Alexander Peskanov (; , born 1955,

Odesa Odesa, also spelled Odessa, is the third most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city and List of hromadas of Ukraine, municipality in Ukraine and a major seaport and transport hub located in the south-west of the country, on the northwestern ...

Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...

) is a Ukrainian-American

concert pianist A pianist ( , ) is a musician who plays the piano. A pianist's repertoire may include music from a diverse variety of styles, such as traditional classical music, jazz, blues, and popular music, including rock and roll. Most pianists can, to ...

and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

Life

Alexander Peskanov was born in

, where he attended the Stoliarsky School of Music, studying first under Rosalia Leontievna Molodietzkaya, who was a grand-pupil of

Theodor Leschetizky Theodor Leschetizky (sometimes spelled Leschetitzky; ; 22 June 1830 – 14 November 1915) was a Polish pianist, professor, and composer active in Austria-Hungary. He was born in Landshut in the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, then a crown land ...

. He emigrated to the United States from the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

in 1973, and attended the

Juilliard School of Music The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named afte ...

, studying with Ania Dorfmann. His solo career debut was with

Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian Cello, cellist and conducting, conductor. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enl ...

and the National Symphony. He has also appeared with the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

, the

English Chamber Orchestra The English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and their ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall. With a limited performance size, the orchestra spe ...

, SABC Symphony Orchestra,

Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is an orchestra based in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. History Founded by the Cape Town City Council as the Cape Town Municipal Orchestra, the CPO held its inaugural concert on 28 February ...

, Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra,

Bogotá Philharmonic Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...

Venezuela Symphony Orchestra The Venezuela Symphony Orchestra () is an orchestra in Venezuela, founded in 1930. They perform at the Ríos Reyna concert-hall in the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex. See also *Venezuelan music Several styles of the traditional music o ...

, the

Hong Kong Philharmonic The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra () is a symphony orchestra based in Hong Kong. Colloquially referred to as the HKPO or HKPhil (), the orchestra was first established in 1947 as an amateur orchestra under the name Sino-British Orchestra (), ...

, as well as in the United States with the Baltimore, St. Louis, Houston, Utah, Richmond and Pacific Symphonies, and collaborated with Maurice Andre,

Jean-Pierre Rampal Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal (7 January 1922 – 20 May 2000) was a French flautist. Rampal popularised the flute in the post–World War II years, recovering flute compositions from the Baroque era, and spurring contemporary composers, ...

and

Yo-Yo Ma Yo-Yo Ma (born October 7, 1955) is a French-born American Cello, cellist. Born to Chinese people, Chinese parents in Paris, he was regarded as a child prodigy there and began to study the cello with his father at age four. At the age of seven, ...

. Peskanov has performed at the Wolf Trap, Aspen, Grant Park, Newport, Seattle, Vancouver, Monterrey, Sarasota and Flagstaff festivals, and in coast-to-coast recitals including a piano recital at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center as part of the series, "Russian Splendor," the

Van Cliburn Foundation {{refimprove, date=October 2018 The Van Cliburn Foundation ("The Cliburn") presents the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition, Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival, Clibu ...

Series in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the Gina Bachauer Piano Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was a featured soloist at The 3rd Sopot International Music Festival in Poland in the performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No.1. Peskanov founded a new piano syllabus/event, Piano Olympics in 1991, a program for evaluation of piano technical skills and authored a series of six books, ''The Russian Technical Regimen for the Piano'', published by Hal Leonard/Willis Music. He has also produced the movie soundtracks of ''

He Knows You're Alone ''He Knows You're Alone'' is a 1980 American psychological slasher film directed by Armand Mastroianni, written by Scott Parker and starring Caitlin O'Heaney, Don Scardino, Elizabeth Kemp, Tom Rolfing, and Tom Hanks in his film debut. The plo ...

'' (1980 film) in collaboration with his brother, Mark Peskanov, ''The Clairvoyant'' (1982 film), '' The Lottery Rose'' (1984 film), as well as the music score for the musical ''Blockheads'', original 1984 London production.

Composing

Peskanov is a composer of numerous works, but has mainly focused on music involving the piano. Peskanov has written 22 piano concertos, including 18 for young pianists of different levels. His Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Strings, Concerto No. 8 "Spring Concerto," Concerto No. 16 "Fate or Destiny" and Concerto No. 17 "In Baroque Style" as well as two compositions for Flute and Piano, Sicilienne Impromptu and Irish Poem were selected by the

National Federation of Music Clubs The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) is an American non-profit philanthropic music organization that promotes American music, performers, and composers. NFMC endeavors to strengthen quality music education by supporting "high standards o ...

for Festival Bulletin of 2024-2028. The score and recording of Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Strings were released by Hal Leonard Publications. Between 2013 and 2016, Peskanov Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 6, and 10 were performed by the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and were broadcast on Estonian National Radio. In the summer of 2014, Peskanov's Concerto No. 2 was premiered in Mexico at the Zacatecas International Music Festival. The winners of the 2015 Brown Piano Concerto Competition have performed his Concerto No.1. In October 2015, Peskanov's Concerto No.5 was premiered in New York at the Carnegie Hall Gala Fundraiser, entitled, "Express Yourself Through Music" and dedicated to Musical Education and Autism. Peskanov's Piano Concerto No. 3 (Maryland Concerto) and Piano Concerto No. 7 (Anniversary Concerto) were premiered at Piano Concerto Extravaganza at College of Music, Payap University in Thailand. In April 2017, Peskanov's Spring Concerto and Azery Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra had their world premieres at Carnegie/Weill Recital Hall by young piano soloists from 4 continents. In November 2017 the same two concertos had their European premieres at St. John's Smith Square, Westminster, in London. Also, the Concerto No.7 (Anniversary Concerto) was premiered in South Africa and Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Strings was premiered at Prince Alfred College in Adelaide, Australia. In 2017, thirteen Piano Concertos by Alexander Peskanov were featured in newly released "The Pianist's Guide to Standard Teaching and Performance Concertos" by Karen Beres and Christopher Hahn, published by Alfred Music. The new releases included several piano trios, written for Six Hands and the "Spring Concerto" for Piano and Orchestra, published in 2015 by Alfred Music and selected for the National Federation of Music Clubs’ 2017–2020. Peskanov is the recipient of three special ASCAP awards. One of his compositions, Temptations, was animated by Stephen Malinowski.

Albums

*Brahms: Violin Sonatas - Eugene Fodor (Violin), Alexander Peskanov (Piano) (Clarity Records) *Brahms: Violin Sonatas - Ilya Kaler (Violin), Alexander Peskanov (Piano) (Naxos Records) *Morton Gould: Concerto Concertante - Masako Yanagita (violin)/Alexander Peskanov (piano)/Bronx Arts Ensemble (Musical Heritage Society) *Spirits of the Wind – Peskanov Plays Peskanov (Touchwood Records) *Scott Joplin: Piano Rags (Naxos Records)

Compositions

Concertos

* Concerto for Piano Quartet and Orchestra (for four pianists on two pianos and orchestra) * Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra * Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Strings (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 2 “Ukrainian Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 3 “Maryland Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 4 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 5 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 6 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 7 "Anniversary Concerto" for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Spring Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 9 “Boston Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 10 “Italian Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concert Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 12 “Gypsy Concerto” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Azery Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 14 “Concert Suite” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 15 for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 16 “Fate or Destiny” for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 17 "In Baroque Style" for Piano and Strings (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 18 "In Classical Style" for Piano and Strings (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 19 "Whimsical Jubilee" for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Concerto No. 20 "Latin Concerto" for Piano and Orchestra (Arranged for Two Pianos) * Maryland Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (Arranged for Alto Saxophone and Piano) * Royal Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (Arranged for Trumpet and Piano)

Solo piano

*Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 1 (solo piano collection) *Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 2 (solo piano collection) *Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 3 (solo piano collection) *Peskanov's Musical Gallery - Book 4 (solo piano collection) *Peskanov's Musical Reflections - Book 1 (solo piano collection) *Peskanov's Musical Reflections - Book 2 (solo piano collection) *Musical Collage (solo piano collection) *Tribute to the Masters (solo piano collection) *Lu Ann's Waltz *Clouds *The Rain *Russian Winter *Prelude in D *Smoky Mountain Rag *Sweet Dreams *Waltz Scherzo *Temptations *Joker's Waltz *Leave It To Me *I Like It! *Intermezzo *Sonata (Homage to Scarlatti) *Ghost Story *Elegie *Farewell Waltz *Brasileira *Hong Kong Serenade *Mexican Ballade *Doorbell Marimba *My Baby's Rag *Balletto *Black Key Blues

Multiple pianists

*Sinfonietta (1 Piano, 4 Hands) *Country Rag (2 Pianos, 4 Hands) *Little Rock Suite - Book 1 (1 Piano, 6 Hands) *Little Rock Suite - Book 2 (1 Piano, 6 Hands) *Little Rock Suite - Book 3 (1 Piano, 6 Hands) *Sunshine Suite - Book 1 (1 Piano, 6 Hands, 4 Hands and Solos) *Sunshine Suite - Book 2 (Piano Duets and Solos) *Chinatown Dragons (1 Piano, 6 Hands) *Music of Our World, arranged by Irina Mints (1 Piano, 4 Hands)

Chamber music

*Equestrian Suite (Flute & Piano) *Irish Poem (Flute and Piano) *Sicilienne Impromptu (Flute and Piano) *Mambo, Arranged for Flute by Maria Lourdes Lobo (Flute and Piano)

Books

*Piano Olympics Manual *Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 1 *Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 2 *Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 3 *Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 4 *Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level 5 *Piano Olympics Student Assignments - Level "C" *The Russian Technical Regimen for the Piano - 6 Part Series

Videos

*"In Search of Sound" (Beginner, Intermediate, Virtuoso) - 3 Part Series

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peskanov, Alexander Living people 20th-century American classical composers 21st-century American classical composers American male classical composers American male classical pianists American male pianists 21st-century American classical pianists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American male musicians Year of birth missing (living people)