A true romantic pianist, Julia Mortyakova brings a unique voice to the instrument – a fresh, yet, mature interpretation of the great masterpieces, as well as new music. Julia’s repertoire ranges from Baroque to the music written today. As a captivating performer, Julia’s stage presence has mesmerized audiences around the world. This CD was released in 2007 when Julia was still a doctoral student at the University of Miami and has since been sold all around the world. Originally from Moscow, Russia, Julia Mortyakova has given solo piano recitals, appeared with orchestras and performed in music festivals around the world including: Aspen Music Festival, Clayton Piano Festival, Eastern Music Festival, Natchez Festival of Music, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts, Musica Nueva Malaga (Spain), Assisi Music Festival (Italy), Zhytomyr's Musical Spring (Ukraine), and Symphonic Workshops International Piano Masterclass (Bulgaria). A laureate of the 2014 American Prize for her performance of the music of Cecile Chaminade, Julia is the winner of the 2012 Sigma Alpha Iota Career Performance Grant. Her project involves performing the music of Cecile Chaminade. As an active performing artist, Julia has given solo recitals in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York City, South Carolina, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington D.C., Assisi, Italy, Moscow, Russia, and Zhitomir, Ukraine. In 2013, 2014, and 2015 she was a concerto soloist with the Assisi (Italy) and Starkville Symphony orchestras. Dr. Mortyakova currently teaches and serves as Chair of the Department of Music at the Mississippi University for Women. She previously held a professorship at Alcorn State University. Her research includes applying the existential philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre to piano teaching, and the life and music of Cecile Chaminade. She has presented her research at numerous regional, national and international conferences. Julia is a published author in the United States and Ukraine, and her first independent solo piano album has sold internationally. Dr. Mortyakova is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Vanderbilt University, New York University, and the University of Miami. Julia’s principle teachers have been: Michael Coonrod, J. Robert Floyd, Irina Krivchenko, Miyoko Lotto, Craig Nies, and Fabio Parrini. Julia has also studied with John Nauman at the Aspen Music Festival, and Christina Dahl at the Eastern Music Festival. She invites you to visit her website www.juliamortyakova.com.