Summer 2025 Cello & Piano Concert with Michal Palzewicz and Ayke Agus

In the cool and resonant spacious hall at Grizzly Peak Winery, we offer our piano and cello duets and more. This afternoon's program spans the expressive breadth of classical music. In a fascinating reimagination of the introspective elegance of Bach’s solo writing, Michal will play the Prelude from Suite No. 1 on viola. Haydn's cello concerto in C brings a joyful clarity, contrasted by Schubert's tender lyricism and quiet melancholy, while Franck’s lush Romantic sonata unfolds with dramatic explosiveness. Popper adds a touch of flair with his delightful velocity, and Ravel’s beloved Pavane gives shimmering colors and refined French sensuality. Elgar's Salud d'Amour was an engagement present, a personal ode to love dedicated to his wife. Together, these works and more explore centuries of musical imagination, through the colorful voices of strings and piano.

About the musicians:

Dr. Ayke Agus

A native of Indonesia, Dr. Ayke Agus began her concert career on both the violin and the piano at the age of 7. After finishing High School she came to the United States on a full scholarship to study violin and piano at Daemen College, Buffalo, NY. She further received a full scholarship from the Juilliard School of Music for graduate studies, but chose instead to audition for the Heifetz Masterclass at USC, Los Angeles.

Dr. Ayke Angus, a concert violinist and pianist, will forever be known as the last accompanist during the last fifteen years of the world renowned Russian-American violinst, Jascha Heifetz’s life. She performed as pianist with Jascha Heifetz and Gregor Piatigorsky in Chamber Music concerts.

After his death Dr. Ayke Agus wrote the one and only book entitled “Heifetz As I Knew Him” which was read by music lovers and violinists worldwide.

As a result she was invited to give masterclasses and lecture concerts around the world. She taught and performed at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, Russia, the Jascha Heifetz concert Hall in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Juilliard School of Music, the Royal Academy of Music in London (RAC), New England Conservatory, Boston University, George Mason University, the Royal Music Conservatory of Birmingham - UK, Peabody Conservatory, Rice University (Houston), USC, UCLA, The Yang Siew Toh (YST) National Music Conservatory of Singapore, University of Indonesia in Jakarta, and all the major cities of Indonesia.

All of which are part of Dr. Ayke Agus’ long life mission to continue the Jascha Heifetz musical tradition. In her spare time, she is a Music for Healing volunteer, where she plays for the sick, giving charity concerts, as her way of serving God.

Her husband Matthew Mallen, an English Professor, accompanies her when she is on her missions and concert tours.

Michal Palzewicz

Michal Palzewicz has performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe, both as a soloist and ensemble player. He has performed to great acclaim at prestigious venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in NYC and Wigmore Hall in England. Michal was the founding member of the Elsner String Quartet, which earned him the Saunderson Award at the 52nd Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition and was the winner of the Young Concert Artists Auditions in Leipzig. Michal attended Warsaw Conservatory of Music in Poland and then The Manhattan School of Music where his quartet received full scholarships as well as artist-in-residence status. His teachers and mentors include the members of the Amadeus String Quartet, David Soyer, Michael Tree, Hugh Maguire, Robert Mann, Pinchas Zuckerman, and Isidore Cohen. Presently Michal teaches cello at Southern Oregon University. Michal has performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Juneau Symphony Orchestra and the Rogue Valley Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed in numerous productions at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and many other theatres throughout the United States. Michal was thrilled to participate in Mary Zimmerman’s production of The White Snake which originated at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and went on to tour the U.S. as well as China.

Currently, Michal performs both as a solo artist (cello, violin and viola da gamba) and with two ensemble projects: Michal Palzewicz Trio – with Daniel Sherrill (guitar) and Reed Bentley (percussion); and Duo Jetté – with Pat O’Scannell (viola da gamba). The Michal Palzewicz Trio is part of the new OSF production of Much Ado About Nothing, both as performers and collaborative composers. The show runs June 1st – Oct. 12, 2024 in Ashland. Michal’s recordings, featuring passionate, lyrical, soaring cello lines and relaxing harmonies, can be found at music.palzewicz.com, where they are available for download or as a subscription.

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