Justina Varkulevičiūtė

Justina Varkulevičiūtė, a distinguished harpist, began her musical journey in Vilnius, Lithuania, where she was born and raised. Her talent was recognised early, at the age of six, when she was invited to study at the esteemed National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Arts as a gifted child after being noticed by one of the school’s teachers who was looking for talented students. Her early preparation for the school started in 2004, and in 2005, she began studying choir conducting and participating in numerous concerts and projects, showcasing her skills in singing and piano solos or duets. At the age of twelve, Justina discovered her passion for the harp and began studying with the renowned Lithuanian harp teacher Daiva Šlyžienė, and later with Vilija Grencevičiūtė, principal harpist of the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra. Her dedication to music and talent flourished as she performed in various chamber ensembles and participated in international events such as the 54th German-Scandinavian Music Week in Scheersberg, Germany, and the 4th International Harp Competition in Szeged, Hungary. Justina’s academic pursuits led her to the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she studied classical harp music performance with Lithuania’s leading performing harpist, internationally known professor Joana Daunyte. Her harp music knowledge was further enriched by lessons with esteemed harpists such as Jekaterina Suvorova (Latvia) and Ernestine Stoop (Netherlands). In 2019, she further developed her skills at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the United Kingdom under guidance of a prominent Hungarian harpist Rita Schindler, participating in masterclasses with world-renowned harpists including Catrin Finch (UK), Eleanor Turner (UK), Sioned Williams (UK), Ruth Faber (UK), and Amanda Whiting (UK, jazz harp). Throughout her studies, Justina had the opportunity to perform in concerts in several UK cities, including London. Throughout her career, Justina has performed extensively in Lithuania and abroad, including concerts in Latvia, Estonia, the United Kingdom, France and Australia. She has played with many prestigious Lithuanian orchestras such as the Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian Opera and Ballet Theatre Symphony Orchestra, and Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Estonian Pärnu City Symphony Orchestra, among others. Her harp playing has been heard on stages in Lithuania and abroad, including prestigious venues like the Birmingham Symphony Hall, Abbey Road Studios, Cadogan Hall in London, and The Philharmonic Hall in Vilnius, Lithuania. Justina’s achievements are numerous, including winning first prize at the Kempinski Young Artist Week in 2017, earning a laureate diploma and special prize at the 20th Balys Dvarionas Internationally Open Viola and Harp Competition in 2018, becoming a finalist at the 2nd International Harp Competition in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2018, and securing third place at the Prof. Aleksandras Livontas String Instruments Competition in 2021. In 2023, she became a high-score winner at the Basel International Online Harp Competition. Biography In 2022, Justina relocated to Australia and continued to expand her musical horizons. Since 2023, she has played in the FilmHarmonia Orchestra, performed in Rockdale Musical Society’s production of “South Pacific, ” and played with the Church of St. James Orchestra alongside some of Sydney ’s most prominent orchestral musicians from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, and others. Justina is also an experienced music educator, teaching piano and harp at Ignite Music Dural, the Inner West Music College, and privately in Sydney. While in Australia, Justina had the opportunity to attend lessons with leading Australian harpists Alice Giles and former Sydney Symphony Principal harpist Louise Johnson. In 2023, Justina was also an active listener at world-renowned harpist Anneleen Lenaerts’ masterclass at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. In 2024, she performed in the musical “South Pacific” on a luxury cruise aboard the Queen Elizabeth II by Cunard on its voyage from Sydney to Japan and has been invited to make several more appearances on the same cruise in October 2024 and February 2025. In addition to her performance career, Justina’s innovative spirit is evident in her composition “Beyond Consciousness” for harp and looper pedal, released in 2022.