Michelle Makarski

Born in Michigan, Michelle Makarski began violin studies with her father, a multi-instrumentalist bandleader and teacher of string instruments, followed by study in Detroit with Ara Zerounian and Mischa Mischakoff. She attended high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, studying with Brian Hanly, and the University of Michigan, where she graduated magna cum laude as a student of Paul Makanowitzky, a major artistic and intellectual influence.
 
Her exposure to Pablo Casals, Felix Galimir, Sandor Vegh and many others at the Marlboro Music Festival provided a rich source of inspiration for the development of her future collaborative and solo work. Masterclasses with Nathan Milstein and prize-winning at international competitions led to an increasing presence in Europe, where she now appears regularly in concert with European and American colleagues, as well as in solo recitals featuring her extensive repertoire for unaccompanied violin. Edith Eisler wrote of her in Strings: “Her tone, though adaptable [...]
Born in Michigan, Michelle Makarski began violin studies with her father, a multi-instrumentalist bandleader and teacher of string instruments, followed by study in Detroit with Ara Zerounian and Mischa Mischakoff. She attended high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy, studying with Brian Hanly, and the University of Michigan, where she graduated magna cum laude as a student of Paul Makanowitzky, a major artistic and intellectual influence.
 
Her exposure to Pablo Casals, Felix Galimir, Sandor Vegh and many others at the Marlboro Music Festival provided a rich source of inspiration for the development of her future collaborative and solo work. Masterclasses with Nathan Milstein and prize-winning at international competitions led to an increasing presence in Europe, where she now appears regularly in concert with European and American colleagues, as well as in solo recitals featuring her extensive repertoire for unaccompanied violin. Edith Eisler wrote of her in Strings: “Her tone, though adaptable to every change of colour, nuance, and intensity, has an unfailingly flawless, pristine purity, an essential element of her distinctive noble, dignified, inwardly expressive style.”
 
Makarski first came to ECM in 1993, playing Keith Jarrett’s Sonata for violin and piano on Bridge of Light with the composer, and has since recorded several acclaimed albums for the label. She appears as an improviser on Tomasz Stanko's prize-winning From The Green Hill, while her solo albums explore aspects of Western music from Tartini to Elliott Carter. Her album, To be Sung on the Water, paired Tartini's music with that of American composer Donald Crockett, while on Caoine she presented works by Biber, Hartke, Reger, Rochberg and Bach. An ardent proponent of contemporary concert music, Makarski's long association with composers has resulted in numerous works dedicated to her, including Stephen Hartke's Tituli (available on ECM).
 
The violinist’s renewed friendship with Keith Jarrett led to these two artists recording Bach’s Six Sonatas for Violin and Piano in 2010. “It’s a kind of momentary document of a joyously renewed friendship,” Makarski said, “not a strategically planned project”. BBC Music Magazine called these performances “impeccable” and The Strad wrote: “Makarski matches [Jarrett] all the way with responsive, spirited playing and an intuitive sense of style, full of expressive detail”.
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