Rokas Zubovas (pianist) was born and grew up in Lithuania. He started studying music at Kaunas J. Naujalis Secondary Art School (the class of R. Šerkšnytė) and continued studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music under the supervision of Professor Jurgis Karnavičius. During the studies at the Academy the pianist became the winner of M. K. Čiurlionis inter-republic pianists’ contest and received a special prize for Čiurlionis music pieces performed the best. Later he continued studies in the USA where he obtained the Master’s degree at Chicago De Paul University. The pianist improved skills in the class of the pianist Estera Elinaitė at Henrik Neihauz Institute in Zurich (Switzerland), pianist Andrius Kuprevičius in Cleveland (Ohio, USA), pianist Edward Auer in Bloomington (Indiana, USA). Between 1994 – 2000 the pianist worked as a lecturer in Saint Xavier University, Chicago Faculty of Music. From 2001 the pianist is working at the Lithuanian Academy of Music.
The creative heritage of the great-grandfather of the pianist M. K. Čiurlionis has a special place in the repertoire of the musician. Popularising the creative works of the composer and painter, the pianist has prepared lectures – concerts “World of Čiurlionis” and “Čiurlionis. Road to Soundscapes” and performed them in the majority universities and museums of American cities, in Canada, Lithuania, France, Italy, Poland, Norway, Argentine, Uruguay, Russia. In 1998 the pianist recorded fortepiano cycles of M. K. Čiurlionis to a compact disk in the USA (LAFA 001). In 2000 the CD “Čiurlionis125” (Bombarecords) was released – it was recorded along with the pianist Sonata Deveikytė-Zubovienė and State Vilnius String Quartet. In 2005 the CD of M. K. Čiurlionis works played by Rokas Zubovas “Čiurlionis. Music Pieces for Fortepiano 1896-1899” was released.
Playing as a soloist, as a member of various chamber ensembles (“Nepaklusnieji”, etc.) and in the fortepiano duet “Duo Zubovas”, the musician gave concerts in France, Italy, Norway, Argentine, Russia, Uruguay during the recent years. He has participated in “Berlioz 2003” (Rodez, France), “Festivale de la Nazione” (Cita di Castello, Italia), “Pažaislis”, “Lagoon Claviers”, “Šiauliai Fortepiano Duets”, “Christopher”, “Čiurlionis-Grieg”, and other festivals, conducted mastery courses in Elektrėnai, St. Afrique (France), Rodez (France).
The performer organises various cultural events, festivals, cooperates in musical press. His articles on various issues related with the piano music are printed in “Muzikos Barai”, and articles on musicology and culture were printed in “Kultūros Aktualijos” and “Kultūros Barai”. The pianist has also headed the TV conversation show on music “Melomanija”.