A harmonious blend of culture, heritage, and music painted the Loire Valley during the second annual Musiques et Vignes en Confluence, a chamber music festival in central France. Bernard Zinck (Associate Professor of Violin and Area Head of Strings and String Pedagogy) created the Musiques et Vignes en Confluence in 2022 to celebrate chamber music and the award-winning vineyards of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Artists from various corners of the world gathered to perform, including four PSOA alumni who are also siblings.
The Brusubardis Quintet, comprised of Arianna (violin), Daniella (BFA 2021, Music, Strings; violin), Kristian (MM 2022, Music, Performance; violin), Sonora (BFA 2020, Music, Strings; viola), and Viktor (BFA 2018, Music, Strings; cello) performed in the Slavic Soul concert and From Bach to Chausson concert. Sonora and Viktor also performed in the Mozart and Brahms Piano Quartet concert. The group’s residency at the festival was made possible through a collaboration with the Maison Dutilleux-Joy.
All five siblings have studied under Bernard Zinck, with four of them earning degrees from Peck School of the Arts. Combined, their educational endeavors span UW-Milwaukee, the Juilliard School, the Cleveland Institute, Indiana University, Columbus State University, and beyond. The quintet has performed across the Midwest and Canada, and now France.
When asked about her time at UW-Milwaukee, Daniella Brusubardis reminisced, “When looking back, I think of the opportunities I was given as a student. I was able to participate in many masterclasses and form several chamber groups as well. Being a music student there, I was given so many resources to create my own experience and have a great education.”
Daniella shared that the festival was beautiful, with French countryside views, beautiful music, and delicious wine tastings from local vineyards. As the festival took place where two rivers merged, it mirrored Zinck’s goal of bringing people together worldwide, providing a space to gather and connect as a community. Daniella’s fondest memory was rehearsing at each venue before the concert, where she could awe at the architecture and echoing sound in each space. Daniella recently graduated with her master’s degree from the Schwob School of Music in Georgia and now resides in Madison, Wisconsin.
Sonora Brusubardis emphasized the festival’s opportunity for audiences to “expand their palates for both wine and music.” This event offered community connection but also continued relationships between the artists. Performing with musicians from other countries, she hopes to stay in touch and hopefully sprout the opportunity to perform with them again.
Sonora’s fondest memory of the event was rehearsing at the Dutilleux house. She shared, “It was wonderful to wake up in the mornings, walk downstairs, cross the patio, and enter our rehearsal space. It was the best way to start every morning, making beautiful music with beautiful people.”
Sonora runs a private studio and teaches violin classes at Atonement Lutheran School and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra in their Progressions Program. Sonora looks forward to future opportunities to perform in other countries like she did in France and Brazil. Next up for Sonora is performing at a festival in Brazil with another chamber group next year.
The resounding success of Musiques et Vignes en Confluence celebrates the talent, passion, and global connections fostered through music. The representation of UWM alumni, whose artistry captivated audiences, is a pleasant reminder of the boundless possibilities that a music education can uncover.
For more information about Musiques et Vignes en Confluence, visit the festival website.