Russian Pianist Katya Grineva Presents a Holiday Concert Tonight

Celebrating her 14th solo appearance at Carnegie Hall, Russian pianist Katya Grineva presents an evening of Holiday music and virtuoso romantic masterpieces for one night only, tonight, December 27th. Performing works from her latest album A Classical Holiday, Katya showcases new arrangements of holiday classics including Silent Night, I'll Be Home for Christmas and My Favorite Things as well as traditional carols and pieces from The Nutcracker. Other virtuoso romantic favorites will include Chopin's Polonaise in Ab, Nocturne in Eb, the Schumann/Liszt Dedication and Beethoven's Moonlight sonata.

"I always loved the music of the holidays," says Katya. "Combining the beauty of classical music and the delights of the holiday season creates an intoxicating elixir. Taking a fresh approach to everyone's favorite holiday melodies was challenging. In a real sense, an album like this has never been done before, so I knew it would require much work to develop arrangements of the highest quality, so I called on my friend, cellist/arranger Byron Duckwall who did a brilliant job."

The Carnegie concert is the culmination of a nationwide tour dedicated to bringing the healing power of classical music to children in need during the holiday season. From November-December 2014, Katya is performing in several children's hospitals, schools, concert halls and private residences in New York, Boston, Providence, Chicago, Minneapolis, Buffalo, and so on, as well as internationally in Paraguay and Namibia. "I have witnessed the openness of children to the wonders of classical music without cultural prejudice and how it can affect their lives positively."

Katya's caring ethos has been guiding her career for decades. For the Carnegie concert, Katya welcomes 500+ underprivileged children as her guests. "I have witnessed the power of beautiful music to heal and transform the hearts of children and I want to give this gift to as many as possible."

About Katya Grineva

Katya, known for her romantic piano, has played throughout the United States, Guam, Europe, South America, Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. She is the only female solo pianist to have performed in the distinguished Carnegie Hall Isaac Stern auditorium a record 14 times. A "noted exponent of Romantic repertoire (WNYC Radio)," Katya captures audiences with her breathless, ethereal concerts. The New York Times describes her playing as "liquid...dreamlike."

Born in Moscow, she began studying piano at the age of five, attending the Moscow Music School. She went on to the School of Music at the Moscow Conservatory, where she studied with Professor Pavel Messner. It was during her tutelage by Professor Pavel Messner at the Conservatory, that she began giving recitals and experiencing the "special and spontaneous" interaction between artist and audience that is the hallmark of her music. She moved to New York in 1989 and received a scholarship to enter the Mannes School of Music graduate program, studying with Nina Svetlanova, followed by private coaching with Vladja Mashke, who played a key role in the young pianist's development.

Katya made her American debut in 1993 with a performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto, No. 27 in B-flat, K.595 accompanied by the Baltimore Symphony. In May 1998, she achieved her dream with her debut at Carnegie Hall, where she has continued to perform over the years. She has been a guest performer in Ecuador with the Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra and performed for the Fillipino President Gloria Macapagal and does many charity concerts throughout the country.

In 2006, she was chosen to exclusively perform and record the world premieres of piano sonatas by romantic Viennese composer Marcel Tyberg. At the Australian concerts in Melbourne and in Sydney, the audience heard for the first time in Australia two compositions from Tyberg's "Lost" piano sonatas.

In 1998 Steinway and Sons awarded Katya the honorable title of Steinway Artist. Her other awards include: a special award from the New York State Shields in 2003 and, most recently, an award for special achievements from the government of Guam.

Her philanthropic work garnered her accolades, including recipient of the Gusi Peace Prize from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2006, and Outstanding Women Award from Ercolano Italy in 2008. She has released seven CD's, the latest one being A Classical Holiday - a collection of festive pieces for solo piano arranged by Byron Duckwall. For more information, visit katyagrineva.com.

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