"Kurganov's violin empowered with penetrating colors and expert phrase shapes..."
--The Boston Musical Intelligencer (2017)
Russian-American Violinist Daniel Kurganov has emerged as a unique musical voice synthesizing values of different artistic eras. He has already garnered praise from such musical giants as Sergej Krylov, Ivry Gitlis and Rudolf Koelman, as well as from publications in the United States, Europe and Japan. 2018 saw a new album release with pianist Constantine Finehouse on the Spice Classics label. The album, featuring masterworks of Brahms, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and others, was met with only positive reviews. Fanfare Magazine lauded Kurganov’s “smoldering intensity” and “ingratiatingly idiomatic violinistic personality. Kurganov’s and Finehouse's recital brings together a wide variety of styles, rendered with an effervescence and panache that earn it its recommendation.” ArtsFuse journal wrote “Kurganov gives a tour de force performance, superbly impassioned.” Some highlights of past seasons include solo appearances with the New Hampshire Philharmonic and Canterbury Strings, performances at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Harvard Musical Association, and multiple concert tours of Japan with his chamber group “Kurofune Ensemble” and the Boston Chamber Orchestra. In Sion, Switzerland, Kurganov was invited to The Violins of Hope project, where he had the honor of performing on a violin rescued from Auschwitz. In Boston, Kurganov performs as a member of the Essex Chamber Players.
Kurganov is a passionate teacher, working with students privately, as well as serving as guest artist/faculty at Westmont College of Music. Additionally, he coaches musicians of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the Kendall Square Orchestra on chamber music and orchestral playing. Kurganov is also the founder and director of the Boston Violin Intensive, a unique 10-day master-course founded in 2019 for advanced and professional violinists. Additionally, he designed ARCO, a suite of innovative digital tools for violinists and violin teachers that will enhance the way they practice, teach and access resources. His YouTube channel has over 6 million viewers, and he frequently writes on the topic of musical performance.
Highlights of the 2020-2021 season include a Lincoln Center debut recital with Constantine Finehouse (at Merkin Hall), a residency at Harvard University’s ArtLab, an album of world premieres of works by Lera Auerbach and Rick Beaudoin, a concert tour of the complete Violin Sonatas of Brahms, culminating in a live album recording using an 1860’s Streicher piano, and a performance of Shostakovich’s Trio in E Minor with the Essex Chamber Players.
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Kurganov grew up near Chicago and began his musical studies on the piano. He completed his studies at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) under Rudolf Koelman, protégé of the legendary Jascha Heifetz. Kurganov is also an alumnus of the Keshet Eilon International Mastercourse.
The Violins of Hope are a collection of restored instruments that survived the Holocaust. Each tells its own story. I had the incredible honor of performing on them in Sion Switzerland with Maestros Shlomo Mintz and Rudolf Koelman.
They are now now on display and can be heard live in Cleveland, Ohio
My YouTube channel is my hub for my own recording projects, my collection of rare recordings and videos of inspiring classical artists, and the recently started Violin Masterclass video series. Join the already millions of viewers.
