Award-winning Accordionist to Perform at BU

posted October 12, 2011

BRANDON, MB — The 2011-2112 pro series continues with a recital featuring Belarus-born accordionist Alexander Sevastian. A three-time first-prize winner at the International Accordion Competition to his credit, Sevastian has truly commanded the world’s attention as one of the best.

He first gained attention in the musical world when he won the Norway’s Oslofjord Accordion Competition in 1988. Shortly following, he won The Cup of the North in Russia in 2000, the 2001 Anthony Galla-Rini Accordion Competition in the United States and most recently, first prize at the 2009 Roland Competition in Toronto.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Alexander began his accordion studies at the age of seven. In 1991, he attended the Glinka Musical College in his hometown. His advanced studies took him to Moscow’s famed Gnessin Academy of Music, where he graduated with his Master Degree in Performance, following which he extended his studies to include piano, conducting, and philosophy.

He began his professional performance career in Moscow in 1996 and one of his early collaborative efforts was with the Russian Radio Orchestra. Following his first performance, he subsequently toured as soloist with that ensemble throughout Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy and Japan. Sevastian is also a very active recitalist and chamber musician. He has graced the stages in such prestigious venues as the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, St. Petersburg’s Glinka Capella Hall, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, and Minato Mirai Hall. Alexander Sevastian’s album — Russian Favourites — was released last month on the Analekta label.

Sevastian and his family moved to Canada in April 2001. Within one year, he joined the internationally recognized Quartetto Gelato and in 2003, he completed an Advanced Certificate in Performance at the University of Toronto. During the past five years, with the Quartet, Sevastian has extensively toured Canada, the United States, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Estonia, and Guatemala. In 2005, he proudly became a Canadian citizen and now lives in Toronto with his wife Anna and son Vladimir.

“I was astounded when I first witnessed the artistry of this wonderful musician,” said Dr. Michael Kim, Dean of the School of Music. “While it is a bit unusual to have an accordion player on the pro series, this was not an opportunity that I could not pass up, and our audience members are in for a real treat.”

The pro series performance featuring accordionist Alexander Sevastian will take place Sunday, October 16, at 3 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and alumni, and $8 for Conservatory students, and can be purchased in advance in the School of Music Main Office and also at the door.

The next recital in this series will present violist Sharon Wei, with collaborative artist, pianist Angela Park. Their programme will include Schumann’s Marchenbilder, Clarke’s Sonata for Viola and Piano and Brahms’ Sonata for Viola and Piano in F Minor, Opus 120, No.1. This performance will take place on Friday, November 11, at 8 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall.

The pro series and the School of Music gratefully acknowledge the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and of the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant from Culture, Heritage and Tourism.
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For more information, please contact:

School of Music
Main Office
204-727-9631
www2.brandonu.ca/music/events/events.asp
OR
Joanne F. Villeneuve
Communications
Brandon University
270 – 18th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 6A9
Tel. 204-727-9762
https://www.brandonu.ca

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