Latest News


May 2013



April 2013

Have 98% finalised my programme for Regis Recital Hall on Sunday 19th May - see 'Engagements' page.

Congratulations to my senior student Ian Digby for achieving his Grade 8 (Piano Performance) with Distinction.


To the left is the front page of the April 2013 edition of 'Muzyka21', Poland's best selling music magazine (NO - that's not a picture of me!); but mentioned on the front cover is an article about myself (centre image); together with an advertisement placed by record company Acte Préalable for my latest CD + mention of an earlier one. For a translation of the article go http://valentinaseferinova.com/Muzyka.html

'Rave' review, well certainly positive, of my latest CD (world premiere recordings of piano works by Ludomir Róźycki) published on line at Music Web International. Click link to read
Congratulations to 2 of my already award winning students (Thomas Placintescu and Nneka Okebugwu) at Portsmouth Music Festival for being invited to take part in the Festival's Gala Concert at King's Theatre, Southsea (held on 28th March), where all instrumental class winners were competing for the overall trophy. Sadly - neither were able to take part due to prior committments; but to have been invited is recognition in itself!
March 2013
16th March - have just agreed to a 3:00pm Sunday afternoon's solo recital on 19th May, 2013 - at Recital Hall, Bognor Regis.
Sunday 10th March – Chichester Festival of Music, Speech, and Drama. Congratulations to one of my senior students, (Dr.) Mr Simon Payne MB ChB, MD, FRCS(Eng), Dip.ABRSM, who entered 3 categories this afternoon, winning trophies in both ‘Beethoven Sonata’ class and an ‘Open’ class. (Only 3 trophies were available – and Simon got 2 of them!!).
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th March - Southampton Music Festival. Congratulations to one of my junior students, Thomas Placintescu, on winning with Honours (and trophy) the ‘pre-1900’ class with Tchaikovsky’s ‘Polka’. Also in another ‘pre-1900’ class, and in a ‘post 1900’ class achieving Honours and Distinction.
February 2013
Review in Portsmouh News (26 Feb. 2013) of last Saturday night's performance by the Solent Symphony Orchestra. ------------------
20th February - Have just returned from a day spent at the Menuhin Room (top floor of Portsmouth Central Library) where the Piano competition section of the annual Portsmouth Music Festival took place; each of the students I had entered won their section - and each was awarded a cup! So it's congratulations to Alexander Pinkstone (Baroque 10-12 years) winning the Gordon Rose trophy with Distinction! To Thomas Placintescu (Romantic 10-12 years) winning the Eleanor Fernbank Cup with Honours (only 3 Honours awarded overall throughout the competition)! To Nneka Okebugwu (Sonata 11-18 years) winning the Hambledon Cup with Distinction! Also winning (20th Century Class) the Festival Silver Cup with Distinction. Also being awarded the 'Overall Outstanding Musicianship and Communication' winner - the Clifford Benson Piano Prize! ------------------
23rd February 2013 at 19.30 at St Thomas’ Anglican Cathedral, Portsmouth Solent Symphony Orchestra Conductor - Steve Tanner : Leader - Kirstie Robertson Pre-Concert Chamber Music Kasunari (Kazu) Shiraiso L.ABRSM : piano Beethoven Leonore Overture 3 Beethoven Piano Concerto 3 in C minor (Soloist: Monica Zhenyu – Dip. A.B.R.S.M.) Stravinsky Firebird Suite (1945). Note: Monica Zhenyu gained her Diploma as a student of mine and has been accepted at Guildhall, London; 12 months ago she won many trophies in the Portsmouth Music Festival in the piano categories, last autumn she was judged overall winner of all instrumental categories – the prize being to be Guest Soloist in tonight’s concert). Kazu Shiraiso is also a student of mine - and is now preparing for his Fellowship examination. By coincidence I have been invited to take the piano part in the Orchestra’s performance of Stravinsky’s ‘Firebird Suite’. Ticket details from 01252 711658 : 01252 793830 : 02392 862957 ------------------
I see from Trinity College's piano examination syllabus 2012-2014 that they've now included Joachim Raff's 'Romance' from his 'Trois Morceaux Op.2' as a 'set piece'. (Trinity College website Click 'Piano syllabus 2012-2014'; and go to page 32!!). I get some satisfaction from this as I was the first person to 'rediscover' his piano works - and record them!! They features on one of my earliest CDs circa 2002 (Awarded 4½ out of 5 stars; available through my website!!!). A live performance of the piece can be seen and heard at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci1qT_yh07c ------------------
January 2013
Have just come across an American Classical Music website carrying a review of a CD containing an orchestral appearance & performance I made in Russia in 2008 (Jadassohn's Piano Concerto No.1). It says:- "...the first time this stunning work had been played in public since the composer's death! {True!} ....concerto soloist Valentina Seferinova is magnificent." !!! Praise indeed! To see/hear what he's on about - go http://valentinaseferinova.com/VideoPages/Concertante/JadassohnVideo.html
The same American Classical Music website carries a review of a CD of mine released last September - featuring a recording of Dorothy Howell's piano concerto which I played at London's Cadogan Hall in November 2010; a bit more muted this time - but still a positive review; it says:- "The opening concert selections feature committed performances by the Orion Symphony Orchestra under Toby Purser with pianist Valentina Seferinova in top form for the Howell. .....Judging by the enthusiastic applause that follows, the audience loved this piece! " To see/hear what he's on about - go http://valentinaseferinova.com/VideoPages/Concertante/HowellVideo.html ----------------------
December 2012 Congratulations to the following of my students who've received offers for the following: James Ewing - Birmingham Conservatoire. Nneka Ifeoma Okebugwu - Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff. Monica Shi - Guildhall, London. Daniel McBride - Royal College of Music and Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Well done all. All of my students who applied to a music college were accepted! Also congratulations to: Thomas Placintescu - Grade 5 (Merit) Alexander Pinkstone - Grade 7 (Distinction) Mark Bradley - Grade 1 (Merit - {3 points below Distinction!} Thanks to his teacher Jack Davies) ----------------------
My latest CD now released on the Acte Préalable label as their catalogue reference AP0263. Available to order at Acte Préalable website. ----------------------
Another CD has been released featuring myself - this time with orchestra - playing Dorothy Howell's 'Piano Concerto in D minor'. On the Cameo Classics label as their catalogue reference CC9041CD. Available to order at Cameo Classics website. ----------------------
October 2012 Full Evening's Solo Recital in Festival Hall, Petersfield 6th October completed. How did it go? See independant Blog post ----------------
September 2012 Preparation for my forthcoming 'Full Evening's Solo Recital' on 6th October.
June 2012 I was recently interviewed by the leading Polish music magazine ‘*Muzyka 21*’ for a feature on me they were running. A translation can be seen here.
May 2012 Have returned from Warsaw - world premiere recording of solo pieces by Polish 'Romantic era' composer Ludomir Róźycki completed. The resultant CD will be issued on the Acte Préalable label as their catalogue reference AP0263. Art work has been done - but release date not yet known.
April 2012 Am working on final rehearsals of pieces by Ludomir Róźycki prior to flying to Warsaw on 26th April to record them in the studios of Polish National Radio & TV; the resultant CD will be issued on the Acte Préalable label as their catalogue reference AP0263.
March 2012 Congratulations to my student Monica Shi, who won 2 classes of the Portsmouth Music Festival 2012; the Festival Silver Jubilee Cup, and the Joan Swift Piano Trophy. At the Music Festival's Gala Closing Concert held at the Kings Theatre, Portsmouth, Monica also won the Concerto Prize as a guest soloist with the Solent Symphony Orchestra in 2013. Monica has also won a scholarship to begin studying at The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester from September 2012. ________________ Have just agreed outline details for a full evening's solo recital at Petersfield Festival Hall on Saturday 6th October.
February 2012 Details of Lunchtime solo recital at Chichester Cathedral on Tuesday 20th March added - see 'Engagements' page
November 2011 Tickets for my solo appearance with Petersfield Orchestra go on sale on Monday 7th November, priced at £14 with concessionary price (not known) for children under 16 years. They will be available from the Petersfield Tourist Office on 01730 268829. As of 8th November - "only a few tickets left" Don't delay; ring today!
October 2011 I can confirm that my week long trip to a recording studio in Warsaw during October's half term has been postponed until (probably) May/June time of next year.
August - September 2011 I'm pleased to announce that I've accepted an invitation from Petersfield Orchestra to be their soloist for a performance of Edvard Grieg's 'Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor Op. 16' on Thursday 1st December at the Festival Hall, Petersfield.
April 2011 Valentina is preparing to return to the Polish National Radio studios in Warsaw (date not yet agreed) – to record a solo album for the leading Polish recording label Acte Préalable of previously unrecorded piano works by a 20th Century Polish composer. Dates not yet set – but early/mid autumn being the dates considered.
November 2010 Guest soloist with Orion Symphony Orchestra (Conductor: Toby Purser) at London's Cadogan Hall; Dorothy Howell - Piano Concerto in D minor.
July 2010 Recording sessions for release on CD by Cameo Classics label: Ignaz Brüll: Piano Sonata No.3, Salomon Jadassohn: Bal Masque op. 26, Ferdinand Hiller: Modern suite op. 144 & Impromptu-Etude op. 30 No 2. Release date not known (May '11?)
October 2009 Memorial Concert dedicated to my late Professor - Dr. Prof. Lubomir Dinolov; "Pantcho Vladigueroff" National Academy of Music, Sofia, Bulgaria.
September 2009 Recital by Piano Duo 'Va i Ve'; International Rachmaninoff Society - Annual General Meeting; Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Vladigueroff.
January 2009 Recital by 'Va i Ve' - sponsored by The Steinway Piano Company; St Chad’s College, 18, North Bailey, Durham; Music for Four Hands; Beethoven, Schumann, Debussy.
December 2008 Release of Zygmunt Noskowski ‘Piano Works 1’ solo CD on the leading Polish Record Label 'Acte Préalable'.
May 2008 Warsaw, Poland: Performing and recording of piano works by Polish Romantic era composer Zygmunt Noskowski - for leading Polish Record Label 'Acte Préalable'.
December 2008 Guest Soloist with The Karelia State Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Hall, Petrazavodsk, Russia (Musical Director Marius Stravinsky). Salomon Jadassohn - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 1, op. 89 in C Minor; believed to be the première public performance since the composer's death.
October 2007 Recordings for Cameo-Classics documentary film about Jewish-German Composers of 19th C. (Mendelssohn, Jadassohn, Hiller.)
August 2006 Times Educational Supplement reports that South Downs College has best Music Dept. results out of all similar colleges.
April 2005 2nd Recital for The Rachmaninoff Society's A.G.M (President: Vladimir Ashkenazy), and in the presence of 2 of Rachmaninov's Great Grandchildren - pieces by Rachmaninov (Moments Musicaux No. 3 in B minor, Op.16.; Moments Musicaux No. 4 in E minor, Op.16.): Skriabin (3 Pieces for Piano Op.2 [Etude; Prelude; Impromptu alla Mazurka]): Vladigueroff (Prelude from '3 Pieces for Piano', Op.15. Pessen [Song] from 'Bulgarian Suite', Op.21 No.2.; Rhapsodie 'Vardar' Op.16.).
June 2004 Concert Tour of NE England
July 2003 Chichester Festivities - Solo Recital, St. John's Chapel - Schubert - Sonata in A minor, D537 (1817); Scriabin - Three Pieces, Op. 2; Raff - Trois Morceaux, Op. 2; Rachmaninov - Moments Musicaux, Op. 16 Nos. 3 & 4.
December 2002 Release of Solo CD - previously unrecorded piano works of Joachim Raff.
December 2001 Release of ‘Music for 2 Pianos’ CD
September 1999 Began employment as Piano Lecturer at South Downs College, Waterlooville - Havant.
21st August 1999 (Debussy’s Birthdate 22nd. Aug. 1862) Complete works of Debussy for 4 hands (‘Integrale’) with Emilia Mihaylova; Claude Debussy House and Museum, St. Germain en Laye, Paris.
April 1999 'Closed’ solo recital performance of Rachmaninov cycles for the AGM of The Rachmaninoff Society (President: Vladimir Ashkenazy), Codshall, Nr. Wolverhampton.
Autumn 1998 Moved to take up residency in UK.
11th May 1997 Featured in a Television programme broadcast by Bulgarian National TV.
Autumn 1996 Accepted as Assistant Professor of Piano & Lecturer at ‘Pantcho Vladigeuroff’ National Academy of Music, Sofia.
Summer 1995 Accepted for postgraduate studies by Royal Academy of Music, London. (Funding problems prevented the taking up of this offer).
November 1994 Awarded Master of Music (Theory) Degree together with all associated Teaching qualifications.