Zaiarna

Lilia Grigorievna Zaiarna (died January 3, 2008) was a Ukrainian pianist and composer. Known amongst her many admirers and pupils as having an almost impeccable ability to produce INCredible depth of sound and interpretation, she was also known for her vast piano repertoire and her ability to improvise under numerous styles of music.

Biography

Lilia Zaiarna was born in Ukraine to a small family of musicians, first taught by her parents.

Early Career

Zaiarna's first performance took place on Ukrainian television at the age of six. A few years following the event of her performance, she began her studies at the Lysenko School of Music for Gifted Children in Kiev, Ukraine. During her studies at the Lysenko Music School, Zaiarna often appeared before the public in Ukraine and outside of the country in numerous recitals and concerts with the orchestra.

Mid Years

In the National Academy of Music of Ukraine, Lilia Zaiarna studied piano with Vitaliy Sechkin, pianist and composer, where she received her Master’s Degree. After returning from two years with the Kiev State Theater of Opera and Ballet as a coach-accompanist, Zaiarna came back to the National Academy to receive her Certificate of a Professor-Performer while remaining a full-time faculty member at the Kiev Conservatory. During this time, Lilia Zaiarna also performed as a solo pianist and harpsichordist, collaborating with famous Ukrainian musicians Gorohov, Tchervov, Kotorovitch, and Basistuk.

Later Years

In 1994, Zaiarna studied chamber music at the Geneva Conservatory of Music while playing recitals, combining classical repertoire with improvisations in different styles of music. Lilia Zaiarna moved to Miami, Florida in 1999 and began teaching at the New World School of the Arts public magnet school. She has been a coach-accompanist and piano teacher since.

While at NWSA, she has since performed Gershwin's ''Rhapsody in Blue'' with the New World School of the Arts's Wind Ensemble, under its former director Rodester Brandon; and Rachmaninov's ''Second Piano Concerto'' under Alfred Gershfeld, with the New World Symphony Orchestra.

Accomplishments

Zaiarna’s awards include first prizes in the International piano competition in Prague, as well as the Ukrainian Competition in composition.

Throughout her life, Lilia Zaiarna had performed in the Ukraine, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, France, China and the United States.