(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- The Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Arts & Design department will present its second selection in a virtual concert series launched to help defray the cost of private instructional lessons for RVCC music majors. The virtual concert, “Cinderella,” will be live-streamed from RVCC’s Nash Theatre on Sunday, December 13 at 2:00pm. The performance will feature award-winning pianist Artyom Pak.
The December 13 concert will include 19 pieces from Sergey Prokofiev’s ballet, “Cinderella,” Opp. 95, 97, 102, in the composer’s own piano arrangement.
The concert is part of the department’s MOZAIKA Concert Series, created to promote multicultural dialogue through the performance of music from the classical canon through the 21st Century.
Praised as an artist “whose playing is defined by [a] high level of intelligence and brilliant technique,” pianist Artyom Pak has successfully performed in the US, Europe, and Central Asia. He has won several prestigious international piano competitions, including "Virtuosi per musica di pianoforte" in the Czech Republic and "Il Pozzolino" and "Young talents with orchestra" in Italy.
Born in Tashkent, Artyom Pak gave his first solo recital at the age of 9. He later graduated with honors from the V. Uspensky Specialized Lyceum, where he studied with Elmira Mirkasimova. The pianist received a full scholarship to study at Mannes College in New York City and is currently pursuing his master’s degree there under the guidance of Eteri Andjaparidze.
The artist made his first appearance with an orchestra at the age of 13, performing F. Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto in A Major at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan. Since then, he has played with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, State Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, and the Mihail Jora orchestra of Bacau, Romania. Mr. Pak’s vast solo repertoire contains a variety of works, from J. S. Bach and D. Scarlatti, to J. Cage and F. Rzewski.
His international solo engagements include concerts at Komitas Hall in Yerevan, Verdi Hall of Milan Conservatory, the Auditorium in Seregno, Concert Hall of Conservatoire d’Orléans, Tonhalle in Zürich, Steinway Hall in New York, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Concert Hall of the Puerto Rico Conservatory. He also has appeared in various festivals worldwide including Amerklavier & Mannes Sounds in New York; Puerto Piano in San Juan; Todi International Music Masters in Italy; Youth Classics in Rheinau, Switzerland; and the New Names summer academy in Suzdal, Russia.
All MOZAIKA concerts are held on the second Sunday of the month at 2:00pm. A post-performance, online discussion with the musicians follows the program. The artists offer their interpretation of the works, sharing their thoughts on the composers’ diverse identities and unique artistic languages. The concerts are free of charge, but donations are accepted and will go to the RVCC Applied Music Fund to help the College’s music majors pay for private lessons on their primary instruments.
To watch “Cinderella,” visit www.facebook.com/RVCCMusic. The concert also will be available for viewing after the initial performance date.
Ranked by WalletHub.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.
The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
