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| April 2021 | |||
B R E A K I N G N E W S :-
Just announced - my Covid delayed latest CD (Composer Corentin Boissier) - recorded 2 years ago in Lviv, Ukraine - worldwide release on 7th May, on the Toccata label, announced.
The original Recording Engineer's comments on the post recording processing and mastering - "the sound has a vinyl like quality" (a compliment!.)
An owner of another record company commented on hearing snippets - "have just listened to the excerpt - sent shivers down my spine - gorgeous playing as always."
To be released in various formats = CD, MP3, FLAC, HDWav.
You can hear extracts here ; including a download of the booklet - by clicking on link below.
https://toccataclassics.com/product/corentin-boissier-two-piano-concertos-and-a-sonata ------------------ |
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| March 2021 | |||
Breaking News Just announced ! I've been invited, and have agreed, to be Guest Soloist with The Petersfield Orchestra next March as part of The Returning Petersfield Music Festival - March 2022 in a performance of Saint-Saëns - Piano Concerto No 2 in G minor, Op 22 Musical and Entertainment Life Returns to Normal !! (YAY !) ------------------ |
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1st of March - Spring just around the corner ; we hope !
 This month's video just uploaded.
New high definition video of a performance of Vladigeuroff's "Pesen/песен 'Song' Op 21 No 2 from December 2011 ; performed as a solo piece as an encore.
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| February 2021 | |||
Although the decision has only just been made known at the last minute, it's no surprise to learn that the planned Lunch Time Recital of Catherine Lawler (Violin) and myself on this coming Thursday 25th February in the Anglican cathedral of Old Portsmouth, - has been cancelled due to Covid.
The performance will now take place on Thursday 30th September at 1:10pm - all being well.
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Just heard great news from one of my senior students.
He's notified me that he got a Distinction in his LTCL (Licentiate of Trinity College London) !
He can now add these letters after his name.
Amazing news ; and fantastically well done.
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Much regret - but Covid-19 issues push the release date of my latest CD "Corentin Boissier - Two Concertos and a Sonata", on the Toccata Classics label, recorded in Lviv, Ukraine 2 years ago, back to May. The final sound quality of the recordings has caught everybody's attention - with the original Ukrainian sound engineer enthusiasically describing the sound as "..vinyl like". ------------------ |
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| January 2021 | |||
Well - the last of the my Autumn/Winter ABRSM student's results are in !!
Included are an incredible 5 - yes 5 - DISTINCTIONS!
No names - but you already know who you are!
It's fantastic reward for all the effort, practicing, and support from your parents - who all must be immensely proud too.
Well done everybody
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A couple of notable milestones passed within close proximity of each other in the last few days.
Both make me feel more than just a little humble.
A huge thankyou to everybody who’s been, and continues to be, part of it.
My Facebook ‘Concert Pianist’ page, now has 500 followers – whilst my YouTube channel has now more than 1/3rd of a million views.
Never thought it could/would happen when I first posted.
Thank You
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Have just been notified officially that both the Portsmouth Music Festival, and the Petersfield Music Festival, where I was to have a Solo Recital performance, have, not surprisingly, been cancelled as a consequence of the current Covid-19 situation.
It's of course too soon to know whether any replacement events might take place later in the year - but we all hope that with the current lockdown and at least 2 vaccine programmes under way that the situation may improve.
Stay safe everybody.
Valentina xx
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| December 2020 | |||
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More amazing news from my students:
My wonderful student George, who recorded Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto over the summer (unfortunately his concert in London's Cadogan Hall was cancelled) has received the prestigious Margaret Irene Seymour Music Award at Oxford University, where he started studying Engineering in September
   Very proud teacher
Още прексни новини от моите студенти:
Моят талантлив ученик George, който записа втория концерт за пиано на Рахманинов през лятото (за съжаление концертът му в лондонският „Cadogan Hall“ бе канселиран заради ковид19), получи престижната музикална награда „Маргарет Ирен Сеймур“ в Оксфордския университет, където започна да учи инженерство през септември
Горд учител съм
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Absolutely delighted with my students ABRSM performance/digital exam
results this term - three distinctions and two merits.
Well done to everyone!
 So happy teacher
 (Two grade 8s, grade 7, grade 5, grade 3 ------------------ |
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| November 2020 | |||
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Flattered to receive this YouTube comment for one of my Debussy performances "Beautiful, Artistic, Expressive and Musical! Deserves more views and likes. Strange to see other mediocre performance of 'Clair de Lune' are more popular than this video. Performances from Classically trained musicians and teachers like Valentina deserves more appreciation and popularity. Thank you for posting this video."
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Just learned that the number of students assigned to me at Southampton University has jumped from 1 last year to 10 this !!! A mixture of Under Graduates - and Post Graduates !! ------------------ |
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| October 2020 | |||
From the Archives !! : Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff - (either 20th March or 1st April 1873 – 28th March 1943) was a most famous Russian composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the late Romantic period. Many of his works have long been regarded as classics.
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| September 2020 | |||
1st of September - new academic year - and new Performance season! Am happy to announce that I've agreed to be Guest Soloist (again !!) with the Petersfield Orchestra next March (Thursday March 18th to be exact - subject to Corona virus of course) in a performance of Saint-Saëns' - Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op. 22 - (probably Saint-Saëns' most popular piano concerto). Also in the program will be Schuman - Overture Scherzo & Finale Brahms - Symphony No. 4. Hope you feel able - even at this early stage, to make a note and put it in your diary . ------------------ |
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| August 2020 | |||
| May 2020 | |||
BREAKING NEWS! Well worth bookmarking and signing up for their Newsletter!. Also worth doing is signing up to their Twitter feed. https://musicinportsmouth.co.uk/noticeboard/profile-valentina-seferinova-pianist/ ------------------ |
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The consequences of CoronaVirus lockdown continue - and probably for the immediate foreseeable future! Since Easter quite a few more parents have signed up for on-line 1-2-1 sessions for their children ; it's now well over 30!! ------------------ |
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| April 2020 | |||
Although suspected for some time since the greater outbreak of coronavirus - have just had it confirmed that my scheduled visit to be in a recording studio in France in late May/early June - with others, has now, unsurprisingly, been officially postponed by the sponsor until a later date ; possibly 'sometime in the autumn'. ------------------ |
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With all teaching establishments closed until further notice - probably for all of the summer term! With my husband's help - have turned my music room into an on-line teaching facility - with more than 30 of my students from various colleges and university wanting to participate in one-to-one sessions. But - oh - the days are long !!! ------------------ |
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| March 2020 | |||
Rehearsing with Noah Chiari (Alto Sax) for last night's Hampshire Music Service show case concert in Winchfield. Some comments were - that 'we stole the show'!! |
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Saturday 7th March - 7:30pm - St. Thomas' Anglican Cathedral, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2HA I will be a member of the Solent Symphony Orchestra on the piano for the soloists participation. Programme Beethoven - Overture Leonora No 3 Canteloube - Songs from the Auvergne - Soloist: Lucy Cronin (soprano) Brahms - Symphony No 3
Tickets: £15, £5 (students), Kids for a Quid and group concessions On the door, online from Ticketsource or from 01730 601074 ------------------ |
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| February 2020 | |||
| It's a sad farewell to a long term friendship of over 25+ years - as my much loved upright Blüthner, which we shipped all the way from Sofia on the back of a TIR/HGV on settling in the UK, goes on the back of a van - on its way to a new home. To be replaced next Tuesday by an almost new Irmler Studio Grand F172 - again by Blüthner - to join and match my existing Blüthner Grand. Sad - but Happy Days !! |
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For the astute observers amongst you (ha ha ! ), you may have noticed from my website that I've just added Saint-Saëns' "Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22" - probably his most popular piano concerto, to my Concertante repertoire. ------------------ |
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Plans for the year beginning to take on more shape. High degree of probability that I'll be back in France - again in a recording studio; in the late May/early June timeframe. CD number 15 is on the cards - subject to agreements. ------------------ |
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| January 2020 | |||
Monday 27th January - Awards ceremony at Kings Theatre, Southsea. ..... and the Best Classical act award tonight went to Portsmouth Baroque Choir - well done, worthy winners ❤🎶👍 ------------------ |
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Sunday 26th January. Just accompanied my student George, performing beautifully Rachmaninoff 2nd piano concerto, 3rd movement for the Winchester Symphony Orchestra Young Soloist Competition 2020. ------------------ |
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Recently received, for the 2nd year in succession, an invite to attend and appear at this years 'World Piano Conference', organised by the 'World Piano Teachers Association' at the end of June and beginning of July.! ------------------ |
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10th January 2020 - Today at Southampton University - the Turner Sims Concert Hall (seating 600+) was my teaching room. A Fazioli Grand Piano (The 'Rolls Royce', the 'Creme de la Creme' of instruments) was my instrument for teaching on and practicing myself !!
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10th January : Tonight is a notable full moon - the 'Wolf Moon' also with a penumbral eclipse.
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< B R E A K I N G - N E W S > Details HERE. ------------------ |
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| December 2019 | |||
I wish everybody a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous 2020. Here's to good music in the coming year!!! :)
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Have been receiving lots of feedback from my latest Newsletter. ------------------ |
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B R E A K I N G - N E W S!!
The article is here = Portsmouth News. You can vote Here ------------------ |
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I know it's still a while yet 'til Christmas - but a date for your diary ? And I also will be accompanying a saxophonist ! |
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| November 2019 | |||
Just been notified of a very favourable French website review of my CD No. 12 - recorded in Warsaw in June of last year.
The full website is http://www.leducation-musicale.com/newsletters/breves0919.html#cd1
Scroll down until you see 'Ludomir Róźycki - Piano Works 2' CD image. I've translated each paragraph as follows (and am very happy with the final sentence !! :) :) ) Voici une nouvelle réalisation en première mondiale à l’actif du Label polonais ACTE PRÉALABLE et de son dynamique directeur Jan A. Jarnicki. C’est au tour du compositeur Ludomir ROZYCKI, né à Varsovie en 1883 et mort à Katowice en 1953, membre — comme, par exemple, Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) — du mouvement artistique « Jeune Pologne » promouvant également l’art national, bien que manifestement influencé par l’impressionnisme français. Si son talent a joué à plein dans le domaine du poème symphonique, le volume 2 continue à exhumer son vaste corpus pianistique. ------------------ |
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It can be quite surprising sometimes how unexpectedly one's personal life and professional life can become entwined! Particularly when ones reputation goes before! ------------------ |
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I know it's still a while yet 'til Christmas - but a date for your diary ?
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| October 2019 | |||
O M G !! ........... I've just seen this !!
The opening iconic whip crack heralded an outstanding performance. The first movement fizzed along with stand out solos from the piccolo, trumpet, horn, harp, and a triumphant bassoon section but the breathtaking piano cadenza was the highlight. Many in the audience couldn’t help themselves in acknowledging the excitement of this movement with a spontaneous round of applause as it came to a ferocious full stop. The sublime opening of the slow movement perfectly reflected the ethereal setting and Ms. Seferinova’s control of the tranquil and serene piano solo brought about an atmosphere of celestial beauty. The peace and calm were symbiotically supported by the sensitivity of the solo flute entry and the haunting cor anglais melody. With the exquisite final pianissimo piano trill, Valentina brought this movement to a poignant and emotionally-charged close. The last movement once more gives the full orchestra the chance to shine and the atmospheric, jazz-like episodes, shared between piano and ensemble, promote the enjoyment for which this piece is so well known. Valentina’s perfectly presented virtuosic passages brought the first half to a vibrant and celebratory culmination." Read the full review here :- Music in Portsmouth ------------------ |
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Last Saturday (28th Sept.) night's performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major - very well received ! In fact the whole evening was. ------------------ |
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| September 2019 | |||
Just noticed this FaceBook post by somone who attended the Gala Concert I participated in last night !!
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Just received this publicity ...
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Having lost some close family and friends to Cancer I feel it's my duty to support a concert in aid of Rowan's Hospice Silver Jubilee Appeal. In addition to being asked to accompany Rachel Newberry in a Premier Performance of composer James Smith's new piece for Flute and Piano entitled 'Papilio' at St. Peter's Church, Petersfield on Saturday evening 14th September, I will be performing a solo piano piece of my own choice. I've chosen Pancho Vladigueroff's 'песен/Pesen (Song/Chant) op. 21 No 2' - a rare outing for this greatly loved piece ! :) There's a YouTube video of the time I played this as an encore to an Orchestral audience in 2015.
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| August 2019 | |||
GCSE Results Day !! ------------------ |
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Returned from holiday to find this phone message from one of my junior students who'd just learned she'd achieved a Distinction in her Grade 6 results !
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| July 2019 | |||
Sneak preview of 2nd Movement (Adagio Assai - very slow) of last Saturday evening's Ravel 'Piano Concerto in G Major' with the Brunel Sinfonia.
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The only tickets are likely to be returns or 'no-shows' : maybe worth trying on the door on the night ! Or contact them to be put on the reserve list for any returns. Boxoffice@luminosamusic.com |
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Brunel Sinfonia tweet :- 0 replies . 5 retweets 6 likes  ------------------ |
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| June 2019 | |||
Full orchestral program just announced for Solent Symphony Orchestra's Saturday 28th September concert - where I'll be soloist for Ravel's 'Piano Concerto in G major' at St. Thomas' Cathedral, Old Portsmouth. ------------------ |
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Just received publicity info. for my Saturday 13th July evening at St. Peter's Church, Petersfield .... For more info see my website 'Engagements' page. |
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Just caught up with this Tweet doing the rounds ....
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Honoured to be involved.
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Am very happy to mention and promote 2 performance dates involving Jessica Gale, one of my former South Downs College students - who went on to graduate from Surrey University ; and also achieved her 'LRSM' !
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| May 2019 | |||
Not yet received any notifications of any 'formal' reviews - but received this unsolicited message from a colleague who had an early copy of my recently released CD number 12:-
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I feel so privileged, honoured and humbled...
More about Stephen Hough here and here. Here are variations 16, 17, and 18 played Two Pianos/4 Hands - https://youtu.be/iopksG1h6jM and the hauntingly beautiful and famous Variation 18 only - https://youtu.be/vc-RZ2YuLFQ
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| April 2019 | |||
It had been a long tiring intensive recording session (in Paris) to capture Corentin Boissier's "Sonata Appassionata". ------------------ |
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My latest CD is out!!
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| March 2019 | |||
Music Exam and Grade results coming in thick and fast at the moment ! It's a fantastically well done to my student Kendra on achieving a maximum 30 out of 30 for the Performance element of her GCSE Music exam. Brilliant ! ------------------ |
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Proud teacher and Diploma student George, after last night's concert with the Solent Symphony Orchestra in Portsmouth and their "Sketches of Spain" program ! |
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Some snippets of my recording Corentin Boissier's 'Glamour Concerto' with the Ukrainian Festival Orchestra, Conductor & Grammy Award winner John McLaughlin Williams, in Lviv, Ukraine at the end of February/beginning of March. Not all 'takes' are successful ! ...
... but fortunately many are !! :) :)
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Whilst I was away in the Ukraine, Edward Chyczewski reminded me that 1st of March was the anniversary of the birth of Frederick Chopin (209 years ago) So here to commemorate is a public performance I gave in 2012 of one of his most famous pieces - Fantaisie in F minor op 49.
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| February 2019 | |||
BREAKING NEWS.
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Congratulations to my piano student Liam on achieving his ATCL Diploma!
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I am the Piano lecturer/music performance teacher/instructor at Havant & South Downs College's award winning Music Department. ------------------ |
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| January 2019 | |||
| Just come across these French Newspaper cuttings of 20 years ago about myself and colleague Prof. Emilia Mihaylova - now sadly departed. And our appearance & performance at Claude Debussy House & Museum, St. Germain-en-Laye, Paris, in 1999 on the anniversary of his birth - a rare honour to be invited for this annual anniversary concert. Will be making a professional re-visit to Paris - probably in April this year. Yup - that's me bottom left in the first one ; and to the right in the second !! |
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Spent the afternoon in a 3-way Skype rehearsal with myself here in Hampshire, the French composer Corentin Boissier (on the right of the lap-top screen) in Paris, and the Grammy Award winning conductor John McLaughlin Williams (on the left) in the USA. !! Heidi the dog took it all in her stride !!
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It's going to be a very busy year - but am very much looking forward to it !!
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