Department Chair, Professor of Music

EMAIL: jvmortyakova@muw.edu

PHONE: (662) 241-6399

About Dr. Mortyakova

B.M., Vanderbilt University
M.A., New York University
D.M.A., University of Miami

Originally from Moscow, Russia pianist Julia Mortyakova has given solo recitals throughout the United States as well as in Italy, Russia, and Ukraine. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras and as a featured performer in music festivals including: Assisi Performing Arts (Italy), Musica Nueva Malaga (Spain), Zhytomyr’s Musical Spring (Ukraine), and Natchez Festival of Music.  She was the 2012 winner of the Sigma Alpha Iota Career Performance Grant and performed at the 2012 SAI National Convention in Atlanta, GA.  The 2013 concert season included solo recitals throughout the southeastern United States, Italy, and concerto soloist appearances with the Assisi Festival Orchestra (Italy) and the Starkville/MSU Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Mortyakova is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Vanderbilt University, New York University, and the University of Miami.  Additional study and performances include: Aspen Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts, and Symphonic Workshops International Piano Masterclass (Bulgaria). Her piano teachers include Irina Krivchenko, Fabio Parrini, Michael Coonrod, Craig Nies, Miyoko Lotto and Rosalina Sackstein.

Dr. Mortyakova currently teaches and serves as Chair of the Department of Music at The W.  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 Cécile Chaminade.  She has presented her research at numerous state, regional, national and international conferences including: College Music Society, Music Teachers National Association, Hartford Women Composers Festival Forum, Zhytomyr’s Musical Spring international contemporary music festival and conference (Ukraine), and Internet Governance Forum (Lithuania). Currently, she is working on a book about the Russian-American composer, Olga Harris. Julia is a published author in the United States and Ukraine, and her first independent solo piano album has sold internationally.