally, she has performed at numerous festivals including: Festivals “Days of Music” in Herceg Novi, Belgrade Music Festival BEMUS, “Split Summer”, “Podgorica Summer”, “The power of the piano”, EPTA-Festival, “Emil Hajek” Festival, “Festival Internazionale di Musica da Camera” – Portogruaro – Italy, “Mokranjac Festival – Negotin”, “International review of composers”, “International Women’s Musical Meeting" Athens. She is an international performer and maintains a very active chamber music schedule. 

Her playing has garnered outstanding reviews. Politika mentioned,“The culmination which caused the ovations by the audience was the enchanting, radiant, filigree-like dance of the piano sound.” Radio Zagreb also wrote a review saying, “We were left amazed by the real explosion of talent, power, expression.”

The Music Department at Chowan University is grateful to Murfreesboro Baptist Church for allowing the use of their sanctuary for this music concert.  More information about joining The Friends of Music will be available at the opening concert.