Richter Uzur Duo Return to Westminster

The Richter Uzur Duo, composed of internationally recognized guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur, visited Westminster March 30 to give a concert in the Werner Centennial Center for the Westminster community. This was Brad’s fourth visit to Westminster and Viktor’s third. The duo is known for its whimsical mashed-up blend of classical, world and rock music.
 
Viktor and Brad are both master musicians with global solo careers, major international awards and intensive training from two of the world’s most lauded musical institutions (The Moscow Conservatory and The Royal College of Music respectively). While developing into classical virtuosi as students, Brad and Viktor cut their teeth in rock bands: Viktor as an electric guitarist and Brad as a guitarist and singer. They also delved into folk and world music, eventually setting those interests aside to pursue their classical concert careers. Together Viktor and Brad have composed and arranged the most expansive collection of music for cello and guitar duo in existence.
 
For their Westminster concert, they performed mashup pieces, original compositions and rock songs, and explained the history of each piece. “We play the music we are genuinely interested in,” said Brad.
 
The Richter Uzur Duo has played hundreds of concerts in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the duo is perhaps best known through its regular appearances on NPR’s “Performance Today” as well as frequent national and international broadcasts on the Armed Forces Radio Network and programs such as PBS’s “WoodSongs” and NPR’s “Classical Guitar Alive,” which named their debut CD Best New Release in 2010.
 
Following their Westminster performance, they took questions from the audience and then visited music classes.