Program

J. S. Bach
Concerto in d minor for 2 violins (Adapted for violin and viola by J. Kosmala)
 .Vivace
 .Lento, ma non troppo
 .Allegro

J. Chr. Bach
Concerto in c minor
 .Allegro molto, ma maestoso
 .Adagio molto espressivo
 .Allegro molto

JERZY KOSMALA, viola
WENETA KOSMALA, violin

Porto 2024 Strings Ensemble
Violinos 1
Pedro Rebelo
Macaense Mouriès
Inês Quintas
Mariana Mendes

Violinos 2
João Sá
Pedro Santos
Bárbara Paradela

Violas
Francisco Salgado
Diana Moreira

Violoncelos
Beatriz Machado
Sílvia Adolfo

Contrabaixo
Tiago Gomes

Bio

Jerzy Kosmala, Viola 

Jerzy Kosmala has established himself as one of the world’s premiere violists. Internationally acclaimed as a concert violist and pedagogue, Kosmala has concertized throughout Europe, the former Soviet Union, Canada, North and South America, Asia, and South Africa, and has recordings on Orion, Vox/MGM, and Centaur labels. He is a frequent guest artist and performer at the world’s foremost festivals, International Viola Congresses, universities, and academies, including the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College, and Guildhall 

School of Music in London, England; the “Mozarteum” in Salzburg, Austria; Eastman, Juilliard, Manhattan, Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart, Dresden, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Krakow, and Hong Kong Schools of Music; and Boston, Toronto, South California, Michigan, and Indiana Universities. Dr. Kosmala is a permanent jury member of virtually all the most prestigious international competitions, including the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition in the Isle of Man, the Geneva International Viola Competition in Switzerland, the International Viola Competition in Munich, Germany; the International Competition in Markneukirchen, Germany; the International Chamber Music Competition in Trapani, Italy; the International Primrose Viola Competition in the USA; the International Brahms Viola Competition in Austria, the International Viola Competition in Bled, Slovenia, and the Concert Artist Guild International Competition in New York City. In addition, Dr. Kosmala has adapted and published numerous compositions for viola and has premiered many contemporary works, some of which were written especially for him. A former member of the Krakow String Quartet and renowned Eastman String Quartet. He is an erstwhile student of and assistant to the legendary William Primrose, and other masters, and a graduate of the Krakow Academy of Music, Eastman School of Music, and Indiana University. A former member of the executive board of the American Viola Society, Jerzy Kosmala serves on the faculty of the University of California, Irvine, and is a former visiting professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. 

Recently returned from performances in Bangkok, Thailand and master classes in Academia Santa Cecila in Rome, Italy, Kosmala’s upcoming engagements will include performances and master classes at the International Viola Congress in Porto, Portugal and the School of Music in Krakow Poland; as well as judging the Enkor International Competition out of London, England.

Weneta Kosmala, Violin

Weneta Kosmala is principal second violinist of the OCMCO Symphony Orchestra and frequent performer with the Sea Coast Symphony.  She is a student of her father, Jerzy Kosmala, a world-renowned violist. She was formerly the concertmaster of the Rome Festival Orchestra, member of the Baton Rouge Symphony, Akron Symphony, Canton Symphony, Baton Rouge Opera, and Assistant Concertmaster of the New Orleans Ballet Orchestra.

Weneta has performed in sixteen states, in performances in leading concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Abravenel Hall, Meyerson Hall, Rady Shell, Segerstrom Hall and the Mormon Tabernacle.  She has performed in recitals, chamber ensembles, musicals, pops orchestra, opera companies, and in a number of recording sessions, as well as in back up orchestras for many leading musical celebrities.  Weneta’s foreign performances include solo recitals in Venezuela, England, Ireland, Italy, including performances in the St. Peter Basilica, and in Poland. Weneta particularly enjoys performing with her teacher and father, Jerzy Kosmala and her children Kasia and Stefan Kosmala-Dahlbeck.  In 2010, Weneta was honored to have her piano adaptation of Dr. Jerzy Kosmala’s viola transcription of Henry Wieniawski’s Legend published in the June, 2010 issue of the prestigious The Strad magazine. In addition to being a violinist, Weneta is also an attorney, CPA, and is a Bankruptcy Trustee in the Central District of California.