Praised for her “transforming intensity and beauty of tone” (New York Times), Australian violinist Asmira Woodward-Page is internationally recognized as a unique and passionate artist who “speaks directly to her listeners” (The Sydney Morning Herald).
A “solo artist…in peak form” (Symphony Magazine), Ms. Woodward-Page has performed concertos with the major orchestras in Australia and many in the US and Canada, working with conductors including Jahja Ling, Michael Christie, Muhai Tang and fellow Australian Matthew Coorey. Recent concerto engagements include Vivaldi Concerti at New York City’s Town Hall with the Little Orchestra Society, Bruch Concerto with the Charlotte Philharmonic, Beethoven Concerto with the Wartburg Symphony, and the Bach Double Concerto this spring with the String Orchestra of New York City (SONYC).
Described as a “remarkable and auspicious talent” (The Sydney Morning Herald), Ms. Woodward-Page performs extensively as solo recitalist; again recently in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, on the Ravinia Festival’s Rising Stars and Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago, at Symphony Space in NYC and further abroad at places like Festival Intenacional Cervantino. While Ms. Woodward-Page enjoys performing in large concert halls, she also favors venues that afford the listener an intimate and personal experience of the music, like the eclectic Brooklyn venue Barbes (catch her there this November). She has performed all over Australia, recorded a CD of Australian music with pianist Scott Davie, performed for live radio and TV broadcasts and been featured in documentaries such as The Little Box that Sings. Some solo highlights this season include recitals in New York City: a solo show at Barbes, another with pianist Blair McMillen at the newly built 7 World Trade Center, another performance in Washington DC for the Washington Performing Arts Society. Some highlights from next season include a collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Jen Bervin, performances at the Crossroads Music Festival in Australia, and more composer collaborations in NYC in November 2012.
As an avid chamber musician whose interests span many musical styles, Ms. Woodward-Page enjoys collaborating with many wonderful musicians. Engagements include tours with Ravinia’s Musicians from Steans Institute, performances at the Aspen Music Festival, closer to home with Brooklyn Friends of Chamber Music, the Omega Ensemble at Bargemusic with Trio Vela. Asmira will also be touring intermittently with the Walden Chamber Players and SONYC this season, performing piano quintets with Kathy Selby & Friends at City Recital Hall in Sydney, collaborating with Israeli guitarist Nadav Lev and composer Gilad Cohen on a recording project this Spring, and participating in the newly-formed Australian World Orchestra. As a member of the Momenta Quartet 2009-2011, she worked extensively on groundbreaking contemporary works such as Arthur Kampela’s A Knife All Blade, Gordon Beeferman’s jazz-inspired microtonal String Quartet, and Indonesian works by Wayan Gde Yudane and Tony Prabowo, performing at venues like Cornell University and Le Poisson Rouge. While her strong Classical training has meant sharing the stage with members of the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, Brentano and Tokyo String Quartets, artists like Miriam Fried, Gilbert Kalish, Inon Barnatan, Fred Sherry and Lara St. John, she has also performed with Jay-Z and Beyonce, and recorded with Herbie Hancock, Orpheus, Kanye West and Ryuichi Sakamoto. A fascination with Indian Classical music led her to India at a young age, where she studied Hindusthani Classical violin with Pt. Prabakhar Dhakde for a short, but life-changing period of time.
Ms. Woodward-Page’s passionate advocacy and participation in the world of contemporary music has played a defining role in her development as an artist during her early days in New York City. In addition to her recent two years with Momenta, Ms. Woodward-Page also spent three years as the violinist of counter)induction, the five-musician/two-composer collective frequently praised by the New York Times: ‘“What kept the program fascinating was the vitality the players brought to the music’. ‘These performances were not merely dutiful; they sang and danced’.” She is also a founding member and concertmaster of SONYC (String Orchestra of New York City); the conductorless ensemble featured in the documentary “Breathing Together”. Their debut album on the Albany Records label features the music of New York composers Christopher Theofanidis, Lisa Bielawa, Michael Gatonska and Pulitzer Prize-winner Paul Moravec, who describes this group as “a composer’s dream come true..their amazing virtuosity, comprehensive artistic intelligence and passionate spirit combine to make brilliant music on every level. SONYC is an avatar of all that is right and true in our musical universe.”
As first prize winner of the 2003 Concert Artists Guild Competition, Ms. Woodward-Page has won numerous competitions and awards throughout her career, including the Sono and Victor Elmaleh prize, the Gisbourne International Wind String and Brass Competition, Dorcas McClean Violin Competition, Indiana University’s Concerto Competition, Sydney’s 2MBS-FM Young Performer of the Year award, City of Sydney Violin Award, the Australian Music Foundation in London Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Music Award, and the Ernest Llewellyn String Award.
Asmira believes deeply in presenting music to young people through whatever means necessary to inspire in them a love for music. She has lead many outreach programs, drawing upon her extensive teaching and performing experience …plus a few nutty ideas. Asmira began her violin studies in Sydney with Jan Cooper, then Harry Curby at Sydney University’s Conservatorium of Music, later becoming a student of Miriam Fried and Paul Biss at the Indiana University School of Music, where she received her Bachelor of Music and Artist Diploma and was awarded the Performer’s Certificate for outstanding musical performance. She went on to earn a Master of Music degree at Juilliard where she studied with Robert Mann. Asmira currently lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
