New music faculty bring international success to classrooms and Indianapolis Quartet
The Department of Music in the Shaheen College of Arts & Sciences is proud to announce the addition of widely acclaimed violinist Joana Genova as visiting instructor of violin/viola and director of Chamber Music Initiatives. Joana brings a wealth of international success as a musician, both in Europe and the United States and will support the momentum of the Indianapolis Quartet, one of the Midwest’s premiere string ensembles.
Joana, who is excited to join the UIndy family, has an active career as a chamber musician, orchestral player, teacher, and soloist. She first began playing the violin at age 6 in her native Bulgaria and made her solo debut at the age of 12 with the Plovdiv Chamber Orchestra and later was named the top prizewinner of the National Competition in Bulgaria. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music at the Conservatory of Amsterdam and a master’s degree in chamber music at the Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. She also is a former concertmaster of the Amsterdam Bach Consort and a member of Amsterdam Sinfonietta.
Much like other faculty in the Department of Music, Joana will help to expose music students to career opportunities and insight through the lens of professional musicians who have earned acclaim across the world. She will teach applied violin/viola courses and will co-direct the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Ensembles with her husband, Ariel Rudiakov, who is recognized internationally as a violist and conductor.
“The Department of Music has a rich history of working with international musicians of the highest caliber,” said University Provost Stephen H. Kolison, Jr. “Joana’s success and reputation will provide wonderful advantages for our students and support the continued growth of the Indianapolis Quartet as one of the most dynamic and influential musical ensembles in the Midwest.”
In addition to her faculty duties, Joana will infuse a unique sound and musicianship to the Indianapolis Quartet, now in its second year but already recognized as a collection of world-class talent and an elite string ensemble. The Quartet, through its strong partnership with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, will continue its path to success and fulfill its vision as a prominent fixture in the national arts community. With funding support recently granted from the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, the Quartet will continue to refine the artistic excellence of the ensemble by building on the repertoire of world-class music of the past, present, and future; performing in increasingly higher profile settings, and collaborating with musicians of the highest caliber. The Quartet’s goal is to enhance the cultural fabric of the city and region through both performance and educational outreach.
She joins ISO concertmaster and violinist Zachary DePue, violist Michael Isaac Strauss and ISO principal cellist Austin Huntington in the Quartet. These musicians have earned international acclaim and are recognized among the most elite musicians in the region. After performing with Joana, Quartet members praised her musicianship and her professional and intelligent demeanor, which they said would help “raise the level of our artistry during this crucial time for The Indianapolis Quartet’s development.” The Quartet is next scheduled to perform in October.