Ieva Jokubaviciute is a Lithuanian-born classical pianist who has gained international recognition for her exceptional talent and artistry. Born on August 31, 1978, in Vilnius, Lithuania, Jokubaviciute began playing the piano at the age of six. Her parents recognized her natural talent and enrolled her in the National M.K. Ciurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius, where she received her early musical education. Jokubaviciute's talent was evident from an early age, and she quickly became a rising star in the Lithuanian music scene. She won her first national piano competition at the age of nine and went on to win numerous other competitions throughout her childhood and teenage years. In 1995, she was awarded the Grand Prix at the International Balys Dvarionas Piano Competition in Vilnius, which marked a turning point in her career. After completing her studies at the National M.K. Ciurlionis School of Arts, Jokubaviciute continued her education at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she studied with Professor Vera Gornostaeva. In 2001, she received a scholarship to attend the International Piano Academy Lake Como in Italy, where she studied with renowned pianist and pedagogue William Grant Naboré. Jokubaviciute's international career began to take off in the early 2000s, and she quickly gained a reputation as a pianist of exceptional talent and sensitivity. In 2006, she won the Astral Artists National Auditions in Philadelphia, which led to numerous performances throughout the United States and Canada. She has since performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Lithuania, and the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra. One of Jokubaviciute's most notable performances was her debut at Carnegie Hall in 2007, where she performed a solo recital to critical acclaim. The New York Times praised her "impressive technique and deep musicality," and she was hailed as one of the most promising young pianists of her generation. Jokubaviciute has also been recognized for her recordings, which have received critical acclaim and numerous awards. Her recording of the complete piano works of Maurice Ravel was released in 2012 to great acclaim, and she was awarded the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts in 2013 in recognition of her achievements. In addition to her performing career, Jokubaviciute is also a dedicated teacher and mentor. She has taught at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Mannes School of Music in New York, and she is currently on the faculty of the Juilliard School in New York. Throughout her career, Jokubaviciute has remained committed to promoting the music of her native Lithuania and Eastern Europe. She has performed works by Lithuanian composers such as Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis and Vytautas Barkauskas, and she has collaborated with many contemporary composers to commission new works for the piano. Jokubaviciute's talent and dedication have earned her numerous awards and accolades throughout her career. In addition to the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Arts, she has been awarded the Chopin Prize at the International Piano Competition in Rome, the Yamaha Prize at the International Piano Competition in Sapporo, and the First Prize at the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona.

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