| Bruce Dukov | |
| Background information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bruce Dukov |
| Born | USA |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments | Violin |
| Associated acts | Elvis Costello Natalie Cole |
| Musician | |
Bruce Dukov is an American violinist, whose work has included performing on Duran Duran's Thank You album.
Biography[]
New York City born, Bruce Dukov was trained at the famed High School of Music & Art, and the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied with the renowned Dorothy DeLay. There, he received both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, graduating with Juilliard's highest award for excellence on the violin. Among his numerous awards, he received a U.S. Government "Fulbright" Grant for overseas study in England, the prestigious Kosciusko Foundation Wieniawski Prize, and first prize in the 1973 National Young Artist Competition in America. Former teachers include, Nathan Milstein, Szymon Goldberg, and Wybo van Biemen. He has also coached with Itzhak Perlman, Yehudi Menuhin, and Charles Treger.
London[]
In 1974 he settled in London, which served as a base for his concertizing in Europe and the Middle East. He performed in famous halls such as the Concertgebouw, and recorded radio recitals for most of the major BBC stations in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the RTE Ireland, AVRO Holland, NDR Germany, NRK Norway and Istanbul Radio. Television appearances were also frequent in England on BBC 1 and 2, LWT, Thames TV and Yorkshire TV. His recitals have brought critics from the likes of the "Times" in London and the "Daily Telegraph" to say; "...sounds like the young Menuhin" and "...the highest degree of virtuosity". He also taught and gave a series of master classes in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and for the Dublin Philharmonic Society.
Nathan Milstein[]
For the 80th birthday celebration of his mentor Nathan Milstein, Mr. Dukov composed a special duet entitled "HAPPY BIRTHDAY VARIATIONS" (in the style of Paganini and Wieniawski, for violin duet) which he performed at the gala with Itzhak Perlman and others. He has since recorded this work, playing both parts.
America[]
Returning to America to live in 1985, Dukov chose to settle in Los Angeles, where he also twice appeared on the "Merv Griffin Show" performing selections from his solo CBS "pop" album DEPARTURES. Most recently, the L.A. Times, in reviewing Mr. Dukov's performance of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", called him "a fiddler for all seasons", and praised his "focused energy, ornamental grace...wealth of color and inflection...fluent, passionate playing".
Work[]
Bruce has worked on the John Williams-penned score for the 1997 film, Rosewood and performed on albums by Air Supply, the Animaniacs, David Benoit, Natie Cole, Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach, Celine Dion, B.B. King, James Taylor, and Bette Midler. His playing has been featured on the soundtracks of more than four dozen films including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Analyze This, Batman Forever, I Am Sam, Joy Luck Club and Addams Family Value.
Bruce played the violin parts heard in Sisqo's famous Thong Song.