Recognized for his “masterful and glorious musicianship” and “graceful atmospheric interpretations” (Pizzicato Liechtenstein Classical Reviews) nineteen-year-old cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky is a student of Hans Jorgen Jensen at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, where he is also studies history.
In the past several seasons Jan has appeared in numerous recitals across the United States and Europe. Among the recent highlights are concerts in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Washington, DC, Florida, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, performances across the Chicagoland area, and solo recitals on NPR, WFMT Chicago Classical radio, ABC Chicago TV, and the Violin Channel. Upcoming engagements include solo and chamber recitals at the Meadowmount School of Music in Westport, New York, solo recital on Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, and chamber and solo features on WFMT Chicago Classical Radio.
As a solo and chamber performer Jan won numerous awards in competitions and soloed with orchestras in the US and Europe. In 2023 Jan made a solo debut at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a prizewinner of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Most recently Jan was nominated as a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts and is a 2024 YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Cello Performance, the highest honor of the National YoungArts Foundation.
Additionally, Jan was a first prize winner in the DePaul National Concerto competition, West Suburban Symphony Concerto Competition, Central Oregon Symphony Concerto Competition, Lakeview Orchestra Concerto Competition, Society of American Musicians Competition, Chicago Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, and Chicago International Music Competition. He also received multiple awards in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition and was a finalist in the United States Marine Band and Sphinx Competitions.
With his string quartets Jan won prizes in four consecutive St Paul National String Quartet Competitions including a 2025 Silver Medal and a BIPOC Prize with the Caspian String Quartet. Additionally, with the Caspian String Quartet Jan won first prizes in the 2025 Chicago National Chamber Music Competition and Rembrandt Chamber Music Competition and was a Finalist in the 2025 Coltman competition. Previously Jan and his chamber groups won prizes in Chicago International Music Competition, Barnett competition, and reached semi-finals in five consecutive Fischoff National Chamber Music Competitions.
Jan was honored to perform in masterclasses and learn from such distinguished pedagogues as Jens Peter Maintz, Ivan Monightetti, Clive Greensmith, Richard Aaron, Jerome Pernoo, Luis Claret, Johannes Moser, Mark Kosower, John Sharp, Richard Hirschl, Ivan Karizna, Brandon Vamos, Astrid Schween, Colin Carr, and members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Previously, Jan studied with Gilda Barston, Vladimir Perline, Horacio Contreras, JiHee Kim, and Oleksa Mycyk, and received invaluable support from Ivan Karizna, Sihao He, and Sydney Lee.
He was coached in chamber music masterclasses by Menahem Pressler, Ivri Gitlis, Jesse Montgomery, Mathias Tacke, Sang Mee Lee, Elaine Felder, Rodolfo Vieira, Todd Phillips, Si-Yan Dareen Lee, Caroline Coade, Ayane Kozasa, and members of Leipzig, Talich, Prazak, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Pacifica, and Kronos string quartets.
Jan is a founding member of Musicians for Hope, an organization that provides material support and creates opportunities for music education in Chicago-area public schools. He regularly performs in senior homes, schools, and community events.
Jan is a recipient of the McDowel Scholarship, Richard D. Colburn scholarship in artistic excellence, Bienen endowed scholarship, and merit scholarship at the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein.