Privately sponsored event on Nov. 19, 2008.  Admittance by invitation only.

Introduction: Dr. Wojciech Kocyan

Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am Dr. Wojciech Kocyan and I am the Artistic Director of the Paderewski Music Society in Los Angeles.

Thank you very much for coming. Most of all, thank you, Jane for your generous hospitality, thank you Gina and the Pasadena Conservatory and thank you Chris, the President of the Paderewski Society. Without you this evening would not be possible.

We have a wonderful young pianist with us tonight, the First Prize winner of the Paderewski International Piano Competition, which took place in Poland a year ago.

Even though Mr. Nikita Mndoyants is only 19 years old, the list of his accomplishments as a pianist and a composer is already long. We are truly fortunate that he will be sharing his artistry with us in such an intimate setting. This is how music was really meant to be experienced.

It is exciting to think that Nikita is here because of Paderewski. It is amazing and somewhat bewildering to think that almost a hundred years after Paderewski triumphed on the stages of the world, there is a group of people devoted to promoting his name, his ideals and continuing his legacy. It is extraordinary to realize that really all of us in this room are here tonight because of this great man.

The impact of Paderewski on the world was immense and went well beyond his influence as a famous concert pianist. It was his humanity, his humanitarian and philanthropic activities, his tireless promotion of culture, promotion of understanding between peoples and nations, his involvement on the international political scene, and finally his example of a life of selflessness and of a life lived with great dignity which made him an immortal.

Our Society, through concerts, lectures, publications on music and history and through general promotion of arts and culture aims to uphold the ideals important to Paderewski and aims to continue his work.

We are very grateful for your support. Enjoy the performance.

Piano:

Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941)
Polonaise, Op. 9 no. 6;   Légende, Op. 16 no 1;   Scherzino, Op.10 no.3

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
Three Mazurkas
Op. 33 no. 2, D major; Op. 63 no. 2, F minor; and no. 3, C-sharp minor

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata in C minor, Op. 111
Maestoso. Allegro con brio ed appassionato 
Arietta.  Adagio molto, semplice e cantabile 

Frederic Chopin
Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61

Arno Babadjanian (1921-1983)
Six Pictures:
Improvisation, Traditional, Toccatine, Intermezzo, Chorals, Sasoun Dance

Nikita Mndoyants (b. 1989)         
Variations on a theme by Paganini