Praised by the American Record Guide as “...a superb musician”
Jason Solounias has performed across the United States and Europe, ranging from the Kennedy Center to Southwark Cathedral, including performances at Millennium Stage, the Lincoln Theater, Steinway Society of Puerto Rico, An Die Musik, Duomo di Amalfi, Junior Soto Recital Hall, The Arts Club of Washington, WETA, Church of Epiphany Concert Series, and the Lisner Auditorium. He has collaborated with Andrés Cardénes, Amit Peled, Gary Levinson, Elizabeth Hill, the 6821 Quintet, The Tango Cammarata and has appeared as a soloist with the National Opera Orchestra, Trinity Chamber Orchestra, the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra and the Pan American Symphony Orchestra. He has also been a featured soloist for Shigeru Kawai at the National Piano Technicians Guild Conference.
Solounias began his studies with Irene Yeakel and went on to complete his Bachelors of Arts at Shepherd University with Scott Beard. He received his Masters of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Catholic University of America under the direction of Jim Litzelman and Jose Ramos Santana. He has also worked with other distinguished pianists including Emanuel Krasovsky, John Perry, and Leon Fleisher.
His debut album released by the Sheva Collection features the piano music of Heitor Villa-Lobos. The recording was applauded by The American Record Guide, writing that Solounias, “hones in on the orchestral colors in Villa-Lobos’s music and eschews flashy playing in favor of sober purpose”, and, “brings out the intellect and grandeur of the music”.
Solounias was a featured performer during the 2019 Experiencing Villa-Lobos festival at the Virginia Commonwealth University, has lectured about the music of Villa-Lobos at New York University and at the University of Hartford. His recording was also featured in the music scoring the 2020 exhibition ‘Sur Moderno’ at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
Solounias is the director of the Puerto Rico International Piano Festival, the co-director of the Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition in Washington D.C., and assistant to the Tureck International Bach Competition in New York City. He has also been a guest artist and coordinator for the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival in Miami. Solounias is currently a faculty member at Levine Music in Washington D.C.
Schedule
Friday October 4 at 7:30 PM
Georgetown Chamber Players Fundraiser
For tickets: georgetownchamberplayers.ludus.com/index.php
Saturday October 5 at 3 PM
Piano Music of Latin America and Spain
https://www.levinemusic.org/event/piano-music-of-latin-america-spain/
Sunday October 27 at 3 PM
Violin and Piano Recital at St. Anns Catholic Church
with Agata Miklavc
https://stanndc.org/music
Sunday November 3 at 3 PM
Violin and Piano Recital at Music on the Lake
https://lakebarcroft.org/events/performing-arts/music-lake
Friday November 8
Recital, Charleston SC
Saturday November 16
Schubertiade with Georgetown Chamber Players
Thursday December 5
Levine Salon Concert
Sunday February 2
Magic of Tango in Chicago
http://pilgrimplayers.org/
Friday February 15
Tango with Steve Honigberg
https://dumbartonconcerts.org/steve-honigberg-tango-ensemble
Projects
Piano Music of Villa-Lobos
Review from American Record Guide December 2019
VILLA-LOBOS: Piano Pieces Bachianas Brasileiras 4; Choros 5; Prolo do Bebe selections+ Jason Solounias Sheva 218—69 minutes Solounias is a graduate of Shepherd University and the Catholic University of America; he is the executive director of the Puerto Rico Piano Festival, and he teaches in Virginia and Washington, DC. His performing resume may be modest compared to many of the artists we cover, but he is a superb musician. All the pieces were written after the composer’s 1920 trip to Paris, which he made “not to...learn from musicians there but to show what he had already done!” Solounias remarks on Villa-Lobos’s “big ego” and puts across confidence—but not arrogance— appropriately. He hones in on the orchestral colors in Villa-Lobos’s music and eschews flashy playing in favor of sober purpose. His approach may be less carnival-like than expected, but it brings out the intellect and grandeur of the music. In a very few places, he pauses at the edge of exultation, and I wish he had taken one more step. But overall the performances make a convincing argument for some of Villa-Lobos’s less known pieces. The piano is richly recorded by Sono Luminus Studios, a company known for sonic excellence. ESTEP
Puerto Rico International Piano Festival
The mission of the Puerto Rico International Piano Festival (Puerto Piano & Strings) is to give talented piano students of Puerto Rico, access to and opportunities at a world-class music festival. This week-long intensive program of lessons, masterclasses, and concerts, is a premier summer program. Puerto Piano & Strings is a 501(c)(3) and donations are tax deductible. Visit the website.
Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Competition
The Kosciuszko Foundation's Chopin Piano Competition was established in 1949, in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the death of Frédéric Chopin. Over the years, many outstanding musicians have been associated with the competition including Van Cliburn, Ian Hobson, Daniel Pollak, Murray Perahia, Myung-whun Chung, Kevin Kenner, and Kirill Gerstein. Today, the Kosciuszko Foundation's Chopin Competition continues to encourage gifted young pianists to further their studies and to perform the works of Polish composers. Visit the website.
Georgetown Chamber Players
GCP is an ensemble envisioning a new space in the community where musicians and audiences create lasting connections through shared experiences of musical excellence. Our concert series features chamber music, the Georgetown Chamber Orchestra, internationally acclaimed guest artists, and inspired programming. Visit the website
