Alexander Braginsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Braginsky
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Braginsky in 2003.
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
Александр Иосифович Брагинский
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| Born | May 29, 1944 Russia |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, teacher |
| Instruments | Piano |
Alexander Iosifovich Braginsky is a talented pianist and teacher. He was born in Russia on May 29, 1944. Today, he lives and works in the United States. He is known for his amazing piano playing and for teaching many young musicians.
Contents
A Musician's Journey
Early Life and Training
Alexander Braginsky began his musical journey in Russia. He studied piano at the famous Moscow Conservatory. His teachers were two very respected pianists: Alexander Borisovich Goldenweiser and Theodore Gutman. Learning from these masters helped him become the skilled musician he is today.
Moving to the United States
In the early 1970s, Alexander Braginsky and his wife, Tatiana Remenikova, moved from Russia. They first spent a few years in the United Kingdom. After that, they settled in the United States. He did not visit Russia again until 2004.
Teaching and Performing
Today, Mr. Braginsky teaches piano at two universities in Minnesota: the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Hamline University in St. Paul. He works with talented piano students from all over the world.
Besides teaching, Braginsky also performs music. He often plays by himself as a soloist. He also performs with other musicians, especially with his wife, who is a cellist. He has recorded many musical pieces. These include works by the famous composer Shostakovich. He has also premiered, or performed for the first time, new pieces by composers like Stephen Paulus and Libby Larsen.
Piano and Technology
The Piano-e-Competition
In the late 1980s, Alexander Braginsky found a way to mix his piano skills with new computer technology. This added an exciting new part to his performances. In 2002, he started a special event called the Minnesota International Piano-e-Competition. This competition happened every two years. It used special pianos called Disklavier-Pro pianos, made by Yamaha. These pianos can record and play back performances very accurately.
Young Talent and Success
A junior version of the competition was added in 2008 for younger pianists. Many talented young pianists from around the world came to compete. Several former participants and winners of this competition have become very successful on the international concert stage. Some of these include Mei-Ting Sun, Jan Lisiecki, and Eric Lu. The last competition took place in 2021. The competition is no longer held.
Judging and Mentoring
Mr. Braginsky has also been a judge at many important music festivals and competitions worldwide. These include the International Keyboard Institute/Festival in New York and the Beijing International Music Festival/Academy. Many of his students have won awards in piano competitions at local, national, and international levels. He has helped many pianists become successful musicians.
