Third Minnesota International Piano-e-Champion Captivates Audience at Carnegie's Zankel Hall
NEW YORK CITY Edisher Savitski, the grand-prize winner of the third Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition, performed an electrifying solo recital at Carnegie's Zankel Recital Hall on Tuesday, December 11th, 2007.
Mr. Savitski's program included Mozart - Sonata in F Major, K533/K494; Franck - "Prelude, Choral and Fugue"; Scriabin - Sonata # 7 - Op. 65 "White Mass"; and Prokofiev - Sonata # 7 - Op. 83. His fiery interpretations were met with enthusiastic rounds of applause and a standing ovation at the program's conclusion.
"Edisher Savitski provided us with the kind of success one can usually only dream about," says James Steeber, Director of Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. "His musicianship and professionalism informed the evening with a special integrity which people are still discussing."
The Zankel recital, sponsored by Yamaha Corporation of America, is part of a prestigious international tour on which Savitski has embarked for taking top honors at the high-tech, high caliber Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition in 2006, a contest that blends the capabilities of advanced technology with the art of music-making. Savitski's prize package also included $25,000 in cash, a CD release on the Ten Thousand Lakes label and a Yamaha DC3M4 Pro 6'1" Disklavier polished ebony grand piano.
At the conclusion of the performance, a reception was held in Mr. Savitksi's honor. There, he was joined by family and friends, as well as top Yamaha executives from around the world including Yamaha Corporation of America Executive Vice President Terry Lewis and Piano Division Vice President Paul Calvin, to celebrate the artist's Zankel Hall debut. Other notables in attendance included Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition Founder Alexander Braginsky, Yamaha Artist Services Europe Director Stan Zielinski and noted pianist and educator Jerome Rose. Yamaha artists Frederic Chiu, Klara Min, Lisa Yui and Laura Leon were also on hand to toast to Mr. Savitski's accomplishment, as was Mei-Ting Sun, winner of the first International Piano-e-Competition.
"I'm proud that YASI produced an event worthy of the Piano-e-Competition itself and worthy of being included in the New York concert landscape," added Steeber.
The 2006 Minnesota International Piano-E-Competition contestants played on Yamaha Disklavier Pro performance reproducing pianos and submitted their performances digitally as computer data via the Internet to an identical Disklavier used for judging. The Disklavier enabled note-for-note performances to be recreated and synchronized on an identical Disklavier with high-quality video for "e-judging" by a jury. Final rounds were held in Minneapolis-St. Paul in front of a distinguished judging panel. To learn more, visit www.Piano-e-Competition.com. For a multimedia presentation on the competition, visit www.piano-e-competition.com/ecompetition/howitworks.asp.
Mr. Savitski, 30, began his musical studies in his birthplace of Tbilisi, Georgia. A frequent performer in recitals and as a soloist with orchestras, he received a special grant from the President of Georgia in 1998. He joined the piano studio of Alexander Toradze at Indiana University South Bend that same year, where he earned his Masters degree and Artist Diploma.
Mr. Savitski has won prizes at many music competitions including second place at the William Byrd International Piano Competition and first place at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition.
Mr. Savitski has performed at Carnegie's Weill Hall, New York; Mozarteum, Salzburg; Wigmore Hall, London; and Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg; as well as in other venues in Japan, Israel, New Zealand and throughout Europe and the United States. He has also appeared at the Salzburg Festival, Austria; the Ruhr Festival, Germany; the Ravenna and Stresa Festivals, Italy; and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival.
His performances have often been broadcasted on television and radio, including on NPR's "Performance Today." Savitski is pursuing his doctoral degree at Michigan State University.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 L-R: Yamaha artist Frederic Chiu, Yamaha Artist Services Production Coordinator Makia Matsumura, Artist Services Manager Masahiro "Max" Michimoto, Edisher Savitski, Yamaha Artist Services Director James Steeber, Yamaha Artist Services Artist Relations Coordinator Magdalena Baczewska |
"Edisher Savitski provided us with the kind of success one can usually only dream about," says James Steeber, Director of Yamaha Artist Services, Inc. "His musicianship and professionalism informed the evening with a special integrity which people are still discussing."
The Zankel recital, sponsored by Yamaha Corporation of America, is part of a prestigious international tour on which Savitski has embarked for taking top honors at the high-tech, high caliber Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition in 2006, a contest that blends the capabilities of advanced technology with the art of music-making. Savitski's prize package also included $25,000 in cash, a CD release on the Ten Thousand Lakes label and a Yamaha DC3M4 Pro 6'1" Disklavier polished ebony grand piano.
 L-R: Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition Founder Alexander Braginsky, Edisher Savitski, Yamaha Corporation of America Executive Vice President Terry Lewis |
"I'm proud that YASI produced an event worthy of the Piano-e-Competition itself and worthy of being included in the New York concert landscape," added Steeber.
The 2006 Minnesota International Piano-E-Competition contestants played on Yamaha Disklavier Pro performance reproducing pianos and submitted their performances digitally as computer data via the Internet to an identical Disklavier used for judging. The Disklavier enabled note-for-note performances to be recreated and synchronized on an identical Disklavier with high-quality video for "e-judging" by a jury. Final rounds were held in Minneapolis-St. Paul in front of a distinguished judging panel. To learn more, visit www.Piano-e-Competition.com. For a multimedia presentation on the competition, visit www.piano-e-competition.com/ecompetition/howitworks.asp.
 L-R: Yamaha Artist Services Director James Steeber, Edisher Savitski, Yamaha Piano Division General Manager Paul Calvin |
Mr. Savitski has won prizes at many music competitions including second place at the William Byrd International Piano Competition and first place at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition.
Mr. Savitski has performed at Carnegie's Weill Hall, New York; Mozarteum, Salzburg; Wigmore Hall, London; and Mariinsky Theater, St. Petersburg; as well as in other venues in Japan, Israel, New Zealand and throughout Europe and the United States. He has also appeared at the Salzburg Festival, Austria; the Ruhr Festival, Germany; the Ravenna and Stresa Festivals, Italy; and the Gilmore Keyboard Festival.
His performances have often been broadcasted on television and radio, including on NPR's "Performance Today." Savitski is pursuing his doctoral degree at Michigan State University.
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.