UAS Presents an Evening with Alexander Tutunov, April 24
The program includes Beethoven's "Spring" Sonata, Op. 24 in F Major, for Violin and Piano, Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight" and Schubert Fantasie in F minor for Four Hands, D.940 (Op. 103) as well as Conversations on Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue.
Juneau, AK
Date of Press Release: April 20, 2009
“Mr. Tutunov's performance was exhilarating and inspired. His playing demonstrated a unique talent. His interpretations were like a breath of fresh air.”
–Soviet Culture, Moscow
Alexander Tutunov is widely recognized as one of the most outstanding piano virtuosos of the former Soviet Union. Tutonov is the first Prize winner of the Belarusian National Piano Competition and winner of the Russian National Piano Competition.
The University of Alaska Southeast is pleased to present an evening program featuring Artist in Residence Alexander Tutunov with violinist Steve Tada and pianist Mary Watson, Friday, April 24, 2009, 7 p.m at the UAS Egan Lecture Hall.
The program includes Beethoven's "Spring" Sonata, Op. 24 in F Major, for Violin and Piano, Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, No. 2 "Moonlight" and Schubert Fantasie in F minor for Four Hands, D.940 (Op. 103) as well as Conversations on Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue.
Seating is limited for the April 24 performance and a full house is expected. Arrive early to get a seat. No seats are reserved and there is no admission fee. Suggested donation is $10 to support the UAS Piano Education & Maintenance Fund.
Dr. Tutunov plays in concert annually at UAS where he teaches a piano master class on campus. His worldwide concert itinerary and teaching schedule as Professor of Piano and as Artist in Residence in Ashland at Southern Oregon University make the class an exciting offering at UAS.
In the Egan Lecture Hall on Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m., students from the master class who take private piano lessons from Dr. Tutunov will hold a recital.
Dr. Tutunov returns to teach at UAS during the 2009-10 academic year. The piano master class is held during four Saturday sessions spread over the fall and spring semesters. Dr. Tutunov presents piano theory and technique to students as he listens to and critiques those who perform previously prepared pieces. As part of the UAS curriculum, he also teaches a limited number of private piano students.
Dr. Tutunov performs on the Steinway piano which he graciously helped select for Egan Lecture Hall’s space and acoustics. The piano was made possible by generous community and statewide support during the 2004-05 UAS Piano Campaign. 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. The CD America's Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax on the AUR label, which includes Tutunov's recording of "Transformations" by Todd Barton, received a Grammy nomination.
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 Associate director of the Chinese-American International Piano Institute in Chengdu, China.