Patricia Wnek’s Studio

Patricia Wnek is a professional classical violinist who graduated from Victor Danchenko’s studio at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University with an Undergraduate and Masters of Violin Performance. She began her violin studies with Seljuk Kardan at the age of 4 at the Hosford School of Music in Gaithersburg, MD, and transferred to the Peabody Prep at the age of 6 in order to enroll in the certificate program, which includes yearly exams and theoretical studies. From the age of 12 until graduating from high school at 16, Patricia continued her Preparatory violin studies with Rebecca Henry, the Chair of the Preparatory String Department. Besides taking individual violin lessons, she was involved in the Pre-Conservatory Violin Program, Peabody Prep Chamber music program, Preparatory Sinfonietta, and Violin Choir.

Growing up, Patricia frequently appeared in solo recitals throughout the Washington-Baltimore-Philadelphia area. Up to date she has performed as a soloist in over 150 recitals. She gave her first, half-an-hour long, public performance at age 5 in Rockville, MD. At the age of 9, she made her formal, full recital debut accompanied by a string quartet and piano in front of an audience of over 500 classical music enthusiasts. At age 10, Patricia made her solo orchestral debut with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra of Washington D.C. under the direction of Dr. Richard Fazio.

Some of her engagements include: a performance with the Peabody Sinfonietta as the winner of the Full Concerto Competition, a performance at the Kennedy Center as a finalist of the National Symphony Orchestra Competition, a solo appearance with the National Philharmonic under the direction of Piotr Gajewski at the Strathmore Hall, November 15, 2006; a solo performance with the Washington Youth Chamber Orchestra (WYCO) under the direction of Olga Yanovich at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, May 2007; a solo performance with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jason Love, March 4, 2006; her fifth solo appearance with the Trinity Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Richard Fazio, April 13, 2008; a solo performance with the Peabody Preparatory Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Levitov, May 13, 2006; joint solo recitals with her brother Paul (piano) at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, March 2005 and American Center of Polish Culture in Washington DC, January 2007; her first European performance in May 2004 in Stary Sącz and subsequently in August 2007 in Kraków, Poland; appearances at the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, DC, two performances in the Young Soloist Recital in the Concerts at the Alden series in McLean Virginia, as well as in the Performa Music series at the Jewish Community Center in Owings Mills, MD.

In addition, she has played in numerous repertoire and master classes with Victor Danchenko of the Curtis and Peabody Institutes, Mimi Zweig of Indiana University, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra violinists, Leri Slutsky and Ivan Stefanovic, as well as Mieczyslaw Szlezer, Prorector at the Krakow Conservatory of Music. In the summer of 2011, Patricia attended The International Violin Master Course in St. Petersburg, Russia directed by Victor Danchenko. In August of 2008, Patricia attended the Summit Music Festival in Purchase, New York studying with Victor Danchenko and Aaron Rosand. In August of 2007, Patricia performed in master classes and a recital at the Summer Academy at the Krakow Conservatory of Music. In the summer of 2005 and 2006, Patricia participated in the Indiana University String Academy, where she performed as a soloist and a chamber musician. In 2003 and 2004, Patricia was enrolled in the summer program of the Heifetz International Music Institute in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where she appeared in many outreach concerts as a soloist and a chamber musician.

Patricia was a finalist of the National Symphony Orchestra Competition as well as a first-prize winner of the following competitions: National Philharmonic Concerto Competition, Columbia Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition, two-time winner (junior and senior divisions) of the Feder String Competition sponsored by the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS), Peabody Preparatory Senior Concerto Competition, Peabody Preparatory Junior Concerto Competition, MSMTA Chamber Music competition, and also an eleven-time nominee and performer of the prestigious Vella Silver Recital hosted by the Deans of the Peabody Conservatory and the Preparatory. She was selected by audition to perform in the Young Soloist Recitals in the 2004-05 and 2006-07 Concerts at the Alden. In June 2001, she was invited by the Dean of the Peabody Preparatory to perform at the 17th Annual Graduation and Awards Ceremony.

Interviews with Patricia were featured in the March 2006 issues of Baltimore Sun, and the Catholic Standard, and in the April 2002 issue of Montgomery County Gazette. Other articles and concert reviews appeared in the Columbia Flier, Howard County Times, a quarterly publication of the American Center of Polish Culture, and in the Polish-American Arts Association of Washington newsletters.

In order to broaden her musical horizons, Patricia began taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and took ballet classes for 13 years. Her hobbies include swimming, reading, knitting, crocheting, skiing, ice skating, biking, and horseback riding. Patricia is a daughter of a classical singer (graduate of the Peabody Conservatory) and a Ph.D. computer scientist, and has two sisters, Anne-Marie and Elizabeth, and four brothers, Paul, Matthew, Michael, and John-Paul. Paul and Matthew used to study piano and the classical guitar. Anne-Marie and Elizabeth take violin lessons, Michael takes cello lessons, and Anne-Marie, Michael, John Paul, and Elizabeth study piano at the Peabody Preparatory.

While studying at the Peabody Conservatory, Patricia performed numerous times with her quartet, the Tira Quartet and following graduation, became a part of the Opus 40 Trio with whom she won first place in the Misbin Competition in 2015.  She is currently a member of The Maryland Symphony and has also performed with such orchestras as the National Philharmonic, the Maryland Lyric Opera Company, the Lancaster Symphony, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, the Gettysburg College Symphony Orchestra, and the Baltimore Concerto Orchestra. Patricia has also been involved in musical theatre for over 11 years at the Olney Theatre, Toby’s Dinner Theatre, and the Dundalk Community College, playing violin and sometimes doubling on viola, for numerous musicals. In addition to a demanding performing schedule, Patricia runs her own violin and viola lesson studio from her home in Urbana, MD where she is a full-time private teacher.