Financial support: Elena Heinz, Paul C. and Virginia C. Cabot Trust,
Joe Jefferson Fund, Dr. Paul Polishuk, Professor Raphael Hillyer,
Rabbi Polak, Ruth Margaret Lomon

Informational support: IGI Group, SRAS newsletter

 

Press Release (english)

 

BOSTON—The Educational Bridge Project’s sixteenth annual Russian-American festival took place from October 27th through November 15th. The festival featured representatives of prestigious artistic and educational institutions of St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia: St. Petersburg Radio, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg Conservatory, as well as four librarians from the Children's Libraries of the Frunzensky District in St. Petersburg.  Additionally, three young Russian musicians participated in this festival−Alexey Stadler, a cellist from St. Petersburg, Peter Lundstrem, a violinist from Moscow, and Aiman Baymuldina, a pianist from Moscow.

Festival highlights include concerts of classical music performed by acclaimed St. Petersburg pianist Igor Uriash and by the three young musicians, multi-media presentations by librarians Olga Buslaeva, Yulia Kushchenko, Olga Sidorova, and Tatiana Glavatskaya, lectures by Elena Kiyko, Chief Editor of Cultural Programs at the St. Petersburg Radio, as well as a musical evening at the private residence of Dr. John Silber, President Emeritus of Boston University.

The educational institutions that hosted the festivals events and participants ranged from Brookline public schools to universities such as Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Brandeis, NEC and Boston University. All programs of the Festival were free and open to the public.  The full schedule is posted below.

Representatives from two sides

USA:

Educational Bridge Project
Harvard University (90th Anniversary of the Harvard University Band)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New England Conservatory (Composition Department)
Boston University (Distance Education)

 

Russia:

St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory 
St. Petersburg State University 
St. Petersburg Radio Station

 

 

EDUCATIONAL BRIDGE PROJECT 16th FESTIVAL FALL 2009 – SELECTED EVENTS

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

  • 8:30 a.m. Four librarians from Russia visit the Driscoll School, Brookline, where the Head Librarian, Amy Neal, greets them and gives them a tour..
  • 2:30 p.m. Elena Kiyko meets with Veniamin Shats from Contact Magazine.
  • 5:00 p.m. Librarians attend a dinner by Aron Abramovich Leybman.
  • 8:00 p.m. Elena Kiyko invited to attend a piano recital of Beethoven Sonatas performed by Till Fellner at the Harvard Musical Association. Admission by invitation only.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

  • 9:30 a.m.The four librarians visit the Lincoln School’s Media Center, Brookline, where they are greeted and given a tour by Head Librarian Deborah Abner..
  • 2:30 p.m. Marina Katseva gives Elena Kiyko and the four Russian librarians a tour of Boston University's F. Pardee Library.
  • 6:00 p.m. Marina Katseva taks the four Russian librarians on a tour of the Museum of Fine Arts.
  • 8:00 p.m. Elena Kiyko attends Symphony Hall concert of Beethoven’s Symphonies.

Friday, October 30, 2009

  • 10:00 a.m. The four librarians visit the Cushing Academy in Ashburnham – “replacing books with a high tech 'learning center.'"
  • 2:00 p.m. Tour of the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, Mass, by Gordon Lankton.
  • 5:00 p.m. “Throughout Harvard Square – Magic, Mimes, and Monster Mash.”
  • 8:00 p.m. Concert celebrating the Harvard University Band’s 90th Anniversary.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

  • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Kathy Mecker, Director of the Scituate Town Library, gives a tour to the four Russian librarians.
  • 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. "The History, Structure and Activities of Children's Libraries in the Frunzensky District of St. Petersburg," a presentation delivered by Yulia Kuchshenko at the Scituate Town Library.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

  • 1:00 - 2:15 p.m. "85 Years of Radio History - 35 through My Eyes," a presentation by Elena Kiyko on the history of St. Petersburg Radio; at the Russian Community Center Zabota at 80 Exchange Street in Lynn.

Monday, November 2, 2009

  • 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. The four Russian librarians visit the Pierce School Library in Brookline, where the Head Librarian Joan Hamilton gives them a tour. Olga Sidorova, Head Librarian of the Korolenko Children's Library, Frunzensky District SpB gives a power point presentation entitled "The Daily Life of Our Library and How to Maintain a Love for Books in the Digital Age."
  • 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Children's Libraries in St. Peterburg, Russia, a powerpoint presentation by four St. Petersburg librarians, Olga Buslaeva, Margarita Glavatskaya, Yulia Kushchenko and Olga Sidorova, at the home office of Brookline librarian Aaron Darsa,252 Tappan Street, Brookline.
  • 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.Tea party for the four St. Petersburg Librarians, with Dr. Ivan Eubanks, Saskia Eubanks, and Professor Walter Clemens at Ludmilla Leibman's place at 65 Bay State Road, Boston.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

  • 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. "85 Years of Radio History - 35 through My Eyes," a presenttion by Elena Kiyko at Boston University. Violinist Peter Lundstrem and Cellist Alexey Stadler provide musical accompaniment. 725 Commonwealth Avenue, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), room 224. Admission is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

  • Matti Kovler hosts a "Day at the New England Conservatory" for three young Russian musicians, Aiman Baymuldina (a 17 year old pianist from Moscow), Peter Lundstrem (a 16 year old violinist from Moscow), and Alexey Stadler (an 18 year old cellist from St. Petersburg).
  • 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.Elena Kiyko interviews American composer John Harbison at his home in Cambridge.

Friday, November 6, 2009

  • Elena Kiyko interviews Professor of Theoretical Physics, Earle Lomon, at his MIT office, Building 6, Room 412..
  • Elena Kiyko - Evening with Professor Raphael Hillyer.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

  • 12:45 - 2:00 p.m. Peter Lundstrem, Alexey Stadler and Aiman Baymuldina give a concert at the Russian Community Center, Pearl. 35 Soldiers Field Place, Watertown.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Monday, November 9, 2009

  • 3:30 p.m. Professor Susan Russinoff hosts a "Day at Tufts University" for Aiman Baymuldina, Peter Lundstrem and Alexey Stadler.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

  • "A Day at Boston University" for Aiman Baymuldina, Peter Lundstrem and Alexey Stadler.
  • 1:00 p.m. Aiman Baymuldina, Peter Lundstrem, Alexey Stadlner and Igor Uryash and Margarita Ufimtseva visit the Office of Distance Education at Boston University.
  • 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Peter Lundstrem, Alexey Stadler, Aiman Baymuldina, Igor Uryash and Margarita Ufimtseva meet with the freshman class of Boston University to participate in Ludmilla Leibman's presentation on the Educational Bridge Project. 725 Commonwealth Avenue - College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), room 224. This event has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Friday, November 13, 2009

  • 7:00 p.m. Soiree in honor of the Russian guests of the Educational Bridge Project hosted by the Boston University President Emeritus John Silber. Igor Uryash plays Mussorgsky's “Pictures at an Exhibition.” Admission is by invitation only.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

  • 7:30 p.m. Igor Uryash plays a piano recital at the Unitarian Universalists' Society in Wellesley Hills.

 

Participants' Biographies

Aiman Baymuldina, a young pianist from Kazakhstan, was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in 1992. At the age of five, she began studying violin and piano at the K. Baiseitova Special Music School for Talented Children.

In 2002 Baymuldina began her studies at the Central Musical School of the P. I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, where she concentrated on piano under the tutelage of Professor M. A. Marchenko. She is now completing her final year of studies. Among her many accomplishments are the following:

Prize:
2007 - Grand prix at the International competition "Arts of the XXI-st century" (Vorzel, Ukraine)
2008– 1-st prize of the International Competition "Music without limits" (Druskininkai, Lithuania)
2009 - Grand prix in a nomination chamber ensemble, International Competition "Art and Education" in the XXI Century (Uvaskula, Finland)
2009 – 1-st prize of the International Competition "The Muse Junior" (Santirini, Greece) (return to schedule...)

 

 

 

 

Elena Kiyko, the Chief Editor of Cultural programs of St. Petersburg National Public Radio, graduated with honors from the Leningrad State Conservatory in 1975. In 1974 she started working on the Leningrad Committee for Television and Radio as a musical editor, and since that time her career is closely associated with Leningrad/St. Petersburg Radio House. Ms. Kiyko is an initiator and a participant of such projects as radio stations “Polden’” ["Midday"], “Peterburgskaya Kul’tura” ["Petersburg Culture"], “V efire 1 studiya” ["Studio 1 on the Air"] (direct air with guests invited), “Govorit Leningrad v Peterburge” ["Leningrad Speaks in Petersburg"] (for the 80th anniversary of radio), and international projects such as “Okno v Niderlandi” ["A Window to the Netherlands"] (for 300th anniversary of the Great Embassy of Peter the First in Europe, and for the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg).

Since 1991 Elena Kiyko has been the only anchor for the direct broadcast of shows in the concert halls of St. Petersburg; she is well-known outside Russia for her programs shown in France, Germany, and Holland. In 2006, Ms. Kiyko was awarded the Laureate of the journalist competition of North-West “SeZaM” and the medal “V Pamyat’ 300-letiya Peterburga.” She was awarded Matvei Frolov’s Prize for the work on the reconstruction of the First Studio. (return to schedule...)

 

Peter Lundstrem was born into a family of musicians on April 27, 1993 in Moscow. At the age of six he began studying at the Gnessin Special Music School of Moscow. Currently he studies at the Moscow State Chopin College of Musical Performance under Professor I. B. Tkachenko. At the age of nine, Lundstrem won First Prize at the International Competition at Vorzel, Ukraine (2003). He actively participates in concerts performed in the most prestigious concert halls of Moscow and other Russian cities as well as abroad. He is a recipient of the M. Rostropovich Stipend and the Moscow Cultural Committee's Stipend. He won two Special Prizes at the Moscow Romantic Music Festival for Young Musicians (2009), and he was awarded a Diploma at the 6th P. I. Tchaikovsky International Youth Competition in Suvon, Korea (2009). (return to schedule...)

 

 

Alexey Stadler was born into a family of musicians on the 13th of June, 1991 in St. Petersburg. At the age of 4 he started playing violoncello in Professor A. Lazko's class at the Palace of Youth. Stadler currently studies at the N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Musical College of St. Petersburg under Professor K. Kucherov.

Stadler won First Prize at the Glazunov International Competition (Paris, France, 2003) and Grand Prize at the International Competition “Art of the XXI century” (Vienna, Austria, 2006). He has also received the National Awards for “Young Talent” (2008, 2009), “Hope of Russia” (2008), and the A. Petrov Award (2008). He participated in the Summer Tour of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (2008) conducted by Sir Colin Davis, as well as in master classes in Finland, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Austria (Prof. Frans Helmerson, Mihaela Martin), and Russia (Prof. David Geringas).

In October 2008, Stadler played the Russian premiere performance of Norwegian Composer H. Sommero's "Concertino for Cello" with the Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra in the Grand Philharmonic Hall, St.Petersburg.

Also in 2008, Stadler recorded Rachmaninov’s Sonata on a cello made by A. Jacout that belonged to Emperor Nicholas the Second.

Alexey Stadler’s engagements with orchestras include the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic Orchestra, the Yaroslavl Academic Symphony Orchestra, the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, and the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra. He regularly performs recitals in St. Petersburg Small Philharmonic Hall. (return to schedule...)

 

 

 

Margtarita Dmitrievna Ufimtseva graduated with honors from St. Petersburg (Leningrad) State University in 1951 with a major in Botanical Geography. She successfully defended her dissertation and continued working for the Department of Biogeography and Environmental Protection at the University, building her career path from an assistant to a full professor position. Prof. Ufimtseva is the author of three textbooks, four monographs, and more than 150 scientific papers on problems of botanical geography, geochemical ecology, and city ecology. Prof. Ufimtseva has participated in a number of national and international conferences and is the recipient of numerous awards. Besides professional work, Prof. Ufimtseva’s interests focus on the field of literature and the arts. Her book, “Petersburg’s Pianist Igor Uryash,” was published in 2006. (return to schedule...)

 

Laureate of the International and All-State Russian piano competitions, Igor Uryash studied at the St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Conservatory under Professors Anatoly Ugorskiy and Tatiana Kravchenko. A brilliant solo performer with an extensive repertoire, maestro Uryash regularly appears as a soloist and chamber ensemble performer throughout Europe, USA, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Over the years he has collaborated with such world famous musicians as Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, Viktor Tretiakov, and Valery Gergiev, among others. Often the first interpreter of new music, Uryash has participated in numerous music festivals, including “Dekabrskie Vechera” (Russia), “Mozart week” (Austria) and “Musicalishe Sienergien” (Italy). He maintains an active performing schedule while continuing his work at the Conservatory, and by so doing he develops further prestigious traditions of the Russian piano school established in the 19th century by Conservatory founder Anton Rubinstein. (return to schedule...)