Biography

“…unbelievable pyrotechnics that bring to mind the virtuosity of David Oistrakh’s recordings...effortlessly à la Rostropovich in his prime...synergistic combination of Casals and du Pré-like fire and Fournier’s elegance…Bravo and bravo again!” (Fanfare Magazine)

Viktor Uzur has appeared as a soloist, chamber musician and guest artist in Austria, Spain, Italy, France, Russia, Canada, Korea, China, Latvia, Brazil, United States and the former Yugoslavia. His recent engagements include performances at Mondavi Center, Sala Sao Paulo, Auditorio Claudio Santoro, and Sale Cortot, jury member at the Aram Khachaturian International Competition, and a guest artist at Festival Campos de Jordao. Uzur’s recent collaborations include musicians such as Suren Bagratuni, Sergei Babayan, Stephen Prutsman, Arnaldo Cohen, Ricardo Castro, Emmanuele Baldini, Ruggero Allifranchini, and Fabio Zanon. His long term partnership with guitarist Brad Richter brought him numerous tours and original composition premieres in most of the states of the U.S., as the Richter Uzur Duo. Most recently, Uzur’s concerto performance in Sala Sao Paulo with Minas Gerais Philharmonic and maestro Fabio Mechetti received a prestigious “Best Symphonic Concert of 2023” award in Brazil.

Uzur’s recordings include critically acclaimed Russian Masterpieces, Bitter the Laughter Sweet the Tears, Live at Club Congress, Solo Cello, String Theory, In Recital, and Entertainers. He is regularly featured on important broadcasts of NPR (United States) and Radio Cultura (Brazil). 

Uzur is a prize winner and a diploma recipient at competitions such as the Yugoslavian National Solo Competition, Sarajevo, Jeuness Musicales International Competition, Belgrade and XI International Competition Tchaikovsky, Moscow. He is Professor of Cello at Weber State University where he is also founder and director of the Bonneville Chamber Music Festival.

Uzur was born in Jagodina, Serbia, where he graduated from the School for Musically Gifted Children “Horeum Margi” in Ćuprija. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s in Cello Performance with soloist diploma from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow during which time he worked with teachers such as A. Fedorchenko, D. Miller and N. Shakovskaya. While still a student in Moscow, Uzur was also the principal cellist and soloist of the ARCO Moscow Chamber Orchestra directed by Levon Ambartsumian. In the United States he studied with Suren Bagratuni and David Starkweather, and has received master classes from Bernard Greenhouse, Lynn Harrell, Carter Brey and Peter Wiley. He holds a doctoral degree from Michigan State University. 

“Applying relentless energy, razor-sharp virtuosity, and a great sense of fun….Uzur has created a treasury of irresistible encore items.” (Strings Magazine)