By Jesse Bertel

Dmytro Choni, a young Ukrainian pianist and bronze medalist at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, located on the Yavapai College campus, 1100 E. Sheldon St., Prescott.

This is the second of seven concerts presented by the Yavapai Symphony Association (YSA) during its 2023–24 season.<br />

Choni won hearts and accolades with a compelling and colorful musicality that is fortified by a genuine, immediately engaging stage presence.

“Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is one of the most important competitions in the world,” Choni said. “It is an honor to become its laureate — an opportunity to share music with the public and a great support in launching a career.”

At the concert, Choni will perform Beethoven’s Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, op. 26; Debussy’s Les collines d’Anacapri, Et la lune descend sur le temple qui fut, and L’isle joyeuse; Prokofiev’s Sarcasms; Silvestrov’s Three Bagatelles; and Liebermann’s Gargoyles.<br />

“I’ll begin with the A-flat Major Sonata Opus 26 by Beethoven,” Choni said. “It’s a wonderful piece with some unusual decisions by the composer. It was Chopin’s favorite sonata by Beethoven. I hope the audience will love it as well.”

Choni chose the pieces for this performance because they are some of his favorites. “I choose the music I love and feel a particular connection to,” he said. “Then, I build a contrasting program that is exciting for me and interesting for listeners.”

The hardest part of being a musician, for Choni, is narrowing down his choices for each particular performance.

“Every single stage appearance is a certain challenge in a way,” Choni said. “There are so many pieces I would like to play, but it’s impossible to learn everything at once.”

His favorite thing about playing classical piano is that it brings him to “another universe.”

“True art is unique,” he said. “When you let the music inside yourself and live through it, it becomes your own.”

The Yavapai Symphony Association’s 57th annual series continues in 2024 with violinist Stephen Moeckel and friends at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28; the ASU Symphony Orchestra at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11; the New York Philharmonic String Quartet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26; the Phoenix Symphony at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 28; and concludes with the Phoenix Festival Orchestra at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 26.

This series offers Arizona audiences the chance to experience unique, live performances of classical music through the centuries by renowned performing artists. All concerts take place at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center at Yavapai College. Parking is free.

For tickets, call the YSA office Monday through Thursday, at 928-776-4255, or buy at the door. Tickets are not sold online. Discounts offered to full-time college students.

For more information, visit www.yavapaisymphony.org.

Jesse Bertel is a reporter/videographer for the Prescott News Network. Follow him on Twitter @ JesseBertel, email him at jbertel@prescottaz.com, or call 928-445-3333, ext. 2043.