Village Concert Series: Christmas on Four Hands
Christmas on Four Hands: Music for Piano and Organ by Harant Bagrazyan and Shenwei Geng
Sunday, December 7, 4:30 PM, Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church
Celebrate the holiday season with the sounds of Christmas performed on the piano and organ by Harant Bagrazyan and Shenwei Geng.
HRANT BAGRAZYAN
Described by the Armenian Weekly as a “technical wizard” and a pianist of “rich emotions”, an award-winning pianist Hrant Bagrazyan explores repertoire ranging from the Baroque era to modern times.
Hrant Bagrazyan has performed in Armenia, Belgium, Poland, China, and the United States. Living in the US since 2009, Hrant has made notable appearances on the American classical stage which included his orchestra debut as a soloist with Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra at the 3,000-seat Hawkins Centennial Chapel in 2014 and a solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 2018. Dr. Bagrazyan has also performed with other acclaimed orchestras such as Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Heights Chamber Orchestra.
Dr. Bagrazyan has won top awards in many international competitions, including 3rd Prize in Aram Khachaturian International Piano Competition (2007, Yerevan, Armenia), 1st Prize in Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra International Young Artist Competition (2014, Bourbonnais, IL) and 1st Prize in San Jose International Piano Competition (2015, San Jose, CA). In October 2016, Hrant won the Outstanding Performance Award at NTD International Piano Competition in New York. Dr. Bagrazyan has participated in music festivals, most notably as a guest performer at the gala concert of Sergei Babayan International Academy in 2013.
He has toured in China since 2022, performing recitals and teaching masterclasses in concert halls and universities. Being a native of Armenia, Mr. Bagrazyan also actively champions music of Armenian composers
In addition to his solo career, Dr. Bagrazyan is an active chamber musician. He has collaborated extensively with acclaimed Armenian American cellist Suren Bagratuni. Their recent projects include the release of a double album titled Songs of My Childhood, described by Blue Griffin Records as “beautiful, charming, virtuosic, [and] exciting,” as well as newly released recordings of Brahms’ Cello Sonatas this year.
Having studied with world famous mentors such as Igor Yavryan, Sergei Babayan, HaeSun Paik and Margarita Shevchenko, Mr. Bagrazyan has earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University College of Music, Master of Music, Artist Diploma and Professional Studies degrees from Cleveland Institute of Music, and the bachelor’s degree from Yerevan State Conservatory. He is currently a piano faculty member at Charleston Southern University.
SHENWEI GENG
Shenwei Geng is a performer, educator, and collaborator. She received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Missouri–Kansas City, where she also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Conservatory, teaching both group and applied piano lessons.
She earned her Master of Music in piano performance from Michigan State University and was honored to participate in the Brevard Music Festival in Brevard, NC, in 2018, where she performed and gave lectures at various venues.
Actively engaged in professional organizations, Shenwei is a dedicated member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and Mu Phi Epsilon. She has presented multiple times at MTNA National Conferences and served as a judge for MTNA competitions. Her commitment to music education has been recognized through honors including the Kansas City Music Club Scholarship and UMKC Women’s Council Awards in 2022 and 2023 for her innovative work in keyboard pedagogy.
Shenwei serves as the organist at Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church and teaches music at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville. In addition to performing and teaching, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and perfecting her pour-over coffee.
