George Shakhnevich

George Shakhnevich (b. Georgiy Alexandrovich Shakhnevich on January 11, 1954 in Kiev, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian-American accordionist, songwriter, composer, musician and former television personality.

Early life

George began playing the accordion at age six. As a teenager, he began playing professionally in regional areas around Kiev. At age eighteen, George was drafted into the Soviet military, in which he served for the next two years. Soon after, he graduated from the Pedagogical Institute of Kirivograd in Ukraine.

Gaining Recognition

While serving as a radio jockey in local radio stations around Kiev, George became the host and musical personality of a children’s television show, lead primarily by a group of teenage performers called Altana. His frequent television appearances made him a local celebrity around Kiev, and soon before his departure to the United States, George appeared with Altana on the popular Soviet television show “Morning Star,” performing the popular Beatles song "Yesterday" [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yesterday_%28song%29] live before a nationwide audience.

Move to the United States

George, like so many Jewish Eastern Europeans, immigrated to the United States with his family in 1992. He moved into the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, NY after his arrival. In 1993, George was hired to work as a musical therapist at the Menorah Home & Hospital in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn. His debut album, “Accordion Rendezvous” was released in 2005. George also participated in the 2005 Vivian Vivio Stolaruk Memorial International Entertainment Competition for Accordionists [http://www.accordions.com/index/art/vivian_viviomemorial.shtml] , held in Dearborn, Michigan.

Personal

George has been married to wife Jane since 1979. They have two children, Steven (b. 1980) and Dmitriy (b. 1988).

Albums

*"Accordion Rendezous" (2005)