Performance to include “Flight of the Bumblebee” For Two Pianos, the KC Premiere of “Canzona Matinata” from Broberg & Ioudenitch’s new album Songbird, and
the Grand Finale to ICM’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration,
Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” with Pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch
and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra

KANSAS CITY, MO (January 12, 2023) — Stanislav Ioudentich, Founder and Artistic Director of Park International Center for Music, announced today that the organization’s annual concert will take place at the Kauffman Center on Saturday, March 11, 2023, 7:00 p.m. in Helzberg Hall officially celebrating the Center’s 20^th Anniversary. “We’re producing an evening of music not to be matched in Kansas City,” said Ioudenitch. “We know we must create a concert event like no other where the audience leaves saying, ‘WOW! That was amazing!’”

The multimedia event utilizes the intimacy of video to give audience members a peek into the lives of world-renowned classical musicians like London International Piano Competition Gold Medalist and Decca Recording Artist, Behzod Abduraimov, who plays 100 concerts each year performing with the world’s leading orchestras. “We’re creating an affordable, fun evening where you can bring your whole family to experience the best of classical music,” said Lisa Hickok, Executive Director of Park ICM.  “The videos help to make classical music approachable for all. Plus, our student tickets start at $7.50. You can bring your entire family for less than $50,” she said. “And there are so many highlights to the program, I don’t know where to start. Plus, I love the video conversations,” said Hickok. “They really give you a taste of what it’s like to be an international superstar like Behzod who has Snoop Dog following him on Instagram. From the minute we start, you’ll be on the edge of your seat.”

In addition to Abduraimov, the event will feature Ioudenitch’s protégés including Kenny Broberg, one of the most decorated pianists under 30 in the world; Michael Davidman, who took the Bronze Medal this fall in the 2022 Long-Thibaud international piano competition; and Sergey Belyavsky, the dashing young pianist from Moscow who has won more than 30 international competitions and festivals and won the Silver Medal in the Concours de Genève this fall.

The full line-up of solo musicians for Stanislav & Friends 2023 includes:

1. Stanislav Ioudenitch, Piano – Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, Park ICM Founder and Director Park ICM Piano Studio.
2. Behzod Abduraimov, Piano – London International Piano Competition Gold Medalist, protégé of Stanislav Ioudenitch and Artist in Residence, Park ICM.
3. Kenny Broberg, Piano – Winner 2021 American Pianists Awards, 2017 Van Cliburn Silver Medalist, 2019 XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition Bronze Medalist.
4. Maria Ioudenitch, Violin – Winner 2021 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition (Germany), Winner 2021 Tibor Varga International Violin Competition (Switzerland), Winner of the Ysaÿe Prize and 2021 Ysaÿe International Music Competition. Daughter of Stanislav and Tatiana Ioudenitch.
5. Daniel Veis, Cello – International Tchaikovsky Cello Competition Gold Medalist and Director Cello Studio at Park ICM.
6. Ben Sayevich, Violin – Recipient of the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation Award and Director of Violin Studio at Park ICM.
7. Ilkhom Mukhiddinov, Violin – First prize at Hellam Young Artist Competition, finalist and “Jury special mention” Leonid Kogan international Competition, and 1st Prize Naftzger competition.
8. Laurel Gagnon, Violin – Fourth Prize Singapore International Violin Competition and performed in the live rounds of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels.
9. Michael Davidman, Piano – 2021 Finalist American Pianists Awards. Third prize and orchestra prize in the 2022 Long-Thibaud international piano competition. Michael also received a four-year scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States.
10. Sergey Belyavsky, Piano – Sergey is a prize winner of more than 30 international competitions and festivals including 2^nd Prize and Audience Prize at the 76^th Concours de Genève and 1^st Prize at Artciál International Piano Competition.
11. Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, Piano – Gold Medal Chopin International Piano Competition, Collaborative Piano Director Park ICM.

Three items of particular note on this year’s program:

1. Audiences will have the chance to hear a sneak peak of two pieces from violinist Maria Ioudenitch’s new album, Songbird, featuring ICM’s own Kenny Broberg on piano. Recorded in Berlin, Maria furthers, “It is a collection of songs and pieces dear to my heart, including Schubert’s monumental Fantasy.” The album will be released on March 24^th by Warner Classics and Erato and was one of Maria’s prizes for winning the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in 2021.
2. Park ICM is extremely excited to be bringing Maestro George Tchitchinadze to guest conduct the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. Called “One of the most beloved artists in George and Poland,” Maestro Tchitchinadze has won both public and critical acclaim thanks to his brilliant music skills coupled with personal charisma and his warm and sensitive way of communicating with musicians and audiences. The chief conductor and artistic director of the Polish Baltyc Filharmonic in Gdansk, he is a professor at the Tbilisi State Conservatory and head of the Opera Department. He is making a very rare appearance in the United States and Park University is thrilled to be presenting him to Kansas City audiences to conduct two beloved pieces, Otto Nicolai’s Overture from “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” and the big finale, Tchaikovsky’s “Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor. Op. 23” featuring his friend, Stanislav Ioudenitch, on piano.
3. Speaking of the finale, in its short history, Stanislav & Friends has become known for leaving audiences wanting more, especially through Ioudenitch’s ability to program a great BIG FINISH. The first year, it was Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody;” in 2020 on the big screen at Boulevard Drive-in, it was John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” for eight hands on two pianos; in 2022, Ioudenitch performed Maurice Ravel’s “Concerto for the Left Hand.” So how can this be topped? By presenting one of the most beloved concertos in the classical music repertoire, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23.” Known to be Tchaikovsky’s best piece and one of the most popular concertos ever written, it more widely known as “The 1812 Overture.” The work tells the story of Napoleon’s defeat at the hands of the Russian army, via the ‘Marseillaise’ and the ‘Russian Imperial Hymn’, climaxing with a majestic celebration of cannon fire. It is sure to bring the audience to their feet and conclude the International Center for Music’s 20^th Anniversary celebration in grand style.

The full repertoire of Stanislav & Friends includes:

Sergei Rachmaninoff: Trio élégiaque No. 1 in G minor
Ben Sayevich, violin, Daniel Veis, cello, Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano

Pablo de Sarasate: Navarro for two violins and piano, Op. 33
Ilkhom Mukhiddinov, violin, Laurel Gagnon, violin, Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano

Claude Debussy: Nocturnes, L91 (Transcribed by Maurice Ravel)
2. Fêtes

Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee
Michael Davidman, piano and Sergey Belyavsky, piano

Amy Beach: Romance for violin and piano, Op. 23
Nikolai Medtner (Arr. Kenny Broberg): Canzona Matinata
Maria Ioudenitch, violin, Kenny Broberg, piano

Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
            Promenade
            Limoges. The Market (the Great News)
            Catacombs (Roman Tomb) with the Dead in a Dead Language
            The Bogatyr Gates (in the Capital Kiev)
Behzod Abduraimov, piano

Intermission

Otto Nicolai: Overture from “The Merry Wives of Windsor”

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Stanislav Ioudenitch, Pianist
With the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, Guest Maestro George Tchitchinadze Conducting

CONCERT EVENT PRICING AND TICKETS:

Tickets for Stanislav & Friends at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Saturday, March 11, 7:00 p.m., range from $7.50 (for students with ID) to $50. Kauffman Center fees do apply. Self or valet parking is available with purchase through the Kauffman Center.

For Single Tickets, Visit:

https://tickets.kauffmancenter.org/20410

For more information, visit https://icm.park.edu/events-performances/stanislav-and-friends-2023/.

ABOUT PARK INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MUSIC

Park ICM was established at Park University in 2003. This All-Steinway School trains and educates the next generation of accomplished musicians in a focused and creative atmosphere with an international faculty of renowned excellence. Park ICM offers degree, certificate, and diploma programs at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Our courses of study are focused in the areas of performance in violin, viola, cello and piano. At the core of all ICM programs is one-on-one studio instruction providing vital interactions between the student and master faculty, in its 20th season. This extremely exclusive music academy selects just 30 students each year to study in the historic European apprenticeship tradition. Park’s amazing campus provides focused and uninterrupted practice time 24-hours daily in a serene and extremely supportive environment. The master faculty also coaches musicianship and career development so that the students will become award-winning musicians, traveling the world, and entertaining the most discerning music lovers across all continents.

Visit icm.park.edu for more information about Park ICM’s students, faculty, and performance season. High-resolution photos can be obtained by contacting Ellen McDonald, Publicist, at 816-213-4355 or ellen@mershonandmcdonald.com.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Social Media

Receive updates by joining Park ICM Facebook at www.facebook.com/ICMPark, or following @ICM_Park on Twitter or icmpark on Instagram.

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Please direct all media inquiries to Ellen McDonald
816-213-4355 or ellen@mershonandmcdonald.com.