“I have known Anna since 2007, when she first came to the United States as a graduate student at the Oklahoma City University Wanda Bass School of Music, where she was a student of mine. Anna was admitted to the university as a scholarship student based on her merit. During her two years at OCU, she won several competitions, and was invited to the prestigious Piano Texas International Academy & Festival (formerly the Cliburn Institute). She continued on winning additional awards and completed her DMA at the Stony Brook University. Anna is an excellent pianist with wonderful facility, great musical ability and intelligent mind. She was outstanding both as a soloist and a chamber musician.”
Amy I-Lin Cheng, DMA
Lecturer of Piano, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Michigan, USA
“I have known Anna since 2011. She is a highly dedicated and educated concert- and chamber pianist. Anna is an absolute joy to work with, with her musical knowledge, interpretation and technical skills we are able to have a very interesting and difficult repertoire from Baroque to Contemporary music.”
Ildikó Orsolya Juhász
Principal Flute, Filharmonia Sudecka
[Flet Solowy, Filharmonia Sudecka]
“I have known Anna since 2008, when she began the Artist Certificate degree at our university. During her two years here, Anna's chosen recital programs were beautifully balanced. I remember especially the depth of feeling and earnestness that Anna brought to her performances. She has the ability to play many beautiful colors and varieties of dynamics in the softer and medium ranges. Anna is extremely hard working, talented, and deserving.”
Carol Leone, D.M.A.
Chair, Department of Keyboard Studies
Associate Professor of Piano Meadows School of the Arts Southern Methodist University, Dallas, USA
"Anna Starzec is a pianist who has both- musical and intellectual potentials, what she proved reaching the title of Doctor Degree in USA. She is incredible sensitive musician with great technical skills and musical imagination."
Anna Organiszczak
Profesor of the Piano Department and Director of the Music Pedagogy Program
at the I. J. Paderewskiego Academy of Music in Poznań.
“I have known Anna Starzec since was my piano student on an Erasmus program several years ago. After studies in Kristiansand she continued her studies in America. Through these years I have kept in contact with Anna Starzec, and I am pleased to say, that I have followed her development as a pianist with great pleasure.”
Tellef Juva
Associate Professor at Agder University, Institute of Music. Kristiansand, Norway
“Ms. Anna Starzec is an outstanding pianist and excellent overall musician. On two separate occasions in recent years, Ms. Starzec performed as a featured soloist with the Oklahoma Community Orchestra (OCO). I am now in my eleventh year a conductor for the OCO, and Ms Starzec performances with us (on the Ravel G major Concerto and the Grieg A minor Concerto) were among the more memorable programs we've presented. She plays with outstanding technique but also with great sensitivity. Members of our orchestra and audiences in attendance were extremely impressed with her performance.”
Dr John M. Fletcher
Conductor for the Oklahoma Community Orchestra,
Professor of Music at the Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma, USA
“During her time here at Oklahoma City University I was able to witness her piano skills. When Anna performs I observed het to be a 'made for the stage' performer. She is forthright, committed and very communicative in her piano play. Anna is an accomplished and outstanding pianist.”
Mark Parker
Dean of Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma, USA
Conductor for the Oklahoma City University Symphony Orchestra
"Anna Starzec performed the lesser-known, Sonata by Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz. This was the first time I had heard Anna play, with the exception of some accompanying in performance classes, but I was happy to find that she is a brilliant performer. Her performance was commanding. The first movement was virtuosic and dramatic, catching the listener’s attention from the outset, while the second movement was more contemplative in nature. The third movement, the “Toccata,” in contrast, was playful and fun. The applause, rightly deserved, after she concluded the sonata was so great that she had to come out a second time."
Sang Woo Kang
Dr of Musical Arts, Music Director of the Atlantic Music Festival in Maine, USA
"The cd album "Nocturnes" starts from almost half an hour arrangement of Notturno, op. 42 of Beethoven, which I already had the opportunity to listen, performed by excellent duo Nobuko Imai and Roger Vignoles. Anna Starzec-Makandasis and Marcin Murawski present this ultra-classical piece with grace and elegance. Much more enjoyable in my opinion was the piece written by almost forgotten composer born in Prague - J.B. Kalliwoda. His six nocturnes op. 186 which are multi-colored, complex, fulfilled with emotional baggage - it's real masterpiece of "Nocturnes". Because of wise selection of musical material, this album attracts attention and gives a lot of joy.
Mieczysław Burski
PolskieRadio.pl