Music on Mondays Inaugural Concert
Audiences were amazed as they left the concert hall following Maranatha’s “Music on Mondays” inaugural concert featuring the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo. Listeners admired the duo’s stunning showcase of musical artistry and seemingly effortless technical facility. Emily Kindstedt, a senior piano music major reflects, “It took my breath away! Their musical sensitivity and thoughtful attention to detail gripped the listeners and kept them on the edges of their seats.”
The Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo was formed in 1998 when Diana Shapiro and Stanislava Varshavski met while studying piano at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy in Israel. Encouraged by Professor Alexander Tamir to try playing as a piano duo, the collaboration turned out to be an incredible success.
Diana Shapiro
Born in Moscow, Russia, Shapiro moved to Israel and began her studies at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy under Professor Berkovich at the age of seventeen. In 2011, Shapiro earned her DMA in Collaborative Piano from UW-Madison. In addition to being part of the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo, Shapiro has performed with multiple leading instrumentalists and vocalists in Israel, New England, and Wisconsin.
Stanislava Varshavski
A young piano prodigy from Kharkov, Ukraine, Varshavski had her orchestral debut at the young age of eight. After receiving her initial musical training in the Ukraine, Varshavski continued her studies at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy in Israel. After earning her DMA in Collaborative Piano from UW-Madison, Varshavski continues to pursue collaborations with leading instrumentalists and an active piano education career.
Below are highlights from their performance.
Waltz from Suite No. 1, Op. 15, Arensky
Concertino for Two Pianos, Shostakovich
Maranatha’s next Music on Mondays Concert will feature the 414 String Quartet on Monday, April 5, 2021. To learn more or RSVP, please visit https://www.mbu.edu/monday/.