KAREN BURANSKAS
Associate Professor of Music
Cello
M.M., Yale University
B.M., Indiana University
Office: 207 Crowley Hall
Telephone: (574) 631-6178
E-mail: Karen.L.Buranskas.1@nd.edu
Karen Buranskas is a critically acclaimed soloist who has performed throughout the United States and Europe as well as in Brazil and Japan. She received a Performers Certificate and Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University where she was a student of Janos Starker and Fritz Magg.
Upon completion of her studies at the University Ms. Buranskas went to Los Angeles, California to work with Gregor Piatigorsky. She subsequently received a Master of Music degree at Yale University where she was a student of Aldo Parisot.
Ms. Buranskas has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in the United States and Brazil. In addition, she has given recitals in major concert halls in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan. The awards that she has received during her career include first prize in the Aldo Parisot Competition in Brazil, first prize in the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York City, first prize in the Leta Snow Competition in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and first prize in the Rosanna Enlow Competition in Evansville, Indiana. She also received top honors in the Washington International String Competition and the North Carolina Young Artists Competition.
Buranskas was the recipient of a Solo Recitalist grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington D.C. for the production of a compact disc recording of compositions for solo cello by twentieth century composers.
Ms. Buranskas is an established chamber musician who has been affiliated with the Fontana Chamber Music Festival for the past decade. Performances on this series, which have been presented on National Public Radio, have included world premieres of chamber works by George Perle , Raymond Zupko, and C. Curtis Smith.
As a member of the Notre Dame String Trio, she has recorded two critically acclaimed compact discs featuring chamber works of David Diamond and Paul Hindemith, both for Centaur Records. The ensemble also gave the premiere performance and recorded a string trio composed by Ethan Haimo.
Fanfare review of the Diamond recording:
“These are thrilling and deeply satisfying performances--captured in crystal-clear sound---that leave no margin for error or improvement. An essential contribution to the American chamber-music discography.”
" Buranskas performed the grand Dvorak Cello Concerto and
earned a deserved standing ovation at the finale....."
The Shreveport Times
" She possesses a solid technique and a beautiful sound. Buranskas is a cellist to be watched and one hopes for her return to Japan."
Ongaku-No-Tomo Journal
