Date: Oct. 26, 2011
Contact: Carol Connelly, Director, Media & Communication Services, ext. 5267, cconnelly@pnc.edu

 

Violinist Andrey Baranov Pianist Miki Aoki

PNC Odyssey Series to Host Violinist Laureate Performances

WESTVILLE – The Purdue University North Central Odyssey 2011 - 2012 Arts and Cultural Events Series and the Presbyterian Church of La Porte will host performances by the International Violin Competition (IVCI ) of Indianapolis violinist Laureate Andrey Baranov and pianist Miki Aoki.

On Sunday, Nov. 13, at 4:00 p.m., the 2011-2012 Fine Arts Series of the Presbyterian Church of La Porte will host a performance at the church, located at 307 Kingsbury Ave. in La Porte.

The following day, Monday, Nov. 14, Russian violinist Baranov and Tokyo-born pianist Aoki will travel to Purdue North Central for a noon performance, “Lighten Up Your Monday With Music,” in the Library-Student-Faculty Building Room 144. The pair will perform, followed by a discussion about what it's like to be a musician and what it's like to travel the world as a musician. There will also be time for questions, answers and conversation. Refreshments will be served.

They will also travel to some LaPorte Community Schools for performances that day as well. These educational outreach programs are underwritten by Glen Kwok, executive director of the International Violin Competition (IVCI ) of Indianapolis.

Baranov is among the leading violinists of his generation. He has been a Laureate of numerous international competitions including Indianapolis, Sendai, Unisa, Oistrach and Paganini (Moscow).

Born in St Petersburg (Russia) in 1986 into a family of musicians, Baranov began playing the violin at age five. He attended the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, St. Petersburg Conservatory and Consevatoire de Lausanne. He studied with Vladimir Ovcharek, Pavel Popov and Pierre Amoyal and has taken master classes from György Pauk, Boris Kushnir, Liana Issakadze and Kim Kashkashian among others.

Aoki made her orchestral debut at the Royal Festival Hall in London with the National Symphony Orchestra at age 12. A dedicated recitalist and chamber musician, Miki has performed regularly across Europe, the United States and Asia.

Miki started playing the piano at age four and moved to London at age nine where she attended the Purcell School of Music. She holds degrees from Indiana University and Yale University. In 2007 she completed Konzertexamen degree at Hochschule fuer Musik und Theater Hamburg with distinction. Her teachers include Roshan Magub, James Gibb, Reiko Neriki, György Sebök, Boris Berman and Evgeni Koroliov.

The Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series hosts events throughout the year. A complete schedule can be found at http://www.pnc.edu/arts/index.html .

For information about this event or the Odyssey series, contact Judy Jacobi, PNC assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations, at 785-5200, ext. 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.