Alexander Mitenev

Alexander Mitenev
Background information
Occupation(s)	Bandoneón player

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

In 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, he worked out his individual way of playing chamber music and popularizing Kravtsov accordion alongside. At that 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, in 2005, "ClubTango" received 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.

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

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

Awards and scholarships

• 34th “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2009) – I Prize and Diploma;
• 3rd “Libertango” International Award for Astor Piazzolla's music (Lanciano, Italy, 2009) – I Prize and Diploma;
• “46th Internationale Akkordeonwettbewerb” (Klingenthal, Germany, 2009) – I Prize and Diploma;
• 53rd European Music Festival for Young People (Neerpelt, Belgium, 2005) – Gran Prix;
• 29th “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2004) – Gran Prix;
• “Pavel Smirnov” International Festival and Competition “Folk Music Against Drugs” (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2002) – I Prize and Diploma;
• “Hopes, Talents, Masters” Intern. Festival (Dobrich, Bulgaria, 2002) – I Prize and Diploma;
• 47th European Youth Music Festival (Neerpelt, Belgium, 1999) – I Prize and Diploma;
• “Excellence” Diploma from Russian Ministry of Culture (2001);
• “Star of Prometheus” scholarship established by academic Dmitry Likhachev (1997);
• “Baltica-Harmonica” International Prize (St. Petersburg, Russia, 1996) – I Prize and Diploma;

Projects

• “Opera gala” together with Anna Netrebko (soprano) and Erwin Schrott (bas-bariton) (St. Petersburg, 2010);
• “PORUNACABEZA” Project together with Pablo Zinger (piano, USA) and Leonardo Granados (tenor, USA) (Moscow, 2010);
• 1st “AstorFest” International Tango Music Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2010);
• 34th “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2009);
• 3rd “Libertango” International Award for Astor Piazzolla's music (Lanciano, Italy, 2009);
• “AstorFest” International Astor Piazzolla Music Festival (Kiev, Ukraine, 2009);
• “Tango of White Nights” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2009);
• 1st "Odessa Guitar Land" International Competition (Odessa, Ukraine, 2009);
• 5th “Doble Ocho” Tango Festival (Nijmegen, Netherlands);
• “46th Internationale Akkordeonwettbewerb” (Klingenthal, Germany, 2009);
• 6th “Vivat Accordion” International Festival (Klaipėda, Lithuania);
• Gala concerts and lectures in Russian-German House (Kaliningrad, Russia);
• Monthly concerts, appearances and venues together with OTRA Orchestra and “Cuartito Azul” Tango Club in Rotterdam;
• 53rd European Music Festival for Young People (Neerpelt, Belgium, 2005);
• VDF Folk Music Festival (Ransater, Sweden, 2004–2005);
• “Tango of White Nights” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, 2004);
• “Nevskaya Milonga” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, 2005);
• Release of CD album “Obsessed by the Sun” together with “ClubTango” Quartet (2005);
• Scenic premiere of “Maria de Buenos Aires” tango operetta by Astor Piazzolla together with Seattle Chamber Players (Moscow, 2006);
• “Tango Argentino” Intern. Festival (Wuppertal, Germany, 2007) together with OTRA Orchestra;
• “Sata-Hame Soi”, International Festival (Ikaalinen, Finland, 2004–2005);
• 29th “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2004);
• “Tango of White Nights” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2004);
• Release of CD album “Harmonica Forever” together with “Harmonica” Orchestra (2004);
• Membership and activities within Gatchina Philharmonic Society;

External links

• Website of Alexander (Sasha) Mitenev
• (Russian) Bandoneonist Alexander Mitenev founded by Arapova