Alexander Mitenev

Infobox musical artist
Name = Alexander Mitenev


Img_capt = deletable image-caption
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Occupation = Bandoneón player

Born in St. Petersburg (Russia) Alexander (Sasha) Mitenev began playing music at the age of nine. Before his 16 Alexander had already made a lot of appearances in Russia and obtained Dmitry Likhachev Scholarship.

1997 he was accepted to State Academy of Art in St. Petersburg as a student of Professor Nikolay Kravtsov, famous musician, teacher and the inventor of a unique accordion layout which wipes off the distinction between keys and buttons. During seven years of studies Alexander Mitenev worked out his individual way of playing chamber music and popularizing Kravtsov accordion alongside. At the same period he has classes with of J. Mornet, F. Lips, V. Semenov. Also during those years Alexander accomplished studies as a conductor with professors Yury Bogdanov and Victor Savin.

Playing chamber music, Alexander collaborated with famous composers, among them are Eugeny Doga, Isaak Schwartz, Vadim Bibegran and orchestras, among other are Pavel Smirnov Orchestra and Seattle Chamber Players. He's toured Norway, Germany, Finland, Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy. Regularly plays in St. Petersburg.

After graduation from Academy of Art (2004) Alexander forms two ensembles: "Quinta Armonica" and "ClubTango" Tango Quartet to satisfy his great admiration to play chamber and tango music both. Later (2005) "ClubTango" receives Gran-Prix of European Music Festival for youngsters in Belgium.

Another collaboration as a soloist and arranger for "Harmonica" Youth Orchestra brings Alexander to "Citta di Castelfidardo" Award (Italy) to win its First Prize.

Since 2005 he works together with tango communities in Stockholm and St. Petersburg, plays on numerous festivals and milongas, among them: "Tango of White Nights" (Russia), "Sata-Hame Soi" (Finland), "Tango Fest" and "Ransater Folk Festival" (Sweden) etc.

In 2005 Alexander buys his first "Alfred Arnold" bandoneon and copes with it by himself, including it step by step into his programs.

December 2006 Alexander appears as a bandoneonist in "Maria de Buenos Aires" (Astor Piazzolla) tango operita premiere in Moscow together with Pablo Zinger (piano), Leonardo Granados (tenor), Juan Villareal (narrator) and other artists.

September 2007 Alexander Mitenev enters CODARTS Conservatory in Rotterdam to study with maestros Victor Hugo Villena, Leo Vervelde and Gustavo Beytelmann.

External links

* [http://www.bandoneon.org Website of Alexander (Sasha) Mitenev]
*ru icon [http://www.bandoneon.ru/bandeonists/bandeonist_alex_mitenev.php Bandoneonist Alexander Mitenev] founded by Arapova