Nazar Dzhuryn

Ukrainian-born American cellist Nazar Dzhuryn’s worldwide performances have been hailed by critics and audiences alike as “Captivating and Inspiring “.

Waren Gerds (Critics at Large:Fox Valley Symphony) said of his playing:  “First came Nazar Dzhuryn diving into a cello concerto so expressively that he earned a standing ovation and a nod for an encore from the audience in Thrivent Financial Hall of the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center”. “Dzhuryn plays freely, purely, spanning a wide range of the instrument”.

Mr. Dzhuryn appeared in concert with many classical music legends such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Pinchas Zukerman, Daniel Barenboim, Mstislav Rostropovich, Georg Solti, Boris Pergamenchikov, Hellmunt Rilling, James Galway. Nazar has performed under the batons of some of the world’s most noted conductors including George Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim and Helmuth Rilling.

Additionally, he has performed solo and chamber music with distinguished musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and distinguished pianists including Irina Feoktistova, Tatyana Stepanova and Steinway Artist Susan Merdinger.

Mr. Dzuryn completed the Undergraduate Program from Lviv Music School and subsequently earned his Master of Music degree and Postgraduate Assistantship Program at Moscow State Conservatory under Prof. Igor Gavrysh. Upon graduation, Nazar taught at the Moscow Conservatory as an Assistant Professor before moving to Chicago in 1998. Since then he has been in high demand as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, recording artist and teacher, with a repertoire that is both diverse and comprehensive.

From 2010-2019 he appeared as a soloist with Lviv Philharmonic, Khmelnytsky Philharmonic, National Symphony of Ukraine in Kiev, Minsk Philharmonic, Ensemble of Soloists Classicus in Zagreb, Sinfonietta Bel Canto IL, Harper Symphony Orchestra IL, Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Woodstock Mozart Festival Orchestra IL, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra WI and Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra ND, performing Schumann Concerto, Prokovfiev’s Symphony Concerto as well as Concertos by Barber, Dvorak, Haydn, Shostakovich, Saint-Saens No.1, Brahms Double Concerto and Beethoven Triple Concerto.

Mr. Dzhuryn released his critically acclaimed solo debut CD “Cello Monologue” in 2008, featuring works by Reger and Kodaly. His next CD “Cello Monologue 2” was released in 2013, featuring works of Ysaye, Hindemith, Ligeti, Crumb and Laniuk. Nazar’s solo recitals for Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts and the PianoForte Salon Series have been broadcast live on 98.7 WFMT. He has appeared as a soloist with the Moscow State Symphony “Young Russia,” Moscow Conservatory Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, in the prestigious Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral and as a guest artist with Chicago Chamber Musicians.

Formerly the principal cello of the Moscow State Symphony “Young Russia” and the Moscow Conservatory Symphony Nazar has served as the assistant principal cello of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra since 2000 and as the principal cello of Woodstock Mozart Festival

​Orchestra since 2004 as well as principal of Chicago Opera Theater since 2018. He participated in numerous music festivals including the prestigious Rostropovich Festival in France, Boulder Festival in Colorado, Woodstock Mozartfest in Illinois, “Virtuosos” and “Contrasts” Festivals in Ukraine.

Nazar served for over ten years on the faculty of Northeastern Illinois University and Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra ( CYSO), teaching private cello students and coaching chamber music groups,  before changing gears to focus on his performing career.  Nazar has given numerous master classes in Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, South America, South Korea and the U.S. Nazar’s students have won prizes in numerous competitions, including the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, and the Chicago Chamber Music Competition (sponsored by Midwest Young Artists). Mr. Dzhuryn currently resides in Elgin, IL with his wife and daughter, where he maintains a private studio for dedicated cello students.