Student Spotlight: Jan Vargas Nedvetsky

This week the Academy celebrates long time member, cellist Jan Vargas Nedvetsky, a student of Hans Jorgen Jensen and Oleksa Mycyk. Jan has had an incredible year of significant solo performances, competition wins, and extraordinary life experiences.

In addition to being an MIC Academy Merit Scholar Fellow, Jan is a 2023-24 scholarship recipient at the Academy of Music in Liechtenstein, where he participates in masterclasses with Jens Peter Maintz and intensive lessons, ensembles, and symposiums.

In the past year, Jan has performed in Lake Placid NY; Vaduz, Liechtenstein; Detroit, MI; Washington, DC; Miami, FL, Boise ID, Salmon, ID, and soloed with Central Oregon Symphony Orchestra in Bend, Oregon.

In January, Jan was named a 2024 YoungArts Winner with Distinction in Cello Performance, the highest honor of the National YoungArts Foundation. Additionally, Jan was a finalist in the 2024 United States Marine Band Concerto Competition and the 2024 Sphinx Competition.

In April, Jan took center stage for his performance of the difficult Variations on a Rococo Theme by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky, at the Athenaeum Theater in Chicago. Performing on Serious Fun at the Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor Jeffrey T. Parthun, Sr., Jan performed Variations on a Rococo Theme as the winner of the 2024 Lakeview's Young Artist Concert Competition.

A post-concert review showcased Jan’s performance with, ‘watch for great things in store for this rising young cello virtuoso’.

Over the years, Jan has won many solo competitions, as well as medals in chamber music competitions at the St. Paul National String Quartet Competition, A.N. & Pearl G. Barnett Competition, and has been a semi-finalist in four consecutive Fischoff National Chamber Music Competitions.

In the summer of 2024 Jan will be attending Gstaad Menuhin String Academy in Gstaad, Switzerland and a Chamber Music Intensive at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Bravo to Jan for an outstanding year of accomplishments!

Watch below for great things in store for this rising young cello virtuoso!