Génia

GéNIA (born 1972 in Ukraine) is a London-based Russian virtuoso concert pianist. [ [http://www.nysun.com/blogs/letter-from-london/2008/01/tolstoy-prokofiev-glamour-gives.html Tolstoy-Prokofiev Glamour Gives Diplomacy a Boost - London Arts & Letters ] ] She was born in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine into a family of musicians and scientists. [ [http://www.genia-music.com/genhtml/index.html about ] ] . Her repertoire ranges from classical music to contemporary works and multimedia projects.

Education

She started her studies at the age of four with her great-grandmother, the pianist and pedagogue Regina Horowitz [ [http://www.horowitzv.org/competition/horowitz/index.html Horowitz | International Competition for Young Pianists in memory of Vladimir Horowitz ] ] (sister of pianist Vladimir Horowitz and wife of the Soviet economist Evsei Liberman). She continued her studies with pianist and teacher Sergei Yushkevitch at the Kharkov Institute of Arts.

In 1999 she graduated from Guildhall School of Music earning the Premier Prix. She went on to graduate from Trinity College of Music in 2000, studying with Professor Joan Havill and Douglas Finch where she was runner-up in the TCM Associate Soloist Competition and awarded the Founders Prize for Excellence. In the same year she was awarded the Silver Medal Award from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and the Dame Myra Hess Award.

Career

Her first significant break was being selected as an artist for the Park Lane Young Artist Series, making her London debut in 1998 where she was described by The Times as "an outstanding musician" ["New and note able", John Allison, The Times, 8 January 1998 ] . She later went on to tour the UK, Europe, and the United States performing with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine and Cyprus State Orchestra and playing at the Windsor Festival.

She has extensively toured the UK, Europe, and the United States. Her London appearances include the Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, South Bank Centre, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Olympia London and Cargo. She appeared as soloist on soundtracks for the award-winning films "Bookcruncher" [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/754957?view=credit BFI | Film & TV Database | BOOKCRUNCHER (2002) ] ] and "Paradise Grove". [ [http://www.footloosefilms.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/site/paradisegrove/Info/movie/Info.htm Cast and Crew ] ] Her recordings and interviews have also featured in various broadcasts on BBC Radio 1, 3, 4, 5 and BBC 4 Proms. She has received critical acclaim for her live performances and contemporary classical releases for Black Box [ [http://www.gramophone.co.uk/gramofilereview.asp?reviewID=10053&mediaID=187183&issue=Reviewed%3A+Gramophone+10%2F2000 Gramophone - Gramofile - The world's best classical music magazine ] ] [ [http://home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/sovrev/guba/bbm1039.htm Gubaidulina Black Box BBM 1039 ] ] [ [http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev//2002/Dec02/Genia.htm Genia Unveiled [WH : Classical Reviews- Dec 2002 MusicWeb(UK) ] ] and Nonclassical. [ [http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=29034 GENIA / JOHN RICHARDS, Suite For Piano And Electronics (Vex'd / Max De Wardener Mixes) ] ]

She also undertakes educational work and regularly holds workshops and master-classes, lectures and individual tuition. She has taught at Trinity College of Music, Dartington International Summer School and COMA Summer Schools, De Montfort University and Lewis University and CAPMT (USA).

In 2007, GéNIA created Piano-Yoga, a multi-dimensional method of piano playing, performing and teaching which provides a holistic approach towards playing the piano. Her book on Piano-Yoga is to be published in 2008. [ [http://www.piano-yoga.com ::Piano-Yoga:: ] ]

In 2008 she was appointed Artist in Residence at Bauer & Hieber Music, London where she launched a series of workshops and masterclasses and runs GéNIA MUSIC Piano School. [ [http://www.genia-music.com/genhtml/education.html education ] ]

Music

Her latest CD, GéNIA/John Richards "Suite For Piano And Electronics" was released in 2007 on the Nonclassical label. [ [http://www.nonclassical.co.uk/releases.php releases ] ] It featured re-mixes by dance producers The EarlyMan, Max de Wardener, kREEPA, Gabriel Prokofiev, Derailer, Trevor Goodchilde, Germ and Vex'd.

In 2000, she released GéNIA: Unveiled [http://www.sanctuaryclassics.com/product_details.php?productId=5408] interpreting the works of 4 Russian women composers spanning 4 generations: Sofia Gubaidulina, Galina Ustvolskaya, Elena Firsova, and Lena Langer.

In 1999, she released Transformations, [http://www.sanctuaryclassics.com/product_details.php?productId=5395] with the Russian violinist Roman Mints.

Collaborations

She commissions works particularly developing the repertoire for piano and electronics, and collaborated with an eclectic range of artists and composers including Patrick Nunn, Nik Bärtsch, John Richards (musician), Gabriel Prokofiev, Karen Tanaka.

In 2003, she was involved in "Contemporary Infrasonic" at the Southbank Centre, [ [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,956495,00.html Sonic boom | | guardian.co.uk Arts ] ] an experimental project into the effect of infrasound (ultra-low-frequency at or below the bottom of the frequency range audible to the human ear) using a grand piano.

Discography

*"Suite For Piano And Electronics", GéNIA/John Richards, released on CD, Nonclassical, 2007

*"Suite For Piano And Electronics", GéNIA/John Richards, released on Vinyl, Nonclassical, 2007

*"GéNIA: Unveiled - Music from Russia's Women Composers", Black Box, 2000

*"Transformations - 20th Century works for violin and piano", Roman Mints - violin, GéNIA - Piano, Black Box, 1999

Multimedia

* [http://www.genia-music.com/genhtml/BBCTODAY.htm Audio: BBC Radio 4 "Today" programme report on Russian "Old New Year" 2008 at Fifth Floor Bar, Harvey Nichols featuring GéNIA]

* [http://www.genia-music.com/Genia%20at%20the%20Proms%20Full%20Int.mov Video: Interview on BBC4 Proms 2007 featuring GéNIA and Gabriel Prokofiev]

External links

* [http://www.genia-music.com GéNIA's official website]

* [http://www.nonclassical.co.uk/ Nonclassical]

References