Ayke Agus
Encyclopedia
Ayke Agus is a classical Violin
ist and Pianist
, known primarily through her longtime collaboration with the violinist Jascha Heifetz
. She is one of the rare classical music performers who has performed as a soloist accompanied by an orchestra as a Multi-instrumentalist
.
, of Chinese
, Dutch
and Javanese ancestry, Agus was recognized as a child prodigy at the age of 7 on violin and
piano. By the age of 11, she had learned everything Mr. Tan, her teacher in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, had to teach her. He recommended that she continue her studies with Mr. Adidharma in Jakarta, 450 miles away. The solution to the inherent logistics problem was for her to study with Mr. Adidharma in the summer, giving her the opportunity to study the piano during the rest of the
year.
Agus was offered many scholarships, starting at the age of 7, but was unable to pursue them initially because her parents thought her too young to live on her own, and later because she was unable to obtain an exit visa. A missionary who was following Agus's career was able to arrange for a scholarship at Rosary Hill College near Buffalo, New York. After her first paid concert in May 1969, Govenor Ali Sadikin granted her the exit visa.
After achieving success in local competitions, she became the youngest member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
. This was followed by two full scholarship offers: Juilliard School of Music, recommended by violin pedagogue Ivan Galaman and the University of Southern California
. With her acceptance into the Jascha Heifetz Master Class at USC began a lasting association with him that lasted until his death in 1987.
Agus' noted musical collaboration with other musicians include cellists Nathaniel Rosen
and
Jeffrey Solow
, accordionist Nick Ariondo, and violinists Sherry Kloss and Roberto Cani
.
piano to mechanically record her piano keystrokes for the accompaniment, which was then played back on the special instrument while she recorded the violin solo with it.
Her piano playing has been described as that which "other pianists talk about with awe", and having a "swinging sense of rubato equal to the composer's challenge."
Her violin playing has been described as "illuminated with brilliance like that found in the rays of the sun," and "reminded us of Yehudi Menuhin
."
She has given lectures at the Royal Academy of Music
in London, the La Jolla Summer Music Festival, the Colburn School of Performing Arts
, University of Maryland
, and University of Iowa City.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and Pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, known primarily through her longtime collaboration with the violinist Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
. She is one of the rare classical music performers who has performed as a soloist accompanied by an orchestra as a Multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
.
Early life
A native of IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, of Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
, Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and Javanese ancestry, Agus was recognized as a child prodigy at the age of 7 on violin and
piano. By the age of 11, she had learned everything Mr. Tan, her teacher in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, had to teach her. He recommended that she continue her studies with Mr. Adidharma in Jakarta, 450 miles away. The solution to the inherent logistics problem was for her to study with Mr. Adidharma in the summer, giving her the opportunity to study the piano during the rest of the
year.
Agus was offered many scholarships, starting at the age of 7, but was unable to pursue them initially because her parents thought her too young to live on her own, and later because she was unable to obtain an exit visa. A missionary who was following Agus's career was able to arrange for a scholarship at Rosary Hill College near Buffalo, New York. After her first paid concert in May 1969, Govenor Ali Sadikin granted her the exit visa.
After achieving success in local competitions, she became the youngest member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra located in Buffalo, New York. Its primary performing venue is Kleinhans Music Hall, which is a National Historic Landmark. Its regular concert season features gala concerts, classics programming of core repertoire, Pops...
. This was followed by two full scholarship offers: Juilliard School of Music, recommended by violin pedagogue Ivan Galaman and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. With her acceptance into the Jascha Heifetz Master Class at USC began a lasting association with him that lasted until his death in 1987.
Education
- Studied on scholarship at Rosary Hill College (now Daemen CollegeDaemen CollegeDaemen College is a liberal arts college located on Main Street in Amherst, New York.-History:Daemen was founded in 1947 as Rosary Hill College for women by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, headed by Mother Magdalene Daemen...
), Amherst, New York, 1969-1971 - Jascha Heifetz Master Class (at USC), 1971 - 1973
- Bachelor of Music, Performance, USC, 1974
- Master of Music, Performance, USC, 1976
- Honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters, Daemon College, Buffalo, NY, 2007
Career as a musician
As a teacher of master classes, private lessons, and as a public lecturer and performer, Agus has spent 30 years focused on continuing the Heifetz legacy, regarding his musical beliefs, principles, musical ethics, teaching of the Art of Musical Collaboration, and teaching of the Art of Writing Musical Transcription.Agus' noted musical collaboration with other musicians include cellists Nathaniel Rosen
Nathaniel Rosen
Nathaniel "Nick" Rosen is an American cellist, former gold prize winner at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, and former faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music....
and
Jeffrey Solow
Jeffrey Solow
Jeffrey Solow is an American cello virtuoso and the immediate past president of the American String Teachers Association and president of the Violoncello Society, Inc. of New York.-Biography:...
, accordionist Nick Ariondo, and violinists Sherry Kloss and Roberto Cani
Roberto Cani
Roberto Salvatore Cani is an Italian violinist.Roberto Cani was a prizewinner in the Paganini , Jeunesses Musicales , and Courcillon International Competitions....
.
Association with Jascha Heifetz
- Violin student in Heifetz's USC master class, 1971–1973
- Piano accompanist for Heifetz's USC master class and its auditions, 1973-1984
- Heifetz's personal accompanist and collaborator for music transcription, 1984–1987
Recording artist
Agus has recorded three albums, and has collaborated with a number of other artists as an accompanist or chamber group member. She combined her talents on both violin and piano on the album Ayke Agus Doubles which was created by using a Yamaha DisklavierDisklavier
Disklavier is the brand name for a group of piano-related products made by Yamaha Corporation. It was introduced in the United States in 1987....
piano to mechanically record her piano keystrokes for the accompaniment, which was then played back on the special instrument while she recorded the violin solo with it.
Performance artist
Agus has performed as a violin and piano soloist, as a piano accompanist, chamber group member, and orchestra member throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe, including venues such as the House of Composers, St. Petersburg, Russia, and the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. On at least two occasions (2004 and 2008), she was a soloist on both instruments playing with the California Philharmonic Orchestra in the same concert.Her piano playing has been described as that which "other pianists talk about with awe", and having a "swinging sense of rubato equal to the composer's challenge."
Her violin playing has been described as "illuminated with brilliance like that found in the rays of the sun," and "reminded us of Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
."
Chamber music affiliations
- Ariondo-Agus Duo
- Pacific Serenade Chamber Music Society
- The Ayke Agus Piano Trio
- The South Bay Chamber Music Society (1991–1997)
- Guest artist with various European professional music groups, including the Ysaye String Quartet and the Jacques Thibaud String Trio
Author
Agus published Heifetz As I knew Him in 2001, chronicling her 15 years with the violinist, and touching on both of their childhood experiences as well as a significant treatment on the Art of Collaboration as Heifetz taught it.Transcriber
Agus helped Heifetz transcribe over 50 transcriptions for violin and piano. The last one, An American in Paris, by Gershwin, was left unfinished by Heifetz. Agus continued their work on this piece and published it after Heifetz's death.Instructor
Agus gives master classes and teaches piano, violin and chamber groups in her private studio.Lecturer
Since Heifetz's death in 1987, Agus has given numerous lectures in Europe, Asia and the US on the subject of The Art of Musical Collaboration, which she learned during her 15 year association with Heifetz. The most notable of these was given on October 27, 2009 at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory in Russia.She has given lectures at the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London, the La Jolla Summer Music Festival, the Colburn School of Performing Arts
Colburn School
The Colburn School is a music, dance, and drama school located in downtown Los Angeles adjacent to the Museum of Contemporary Art and across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall...
, University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, and University of Iowa City.
Soloist
- Musical Mementos of Jascha Heifetz
- Ayke Agus Plays Schubert
- Where Dreams Become Sunlight
Accompanist
- Ayke Agus Doubles
- The Infinite Trumpet, with trumpetist Malcolm McNabMalcolm McNabMalcolm Boyd McNab is a trumpeter and player of other brass instruments, and a Los Angeles-based session musician who has performed on nearly 2000 film and television soundtracks.-Education:...
- Treasured Vignettes for Violin and Piano, with violinist Yukiko Kamei
- Sherry Kloss Plays Forgotten Gems, with violinist Sherry Kloss
- 3 Faces of Kim, the Napalm Girl: No. 3. Fearful, with violinist Deon Nielsen Price
- Sun Rays, with violinist Deon Nielsen Price and vocalist Darryl Taylor
Soloist
- Ayke Agus Doubles
- Stille Antico
Chamber music
- The Hall of Mirrors, A Quartet of Chamber Works by Mark Carlson (Pacific Serenades)
- Sun Rays (Crossroads Alley Trio)
External links
- Agus' official website
- Interviews with Dennis Bartel of KUSCKUSCKUSC is a listener-supported classical music radio station broadcasting from downtown Los Angeles, California, USA. KUSC is owned and operated by the University of Southern California, which also operates student-run KXSC and San Francisco's classical station KDFC...
during the week prior to the premiere of the film Jascha Heifetz: God's Fiddler: April (11th 12th 13th 14th 15th), 2011