Michael Kurek, Composer

WATCH:

For a preview of Michael Kurek’s forthcoming “Symphony No. 2: Tales from the Realm of Faerie”, click HERE or above on that link. The symphony is due on CD from Parma Recordings in late 2022. For those desiring the most recent example of Michael Kurek’s music, the symphony is suggested to hear first.

The Sea Knows by Michael Kurek is a one-movement concerto for cello and string orchestra.  It is titled after a poem by the composer about the sea as a means of self-discovery. The music begins uncertain and turbulent but finds in contemplating the depths of the ocean a sense of wonder, of decisiveness, and of positive closure. It was released by Parma Recordings in August 2017 with several other works by Michael Kurek on a CD titled The Sea Knows.

               Michael Kurek’s “The Sea Knows”

                                     with Ovidiu Marinescu, Cello                         

The Vanderbilt Strings conducted by Robin Fountain

                              “Serenade for Violoncello and Harp”                                      

with cellist Ovidiu Marinescu and harpist Rita Costanzi

Michael Kurek’s “Pas de deux” (from his Piano Trio)

Choreographed by Sarah Slipper

LISTEN:

A sampling of recent works in various genres by Michael Kurek

That Which Remains Unspoken (large orchestra, courtesy KMZT-Radio, Los Angeles)

Concertino for Celesta and Orchestra: “Fairy Dreams” (orchestra, courtesy Schiedmayer Celestebau, Stuttgart, Germany)

Serenade for Violoncello and Harp (Ovidiu Marinescu and Rita Costanzi, courtesy Parma Recordings)

Moon Canticle (Soledad Yaya, solo harp, courtesy Parma Recordings)

Ave Maria (SSA Women’s Choir, harp, string orchestra, studio recording)

Conquest (large brass ensemble and percussion, the Tri Star Brass)

Monument (wind ensemble, courtesy College Band Directors National Association)

Note: There is an additional page with my Missa Brevis Latin setting of the Mass for choir and organ HERE.

OFFICIAL HEADSHOTS: For download

Photo credit for upper headshot:  Denise Truscello of Las Vegas, personal photographer to Celine Dion. Denise has also photographed covers for Billboard, Variety, and photos in Time, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, and others.  She has photographed Kirk Douglas, Mohamad Ali, Elton John, Britney Spears, and many others.  Second photo: courtesy Vanderbilt University News Service.

Photo credit for photo below:  Steve Green, Vanderbilt University Photography