Tag Archives: Girma Yifrashewa

Art, Featured

Ethiopian Pianist Girma Yifrashewa at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club

Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Saturday, June 28th, 2014

Washington, D.C. (TADIAS) — Ethiopian pianist and composer Girma Yifrashewa will celebrate the release of his new solo piano album, Love and Peace, with a live performance on July 30th at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

Girma’s latest album was recorded last year in Brooklyn, New York.  Released by the Unseen Worlds record label, the CD features Girma’s arrangement of The Shepherd with the Flute — a short reflective and romantic piece originally composed by the late Professor Ashenafi Kebede — as well as his own compositions based on traditional Ethiopian melodies, such as Ambassel, Chewata, Sememen, and his favorite Elilta.

Following his debut New York appearance at the Issue Project Room in Brooklyn on June 8th, 2013, The New York Times described Girma as offering “a rare and fascinating example of aesthetic adaptation and convergence.”

“Born 1967 in Addis Ababa, Girma Yifrashewa combines the ecstasy of Ethiopian harmony with the grandeur of virtuoso piano technique into an effortlessly enjoyable mixture,” the press release states. “Trained in Bulgarian conservatory, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and the Hochschule fur Music Und Theater in Leipzig as a highly accomplished performer of classical repertoire, Yifrashewa has chosen to remain in Ethiopia, helping to forge a classical tradition for his country. Currently Yifrashewa works to promote Ethiopian and Classical Music by touring throughout Africa and Europe.”


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If You Go:
Girma Yifrashewa in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club
July 30, 2014
7:30PM / $15
7719 Wisconsin Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
Tickets at: www.instantseats.com
www.bethesdabluesjazz.com

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Events, Featured, Reviews

Photos From New York Concert by Pianist Girma Yifrashewa

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Tadias Magazine
Events News

Updated: Monday, June 10th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Classical pianist and composer Girma Yifrashewa performed live to a full house at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 8th. The event was Girma’s first solo appearance in the United States since he made his U.S debut four years ago when he was invited to participate in the International Symposium and Festival “Africa meets North America,” which took place in October of 2009 at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As part of his current tour, the talented pianist will return to the West Coast next month for a performance in Seattle, Washington on July 26th.

In New York, Girma delighted his audience not only with his expert renditions of classics by Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, and Gershwin, but also with his own arrangements based on traditional Ethiopian melodies including “The Shepherd with the Flute” — a short reflective and romantic piece originally composed by the late Professor Ahenafi Kebede.

The second part of Girma’s show was entirely dedicated to his own compositions including Ambassel, Chewata, Sememen, and his favorite Elilta. During his introduction of Elilta, as he concluded the evening, Girma asked the audience what elilta was, and Ethiopian members of the audience vocalized the joyful custom. The concert ended on a celebratory note as the pianist received a standing ovation.

Below is a slideshow of photos from the concert.


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Related:
Girma Yifrashewa: From Chopin to Ethiopia (The New York Times)

If You Go:
Girma Yifrashewa in Seattle
July 26, 2013
Good Shepherd Center Chapel
4649 Sunnyside Ave. N, 4th floor
Seattle, WA
Learn more at: waywardmusic.blogspot.com

Ebs tv Instrumental Music- Girma Yifrashewa- ILILTA from EBS TV on Vimeo.

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Events, Featured

Piano Concert by Girma Yifrashewa in Brooklyn – Saturday June 8th

News: Photos From New York Concert by Pianist Girma Yifrashewa

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Updated: Friday, June 7th, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Ethiopian classical pianist and composer Girma Yifrashewa is scheduled to perform at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 8th.

“A highly accomplished performer of the romantic repertoire, Yifrashewa has chosen to remain in Ethiopia— where classical music is far from a dominant practice— forging a classical tradition for his own country,” organizers said in a press release. “Using traditional tunes as a foundation, Yifrashewa’s compositions combine the ecstasy of Ethiopian harmony with the grandeur of virtuoso piano technique into an effortlessly enjoyable, heady mixture. In this solo piano concert, Yifrashewa performs works by Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, and Mozart, as well as a set of his own Ethiopian informed compositions.”

Girma, who was born in Addis Ababa in 1967, is a graduate of the Yared School of Music and the Sofia State Conservatory of Music in Bulgaria.

“It was in Bulgaria that he made an impact as a solo pianist, performing the works of Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and Debussy, throughout the country until his return to East Africa in 1995,” the event announcement said.
 “He has a preference and well-determined approach to the music of Bach as well as Mozart and Beethoven.”

“Yifrashewa returned to Ethiopia in 1995, teaching piano at the Yared School of Music until 2001. He received scholarships for short-term specialization courses from the British and German Governments, at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1997) and at the Hochschule fur Music Und Theater in Leipzig (1999). Currently Yifrashewa works to promote Ethiopian and Classical Music throughout the continent and beyond.”

Read more at Issue Project Room Org.


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If You Go:
Sat, June 8, 2013 – 8:00pm
TICKETS | $15 / $12 members + students
ISSUE PROJECT ROOM
22 Boerum Place
Downtown Brooklyn
Phone: 718-330-0313
www.issueprojectroom.org
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Events, Featured

Classical Piano Concert by Girma Yifrashewa in Brooklyn

Tadias Magazine
Events News

Published: Friday, May 3rd, 2013

New York (TADIAS) – Ethiopian classical pianist and composer Girma Yifrashewa is scheduled to perform at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn on June 8th.

“A highly accomplished performer of the romantic repertoire, Yifrashewa has chosen to remain in Ethiopia— where classical music is far from a dominant practice— forging a classical tradition for his own country,” organizers said in a press release. “Using traditional tunes as a foundation, Yifrashewa’s compositions combine the ecstasy of Ethiopian harmony with the grandeur of virtuoso piano technique into an effortlessly enjoyable, heady mixture. In this solo piano concert, Yifrashewa performs works by Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, and Mozart, as well as a set of his own Ethiopian informed compositions.”

Girma, who was born in Addis Ababa in 1967, is a graduate of the Yared School of Music and the Sofia State Conservatory of Music in Bulgaria.

“It was in Bulgaria that he made an impact as a solo pianist, performing the works of Schumann, Schubert, Chopin and Debussy, throughout the country until his return to East Africa in 1995,” the event announcement said.
 “He has a preference and well-determined approach to the music of Bach as well as Mozart and Beethoven.”

“Yifrashewa returned to Ethiopia in 1995, teaching piano at the Yared School of Music until 2001. He received scholarships for short-term specialization courses from the British and German Governments, at the Royal Academy of Music in London (1997) and at the Hochschule fur Music Und Theater in Leipzig (1999). Currently Yifrashewa works to promote Ethiopian and Classical Music throughout the continent and beyond.”

Read more at Issue Project Room Org.


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If You Go:
Sat, June 8, 2013 – 8:00pm
TICKETS | $15 / $12 members + students
ISSUE PROJECT ROOM
22 Boerum Place
Downtown Brooklyn
Phone: 718-330-0313
www.issueprojectroom.org
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