Think you know accordion? Think again.

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Think you know accordion? Probably not like this! Think a whole orchestra in one instrument and dexterity worthy of a concert pianist.

The South Okanagan Concert Society presents
Alexander Sevastian, solo accordionist
Friday, Oct 28, 2011
Oliver Alliance Church
Tickets : $60 regular flex pass, $20 single ticket
Available at Beyond Bliss (Oliver)
and Inperial Office Pro (Osoyoos) 

This concert will blow you away — guaranteed!

Alexander Sevastian has won four International Accordion Competitions including the Oslofjord in Norway (1998), The Cup of the North in Russia (2000), the Anthony Galla-Rini Accordion Competition in the U.S.A. (2001) and The Coupe Mondiale in the U.S.A. (2007).

Alex was born in Minsk, Belarus and began his studies on the accordion at the age of seven. In 1991 he attended the Glinka Musical College in Minsk. His advanced studies took him to the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters in Performance degree in 2002, studying with renowned performer and pedagogue, Friedrich Lips.

Alex began his professional career in Moscow in 1996, performing with the Russian Radio Orchestra, which he toured with as a soloist throughout Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Alex also was a very active recitalist and chamber musician. Highlights of his career include appearances in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Glinka Capella Hall (St.Petersburg), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Roy Thomson Hall (Toronto), and the Metropolitan Museum (New York). Recent solo engagements include recitals in Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, U.S.A. and Canada as well as appearances with several symphony orchestras.

Alex and his family moved to Canada in April 2001. He joined the renowned Quartetto Gelato in 2002. In May 2003 he completed his advanced performance studies at the University of Toronto. In the fall of 2005 he became a Canadian Citizen. Alex made his debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in April 2008.

Turn up your speakers and listen to some of his virtuosic playing at http://www.quartettogelato.ca/alex.php  and the amazingly fast Minka Variations at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5JE6s9FeGc . Then pick your jaw up from the floor and go out and buy your tickets!

What’s up later in the South Okanagan Concert Society season?

Fri. Nov 25: Kallisto Trio, a capella female trio
Fri. Jan 27: Daniel Bolshoy, solo guitarist
Fri. Feb 24 : Penderecki String Quartet

Series financially supported in part by the Oliver Community Arts Council

2 thoughts on “Think you know accordion? Think again.”

  1. Yes, the video link is the Yuri Kasakov arrangement of “Variations on a Ukrainian Theme”, sometimes called Schone Minka. The arts council merely promoted Mr. Sevastian’s concert. We do not sell sheet music. Good luck.

  2. i am absolute fascinated of the minka-variations.
    my father plays the accordeon really well, i´d like to buy him the sheets for christmas.
    can you tell me where i get those original sheets? ( i think its the arrangement of kasakov, isn´t it?)
    yours sincererely,
    melanie

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