Alexander Djordjevic, Piano

Biography

Pianist Alexander Djordjevic is known for his "formidable talent and technique," "profound poetic sensitivity" and "elegant, expressive, yet powerful and electrifying playing."   The Washington Post has declared him "a constant infusion of original insight."  Gramophone Magazine proclaimed him "a fine young pianist." 

Alexander Djordjevic's latest CD, Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, is the 2010 recipient of the Hungarian Liszt Society's 35th Annual Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque. Alexander Djordjevic follows an esteemed list of notable pianists who have received this honor for their Liszt recordings including Claudio Arrau, Lazar Berman, Jorge Bolet, Alfred Brendel, György Cziffra, Leslie Howard, Vladimir Horowitz, Jenõ Jandó, Zoltán Kocsis, Maurizio Pollini and André Watts.  Mr. Djordjevic received the award and performed a recital on the anniversary of Liszt's birth at the Old Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary.

Gramophone Magazine writes about Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, "Djordjevic brings great subtlety to this well programmed Liszt Disc."  It goes on to write, "… Djordjevic's mastery and commitment are never in doubt.  Listen to the first Elegie's carefully gauged climaxes, the subtle gradations in tone that help flesh out Nuages gris' sparse textures, the warm legato that embraces Romance oubliée's soft chords, or how the pianist imbues the Bagatelle ohne Tonart's grace notes with a convincing jazzy flair."  Phoenix Classical writes, "Through all of these works, Djordjevic displays a deep affinity for Liszt's music, showcasing by turns their profundity, their thoughtfulness and their joy, and in every case transcending any limitations of technique.  Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt by Alexander Djordjevic is a stirring collection of works from one of music's most original artists."

As a Fulbright Scholar, Alexander Djordjevic was a student of the Russian pianist and pedagogue Vitaly Margulis at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany where he was awarded the Aufbaustudium Diploma "With Distinction."  In addition to being named a Fulbright Scholar, Djordjevic was a prizewinner in numerous piano competitions including First Prize, Grace Welsh Prize for Piano; First Prize, Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra's Young Artists Piano Competition; First Prize, Chicago Artists Association Competition; Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition; Nena Wideman Piano Competition, Shreveport, Louisiana; and Union League Civic & Arts Foundation Piano Competition, Chicago.  He was also selected to participate in the Cleveland International Piano Competition; the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, New York; and the New Orleans International Piano Competition.

Alexander Djordjevic has performed as concerto soloist with the Central Oregon Symphony, New Philharmonic, Symphony of Oak Park River Forest, DuPage Symphony, Kankakee Valley Symphony and Danville Symphony.   Mr. Djordjevic's solo recital performances have included the Academy of Arts and Sciences, Belgrade, Yugoslavia; the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, Chicago, Illinois; PianoForte Chicago including Schubertiade Chicago; the Harold Washington Library, Chicago, Illinois; the Steinway Society Recital Series; the 19th Century Club; the Kosciuszko Foundation Auditorium, New York; the Old Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest, Hungary; and various  performances in Germany.  Djordjevic has performed Duo-piano recitals with Dr. Daniel Paul Horn, Dr. Mayumi Kikuchi, and Brenda Huang at various venues including PianoForte Chicago, Nichols Concert Hall, Wheaton College, University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), University of Louisville, Middle Tennessee State University, and University of Akron.

Born in Chicago, Alexander Djordjevic began his piano studies at age three, performing as a concerto soloist at ages twelve and fifteen.   He studied piano at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) where he earned his Undergraduate and Master's degrees and completed the Doctoral coursework.  His teachers have included Gustavo Romero, Joel Shapiro, Vitaly Margulis, William Heiles, Gellert Modos, Sally Bauer and Ann Schein (Aspen).

He has released two CDs:  Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt (2009), which features rarely performed late piano works of Franz Liszt; and Alexander Djordjevic Plays Scarlatti – Beethoven – Chopin – Rachmaninov – Liebermann (2000).

Djordjevic's live performances have been broadcast on various radio stations including WFMT (Chicago) and WCLV (Cleveland) and his latest CD, Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, has already been played on over 30 classical radio stations throughout the United States and Canada.

Mr. Djordjevic is also highly regarded as a piano teacher.  He is currently on the piano faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago and College of DuPage.