About

Cited by the New York Concert Review as providing a “riveting and dynamic performance” at their 2013 concert in Carnegie Hall, the critically acclaimed Irrera Brothers Duo has captivated audiences throughout the United States and abroad, and have been hailed by world-renowned violinist and pedagogue Zvi Zeitlin as ‘two gifted boys”. The brothers have also performed at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Spivey Hall, the Eastman Theatre, and internationally throughout Europe and Central America.

The Irrera Brothers have released CD recordings including “Beethoven & Prokofiev” (2012), an album of violin and piano sonatas and “Vitali” (2014), which includes the work entitled “Bow Shock”, written for them and premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2013. Currently, the duo is in the midst of completing a multi-year recording project of the complete violin and piano works by Robert Morris, Professor of Composition at the Eastman School of Music. To be included on the album is “Drawn Onward- Fantasy for Violin and Piano” composed for the Irrera Brothers in 2014.

In addition to their duo collaboration, Joseph and John are also celebrated soloists. Joseph, a Steinway Artist, is laureate of many national and international piano competitions including the Guthman International Piano Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, the Young Artists International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., The Eastman Young Artists International Piano Competition, and the American Protégé International Piano Competition in New York City. Joseph has appeared as soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Penfield Symphony, the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and the Georgia Symphony and has collaborated with conductors including Leonard Slatkin and Christopher Seaman. Most recently, Joseph recorded solo piano works of Scarlatti, Schumann, and Chopin to be released by Steinway & Sons.

John, praised by the Santa Barbara Daily Sound for his “moving” and “hypnotic” solo performances, has been winner of many national and international competitions, and has also appeared as soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Clayton State University Symphony Orchestra, the Eastman Percussion Ensemble, the Penfield Symphony, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra of Atlanta, the Georgia Tech Chamber Orchestra, and at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference. John has collaborated with notable musicians such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Nicholas McGegan, Peter Oundjian, and composer Tan Dun with the Grammy-nominated Metropolis Ensemble. Currently, John is on faculty at Clayton State University and Virginia Tech.

As dedicated educators and teachers, Joseph and John have served as guest artists presenting performances, masterclasses, presentations, and lectures at Kennesaw State University, Lee University, Bridgewater College, and Florida Southwestern State College. They have also given workshops at the New York State Music Teachers Association Conference, the Georgia Music Teachers Association, and at the 2015 MTNA National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada where they also served on the jury for that year’s MTNA Competition National Finals. The Irrera Brothers are also frequently invited as guest collaborators and have performed with members of the Dallas Symphony, the Ying Quartet, the late Zvi Zeitlin, and have been featured soloists with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra. In summer 2017, the duo has accepted a faculty position at the Sessione Senese per la Musica e l’Arte summer music festival in Siena, Italy.

The brothers are graduates of the Eastman School of Music, where in May of 2014 they became the first siblings ever in the school’s history to graduate together, each with their Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.

Joseph and John are on the artist roster of New York City management firm, Parker Artists.

Music

Our repertoire includes pieces spanning over many centuries from the Baroque period to Contemporary works. Below is a brief sampling of works we have recently programmed.

Vitali, Chaconne in G Minor
Beethoven, Sonatas for Violin and pIano
Brahms, Sonatas for Violin and Piano
Clara Schumann, Three Romances, Op. 22
Robert Schumann, 3 Romances, Op. 94
Grieg, Sonata for Violin and Piano in C Minor, Op. 45
Franck, Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major
Suk, 4 pieces, Op. 17
Janacek, Sonata for Violin and Piano
Prokofiev, Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major, Op. 94a
Messiaen, Theme et Variations
Scarbrough, Bow Shock (composed for the Irrera Brothers, 2013)
Morris, Drawn Onward (composed for the Irrera Brothers, 2014)
Morris, In Variations
Morris, …gradually…
Pärt, Fratres
Gershwin/Heifetz, Porgy & Bess
Gershwin/Heifetz, Preludes
Tsitsaros, Introduction and Dance (composed for the Irrera Brothers, 2015)

Videos

Past groupmuses (5)