Musical Bridges
Celebrates 10th Season

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF
Photography Courtesy MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD

Founded in 1997 by Russian-born pianist Anya Grokhovski and a small group of music enthusiasts, Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW) is currently celebrating its 10th season of bringing together accomplished local and international musicians to perform in the Alamo City.

“It’s almost a miracle that we have made it through 10 years,” says Grokhovski, who serves as the organization’s artistic director. “It’s not easy to run a nonprofit, but we have earned the support of the community, and it feels wonderful to be where we are now.”

To reflect that sense of ebullience, as well as to let us know that this year’s programming is “absolutely star-studded,” this entire season has been dubbed Fireworks. So get ready for the explosions!

Coming up first, on Dec. 9, is Sounds of Vienna. Grokhovski herself will join the Dallas Symphony concertmaster, violinist Emanuel Borok, in a program of Viennese masterpieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss and Kreisler. A soloist and teacher who has performed all over the world, Borok will introduce each composition by sharing his thoughts about the music, the composer and his own experiences in performing the pieces.

On Jan. 20, audiences will be invited to step inside a Russian Palace when the Russian-born bass Nikita Storojev,who now teaches at UT Austin, takes the stage to sing a few arias and “a bouquet”of Russian folk tunes. Fresh from appearances at La Scala of Milan and the Paris Opera, he will be accompanied by Sergey Vashchenko on the balalaika and Vladimir Kaliazine on the accordion.The evening will also feature former UTSA music professor, pianist Valery Grokhovski, and his jazz trio doing what they like best — giving classical standards a jazzy reinterpretation.

Later in the spring, MBAW is bringing back to town Alexey Koltakov, the gold medal winner of the 2006 San Antonio International Piano Competition, and Chicago-based tenor Michael Burgess, who will join members of the San Antonio Symphony in Gold Fingers, yet another cleverly titled evening of virtuosic performance.

All concerts take place at the McAllister Auditorium on Sunday afternoons and are free for children 12 and under.

“Most of the international stars this year happen to be from the former Soviet Union,” says Grokhovski. “But some of them I met here, in the United States.We had excellent music schools in Russia, so I am really happy to be able to bring these outstanding artists to San Antonio.”

In addition to its main season, MBAW also stages several free concerts of a more spiritual nature in the San Fernando Cathedral, and each May it gives talented youngsters from all over Texas a chance to shine during its Child Prodigy showcase, scheduled this year for May 26.

And that’s not all. This very active organization is always thinking of new ways to educate young listeners and provide enjoyment for all audiences.For more information, visit their Web site www.musicalbridges.org, or call (210) 698-8707.

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