Elektra Ensemble

The wonderful Elektra Ensemble is even more wonderful now. Their new pianist is Anastasia Seifetdinova. She was born in the Ukraine and is a graduate of the Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg, Germany and holds a Master's Degree from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.

Of her Weill Hall début in 2006, the New York Concert Review wrote, 'For a critic, hearing a new pianist with a truly warm, luscious tone is like breathing the scent of jasmine blooming- a pleasure to be recalled again and again.' She is the recipient of numerous international prizes in piano.

I recently heard them in a sensational dress rehearsal for a concert in Mystic, CT. Their sense of musical unity is superb. They play as one. Anastasia adds a wonderful new dimension to this already exceptional trio.

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation continues to support them in their on-going career.

Gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible and may be sent to: Ferris Burtis Foundation, Berkshire Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257. Help us in our effort to promote brilliant young musical artists like these.

Yevgeny and Benedikt

This afternoon Yevgeny Kutik gave a violin lesson to young Benedikt Winzer in my music studio at Rood Hill Farm. This came about as a result of the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation contributing to Yevgeny's recent recording project. He offered a violin lesson to donors who gave a certain amount. I decided it was too late for me to take up the violin, so I offered it to Benedikt.

He has studied violin for five years. He is eight at present. We played the first movement of a Schubert Sonata for Yevgeny and Yevgeny went to work, helping Benedict with various technical problems. He felt that Benedict is very talented but needs to correct some physical habits before they become damaging.

He worked at relaxing Benedikt's bow arm as well as his left arm and hand. The results were obvious at once.

Benedikt hopes to work with Yevgeny from time to time. Benedict's parents, Andrea and Peter, came in for a part of the session.

Yevgeny in Prague

The Ferris Burtis Music Foundation is proud to join Prince William Lobkowicz in presenting Yevgeny Kutik in his Prague début at the Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle on May 23, 2012. Yevgeny has been under the aegis of the Foundation since winning the Ferris Burtis Scholarship eight years ago.

William Lobkowicz and myself

My very good friend Will is responsible for arranging this concert which will be given for 'Friends of the Princely Collections', the family's art museum located in the Lobkowicz Palace.

The Ferris Burtis Foundation is happy to accept gifts to help further our work with talented young musicians. If you wish to make a gift, send your check to Maeve O'Dea, Berkshire Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257.

Thank you.