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Bravo, Dmytro Choni!

A Ukrainian pianist wins in a prestigious US competition
15 February, 2018 - 10:03
Photo from private archive

A former Kyivite who is currently mastering his skill in Austria has won the first prize in the 2018 Los Angeles International Piano Competition. This artistic competition included three rounds, but didn’t involve an orchestra. The jury was headed by the famous musician Daniel Pollack. Two pianists represented our country at this competition in Los Angeles. Dmytro Choni won the first award and a cash prize of 15,000 dollars. He was truly the best.

 It will be reminded that this talented musician has won many awards in international competitions. Currently Dmyrto Choni in spite of his young age is a famous concert pianist of the world level. He is a winner of numerous prestigious competitions, such as the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy 2017), the International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz (Ukraine, 2017), the San Marino Piano Competition (2016), with reference to vere.fund. Choni as well received the First Prize of the Roma International Piano Competition (Italy, 2017), the First Prize of the San Sebastian City International Piano Competition (Spain, 2017), the Second Prize of the Suzhou International Piano Competition (China, 2017), the First Prize of the Tucuman International Piano Competition (Argentina, 2016), the First Prize at the International Piano Competition “Stefano Marizza” (Italy, 2016), the First Prize and the title of the absolute winner of the International Piano Competition “Tribute to Jurica Murai” (Croatia, 2016), the First Prize and the Grand Prix of the International Piano Competition “Ville de Gagny” (France, 2013), etc.

 As a soloist, Dmytro Choni performed with such famous orchestras as the San Marino Symphony Orchestra conducted by Francesco Ommassini, the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alain Paris, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine conducted by Volodymyr Sirenko and Vitalii Protasov, etc.

 Incidentally, in January the pianist successfully delivered a solo concert at the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine, performing the works by Bach, Beethoven, Liszt, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Ginastera. The pianist performs the chamber music in a masterful and subtle manner. Along with the various ensembles Dmytro was invited to take part in the projects Colluvio in Austria and Zeist Music Days in the Netherlands where he was taught by Adrian Brendel, Mark Daniel, and the members of the Jerusalem Quartet.

 Choni has performed at the festivals Kissinger Sommer Festival in Germany, Next Generation Classic Festival Bad Ragaz in Switzerland, Harmonie Starego Miasta in Poland, and Kyiv Summer Music Nights in the capital of our country. The performances at the Teatro Colon in Argentina and at the Kissinger KlavierOlymp Festival in Germany were especially important for Dmytro.

Incidentally, Dmytro Choni was born in Kyiv in 1993. He started to take the piano lessons at the age of four from Halyna Zaslavets. Later he was taught by Nina Naidych and Professor Yurii Kot at the National Music Academy of Ukraine. Currently he is a student of the Graz University of Music and Performing Arts in the class of Professor Milana Chernyavska. He is fellow and permanent member of the International Music Academy in Lichtenstein. Dmytro also takes part in the master classes held by outstanding musicians, such as Arie Vardi, Sergei Babayan, Pavel Gililov, Klaus Hellwig, Grigory Gruzman, Aquiles delle Vigne, Yakov Kasman, and Oxana Yablonskaya.

By Tetiana POLISHCHUK, The Day
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