Sviatoslav Parfionov
Sviatoslav Parfionov was born in Minsk, Belarus. He started his musical education at the age of five, entering the "Children's Music Art School № 1" in piano class, continued at the Minsk State Music College named after M. Glinka, then graduated with honors from the Belarusian State Academy of Music in the class of Lilia Ter-Minasyan, after which he was awarded the qualification of a concert pianist. Parfionov also received a Master of Arts degree in the specialty “Instrumental Performance,” both Piano and Chamber ensemble. During his studies, Parfionov was also expressing an active interest in chamber music, which led to his participation in a piano trio that performed classical, romantic and modern repertoire in concert halls of Belarus (the State Philharmonic), Poland, Germany, and France, as well as various festivals, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. In addition, he played in different duets, quartets, and quintets and collaborated with vocalists such as leading opera singers from the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus, with whom a special program was prepared for a recital in the Palace of Holyroodhouse by kind permission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
As a solo pianist and member of a piano trio, Parfionov participated in various competitions in the Czech Republic, France, and Poland, placing within the top in Belarus and Ukraine, and took part in master classes with Professor Emil Klein in Germany, Professor Rudolf Buchbinder in Switzerland and with the Prague Trio in France. His scientific work and creative activity were recognized at the contest of scientific works of Belarusian students on humanitarian, social and economic sciences (3rd prize) as well as at the republic competition of methodical and creative work of teachers (1st prize).
Parfionov is an avid traveler. Seeking to join this love for traveling with his passion for music, he continued a career of a solo pianist on board of cruise ships of Carnival, Celebrity, and Princess Cruises, playing music that ranged from the classics to jazz, from Broadway to Disney, and contemporary hits, including joint projects with different musicians.
Parfionov began studying organ in 2018, taking private lessons from Belarusian organist Yuri Habrus, a graduate of Joel Speerstra’s class at the University of Gothenburg, Academy of Music and Drama, Sweden. Despite his busy schedule as a pianist, Parfionov started to perform organ concerts, attended organ master classes under the guidance of Johann Trummer (Austria), Daniel Praizner (Poland), Daniel Zaretsky (Russia) and Vladimir Khomyakov (Russia) and participated in Ars Magna Organi festival in Belarus.
At SMU, Parfionov plans to pursue a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance under the tutelage of Professor Stefan Engels. He looks forward to starting the semester and getting to explore new musical horizons.