Internationally acclaimed Russian born classical music pianist Pavel Timofeyevsky makes his debut in Kenya with three charity concerts in Nairobi next week.
He is based in London and is the recent winner of the BBC/Guardian young composer of the year award.
His concerts are a first for an initiative dubbed 'Nairobi classical music series' that is aimed at advancing classical music in the country through quality concerts and exposure to world class artistes.
On this maiden visit to Kenya, Pavel will perform two concerts at the Michael Joseph Centre on January 27 and 28 and a final one at the Kenya National Theatre.
An early photo pf the National Youth Orchestra of Kenya
His concerts will raise funds for the Art of Music Foundation that provides transformative music education to disadvantaged children at the Korogocho Slums and also supports the National Youth Orchestra of Kenya.
The concerts will include a talk to music students as a way to harness their skills and awareness of classical music.
He is upbeat about the tour ,both for the music and exposure to the country.
“It’s not all just music for me but it is an occasion to know this great country and get to interact with young classical musicians,” said Paval.
He comes at a time that Kenya is experiencing a major revival in classical music with the genre breaking barriers across the generations and social class.
There is a growing movement of classical musicians around the world that has enriched the repertoire and attracted younger audience.
His tour follows that of renown Polish classical music pianist Janusz Olejuniczak, best known as the hands that were seen on the Oscar Award-winning movie The Piano, playing Concerto on C minor by the legendary Austrian 18th Century composer.
The Nairobi Ochestra. At the front is Richard Moss.
Just a decade ago, the genre appeared on the decline, with only the Nairobi Orchestra formed in 1947 serving this genre. The story of the Orchestra is captured in the book Quavers near the Equator, which chronicles the history of classical music in the country — from its humble beginnings when it was supported almost entirely by elderly white community to the now burgeoning scenes that is attracting youthful Kenyans across the social spectrum.
At the moment, Kenya has three orchestras that are providing opportunity to scores of emerging artists. “We are having more young people coming to our concerts and there is the awareness of classical music is much greater now than ever," says Richard Moss, the administrator Nairobi Orchestra.
The Ghetto Classics project, initiated by Levi Wataka, is helping to expand the scope by introducing budding musicians from the Korogocho slums to the music through providing tuition and performance opportunities to youths from disadvantaged communities who have never had exposure to classical music.
He admits that there are challenges in getting quality music teachers but the kids are undaunted in their desire to learn the range of instruments from piano, cellos, violins etc.
“It’s a struggle but we are getting there and their energy matches the challenges that they encounter," said Wataka.
Internationally, China is currently the wonderland for classical music, where thousands of youthful classical musicians are invading the world space with superlative skills and discipline that is expected to dominate the global scene.
An early photo pf the National Youth Orchestra of Kenya
This observation was first made by British conductor of the Worthing symphony Orchestra, who was in Kenya two years ago to conduct the Nairobi Orchestra and predicted that the Asian giant could well dominate this genre in the near future.
In an interview, Paval echoes the sentiments regarding China and saw it as part of the growth that will sustain this music. “I toured there last March with a cello player and played to full houses mostly of young people," he said.
The view is shared by Richard Moss who together with his wife Julian have been pillars of the music in Kenya. They received individual OBE from the British monarch Queen Elizabeth 11 for their work in developing classical music in Kenya.
He notes the enormous enthusiasm towards classical music in Asia and kids putting long hours in learning various instruments and the results are telling. “It is a general trend that
I have noted even among youths from the Far East residing in Nairobi," said Moss.
He says the culture of discipline and hard work that are treasured by the people of the Far East and China in particular form a solid base in learning of classical music and is a driving factor in the growth of the genre in the region.
“Many of them have no intention of becoming professional musicians but are seeking highest possible grades and proficiency even as they eye careers in other fields," said Moss.
Generally, it takes high concentration and discipline to excel in the music where every detail has to be followed to the letter in a music that is uncompromising in its teaching method and expectations of the player.
Pianist Pavel Timofeyevsky
"In fact, it is a lifelong pursuit and serious artistes attend summer camps to constantly update and refresh their skills," says Moss.
During a tour to Kenya to conduct the Nairobi Orchestra British conductor, Damien Penford said conductors are being engaged to train senior corporate officials on worker motivation and human resource management.
The thinking is that a conductor able to motivate a hundred or so musicians in performance has a lot to teach management staff on motivation and team building. But it helps in other areas too, including soci0-economic development.
In an earlier interview, Elizabeth Njoroge, director of the National Youth Orchestra, said the youth orchestra is a tool in fostering social integration.
“We recruit across the socio-economic divide both for musicianship but also to create a forum where youths from different socio-economic backgrounds can interact as a way towards breaking social barriers," said Njoroge.
Classical music is also expanding, both in perceptions and in concept, and is reaching out to younger audiences who are more inclined to pop music.
Moss notes the inclusion of pop music, particularly the popularity of the Beatles hit Hey Jude, among major orchestras and the recording of the late Michael Jackson song Smooth Young Criminal by the Polish duo under the banner Two Cellos has helped to cross the stereotypes of old European traditions and entice a youthful pop audience.
There is also the issue of global relevance and Paval notes that classical music embraces African influences for universal appeal.
“We have example of two great American composers George Crumb and John Cage who have Africa ingredients in their works. The 19th Century French composer Camile Saen-sans also did this on his pieces Africa and Algerian Suite for piano and Orchestra,” he said.
Paval even considers the tag classical limiting and would rather have it viewed simply as music.
He is passionate about the music and cites its uniqueness, describing it as the purest form of music that does not fall within restrictions of time or rules.
“It connects with people the way no other music with words does and sometimes, the sounds you hear are more honest than words... It speaks to people at another level and can take you on an amazing journey that can move one in a deep and profound way," he concludes.