'Passport to Russia' series continues Nov. 13 at Elgin library
Nazar Dzhuryn, assistant principal cellist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and pianist Irina Feoktistova will present a free program of Russian music for cello and piano at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, in the Meadows Community Rooms at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin.
The program, part of the library's and the ESO's "Passport to Russia" series, includes movements from Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich sonatas, "Pezzo Capriccioso" by Tchaikovsky, and the tarantella, minuet and finale from Stravinsky's "Suite Italienne."
Register for the free concert at gailborden.info/Russia. For more information about the ESO, visit ElginSymphony.org.
Learn how to say "Hello" in Russian, experience a Russian tea party, enjoy the music of Russian composers, and more at Passport to Russia, fun and informative programs exploring Russian culture presented by the Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin History Museum and others, all designed to enhance your enjoyment at Elgin Symphony Orchestra concerts during their 2016-17 season.
The ESO is presenting a Russian composer on each of their Classic Series concerts, which include works by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and more. Program participants must note their attendance at a class/event on a "Passport" available online at gailborden.info/Russia, and at ESO concerts. Anyone who attends six programs, which may include two ESO concerts, will be invited to a reception, backstage tour and open rehearsal at the Hemmens Cultural Center on Friday, May 5. One grand prize winner and guest will have a special lunch with ESO Music Director Andrew Grams.
A native of Lviv, Ukraine, cellist Nazar Dzhuryn graduated from the Lviv Music School, where he studied with Evgeny Shpitzer, and earned his master of music degree at the Moscow State Conservatory under Professor Igor Gavrysh. Upon graduation, Nazar taught at the Moscow State Conservatory as an assistant professor before moving to Chicago in 1998. Since then, he has been in high demand as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician, and teacher.
Nazar's solo recitals for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts and the PianoForte Salon Series have been broadcast live on 98.7 WFMT. He has appeared as a soloist with the Moscow State Symphony "Young Russia," Moscow Conservatory Symphony, Elgin Symphony Orchestra. In 2010-16, he appeared as a soloist with Lviv Philharmonic, National Symphony of Ukraine in Kiev, Minsk Philharmonic, Ensemble of Soloists Classicus in Zagreb, Sinfonietta Bel Canto, Ill., Harper Symphony Orchestra, Ill., Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Woodstock Mozart Festival Orchestra, Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Wis., and Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, N.D., performing Schumann Concerto, Prokofiev's Symphony Concerto, Barber's Concerto, Dvorak's Concerto, Haydn's Concertos, Shostakovich Concerto No. 2, Saint-Saens Concerto No. 1, Brahms Double Concerto and Beethoven Triple Concerto.
In addition, Nazar has given numerous solo recitals and master classes in Russia, Ukraine, Croatia, South America, South Africa, South Korea and the U.S. In 2008 he released his solo debut CD, "Cello Monologue," featuring works by Reger and Kodaly. His next CD, Cello Monologue 2 was released in 2013, featuring works of Ysaye, Hindemith, Crumb, Ligeti and Laniuk.
Nazar has performed in Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral and as a guest artist with the Chicago Chamber Musicians; his chamber-music partners have included members of the orchestra of the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Formerly the principal cello of the Moscow State Symphony "Young Russia" and the Moscow Conservatory Symphony, Nazar has served as the assistant principal cello of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra since 2000 and as the principal cello of the Woodstock Mozart Festival Orchestra since 2004. He participated in the Rostropovich Festival in Evian, France, and has performed as an orchestral musician under Georg Solti, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, and Helmuth Rilling.
Nazar maintains private studios in Chicago and Elgin in addition to serving on the faculties of Northeastern Illinois University and the Naperville School for the Performing Arts. He also coaches chamber ensembles for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra. Nazar's students have won prizes in numerous competitions, including the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, and the Chicago Chamber Music Competition (sponsored by Midwest Young Artists).
Irina Feoktistova graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatoire, Russia. A classically trained pianist, she has performed in the major halls of St. Petersburg, Russia, and toured Europe and the United States as a soloist, duo pianist, and accompanist. In 1995, as a part of a piano duo, she participated in the Park Lane Group auditions and was chosen from 260 participants to perform at the Purcell Room of the Royal Festival Hall, one of the best in London. The piano duo Jana Polianovskaja/Irina Feoktistova won third prize at The First International Competition of Contemporary Music Interpretation in Weimar, Germany (1996). In 1997 she gave series of concerts as a piano soloist with the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Flanders with conductor Robert Groslot. Also that year she participated in the Ninth International New Music Festival titled "Sound Ways" as a piano duo and recorded her first CD. Feoktistova relocated to the United States in 1998, and since then she has performed extensively in Chicago area and worked as a freelance musician at the Roosevelt, Loyola, Northwestern, and DePaul universities. She has been involved in numerous musical theater productions as an accompanist and music director. She is also active in various projects performing Russian and American contemporary music. Her U.S. tours include series of concerts with Russian singer and composer Elena Antonenko. In 2008, she made her Carnegie Hall debut as a soloist and an accompanist with Russian singers Vladimir Galuzine, Methodie Bujor and Natalia Timchenko for The Russia Day concert.
The Gail Borden Public Library has received 20 awards, including the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Services and the 2010 Elgin Hispanic Network Organization of the Year. The library serves 144,597 residents in Elgin, South Elgin and portions of Hoffman Estates, Streamwood and Bartlett, has over 1 million visitors, and is the largest library district in the state of Illinois for population served.
Now in its 66th season, the ESO has won Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year an unprecedented four times - in 1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016. Local student musicians often perform in the lobby before concerts and patrons can purchase gifts at the Elgin Symphony League Boutique. Preconcert chats are given by Andrew Grams, guest artists and others one hour before most performances and Saturday night patrons are invited after concerts to Mingle with the Musicians at the Elgin Public House. In addition, free Listeners Club lecture/discussions presented by music historian Jim Kendros are offered before ESO concert weekends at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Gail Borden Public Library. Flex passes are available for purchase so that you can choose your concerts at a later date based on your own schedule. And if a patron can't make a concert, the ESO offers free exchanges to subscribers and to single ticket buyers for a $5 fee. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available.