Russian violinist to perform at WCC
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on April 19, 2009 2:00 AM
A Russian violinist and local pianist will combine talents and perform in a free concert at Wayne Community College this week.
Call it the foundation's gift to the community.
"The community has been so supportive of the Foundation at the college," said Jack Kannan, executive director of the foundation. "We hope the community will respond by coming to this event."
The presentation is made possible by Friends of the Foundation Arts and Humanities program.
Violinist Mikhail Krutik of St. Petersburg, Russia, and Jeremy Thompson of Goldsboro will present a program of Russian classical music on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the college's Moffatt Auditorium. The program includes music of Peter Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev.
Their performance is a reunion of sorts. Krutik and Thompson have performed together previously in Russia.
A part of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Krutik has been awarded prizes at international competitions in St. Petersburg, Sonderhausen and Rome.
He began studying music at age 5, later graduating from St. Petersburg Conservatory Special Secondary Music Liceum. Since 1999 he has played with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has toured Dubai with a leading Russian ensemble and more recently took part in the Hennessy Jazz Tour.
Thompson is a native of New Brunswick, Canada and director of music ministries at First Presbyterian Church in Goldsboro. He earned a doctorate of music in piano performance from McGill University, where he held two of Canada's most prestigious doctoral fellowships. He has performed throughout North America and Europe, appearing with numerous symphony orchestras.
Also during Krutik's time here, he is scheduled to present a free lecture, open to the public, on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in room 161 of the Walnut Building. He will speak on life in Russia today.
The lecture is part of the Broader View Speakers Series created by the Cultural Diversity/Global Education Task Force.