This Sunday, December 18th, at 3:00pm, at St. Luke United Methodist Church, you will have the chance to hear this talented couple in concert. They will undoubtedly delight their audience with such extraordinarily beautiful vocal repertoire as Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs as well as Arias and Romances by Bellini, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. After a short intermission Dr. Mikhail Yanovitsky will continue to delight you with Fantasy Op. 17  by Schumann, a couple of the Transcendental Etudes by Liszt, and Vexilla Regis Prodeunt by Liszt. Do not miss this unique performance presented as a part of NBS’s 2011 Distinguished Musicians Concert Series.

Dr. Mikhail Yanovitsky is a world class pianist and a graduate of both the St. Petersburg and Moscow Conservatories, considered among the most prestigious in the world. After journeying to the United States from the former Soviet Union at the age of 23, he was accepted into the renowned Julliard School. His path led him to Gary Graffman, the Director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia at that time. Mr. Graffman, very much impressed by Dr. Yanovitsky and seeking to promote this talented new acquaintance, contacted Nelly Berman. Dr. Yanovitsky quickly became one of the most sought after teachers in the Nelly Berman School. Impressed by his talent, Mrs. Berman recommended Dr. Yanovitsky to Harvey Wedeen, the Chair of Temple University’s Department of Keyboard Instruction. He was accepted into the Doctorate Program and awarded an “An Artist in Residence” status. After winning the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Competition, Dr. Yanovitsky’s career took him all over the nation. After several years away from Philadelphia, Dr. Yanovitsky was invited back to the city with an Artist-in-Residence position at Temple University. He has again joined the illustrious faculty of superb musicians at the Nelly Berman School of Music.

Born in Moldova, lyric soprano Galina Sakhnovskaya has emerged as a young artist of remarkable versatility and great vocal beauty. Galina made her operatic debut with the Delaware Valley Opera Company in Philadelphia, singing the role of Nedda in I Pagliacci in 2001, while still attending the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music, which she completed in 2003 with a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. Ms. Sakhnovskaya’s recital stage debut occurred in 2004 and was presented by the Tri-County Association for Emerging Artists. Ms. Sakhnovskaya has been the recipient of several awards and scholarships which include Washington International Competition in Washington DC, Center for Contemporary Opera Competition in New York, Giulio Gari Foundation International Vocal Competition in New York, New York Vocal Artists Competition, Peabody Conservatory Graduate Performance Diploma Scholarship and grant, and Mayor’s Scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania where Galina received her undergraduate degrees in music and computer science engineering.

Directions from Roosevelt Blvd.  Take US-1 South. Merge onto I-76 W. Take exit 339 on the left to merge onto US-1 S/City Ave. Turn right on to Lancaster Avenue. Then make a right on to Pennswood Road where there’s construction. Go over the little bridge. Make an immediate right after the bridge into the parking lot. The building is on the left. It has a triangular roof.

Directions from the Nelly Berman School of Music. Make a right on to Lancaster Avenue out of the school. Then make a right on to Pennswood Road where there’s construction. Go over the little bridge. Make an immediate right after the bridge into the parking lot. The building is on the left. It has a triangular roof.