Violinist
Ieva Pranskute - Bio
Ieva Pranskutė joined the Grammy award winning Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra of musicians from the Baltic states led by the famous violinist Gidon Kremer since 2012. While touring in one of the most prestiges halls in the world, she has played with G. Kremer himself as well as other famous artists, such as Mischa Maisky, Martha Argerich, Gábor Boldoczki, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Andrei Korobeinikov, Heinrich Schiff, Sergei Nakariakov, M. W. Pletnev, Yulianna Avdeeva and others.
Ieva Pranskutė was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. Being just 6 years old she already played her solo debut with the Lithuanian chamber orchestra.
Pranskutė is a prize winner of various international competitions (e.g. “Olympo Musicale”, the International Competition of Saulius Sondeckis , “Pavasario Sonata” ). Together with cellist Mislav Brajković she won “Kodály Award” for an outstanding performance of Duo, op. 7, at the ISA Prague-Vienna-Budapest festival. Together with Xylos trio members Ieva has won Fidelio competition in Vienna.
Among many concert activities Ieva is cooperating with other artists. She had performed in India, Belgium, Estonia, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Croatia and Lithuania.
Ieva Pranskutė has taken up studies in Vienna, Austria, in the class of Christian Altenburger at the University of Music and Performing Arts, later she has been studying in the class of Pavel Vernikov at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna and in the class of Johannes Meissl member of the Artis-Quartett, where she also graduated. She was a visiting student at the Lyon CNSMD (National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Lyon, France) in the class of Marianne Piketty.
Ieva is often invited to be a concertmaster in the different projects.
As an enthusiastic chamber musician Ieva participated in the international festivals of classical music, such as “MUSIQUE AUX QUATRES HORIZONS” in France, “Wien Modern”, “Steirisches Kammermusik Festival”, “ISA Festival” in Austria, “Holland Music Sessions” in the Netherlands, “Accademia e Festival Internazionale di Musica di Cagliari” in Italy, “Academie-villecroze” in France, “National Young String Quartet Weekend” in UK, European Parliament in Brussel and in the famous Wigmore Hall in London. She has cooperated with such artists as Vilmos Szabadi, Lieke te Winkel, Marianne Piketty, Jan Talich, Romain Garioud, Lars Anders Tomter, Markus Schirmer, André Cazalet, Mislav Brajković.
Since 2014 Ieva Pranskutė has been a member of the Doreen Quartet participating in various projects, master classes and playing in prestigious Austrian concert halls, such as Wiener Konzerthaus, Wiener Musikverein, F. Schubert Geburthous, Austrian National library, Altes Rathaus. Ieva has played solo in Vienna Hofburg “FESTAKT GEGEN GEWALT UND RASSISMUS” event.
Ieva Pranskutė won the contest to become an artist of the British music organization Live Music Now, established by the legendary violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin.
She has been participating in diverse music projects as a soloist and chamber musician since her early age. Not only has she played with the Lithuanian chamber orchestra and other orchestras in Lithuania, but has also worked with many world-famous masters such as professors of violin Igor Ozim, Shmuel Ashkenazi, Stephan Picard, Sergei Malov, Petru Munteanu, Sergei Krylov, Tanja Becker-Bender, Dora Schwarzberg and Vadim Gluzman as well as cellists Heinrich Schiff, Reinhard Latzko and Chu Yi-Bing.
As an active violinist performing in Austria, Ieva Pranskutė has received special acknowledgment from the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Vienna for promoting Lithuanian culture internationally. Ieva has also received acknowledgements from the President of Lithuania for international awards and achievements.
"Music purifies souls. It’s a tool to make people happier"
Ieva Pranskute - Interview
INTERVIEW:
When did you start to get interested in music?
I got interested in music very early since I came from a family of musicians. My mom is professional violinist, dad played piano and accordion, my sister is professional violist too, so music was surrounded since I was created. My interest in playing exact violin was also, because of my mom. All the kids like to copy their parents, so I did too. I liked to play concerts at home, imagining that I’m performing on huge stage for many people. And of course, I showed my talent for music very early. Already when I was 6 years old I had my debut solo concert with Lithuanian chamber orchestra.
If you were an advertisement, which would your slogan be?
Music purifies souls. It’s a tool to make people happier.
Which is the part you enjoy the most about music?
I really enjoy that I can make music with other great musicians. I love communicating through music. I love to travel when we don’t have pandemic. I love to play in different countries, get to know new cultures, meet new people. I love that there is not so much routine in music compared to other professions. You can learn new things until you die.
Most artists say that through their art they learn more about themselves, heal injuries… In which aspects has music helped you?
Music teaches me many things about myself. I need constantly work on mental and physical well being. Have a practicing discipline, psychological balance; physically be strong to be able to endure rehearsals, concerts without having pain anywhere. I see a lot of positive impact because we can invest enormously much in ourselves.
What does music mean to you?
For me music is my mission. I know I have talent for that. I invest a lot of time in music, so I need to share it with the audience, spread my message through the music and make the world a better place to live as much as possible.
Who are your idols?
I don’t have idols, but I get inspired by the people who are very good in their profession. Indeed the more I grow up, the more I see that saying of my mom is really true: “To be successful you need to have 10% of talent and 90% of patient work.”
If you didn’t like music, what would you like to do?
I’m very thankful to my parents because when I was a kid, I was going to an art school, where I was painting, drawing, etc. I liked it very much. I was showing beautiful results and my art teacher asked my parents if I want to start studying arts. But I was very good in playing violin, already participating in competitions, master classes, and so on. Being on stage fits my open personality.
Do you consider that nowadays there are more or less opportunities for new artists? Why?
It depends how you look at it. Nowadays there are way more excellent musicians. The level of performance is just amazing. Therefore it’s tougher competition to have nice performing carrier. On the other hand so many musicians become very famous and successful through social media. It’s a new era in which musicians can spread their music to the whole world pretty easy and get heard by managers from all over the world who would invite them to perform.
What would your idyllic life as an artist be like?
Perform great repertoire in sold out venues, cooperate with other inspiring musicians, composers, agents, travel around the world.
Create something valuable like recordings or master classes for future generations.
Ieva Pranskute - Projects
Do you want to know more about Ieva Pranskute? You can find some projects below.