Marywood University’s music, theatre and dance department will host guest performers, Nina Kouznetsov, a pianist who sings in Marywood University’s Concert Choir, and her son, violinist and cellist, Val Bourgeon, for their third annual recital. The recital is free and open to the public and will take place in the Marian Chapel in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life on the University’s campus on Sunday, September 30, 2018, at 3 p.m.
Natives of Ukraine, Val Bourgeon and Nina Kouznetsov, son and mother, have been performing together for more than 20 years. Val began his violin studies in Northeastern Pennsylvania at the age of 10 on his request after a few years of piano playing. At age 15, he spent one semester as a music major at Wilkes University and then transferred to Marywood University. Val continued his studies with a violinist from the Philadelphia Orchestra, Dmitri Levin, first privately, and then at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and his master of business administration degree. His music-related positions include: The Symphony in C, Collingswood, N.J., the Delaware Valley Philharmonics, and as an orchestra conductor at the Pennsauken New Jersey School District. Currently, he teaches several musical instruments including violin, cello, piano, flute, and guitar in Moorestown, N.J, and performs at various events.
Nina Kouznetsov graduated in Musicology and Piano Performance from the Preparatory Music School for the Gifted in Kiev, Ukraine. She then went on to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Musicology from the Gnessins Russian Music Academy in Moscow. After immigrating to the United States, her music-related work has included: choir director at Orthodox churches in NEPA; piano instructor at the School of Continuing Education at Marywood University and at her Dunmore, Pa. studio; and freelance pianist, organist, and cantor. Having privately studied Byzantine iconography for more than 20 years, she currently teaches iconography workshops in Michigan and at her icon studio in Scranton. Since 2015, she has been affiliated with Marywood University as a freelance accompanist and as a member of the Concert Choir.
For additional information about the Guest Performance, “Violin Recital with a Turn,” at Marywood University, please visit http://www.marywood.edu/mtd/index.html, or call (570) 348-6268.