Alexei Romanenko

An artist of classical refinement, sterling musicianship, and blazing virtuosity, Russian-born cellist Alexei Romanenko has graced the international stages as one of the most compelling and electrifying artists of today. T.J. Medrek of the Boston Herald hailed his performance stating, “The times when music and musician and musical instrument combine to form an almost mystical union are rare. One such occasion came when Alexei Romanenko dazzled with his playing of Zoltan Kodaly’s Sonata for solo cello.” Beginning his cello studies at the age of six, he won First Prize in the Far-Eastern Competition when he was twelve. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory with professor Valentin Feygin and in 1993 became a Laureate of “New Names,” an international program with extensive touring throughout Russia, and was awarded top prize in the Gnesina College Cello Competition. Upon coming to the United States in 1998, Mr. Romanenko completed an Artist Diploma at the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Bernard Greenhouse and Laurence Lesser. In 1999, he won First Prize at the 8th International Music Competition in Vienna, Austria and in 2000, he was awarded First Prize at the 2nd Web Concert Hall International Auditions. Mr. Romanenko has authored cadenzas for numerous cello concerti and unaccompanied cello compositions and arrangements. His arrangement of J.S. Bach’s Chaconne from Partita No. 2 for violin was featured in his recital at the 2003 Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series. In 2009, he appeared in Vivaldi’s Double Concerto with cellist Matt Haimovitz in the “Cellobration” concert presented by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. In recent seasons, he has performed in such venues as Boston’s Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. and has been heard on the “Voice of America” in Russia, Atlanta’s WABE, and Boston’s WGBH Radio “Classical Performances” and WFMT Chicago. In 2005, he was the featured soloist in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations during the “Greenhouse Celebration” dedicated to the 90th birthday of legendary American cellist, Bernard Greenhouse. Mr. Romanenko’s versatile international performing career as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician have led to appearances as concerto soloist with major orchestras and recital engagements worldwide. This upcoming season, concerts include tours of the United States and Canada performing in major cities such as New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Pasadena, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, and London among others. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Mr. Romanenko currently serves as the principal cellist of the Jacksonville Symphony.