Luba Zuk

Academic title(s): 

Associate Professor

Luba Zuk
Contact Information
Email address: 
luba.zuk [at] mcgill.ca
Group: 
Faculty
Degree(s): 

L.Mus.(McG.), Graduate, Conservatoire de Musique de Quebec, Ph.D. Ukrainische Freie Universitåt, München

Biography: 

Ukrainian-born, Canadian pianist and educator Luba Zuk is a graduate of McGill University, the Conservatoire de Musique de la Province de Québec in Montreal and the Ukrainische Freie Universitåt (UFU) in Munich. She studied also at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and at the University of Alberta Banff School of Fine Arts. Currently she is an Associate Professor (part-time) at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Professor Zuk is also active as a lecturer and piano clinician, as external examiner and curriculum consultant for state music academies in Ukraine, and as adjudicator at Canadian and international music festivals and competitions.

Luba Zuk’s solo and ensemble performances have been broadcast on CBC Radio, Radio-Canada International and Ukrainian State Radio and Television. She has performed also on Austrian Radio (ORF) and Polish National Radio. Luba Zuk has a special interest in music by Ukrainian composers and has given first performances in North America of their numerous solo and chamber works. Her doctoral dissertation and her ongoing research focus on piano works by composers of Ukrainian origin residing in Canada and the USA.  Luba Zuk has performed internationally in solo recitals, as a member of the Luba and Ireneus Zuk piano duo, and with chamber ensembles. She presented solo recitals in major cities in Austria, Canada and the USA. Her performances with the Zuk Piano duo have taken her throughout North America, Europe and the Far East. The duo actively promotes Canadian and Ukrainian music and has recorded for the RCI-ACM, SNE and other labels.

Under the auspices of the Department of External Affairs of Canada, the Zuk Duo undertook an extensive European tour in 1982, performing music exclusively by Canadian composers.  Their second European tour took them to Austria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Scotland. In 1986, the International Year of Canadian Music, the Zuk Duo played concerts at Canadian universities across Canada. Luba and Ireneus Zuk have performed regularly at international music festivals in Europe and in major music centers throughout Ukraine. They have also participated frequently in international conferences of the European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA) presenting recitals or lecture-recitals in Graz, Nicosia, London, Tallinn, Budapest, Ljubljana, Oslo, and Lwiw. More recently, on invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, Luba and Ireneus Zuk performed concerts and gave master classes across China. In 2012, the Canadian Embassy invited Luba and Ireneus Zuk to perform recitals in Rabat, capital of Morocco, as part of the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Critics have hailed the duo’s performances with headlines, such as, e.g.  “Excellent Duo from Canada” Neue Zeit, Graz, Austria; “First Class Musicianship Makes Concert for Two Pianos a Delight” The Whig-Standard Canada; “Duet Playing at its Best” Kisalföld, Györ, Hungary. "...Luba and Ireneus Zuk played with glitter, delicacy, and shape." The Scotsman, Edinburgh.

The government of Ukraine honoured Luba Zuk with the award of a medal and the title "Merited Artist of Ukraine". The Ukrainian Canadian Congress bestowed on her the Shevchenko Medal in recognition of her promotion of music by Canadian and Ukrainian composers.

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