Larysa Kuzmenko
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
Larysa Kuzmenko (born 1956) is a Juno Awards-nominated[http://junoawards.ca/2011-juno-award-nominees/ 2011 JUNO Award Nominees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219115559/http://junoawards.ca/2011-juno-award-nominees/ |date=19 February 2011 }} Canadian composer and pianist based in Toronto, Ontario. She currently teaches on the music faculties of The Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto.[http://www.music.utoronto.ca/faculty/faculty_members/instructors_f_to_m/larysa_kuzmenko.htm Bio of Larysa Kuzmenko at the University of Toronto] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428073236/http://www.music.utoronto.ca/faculty/faculty_members/instructors_f_to_m/larysa_kuzmenko.htm |date=28 April 2010 }}{{cite book|author=International Trumpet Guild|title=ITG Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XHIJAQAAMAAJ|volume=28, Issues 1-3|year=2003|publisher=International Trumpet Guild.|page=15}}
Early life
Kuzmenko was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, to Ukrainian parents. She studied music at the University of Toronto, earning a master's degree in composition.
Career
Kuzmenko has been commissioned to write pieces by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Hannaford Street Silver Band, the International Women's Brass Conference, the Laidlaw Foundation, the Oberlin Choristers, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Royal Canadian College of Organists.
In 2003 her work "Impromptu and Toccata" was premiered in Toronto. Cellist Yamagami Kaori and pianist Peter Longworth presented her composition "Fantasy for Solo Violincello" at the University of Toronto Walter Hall in 2008; the work was commissioned by the Women's Musical Club of Toronto.[https://www.thestar.com/news/2008/11/21/innovative_yamagami_is_one_to_follow.html "Innovative Yamagami is one to follow"]. Toronto Star, By John Terauds, 21 Nov. 2008
Kuzmenko's oratorio "Golden Harvest" was first performed by the Winnipeg Symphony in 2016.[https://thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/local-arts/a-musical-story-of-struggle-and-perseverance "A musical story of struggle and perseverance"]. Star-Phoenix, Britainy Zapshalla, 23 March 2017 For Canada's 150th Anniversary, she collaborated with Newfoundland playwright Robert Chafe to create a choral adaptation of Brahms Intermezzo. The work was performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Shallaway Youth Choir of St. John's, Newfoundland.[https://artsfile.ca/review-nacos-first-canada-150-tour-concert-a-full-musical-meal/ "Review: NACO’s first Canada 150 tour concert a full musical meal"]. Artsfile, 27 April 2017. by Peter Robb.
Many of Kuzmenko's works have been published by Boosey and Hawkes. Her composition "Mysterious Summer Night" was performed by Christina Petrowska Quilico and included on her 2018 album Global Sirens.[https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/booksrecords2/booksrecords2-2 "Global Sirens – Christina Petrowska Quilico"]. The Whole Note, by Sharna Searle, 27 November 2018
Selected compositions
- "Homeland" for piano and women's choir (1978)
- Elegy and Song for Flute, Vibraphone, Harp, and Soprano (1978–79)
- Fantasy for Band (1981)
- Concertino for Vibraphone and Marimba with Orchestra (1986–87)
- Sonata for Cello and Piano, "A Dream Within A Dream" (1992)
- Concerto for Accordion (1993)
- "A Prayer" for String Orchestra (1993)
- Piano Concerto No. 1 (1996)
- "Suite of Dances" for flute, cello and piano (1997)
- "In memoriam: To the Victims of Chernobyl" (1997)
- Concertino for Organ and Strings (1998)
- "Lilith, for String Quartet with English Horn (2000)
- Piano Concerto No. 2 (2000)
- Capriccio for string quartet, percussion, and flute (2002)
- Impromptu and Toccata for Brass Quintet (2003)
- "Sea Without A Shore" for Cello and Orchestra (2010)
- "Fantasy" for cello (2008)
- "Polynia" for piano, violin, and basset horn (Premiered 2010)
- "Behold the Night" for youth choir (2011)
- Metropolis Overture (2014)
- "Diabolic Dance" and "Mysterious Summer's Night" for piano (2014)
- "Golden Harvest" an oratorio (2016)
- 3 Ukrainian-themed songs (Premiered 2017)
- Piano concerto No. 3 (2019)
- Mysterious Summer's Night for piano (List D of RCM Level 8 Piano Repertoire, Sixth Edition)
References
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Category:Canadian women pianists
Category:Musicians from Mississauga
Category:Musicians from Toronto
Category:Academic staff of The Royal Conservatory of Music
Category:Academic staff of the University of Toronto
Category:21st-century Canadian composers
Category:21st-century Canadian pianists
Category:21st-century Canadian women pianists