Concert Pianist to Perform at Makawao Union Church

Damira Feldman

Celebrating her recent move to Maui, Russian-born Pianist Damira Feldman will perform a series of solo recitals at various venues on Maui beginning with Reflections from Piano at  Makawao Union Church on Oct. 8, 2016, from 7 to 9 p.m.

“Surrounded by this beautiful nature on this breathtaking island of Maui, I cannot express how blessed I feel to be able to call Maui my new home, while also being able to contribute and being involved in Maui cultural life,” said Feldman.

Her concert series will showcase her enthusiasm for covering the byways as well as the mainstream of keyboard literature, including classical musicas brasileiras and valedictory masterpieces by Frederic Chopin.

Feldman’s story is a stirring argument for the importance of music in a person’s life. It’s clear that the impact music has had on her life is a positive and lasting one.

“Music was the spark of my intellectual curiosity,” said Feldman. “My life would not be half as interesting as it is today if not for her involvement in music.”

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“Feldman is not simply a talented pianist; she is an artist who lives and breathes her music. She translates this extraordinary spiritual connection into inspiring and passionate performances that captivate her audiences.”—Miami Herald

“It’s probably a cliché to say that I didn’t choose music, it chosen me,” said Feldman. ” But it’s true.”

While growing up in a completely non-musical environment in small town of USSR, she was dreaming of a science career, when, at age of 13, through a twist of fate, she was accepted into the legendary Secondary Special Music School for gifted children, affiliated with the Kazan State Conservatory in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia.

The following year, she won a student concerto competition and performed Beethoven’ Concert in C major Op. 15 with the Kasan Symphony orchestra.

Numerous solo recitals have followed during her attendance the conservatory. After graduating with the honors, she began her career as a piano teacher at the Kazan Academy, while also performing as a piano recitalist.

With the fall of the USSR, life brought another surprise, and Feldman immigrated to Israel, where she had to retire from the piano to pursue a new career in international business.

In 2001 destiny presented Feldman with a new opportunity—she moved to the United States where she re-established her reputation as a classical musician and a teacher.

During the past 15 years she has taught at the Visual and Performing Arts Academy, Broward College, in Florida, and presented keyboard solo performances as well as master classes in Russia, the United States, France, Canada and the United Kingdom.

For several years, Feldman’s live piano performances and interviews appeared on various radio stations. She is a winner of several international competitions, and recipient of many awards for her educational and artistic achievements.

Feldman continues her residency at the University of South Carolina, where she conducts the master classes and lectures-recitals to students from USCA and performs solo recitals at USC Aiken’s Etherredge Center.

Feldman’s discography includes: Concert Favorites (live recording), Russian Dreams (live recording) and Musical Collage.

On Maui, she recently started to work on a project to establish annual Maui Outstanding Piano Amateurs Festival. MOPAF’s mission is to provide a venue for adult pianists from around the world to come together in a congenial atmosphere, to perform and to share their musical passion with others of like interests and talents.

“It would be a great thing for Maui to be established as a destination and center for amateur pianist’s development,” said Feldmant.

All amateur musicians are welcome to contact at [email protected].

In addition to this project and her concert series, Feldman will work with several organizations as well as individuals teaching music lessons at her newly opened music studio DFMusicMaui.

For tickets ($15) and more information visit www.mirafeldman.com or www.eventbrite.com.

Makawao Union Church is located at 1445 Baldwin Ave., above Pā‘ia.