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IRENA PORTENKO began her
newsworthy performance career at the age of eight, having
performed Haydn’s Concerto in D Major with the Ukrainian
National Orchestra. Her startling array of appearances has since
been described as possessing “passion, diligence, tenderness and
. . . robust virtuosity” [Ukrainian Weekly, MI, 2000]. Her
distinctly perceptive and courageous musicality has been shared
with orchestras and audiences throughout Europe and America,
including multiple concerto recitals, international
competitions, and festivals.
As soloist and chamber collaborator, Ms. Portenko has appeared
in recitals from Ukraine and Russia to Germany, France, Italy,
United States, and elsewhere. She has given interpretations of
most important works of piano repertoire, has enjoyed
collaborations with exciting composers and performers such as
violinists Andrew Jennings, Walter Verdehr and Jeremy Kittel;
flutist Amy Porter; cellists Anthony Elliot and Natalia Khoma:
tenor George Shirley and bass Stephan Szkafarovsky.
Additionally, she has been pleased to premiere Myroslav Skoryk’s
sonata for Violin and Piano in collaboration with Solomia Soroka
and triptych “Venetian blinds” for solo piano by Michael
Daugherty.
Culminating an extensive body of work, her talents carried her
into the semifinals in the 2002 Gina Bachauer International
Artists Piano Competition (Salt Lake City, UT). She was also a
1999 and 2002 winner of University of Michigan’s Concerto
Competition, 1994 Pierre Lantier International Competition
(Paris, France), and 1993 Prokofiev National Competition (Donetsk,
Ukraine), among others. Currently, Ms. Portenko is working on
the recording of Twenty Four Etudes by F. Chopin and
lecture-presentation of Liszt’s Grandes Études aprčs Paganini.
Ms. Portenko’s particular interest is to explore the
possibilities for developing intercultural relationships within
higher and pre-college music education institutions between the
United States and Ukraine, including exchanging experience in
coordinating the structure of the graduate programs in Ukraine,
while retaining the high quality of its education; organizing
summer music programs, masterclasses and institutes with the
participation of leading Ukrainian musicians in the United
States.
Ms. Portenko has been judging the Solo Piano and Chamber Music
Competition Art of the 21st Century, taught applied piano
curriculum at Albion College (Albion, MI), and keyboard skill
classes and piano performance at University of Michigan Piano
Pedagogy Program. Ms. Portenko holds DMA and MM degrees in Piano
Performance from the University of Michigan, Chamber Music DMA
(equivalent) from Kiev Conservatory (Ukraine), and BM from Kiev
State Conservatory. Her teachers include Logan Skelton, Yong Hi
Moon, Arthur Greene, and Igor Ryabov.
160 Theo.Fremd Ave, • Rye, NY • 10580
Phone: 734-709-6758
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