An exhibition of virtuosity and some of the greatest storytelling through art and music will be on display during the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra's season opening concert on Saturday, Sept. 24, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Kirkland Fine Arts Center.
The MDSO will perform Debussy's "Sunken Cathedral," Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," and will be joined by internationally acclaimed pianist Mikhail Yanovitsky for Rachmaninoff's beloved "Piano Concerto No. 2."
Born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia, Mikhail Yanovitsky has performed in 34 American states, including appearances at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston), Carnegie Recital Hall (New York), Convention Center (Philadelphia), Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco), Chicago Cultural Center and the Kennedy Center (Washington, D.C.). Yanovitsky has also performed in 15 European countries, as well as in Mexico, South Africa, Uruguay, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea and China.
Winning the Gina Bachauer Piano Graduate Scholarship in 1991 and 1992 allowed Yanovitsky to study with Seymour Lipkin at Juilliard School (New York). In 2002, he completed his Doctorate at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa., under the tutelage of Harvey Wedeen.
Mikhail Yanovitsky has won numerous awards. In 1998, after winning the Astral Artistic Services Award in Philadelphia, he was awarded 1st prize at the Concerto Competition (Cantù, Italy) and subsequently appeared at the Sala Verdi (Milan). In 1996, he was a prize winner at the International Piano Competition (Sydney, Australia). He won the ProPiano competition (New York) in 1994 and the East Hampton Competition in 1992.
Since 1994, Mikhail Yanovitsky has been regularly performing in Russia, including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, the Rachmaninoff and Small Halls of the Moscow Conservatory, the Scriabin Museum in Moscow and the House of Architects, as well as the new Mariinsky Concert Hall in St. Petersburg.
Yanovitsky Residency
During his residency at Millikin University, Mikhail Yanovitsky will host a masterclass for gifted pianists on Thursday, Sept. 22, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center (free and open to the public) and perform for the local community at several locations on Friday, Sept. 23. The schedule of performances is as follows.
Thursday, Sept. 22
Masterclass at Kirkland Fine Arts Center
4-6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 23
Dennis Lab School, 9:15-9:45 a.m.
1499 W. Main St. in Decatur, Ill.
Johns Hill Magnet School, 12:50-1:15 p.m.
1025 E. Johns Ave. in Decatur, Ill.
Primrose Retirement Center, 2-3 p.m.
1145 W. Arbor Dr. in Decatur, Ill.
Tickets for the concert on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center are $13-$16.50 and are available through the Kirkland Fine Arts Center Ticket Office by phone at 217.424.6318 or online at kirklandfinearts.com. Kirkland Ticket Office hours are Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. A $2.50 fee will be charged for credit card purchases. This is a per transaction fee, not per ticket, and applies to online and Ticket Office orders.
Concerts of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur.