Pianist to perform free Pop-up Concert Friday in Elgin
Pianist Yana Reznik, born in Moscow and now a resident of Chicago, will perform a free pop-up concert from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, in the lobby of Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin.
Time Magazine's Michael Walsh said of Reznik, "Having heard every great pianist active since 1971, including Horowitz, Rubinstein, and Serkin, I can confidently say that Yana Reznik is determined to follow in their footsteps; indeed, think of her as a young Martha Argerich and you will have some idea of the experience that lies in store for you."
Reznik is set to perform with music director Andrew Grams and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin.
The program will feature jazz favorites by the incomparable George Gershwin, including "Rhapsody in Blue," "I Got Rhythm" and the iconic tone poem "An American in Paris," as well as "Cuban Overture," written after Gershwin's visit to Havana in 1932; "Lullaby for Strings," highlighting the spectacular strings of the ESO; and 2nd Rhapsody, which may be the most experimental of his works.
Tickets are $30-$65. Student tickets $12. There is convenient free parking or valet service. Dress in your favorite 1920s, jazz-age clothes! Saturday concertgoers are invited after the performance to "Mingle with the Musicians" at the Elgin Public House. For concert tickets, call (847) 888-4000 or visit elginsymphony.org.
Pianist, speaker, producer, host, entrepreneur, and cultural leader, Yana Reznik has been revolutionizing the way classical music affects our society. Her passionate performances and captivating storytelling had won the hearts of thousands on her 2010-2014 tour across the United States. Becoming known as the "Pianist with a Voice," she breaks the boundaries of the expected and creates innovative programs to bring the beauty of classical music to a wider and more diverse audience around the world.
In 2010, Reznik was invited to be a soloist and an actress with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Toyota Concert Series at Disney Hall. A winner of the Artists International Competition, she gave a sold-out Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Debut in New York in 2004. In 2011, she was named an honorary "Artist of the Year" by Roland Corporation, US. As the only classically endorsed pianist, Reznik has presented the World Premier concert of VPiano Grand at Zipper Hall (Los Angeles) and Lincoln Center (New York). In addition to solo appearances with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, San Bernardino Symphony, Redlands Bowl Orchestra, Marina del Rey Symphony, the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, University of Southern California Symphony Orchestra and Concert Symphony Orchestra, the Torrance Symphony Orchestra and the Stanford Wind Ensemble, she has performed at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, Santiago's Gabriela Mistral and the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Zipper, Thayer and Steinway Halls in Los Angeles, and has as well been presented by the Jacaranda, Los Angeles Bach Festival and Maestro Foundation to name a few.
In 2008, as a Founder and Artistic Director of the Southern California Brahms Festival, Reznik performed the complete piano chamber works of Johannes Brahms. An active collaborator, she is a guest artist with the Gold Coast Chamber Players in San Francisco and often performs with the members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Opera and Ballet. TV appearances include the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, performing with violinist Nicola Benedetti. In 2010 Yana performed with Carrie Underwood at the ACM Awards on PBS. Her music has been broadcast on WFMT Chicago, NPR, "From the Top", Interlochen Public Radio and KUSC Los Angeles.
Born in Moscow, Reznik holds a bachelor of music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, a master of music degree from the University of Southern California, and a professional studies certificate from the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where she was under the tutelage of Phillip Kawin and John Perry. She has also studied at the Rachmaninoff School of Music in Moscow, Russia with Raisa Bekerman, the Interlochen Arts Academy with Stephen Perry and Chapman University with Joseph Matthews. Yana's has performed at the Aspen Festival, the Tanglewood Festival where she worked with the Mark Morris Dance Company and others, the Yale summer music festival at Norfolk, the Cleveland summer music festival at Kent Blossom, the Sarasota Festival, Piano Summers at New Paltz and the International Academy of Music in Russia.
In 2000, Reznik became an assistant conductor to Maestro Glen Cortese and served as a pianist, harpsichordist, and organist for the East-West International Symphony Orchestra and Academy in Altenburg, Germany. She also conducted the Academy Orchestra from the harpsichord in a performance of Bach's complete Brandenburg Concertos. Yana's passion for inspiring a new generation to love classical music has led her to be a guest speaker for the TEDx Skid Row, the "Idea Project of LA", the "Southern California Music Institute" and the "Idyllwild Arts Academy."
As a humanitarian, Reznik created the "Artistic Voyage" concert series of 2011, a visionary gathering of musicians and artists to benefit worthwhile charity organizations around the world. Another one of her celebrated achievements had been her work as artistic director, pianist and host for the "Live at the Lounge" (Los Angeles), a weekly concert series that featured over 130 world class performers who collaborated with Reznik in 2010.
Since moving to Chicago in 2014, Reznik has performed at the Chicago Symphony All Access Chamber Series, Myra Hess Concert Series, PianoForte Foundation. Her concerts were broadcast live at WFMT 98.7 Radio. In February 2015, she launched "Playful Talk" show at PianoForte Studios. As a founder, producer, pianist and host, she collaborates with the members of Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, Ars Viva Orchestra, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Ensemble Dal Niente, Kontras Quartet and New Millennium Orchestra. Monthly episodes broadcast live via www.yanareznik.com as well as live from the studio.
The Gail Borden Public Library has received 20 awards, including Recipient of the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Services and Recipient of the 2010 Elgin Hispanic Network Organization of the Year. The main library opened in October 2003 and is the third largest public library building in Illinois, after Chicago and Schaumburg. 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. For more information, visit www.gailborden.info.
Now in its 66th season, the ESO offers programming unmatched for an entertaining, informative and relaxing cultural experience. The ESO has won Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year an unprecedented four times - in 1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016, and works to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the region. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available. Area 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 Classics Series concert weekends on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. at the 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. The ESO is a world-class orchestra providing quality musical explorations that are entertaining, hassle-free and conveniently located close to home in the western suburbs. For more information, see ElginSymphony.org.