• Elina AkselrudNeighbor

  • Brookline, MA

A Ukrainian-born pianist Elina Akselrud began receiving her professional music education at Kiev Lysenko Special Music School for gifted children with Irina Lipatova and Irina Barinova. At the age of eight she had her orchestra debut with Sumy Chamber orchestra "Renaissance". During the years of 1998-2003 Elina received prizes at International Competitions for Young Pianists, such as Alemdar Karamanov in Ukraine; "KONZERTEUM" in Greece (2nd Prizes); In memory of Vladimir Horowitz in Ukraine (a Special Prize); Chopin for Children and Youth in Poland (3rd Prize); Anatoly Zatin in Ukraine (2nd Prize), and “Citta di Ostra” in Italy (5th Prize), as well as performed with the National Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine at the National Philharmonic Hall in Kiev. In 2000 Elina also appeared as a solo and chamber musician during tours in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

<br> After moving to the United States in 2005 Elina continued her studies with Irina Morozova at Special Music School at Kaufman Center in New York City. During her high school years (2005-2008), she became a prize-winner at the following Piano Competitions: Ithaca College, NY (1st prizes in both Solo and Concerto divisions); The Empire State Piano Competition in Saratoga Springs, NY (1st Prize); Leschetizky Association Piano Concerto Competition in New York City (2nd Prize); Woodmere Young Artists in Hewlett, NY (1st Prize) and Special Music School at Kaufman Center Concerto Competition (The Top Prize). She was also featured at the &#34;Young Artists&#39; Showcase&#34; on WQXR, hosted by Robert Sherman, and awarded an Honorable Mention from the youngARTS, a program of NFAA, as one of the top 5% of high school seniors of the nation and among the best ones in New York State. Her U.S. orchestra appearances include Ithaca College Symphony and Kaufman Center Orchestra.<br> <br> In 2012 Elina Akselrud received her Bachelor of Music Degree with honors and the Wahl Performance Award from Mannes College, The New School for Music in New York City, studio of Irina Morozova. During her BM studies Elina was supported by The Francis E. and Esther B. Elliott Scholarship Fund. In 2009 she performed the Two Chopin Piano Concerti in an exclusive chamber arrangement for piano and a string quintet. In 2010 Elina gave a series of solo recitals with an all-Chopin program at the &#34;Chopin 200 Marathon&#34; - a festival dedicated to Frédéric Chopin&#39;s 200th Anniversary at the World Financial Center in New York. In the course of her college years, she was awarded prizes at the 5 Towns Music and Art Foundation Young Musician Competition in Hewlett, NY (2nd Prize, 2010); The VIII Chopin on 1000 Islands International Piano Competition in Cape Vincent, NY (1st Prize, 2010); and The III Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT (1st Prize, 2012).<br> <br> Ms. Akselrud&#39;s artistic activity includes appearances in such well-known venues as the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine and The “Ukraine” Palace in Kiev, Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Mannes Concert Hall, Merkin Hall, Steinway Hall, Tenri Cultural Institute, and Ukrainian Institute of America in New York City, among others. She participated in master classes with Ann Schein, Richard Goode, Glenn Dicterow, Marian Hahn, Alexander Braginsky, Baruch Meir, Boris Slutskiy and Eugenia Tsarov.<br> <br> Currently Elina Akselrud is a Master of Music degree candidate at New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, where she is studying with Alexander Korsantia.

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