AIDAS PUODŽIUKAS (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre)
12 April @11.00-14.00 in C-405
Aidas Puodžiukas was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, into a family of musicians. He began playing piano at the age of six. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music, Mr. Puodžiukas studied at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, under Professor Jerome Lowenthal. Later on, he received an Artist Diploma from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts as well as his Master`s Degree, under Professor Anthony di Bonaventura. Aidas perfected his mastery of playing under world famous pianists: Emanuel Krasovsky, Lev Natocheny, Igor Laszko, Lazar Berman and Peter Eicher. He also studied chamber music with a member of the Juilliard String Quartet, Professor Raphael Hillyer, and with members of the Muir String Quartet.
Aidas Puodžiukas is a well recognized solo pianist as well as a member of various chamber ensembles in Lithuania. He has given numerous performances across his native country Lithuania, and also performed in many of the US States, Asia and European concert halls. As a soloist, Mr. Puodziukas attended many famous international festivals, including Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, USA), Sarasota Music Festival (Florida, USA), Piano Institute at Colby (Maine, USA), Brandywine Piano Institute at West Chester (Pennsylvania, USA), Piestany Music Festival (Slovakia), Hanoi New Music Festival (Vietnam).
Aidas is the winner of 14 international piano competitions, including competitions in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Spain, and the United States. These include prizes in the “Maria Canals International Piano Competition” (Barcelona), the Antonin Dvorak Piano Competition (Vilnius), the “Yamaha Foundation of Europe Piano Competition”, and the Richmond Piano Competition (USA). Currently Mr. Puodžiukas is a head of piano and organ department at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, faculty member of M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts as well as Neris Music School in Vilnius. The pianist regularly gives piano masterclasses in Lithuania, Latvia, Denmark, Italy, Serbia, USA. He has also been invited to serve as jury member in various piano competitions in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.