2008 and 2009 have been extraordinary years for Larysa Kuzmenko.

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Larysa Kuzmenko's Piano Concerto is being released on Centre Discs, featuring Christina Petrowska and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

In Memorian to the Victims of Chornobyl has been released on CD, performed by Yaroslav Senyshyn, on the Platon label.

Recent commissions include:  a new work for the Mississauga Children's Choir entitled "Daffodils", which will be premiered early in 2010; a new work for the Cantabile Children's Choir in Kingston, Ontario, entitled "The Owl and the Pussycat"; an Ontario Arts Council commission for the Metis Quartet with Orchestra London; and an Ontario Arts Council commission for the Riverdale Ensemble, to be premiered February 5 of 2010.

On Feburary 5 of 2010, an all-Kuzmenko concert will be presented by the NYCO Music Festival at Walter Hall in the Edward Johnson Building in Toronto.  This will be a benefit concert for the Festival.

In January of 2009, Larysa was the Composer In Residence for Memorial University's New Music Festival in St. John's Newfoundland.  Several of her works were presented, including "In Search of Eldorado", Suite of Dances, and "In Memoriam to the Victims of Chornobyl."

In August of 2008, Dreams for Choir and Piano Trio was presented at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, featuring the Gryphon Trio and the Elmer Iseler Singers, directed by Lydia Adams.

Boosey and Hawkes is publishing several new works, including "Dreams" for Choir and Piano Trio, "Stars", "Wind", and "Night", all for SSA, and "Gaude Virgo Gloriosa" for Woman's Choir and Piano.

BIOGRAPHY

LARYSA KUZMENKO is a Toronto-based composer and pianist.  Her music has been performed and broadcast throughout the world .  Her choral works have been published by Boosey and Hawkes.

Ms. Kuzmenko's Piano Concerto, commissioned by the CBC, was premiered on January 23, 1996 by the Winnipeg Symphony under the direction of Bramwell Tovey, with soloist Christina Petrowska.  In October of 1996, it was performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jukka Pekka Saraste.  On July 6,1998, her song cycle “In search of Eldorado” was premiered by mezzo soprano Catherine Robin.  This work was commissioned by the Laidlaw Foundation, as was her “Suite of Dances” for flute, cello and piano, which  was premiered at the Glenn Gould Studio, and released on CD by Musica Viva.  Her solo piano piece “In memoriam:  to the Victims of Chornobyl” (1997), was released on CD by Christina Petrowska.  In November of 1998, Ms. Petrowska toured this work in New York City, China, and Taiwan. In January of 2002, Naida Cole performed this work at the Jane Mallet Theater. This work was subsequently performed throughout the world by several pianists . In September of 2000, Ms. Kuzmenko was commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council to compose “Lilith”, for English Horn and string quartet, and a concerto for piano, percussion and string orchestra.  “Lilith” was premiered at Jane MalletTheatre by Mooredale Concerts, and the Concerto was premiered by Bev Johnston, Mary Kenedi, and the Windsor Symphony, conducted by Susan Haig on January 12, 2001. Ms. Kuzmenko was commissioned by the Laidlaw Foundation to compose “ Capriccio”, for string quartet, percussion, and four flutes.  This work was premiered on March 23, 2003, by Mooredale Concerts with soloists Beverly Johnston, and Vicky Blechta.  She was commissioned by the Hanniford Silver Band to write a piano concerto that was premiered in November of 2002 with pianist Andrew Burashko. In June of 2003, her Impromptu and Toccata for Brass Quintet was premiered in Illinois by the Illinois State University Faculty Brass Quintet. This work was commissioned by the International Women’s Brass  Conference. “Entre Amis”, for solo cello and piano, was premiered at the Parry Sound Festival on July 20, 2003. This work was performed by Kristine Bogyo and Anton Kuerti. “Voice Of Hope” for soprano and string orchestra, commissioned by the Vesnivka Choir, was premiered by soprano Katerina Tchoubar and the Composer’s Orchestra directed by Gary Kulesha in Toronto on November 15, 2003. This work commemorates the 1932-1933 Famine-Genocide in Ukraine. “Dreams” for SATB and piano trio, commissioned by the Elora Festival and the Gryphon Trio with the financial assistance of the Laidlaw Foundation, was premiered in Elora on July 10, 2004. Ms. Kuzmenko’s Cello Concerto, commissioned by the Ontario Arts Council, was premiered on November 25, 2004 by the Thunder Bay Orchestra under the direction of Geoffrey Moull. On March 2008 her choral piece" Gaude Virgo Gloriosa" was premiered at Victoria Chapel by the University of Women's Chorus. "Gaude Virgo Gloriosa" and " Dreams" have been chosen for publication with Boosey and Hawkes.

Kaori Yamagami premiered Ms. Kuzmenko's " Fantasy" for solo cello on November 20, 2008 in Toronto.  This work was commissined by the Toronto Women's Music Club. She has been recently commissioned to write a work for the the Mississauga Children's Choir and a work for the Cantabile Children's Choir in Kingston.  In addition, Ms. Kuzmenko has been commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council to write an orchestral work using aboriginal themes for Orchestra London, and a work for piano, basset horn and violin.  Ms. Kuzmenko was chosen to be a composer in residence in January 2009 for the New Music Festival at the Memorial University in Newfoundland.

Ms. Kuzmenko is currently on the staffs of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, where she teaches piano, theory, harmony, and history.

please visit my colleagues:

Gary Kulesha

Shauna Rolston

Anton Kuerti