Cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky is a Richard D. Colburn Scholarship in Artistic Excellence Fellow at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago, an advanced training center for gifted pre-college musicians, and a scholarship holder at the International Academy of Music in Liechtenstein. He is recognized for his “masterful and glorious musicianship” and “graceful atmospheric interpretations” (Pizzicato Liechtenstein Classical Reviews).
In the past several seasons Jan has been invited to perform numerous recitals across the United States and Europe. Recent highlights include performances in Gstaad, Switzerland; Vaduz, Liechtenstein; Miami, Florida; Salmon, Idaho; Bend, Oregon; Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; St Paul, Minnesota; and Chicago, Illinois. Upcoming engagements include a return solo recital on WFMT Chicago Classical Radio Introductions Program; Dvorak Cello Concerto with Northbrook Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro Mina Zikri in Northbrook, Illinois; an appearance on the From the Top radio program; and recitals in Liechtenstein, Germany, and Chicago.
Jan studies cello performance with Prof. Hans Jorgen Jensen and Oleksa Mycyk at the Music Institute of Chicago Academy, and with Prof. Jens Peter Maintz at the Academy of Music in Liechtenstein. Previously, Jan studied with Gilda Barston, Vladimir Perline, and Horacio Contreras, and received invaluable support from Ivan Karizna, Sihao He, Jihee Kim, and Sydney Lee. Jan performed in masterclasses with Jens Peter Maintz, Ivan Monighetti, Richard Aaron, Clive Greensmith, Jerome Pernoo, Lluis Claret, John Sharp, Richard Hirschl, Brandon Vamos, and Edward Arron.
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 Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a prize winner of the 2023 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. Jan was named a 2024 YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Cello Performance, the highest honor of the National YoungArts Foundation, and received a career grant from the YoungArts Foundation. Additionally, Jan won First Prize in the 2023 Central Oregon Concerto Competition, 2023 Lakeview Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2022 Society of the American Musicians Competition, 2022 Chicago Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, and 2021 Chicago International Music Competition; received multiple awards in the Walgreens National Concerto Competition and DePaul National Concerto Festival, and was a finalist in the 2024 United States Marine Band Concerto Competition and 2024 Sphinx Competition.
With his chamber groups (string quartets and piano trios) Jan was a winner in 2021, 2022 and 2023 St Paul National String Quartet Competition, 2020 Chicago International Music Competition, 2019 and 2022 Barnett competition, and was a semi-finalist in four consecutive Fischoff National Chamber Music Competitions. He was coached in chamber music masterclasses by Menahem Pressler, Ivri Gitlis, Mathias Tacke, Sang Mee Lee, Paul Zafer, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, Leipzig, Talich and Prazak string quartets.
Jan vargas participated in the 2016-2021 Musica Mundi International Chamber Music Festivals in Waterloo, Belgium and 2022, 2023 Meadowmount School of Music in Westport, NY. He was featured in the ABC and WTTW TV programs; WFMT Classical Radio, and TV Com Belgium. Jan just completed the 2024 Gstaad String Academy and is about to perform a solo recital on WFMT Chicago Classical Radio in September 2024.
Jan is a founding member of Musicians for Hope, an organization that fundraises and creates opportunities for music education in Chicago-area public schools. He is also a Fellow at the Chicago Musical Pathway Initiatives, a scholarship program providing orchestral training and career guidance to young musicians of traditionally under-represented backgrounds. Jan regularly performs in senior homes, public schools, and community events. Since the age of 9, Jan has performed in a Kol Nidre service at the Congregation Sukkat Shalom in Wilmett, IL.
Jan is a 12th grader at the North Atlantic Regional High School. In addition to performing and composing music, Jan pursues advanced studies in government and economics.