The Ripka Duo
Erin & Joseph UPCOMING RECITALS
Organist/pianist Joseph Ripka and violinist Erin Kathryn Ripka, who are husband and wife, perform together as the Ripka Duo in order to share their love of performing classical music for a wide range of audiences. Whether presenting a formal recital sponsored by a university, church or music club, enriching a wedding or other significant occasion with beautiful music, or sharing their talents with students and seniors, the Ripka Duo is committed to performing the finest classical literature at a high level of artistry.
Although the duo's repertoire centers around the great sonatas and solos for violin and piano and the masterworks for solo organ, they also offer works for organ and violin, solo violin and solo piano. These five genres of musical literature afford the Ripka Duo a vast wealth of repertoire of diverse styles and performance periods and a variety of instrumental colors.
LISTEN TO THE ŘIPKA DUO SOUND CLIPS
Erin Kathryn Ripka received a masters degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. She holds a bachelors degree in violin performance from the University of Minnesota and also studied violin for two years at the Kunst Universität in Graz, Austria. She has been a winner or finalist in a number competitions in Minneapolis and Saint Paul and was a national finalist in the MTNA string competition. Her teachers include Sally O'Reilly, Yair Kless and Stephen Rose. Erin Kathryn has presented numerous solo and chamber music recitals. Her performances of sonatas by Brahms and Franck in recitals sponsored by the Schubert Club of St. Paul brought her recognition for her depth and beauty of tone and expressive lyricism.
Joseph Ripka received an artist diploma in organ performance at the Oberlin Conservatory and holds bachelors and masters degrees in piano performance and organ performance. He has won competitions on both instruments and has presented numerous solo organ recitals, solo piano recitals and collaborative piano recitals throughout the United States. Joseph was the first prize winner in the San Marino and Fort Wayne national organ competitions in 2008 and was recently awarded 1st prize in the 2008 Dublin International Organ Competition. His teachers include Charles Echols, James Higdon, Carmen Wilhite, and James David Christie. Nationally and internationally prominent organists have cited him as one of America's most promising emerging young artists.
Listen to Solo Piano Clips