Vitaly Starikov in Fredericksburg Sept. 21
FREDERICKSBURG – After earning Silver Medalist honors at the17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June, Russian/Israeli performer Vitaly Starikov will perform here Sunday, September 21, to kick off the Fredericksburg Music Club’s 2025-2026 season of eight concerts.
Seating for the 3 p.m. program in the sanctuary of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 North Llano, will begin at 2:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The performance is free, although goodwill offerings are welcome.
With an unassuming onstage presence and a “willingness less to play at the audience than to draw [them] into musical intimacies” (Dallas Morning News), Starikov is credited for having a bold approach that presents music reflecting not only tradition but also contemporary life that strives to offer new perspectives on familiar music and to introduce lesser-known pieces to wider audiences.
In his Cliburn performance of Bartok’s Second Piano Concerto, Starikov demonstrated, reported a La Scena reviewer, that “he understood this music and gave an impactful, lively and gripping interpretation on all levels: emotionally, architecturally, and in terms of his sound palette.”
Recital and chamber music appearances have taken him around the world -- notably to Austria, Australia, Slovakia, Israel, Cyprus, Italy, France, Belgium and Malaysia -- with highlights including the Sydney Opera House, the Queen Elisabeth Hall and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. This inaugural Cliburn season is taking him to numerous music festivals, symphony orchestra performances and recitals throughout the U.S.
Born into a family of musicians, Starikov’s journey started when his parents enrolled him to sing in a children’s music group at age 3 before he advanced to a school for musically gifted children at 7. He made his concerto debut at age 10 and his first recital three years later before at age 14 that he committed his life to music. After studying at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Starikov went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the conservatory and is now at the Yale School of Music to pursue an artist diploma.
In addition to freewill offerings given at the door on September 21, that afternoon’s performance is also being partially funded by donations from members of the Fredericksburg Music Club. Membership cards for individuals and corporate sponsors wishing to join the Fredericksburg Music Club will also be available at the door.
More information about the FMC or assistance in joining the organization is also available online at http://fredericksburgmusicclub.com/
CUTLINE
SILVER MEDALIST at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition -- Vitaly Starikov -- will help open the Fredericksburg Music Club’s 2025-2026 season of eight performances on Sunday, Sept. 25, when he performs beginning at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 North Llano.