News
In his own words of music
Scott Wagar
04/03/2012
Alexander Sevastian is taking a sojourn this spring with one goal in mind, to introduce the accordion to individuals of the United States through one solo concert at a time. By doing so, he hopes to get individuals to see a different side of this unique and rather old European instrument.
“In the United States, the accordion is associated with polkas,” said Sevastian, who has a deep eastern European accent because he was born in the country of Belarus. “In Europe, the accordion is considered to be part of classical music. So, when I do concerts in the United States, I try to introduce the people to the classical side of the accordion. And, when people come, I think they are surprised with the accordion’s capabilities and they find satisfaction in the concert.”
On Thursday evening, Sevastian performed for the Bottineau Concert Series at the Holwell Auditorium. He played the accordion to over 200 patrons, which were given the opportunity to hear a variety of classical musicians and their pieces, some of which included Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Organ Toccata and Fugere D-minor,” Georgy Schenderyov’s “Russian Dance,” Piotr Ilitch Tchaikovsky’s “Napolitan Dance” and Louis Ferrari’s “Domino.”
The crowd who attended the Sevastian’s concert found his music endearing.
“I enjoyed the concert immensely. Not every day do we get to hear a button accordion player - let alone a professional master of the instrument like Alexander Sevastian is. Being able to have a many-time international competition winner perform in our community is a true treat, and he was exceptionally talented both as a musician and as an accordion player,” said Nancy Olson from Bottineau who attended the concert. “To me, it was refreshing to hear classical music as his focus instead of the polka and dance music that we traditionally hear. Some of that stems from the button accordion being a very serious instrument in Europe as compared to it being known more as a dance band instrument in the United States.”
Sevastian stated that in the United States, the accordion is often related to music with a variety of other classical instruments which played a role for immigrants when they homesteaded in America.
“The fiddle is an example of this, like the accordion, the fiddle is associated with weddings and barn dances,” he said. “But, at the same time, they can be played in concert orchestras and symphony halls.”
Sevastian’s accordion playing runs deep within his family bloodline.
“My dad was an amateur accordion player,” he said. “That was the instrument I grew up with, and when it came time to choose an instrument there was no question I would play the accordion.”
Sevastian was born in Minsk, Belarus, and started his accordion studies at the Glinka Musical College in Minsk.
He conducted his advanced studies at the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow, where he studied under the prestigious performer, Friedrich Lips, receiving his master’s degree in performance. Sevastian also earned an advanced certificate in performance at the University of Toronto under Joseph Macerollo.
While at the academy in Moscow, he also studied piano, conducting and philosophy.
Once he finished his studies, Sevastian started his professional career performing with the Russian Radio Orchestra where he toured as a soloist throughout Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy and Japan. He was also part of the internationally recognized group, Quartetto Gelato.
In his career, he has performed in the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, Glinki Capelle Hall in St. Petersburg, Suntory Hall in Tokyo and the Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama.
Today, Sevastian makes his home in Toronto, ON, where he lives with his wife, Anna, and their son, Vladimir. In the past five years, Sevastian has toured in the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Estonia and Guatemala.
On an average year, he conducts over 20 concerts, 20 performances with a chamber group and two symphony orchestras.
He is presently traveling across the northern tier of the United States bringing the classical accordion to rural areas so that Americans can see a new side to a magical instrument which produces a pleasing sound to the heart of classical music.