Youngest-Ever Piano Artist Joins Yamaha Roster
BUENA PARK, Calif. Yamaha Corporation of America is pleased to welcome 11-year-old pianist Alice Burla to its ever-expanding roster of Yamaha Artists. Ms. Burla is the youngest performer ever to join the Yamaha family, which includes renowned artists such as Denis Matsuev, Michael Tilson Thomas, Alexander Braginsky, Olga Kern, Abbey Simon and Elton John, to name few.
Born in Canada, Ms. Burla made her New York debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall after winning First Place in the 8th Annual New York Music Competition and First Place in the National Finals of the esteemed Canadian Music Competition. Her parents brought her to the US to study with legendary pianist Oxana Yablonskaya. Ms. Burla, at the age of six, became one of the youngest students ever accepted to The Juilliard School Pre-College Division. At her young age, Ms. Burla has already performed to acclaim in major concert halls all over the world including in Paris, Toronto, New York, Monterrey (Mexico), Heidelberg (Germany), and Hamamatsu (Japan).
"Alice Burla has the kind of hold on an audience one rarely sees," says James Steeber, Director, Yamaha Artist Services, Inc., in New York. "She brings an improbable sense of control and technical expertise to her performances, plus she seems to adore music."
Yamaha's relationship with the young artist began in 2004, when the company learned of the difficulties faced by the talented pianist and her family. Recognizing her unusual talent, Yamaha helped support Ms. Burla's Juilliard School tuition and sponsored a fundraiser hosted by Yamaha retailer Frank & Camille's Fine Pianos on West 57th Street in New York. The event assisted the family with living expenses as her parents Nely and Marat, also musicians, awaited finalization of their work visas.
One of Ms. Burla's recent highlights was her March 2008 participation in the renowned 13th Hamamatsu International Piano Academy. There, she had the opportunity to perform and work on her repertoire with many of the world's leading piano professors including Sequeira Costa, Hiroko Nakamura, Yamaha artist Oxana Yablonskaya, Piero Rattalino and Sergei Babayan. While in Japan, Ms. Burla also had the opportunity to tour the Yamaha grand piano factory where the famed CFIIIS Concert Grand Piano is constructed.
Ms. Burla appreciates the outstanding sound quality and touch of Yamaha pianos. "I always preferred Yamaha because it feels like home," says Ms. Burla. "The sound of a Yamaha piano is really pretty, bright and even. No matter where you are in the keyboard, it's always well-balanced."
A major milestone in Ms. Burla's musical life occurred in February 2006, when she, together with her teacher and mentor Ms. Yablonskaya, performed Mozart's Double Piano Concerto with the New York Sinfonietta under the baton of Ki-Sun Sung as part of the concert series commemorating Mozart's 250th Birthday at Yamaha's New York Piano Salon. Last October, Ms. Burla showcased her own composition skills in a memorable performance that was part of the piano concerti series. There, she performed J.C. Bach's Concerto in B flat major with two of her own cadenzas, accompanied by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Clark.
In February 2008, Ms. Burla displayed her extraordinary talent with a brilliant performance of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, one of the most difficult creations of the composer, along with virtuoso pieces by Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. The concert, also held at Yamaha's New York Salon, proved to be a major accomplishment for Ms. Burla, given the extremely difficult program she prepared so skillfully.
Currently, Ms. Burla is continuing her studies with Ms. Yablonskaya at the Juilliard School and is being home schooled by her mother. With the support of Ms. Yablonskaya, her parents and Yamaha, the young pianist looks forward to a bright future.
"It feels exciting to be with Yamaha officially," adds Ms. Burla. "I've always liked it best."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail yasi@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/yasi.
 Piano prodigy Alice Burla joins the Yamaha artist family. |
"Alice Burla has the kind of hold on an audience one rarely sees," says James Steeber, Director, Yamaha Artist Services, Inc., in New York. "She brings an improbable sense of control and technical expertise to her performances, plus she seems to adore music."
Yamaha's relationship with the young artist began in 2004, when the company learned of the difficulties faced by the talented pianist and her family. Recognizing her unusual talent, Yamaha helped support Ms. Burla's Juilliard School tuition and sponsored a fundraiser hosted by Yamaha retailer Frank & Camille's Fine Pianos on West 57th Street in New York. The event assisted the family with living expenses as her parents Nely and Marat, also musicians, awaited finalization of their work visas.
One of Ms. Burla's recent highlights was her March 2008 participation in the renowned 13th Hamamatsu International Piano Academy. There, she had the opportunity to perform and work on her repertoire with many of the world's leading piano professors including Sequeira Costa, Hiroko Nakamura, Yamaha artist Oxana Yablonskaya, Piero Rattalino and Sergei Babayan. While in Japan, Ms. Burla also had the opportunity to tour the Yamaha grand piano factory where the famed CFIIIS Concert Grand Piano is constructed.
Ms. Burla appreciates the outstanding sound quality and touch of Yamaha pianos. "I always preferred Yamaha because it feels like home," says Ms. Burla. "The sound of a Yamaha piano is really pretty, bright and even. No matter where you are in the keyboard, it's always well-balanced."
A major milestone in Ms. Burla's musical life occurred in February 2006, when she, together with her teacher and mentor Ms. Yablonskaya, performed Mozart's Double Piano Concerto with the New York Sinfonietta under the baton of Ki-Sun Sung as part of the concert series commemorating Mozart's 250th Birthday at Yamaha's New York Piano Salon. Last October, Ms. Burla showcased her own composition skills in a memorable performance that was part of the piano concerti series. There, she performed J.C. Bach's Concerto in B flat major with two of her own cadenzas, accompanied by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Clark.
In February 2008, Ms. Burla displayed her extraordinary talent with a brilliant performance of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, one of the most difficult creations of the composer, along with virtuoso pieces by Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. The concert, also held at Yamaha's New York Salon, proved to be a major accomplishment for Ms. Burla, given the extremely difficult program she prepared so skillfully.
Currently, Ms. Burla is continuing her studies with Ms. Yablonskaya at the Juilliard School and is being home schooled by her mother. With the support of Ms. Yablonskaya, her parents and Yamaha, the young pianist looks forward to a bright future.
"It feels exciting to be with Yamaha officially," adds Ms. Burla. "I've always liked it best."
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail yasi@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/yasi.