Op 28 november organiseerde het Russische Huis in Brussel een jazzconcert Gnesin Jazz 2023 met deelname van Valery Grokhovsky, klassiek en jazzpianist, vice-rector van de academie, directeur van de Gnessin School of Music, decaan van de faculteit popmuziek , met deelname van Vadim Tkachuk (saxofoon), Laureaat van internationale competities, afgestudeerd aan het Koninklijk Conservatorium van Antwerpen.

De muzikanten speelden werken van Sergei Rachmaninoff en piano-jazzimprovisaties op thema’s uit films en Russische volksliederen.

Het concert werd georganiseerd ter gelegenheid van de 150ste verjaardag van de geboorte van de Russische componist Sergei Rachmaninov en ter gelegenheid van de verjaardag van het Russische Huis samen met de Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. De speciale gast van de avond – Alexander S. Ryzhinsky, rector van de Gnessin Russische Academie voor Muziek, laureaat van de Russische regeringsprijs, doctor in de kunstgeschiedenis, professor, sprak met de gasten van de avond.

Voorafgaand aan het concert vond een presentatie plaats van de fotodocumentaire tentoonstelling “Rachmaninoff: Known and Unknown”, die vertelt over interessante feiten uit de biografie van de grote kunstenaar, de geschiedenis van de creatie van beroemde en weinig bekende werken, en introduceert zelden tentoongestelde en vrijwel onbekende documenten. De tentoonstelling werd gepresenteerd door de algemeen directeur van het Russisch Nationaal Muziekmuseum, voorzitter van de Vereniging van Muziekmusea en Verzamelaars, geëerd kunstenaar van de Russische Federatie, laureaat van de Russische regeringsprijs op het gebied van cultuur, lid van de Russische Federatie Commissie voor UNESCO, lid van de Commissie van de Openbare Raad onder Rossotrudnichestvo voor culturele samenwerking, Michail Bryzgalov.

Valeri Grokhovski is an outstanding artist in the field of piano classical and jazz art, recognized in this capacity in many countries. He has repeatedly performed in the best halls of Russia, Europe and America, including the world-famous Carnegie Hall, recorded on one of the world’s largest labels – Naxos Records, as well as on the largest recording studio Metropolis (UK).

Along with this, Valeri Grokhovski is also recognized as a classical pianist (laureate of the F. Busoni International Competitions and the World Piano Competition – USA), who constantly performs in the best philharmonic halls of our country.

Over the past ten years, he has repeatedly performed in the Great and Small Halls of the Moscow Conservatory, in the concert halls of the Moscow House of Music, the Glinka Museum, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, the Bolshoi Theater, the Gnessin Concert Hall of the Russian Academy of Music, and for many years he has been a participant and organizer of the concert subscription of the Moscow State Philharmonic “Masters of Piano Jazz”, which is held annually in the Philharmonic-2 Concert Hall.   The concert subscription “Valeri Grokhovski Invites”, which takes place with constant full houses, has gained great popularity. His concerts not only delight the audience with unique programs, but at the same time play a great educational role in educating musical taste among young people.

Valeri Grokhovski is actively involved in charitable activities, working with children with disabilities, preparing concert programs with them within the framework of the International Children’s Fund “World and Music”. Performing in all the capital’s halls, Valery Grokhovski also constantly tours in regions such as the Great Hall of St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Murmansk, Smolensk, Ryazan, Petrozavodsk, Astrakhan, Rostov, Perm, Irkutsk, Kirov and many other philharmonic societies.  The geography of his concerts is extremely wide and covers philharmonic halls and more democratic venues, jazz clubs of both capitals, including the popular Igor Butman club, David Goloshchekin’s Jazz Philharmonic, etc.

The breadth of the artist’s creative range is also manifested in the combination of performing and composing activities. He is the author of music for many TV series of the channel “Russia-1”, His jazz compositions and arrangements include both classical works, such as keyboard works by Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn, as well as a collection of Russian folk songs “Kolyada”, arrangement for piano and symphony orchestra on Strauss’s themes “On the Beautiful Blue Danube”, a suite in the old style on the themes of songs by The Beatles, a concerto for piano and orchestra “Musical Whims” and many others.

Valeri Grokhovski has recorded more than 15 CDs, which reflect the versatility of his performing skills: from classical interpretations of music by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff to improvisations on famous jazz standards.

The high prestige of Valeri Grokhovski is confirmed by his constant participation in international music festivals, including “Black Eyes” (Montecatini, Italy), “World of Jazz” (Rostov-on-Don), “Jazz on Lake Baikal” (Irkutsk), “White Nights of Karelia” (Petrozavodsk), “Koktebel Jazz” (Koktebel), “Summertime” (Jurmala), “Jazz in the Philharmonic” (Kaliningrad) and others. His concerts have been recorded more than once on the TV channel “Culture” and repeatedly broadcast both in our country and abroad.

A pianist and composer, organizer, educator and promoter of jazz art, recognized in the country and in the world, in terms of the breadth of the creative range and artistic level, Valeri Grokhovski is an exceptional phenomenon in Russian musical culture. In 2017, he was awarded the Moscow Government Prize, and in 2023 he was awarded the Certificate of Gratitude of the Moscow State Duma for many years of professional work in the field of culture of the city of Moscow.  During 2022 – 2023, Valeri Grokhovski is the artistic director and main performer of the grandiose project “The Jazz Age of Russia – Stages. Events. Achievements”, supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.

The Gnesin Russian Academy of Music is a unique and dynamic organization that brings together all three levels of the Russian educational system – primary school, secondary professional education, undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

Being the leading music educational institution of Russia, the Academy offers nearly 100 programs involving practically all fields of music and performing arts.

The Academy offers professional training for instrumental performers, conductors, classical and folk singers, composers, sound engineers, producers, musicologists and other specialists, as well as doctorate programs.

Since its foundation in 1895, the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music implements the unique educational approach created by the Gnesin family, which has grown into a renowned set of traditions. The Academy strongly relies on these traditions and at the same time strives to be on the cutting edge of current trends in education.