Pianist offers a musical journey (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Pianist offers a musical journey

11:29am Friday 19th June 2009

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A PIANIST from the Ukraine who moved to Darlington nearly a year ago gives her first solo concert in the UK next weekend.

Lada Khazanovych, whose musical career began at the age of six, performs Baroque to Jazz at St Cuthbert’s Church on Saturday, June 27, at 7.30pm.

She was married to Anthony Frederick Pawass this year, and he has helped organise the concert. “The idea is to thank the people of St Cuthbert Church for their welcome to me,” said Mrs Khazanovych- Pawass, who sings in the choir at St Cuthbert’s.

Proceeds of the concert will go to the church organ fund.

The pianist, who performs under her maiden name, was born into a musical family.

Her mother is a piano teacher and an accompanist, and her father a conductor, composer and music teacher.

Her younger brother is a percussionist.

She gave her first solo concert at the age of ten, and after three years at music college, in 1993 entered the Kiev State Conservatoire. In 2006, she obtained a postgraduate degree in solo performance from the Ukrainian Music Academy.

Ms Khazanovych says she owes her success as much to her parents as to her teachers.

She has played concert halls in Ukraine, including Kiev, and in Moscow. In 2004, she gave a solo concert at Yuncheng University Hall in China, where she taught piano for a year. She has performed in chamber ensembles and as an accompanist at recitals.

Her family developed a method of teaching based on ways of bringing out the innate musical abilities they believe everyone possesses.

Ms Khazanovych, who moved to Darlington last August, has in particular devised a way of developing the musical ability of children from the age of two or three.

Baroque to Jazz will start with Bach, move to Mozart, Schumann, Chopin, Rachmaninov, and end with jazz by the Moscow pianist and composer Kapustin. “I have tried to pick some of the most beautiful pieces ever written for piano,” she said.

Tickets cost £5, children £2, available at the door, or in advance by ringing 07531- 782991 or 07951-506614

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