Port Angeles Symphony appoints pianist Alexander Tutunov

Appointment of pianist Alexander Tutunov

Published on June 18, 2012 by admin in PAAC News

APPOINTMENT:

The Port Angeles Symphony is proud to announce the appointment of pianist Alexander Tutunov as our Principal Guest Artist beginning with our 2012-13 Season. The announcement was made by the orchestra’s Music Director and Conductor, Adam Stern.

Alexander Tutunov has had an association with the Port Angeles Symphony since his first appearance in September, 1998 when he performed at the Symphony’s annual fund-raiser Concert and Cuisine at C’est si bon Restaurant as the first-prize winner of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle Solo Competition.

He immediately captivated the hearts of those in Port Angeles and Sequim and has subsequently returned five times to perform some of the most magnificent works for piano under the baton of our late Music Director and Conductor, Nico Snel as well as our current Music Director and Conductor, Adam Stern.

Port Angeles Performances:

March 17, 2001    Concerto in F       Gershwin
November 5, 2005   Piano Concerto No. 1   Tchaikovsky
February 2, 2008      Piano Concert No. 2    Chopin
February 6, 2010      Piano Concert No. 3 Prokofiev
February 4, 2012      Piano Concert No. 2    Rachmaninoff

Dr. Tutunov’s next appearance with the orchestra will be during the 2013-2014 season when he will perform the much-loved Piano Concerto No. 3 by Beethoven.

BIO for Alexander Tutunov:
Alexander Tutunov is widely recognized as one of the most outstanding virtuosos of the former Soviet Union. First Prize winner of the Belarusian National Piano Competition and winner of the Russian National Piano Competition, Tutunov’s playing was described by Soviet Culture, Moscow, as “exhilarating and inspired, and which demonstrated a unique talent”.
Dr. Tutunov maintains a busy performing schedule in Europe, China, Mexico, and the United States as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and on radio and television. Dr. Tutunov is also in demand as an adjudicator for piano competitions.
Tutunov’s recording of the Abeliovich Piano Concerto was featured as part of the Emmy award winning soundtrack for the History Channel documentary, Russia: Land of Tsars, and his CD of the Tchaikovsky Concert Fantasy with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra was produced in January 2008. Other recordings include: Concerto for Piano & Orchestra by Peter Sacco with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra (Albany Records) and the solo piano works of Lev Abeliovich Sonatas & Frescoes, Trio, Songs (Altarus Records).
Tutunov graduated magna cum laude from the Central Music School of the Moscow Conservatory (studies with Anna Artobolevskaya and Lev Naumov) and University of North Texas (piano studies with Joseph Banowetz). Awarded his doctoral diploma with honors in concert performance from the Belarusian State Conservatory, Dr. Tutunov has taught at the Minsk College of Music, the University of North Texas, and Illinois Wesleyan University.
Alexander Tutunov now lives in Ashland, where he is Professor of Piano and Artist in Residence at Southern Oregon University. A successful piano pedagogue, he continues to prepare award-winning students. Dr. Tutunov is Artist in Residence at the University of Alaska Southeast, Artistic director of the SOU International Piano Institute, and was recently named the Director of the Chinese-American International Piano Institute in Chengdu, China.

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