Russian pianist finds his niche

By Donna Gray

hen Dmitry Nesterov touched down in Calgary 12 years ago, it was simply to make his mark at the first annual Esther Honens International Piano Competition.

Little did he know when he won the laureate prize that he was about to embark on an artistic adventure that would lead him to find his niche in Western culture.
Before coming to Calgary, Nesterov was a celebrated classical pianist and a graduate of Moscow’s Central Music School and that city’s State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. His experience during the piano competition, however, encouraged him to later return to Calgary.

“ I felt very connected with the people here and my host family made me very comfortable during the competition. The head of the music department understood that I was a foreign student and made it possible to study here. We were pleased that we could leave Moscow and establish ourselves easily.”

With a U of C scholarship in hand, Nesterov and his wife, Olga Kotova, moved to Canada.

While he worked on completing his Master’s degree in music, Kotova found a home as a violinist at the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

Nesterov began music lessons when he was seven, and feels fortunate to have grown up in a city steeped in history and culture.

“Moscow was the centre of the arts - ballet, music, art - but nowadays, things have changed. You have to be financially stronger to study there. I was lucky to study in a period where things were acceptable and affordable.”

Nesterov’s talents have taken him from orchestral stages in Russia to the CPO stage and other symphonies across the country. He’s also brought his insight to his own music students at Mount Royal College where he is an instructor.

Nesterov will perform at the University of Calgary Celebrity Series Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13, 2004 at 8 p.m. in the Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall of the Rozsa Centre. His roster of music includes Largo from Organ Sonata in C Major by J. S. Bach (arr. Samuel Feinberg), Piano Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 (Pastoral) by Beethoven, Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brilliante, Opus 22 by Chopin, and Ten Preludes by Rachmaninov.

Tickets available through TicketMaster at 777-0000 or at the door. Call 220-4999 or visit www.ffa.ucalgary.ca for more information.