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05-14-09
Internationally famous pianist performs for students at Holmes Elementary school in Mount Vernon
     A packed auditorium of students at Holmes Elementary School in Mount Vernon were treated to a special piano performance by Katya Grineva on Thursday, May 14. In attendance for the highly anticipated performance were students in grade 3 - 6.
     When the students started streaming into the auditorium and noticed Katya standing by the school's piano with the principal, Louis T. Cioffi, you could see the excitement on each student's face. Each student was well versed on who Katya Grineva is and what a famous pianist she is. Each class had been supplied with handouts about the performance, which also contained a biography and pictures of Katya. So when they saw her live for the first time, there appeared to be an immediate connection. "I feel like I have known her for a very long time. I know so much about her," said one six-grader.
     Principal Cioffi opened the program by telling the students how fortunate they were to have Katya performing for them. "Kayya performs all over the world and has performed at Carnegie Hall on ten different occasions. She has an extremely busy schedule, but yet she set aside time to be here today to play for you." The students responding by giving Katya a long, warm and rousing applause.
     When introduced by the principal, the student's jumped to their feet and applauded with a great sense of appreciation.
     Prior to playing, Katya spoke about her past and told them that she first started playing the piano at the tender age of 51/2 in Moscow, where she was born. She also mentioned that she first came to New York in 1989, and she had two goals: to study in America, and one day, to play in Carnegie Hall. She achieved her goal when she made her Carnegie Hall debut on May 13, 1998 and has performed there every year since then.
     When Katya sat down to play, you could here a pin drop in an auditorium filled with hundreds of young students. Most of the students were in awe and many were simply mesmerized by the sound Katya was producing on the school's piano, which had been tuned especially for her the day before.
     At the end of her impressive performance, the principal announced that Katya was willing to take questions from the students, and many raised there hands with questions.
      Years ago, Katya's father, a well known cancer research scientist in Russia, introduced his daughter’s talents to a colleague, Dr. Mihich, of Albany, New York. Dr. Mihich so was mesmerized by Katya that he decided to present her with the exclusivity rights to perform Marcel Tyberg’s music. Dr. Mihich had been holding onto Tyberg’s “lost” music for years. So, with Katya’s help and passion, and New York City networking opportunities, she is bringing Tyberg’s music to the forefront.
     "I recently did a few concerts in Ecuador. I love to play in countries like this for people who are very poor, and don't have access to the kind of culture that we have here in America. It is different to perform for them. It makes me happy to go to that kind of country and play in a cathedral for free and to have 2000 people standing there and enjoying it. That is such a joy! I almost love that more than just some stiff concert," Katya told the Inquirer.
     Despite her demanding concert schedule, Katya manages to play at private gatherings, schools, and for the not-for-profit community. It is her way of helping to raise awareness and funding for specific causes.
     Her performance at Holmes Elementary School in Mount Vernon is not her last one. She is scheduled to perform at the following schools:

Principal Louis T. Cioffi