Violinist Grace Park's Debut Album of Works by Dvořák and Mozart

Released on Orchid Classics, the disc features conductor Emmanuel Villaume and the Prague Philharmonia

Violinist Grace Park has recently released her debut album, which was recorded on the Orchid Classics label alongside conductor Emmanuel Villaume and the Prague Philharmonia.

At the center of the disc is a new orchestration by Alex Fortes of Dvořák’s Four Romantic Pieces, a work that is all too rarely played — and that has been part of Park's repertoire since she was young. This piece is counterbalanced by Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 (“Turkish”), a staple of the violin repertoire more generally.

Park began her violin studies at the age of five at the Colburn School of Music, before continuing to the Colburn Conservatory and the New England Conservatory for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Her principal teachers include Donald Weilerstein, Miriam Fried, Sylvia Rosenberg, and Robert Lipsett.

A past winner of the Naumburg International Violin Competition, she has appeared as a soloist in venues including Walt Disney Concert Hall, Wigmore Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Rudolfinum in Prague, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Jordan Hall, as well as at Rockefeller University.

"I was worried choosing repertoire for my debut album would seem like such a monumental decision," Park said. "In fact, it was quite easy. I wanted to pick pieces that I’ve lived with for most of my musical life and that I’ve fallen more in love with over the years. Although Mozart and Dvorak lived centuries ago, I’ve always felt connected to them, and their musical language has always spoken to me in a profound way."

"Each of the works on the album represents a personal milestone in my development as both an artist and a performer."

"Working with Emmanuel Villaume and the Prague Philharmonia brought so much richness to the performances," she added. "And I truly cherish the artistic guidance of my wonderful producer and friend, Michael Fine. His clarity in understanding the music helped ensure that the nuance and depth of our performances would resonate."