SAFFORD — Gila Valley Arts Council is proud to present concert pianist, Ilya Yakushev, January 19, 2022, Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. at the David M. Player Center for the Arts on the campus of Safford High School.
Russian pianist Ilya Yakushev, with many awards and honors to his credit, continues to astound and mesmerize audiences at major venues on three continents.
In the 2018-19 season, Ilya Yakushev performed as piano soloist with Edmonton Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Zacatecas Symphony, and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in addition to over 50 recitals in North America and Europe.
Highlights of Yakushev’s 2019–20 season include return appearances with Millikin-Decatur Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Fairfield County Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Zacatecas Symphony, and Hunterdon Symphony. He will also play recitals in the US and Russia.
In February 2014, British label Nimbus Records published “Prokofiev Sonatas Vol. 1” CD. American Record Guide wrote “Yakushev is one of the very best young pianists before the public today, and it doesn’t seem to matter what repertoire he plays – it is all of the highest caliber”. Volume 2 was published in January 2017, as well as an all-Russian repertoire CD in September 2017.
In past seasons, he has performed in various prestigious venues worldwide, including Glinka Philharmonic Hall (St. Petersburg), Victoria Hall (Singapore), Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York), Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), and Sejong Performing Arts Center (Seoul, Korea). His performances with orchestra include those with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, BBC Concert Orchestra, Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, and many others.
Winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition which took place in Cincinnati, OH, Mr. Yakushev received his first award at age 12 as a prizewinner of the Young Artists Concerto Competition in his native St. Petersburg. In 1997, he received the Mayor of St. Petersburg’s Young Talents award, and in both 1997 and 1998, he won First Prize at the Donostia Hiria International Piano Competition in San Sebastian, Spain. In 1998, he received a national honor, The Award for Excellence in Performance, presented to him by the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation in Moscow. Most recently, Mr. Yakushev became a recipient of the prestigious Gawon International Music Society’s Award in Seoul, Korea.
Mr. Yakushev attended the Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music in his native St. Petersburg, Russia, and subsequently came to New York City to attend Mannes College of Music where he studied with legendary pianist Vladimir Feltsman.
Ilya Yakushev is a Yamaha artist.
Tickets are currently on sale at Richards Music, 928-428-2442, online at www.saffordcenterforthearts.com or at the door. Adult ticket prices are only $10 or $15 and are all reserved seating. GVAC is proud to offer special prices for children and students for only $5.
The GVAC Fine Arts concert series is member supported. We graciously thank many of you, our individual donors who join as supporting members every year giving out of their personal pockets. Membership can range from as little as $25, but every dollar is spent on the cost of bringing the artists here to not only perform a concert, but also to spend an extra day or two working with our school children with music workshops and school performances. This school residency and public performance project was made possible by funding received from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, WESTAF (The Western States Arts Federation), and the National Endowment for the Arts. GVAC is also very grateful for the support received from the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Freeport McMoRan Corporation, The Flinn Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation of the Gila Valley. For any further information, please call Tom Green, at 928-428-0081.
