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Internationally acclaimed conductor, Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel, serves as Music Director and Conductor, Emeritus of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.
He has optioned his story, “The Last Defector”, for film development with Studio Fifteen. His book is also seeking publication.
Tchivzhel continues to maintain an active guest conducting calendar throughout the USA and internationally.
“Maestro Tchivzhel is, simply put, a master… his music-making is indisputably commanding and communicative,”
Yo-Yo Ma after performing with Tchivzhel in 2004
W
atch the best maestro’s perfomances on YouTube
W
atch the best
maestro’s perfomances on YouTube
P
ress
C
oncert highlights
Maestro Performs “The Majestic Verdi” with GSO: May 2018
- December 24, 2017
- December 24, 2017
Maestro Performs “Humans and Animals” with GSO: April 2018
- December 24, 2017
- December 24, 2017
Maestro Performs “What a Wonderful World” with GSO: April 2018
- December 24, 2017
- December 24, 2017
Maestro Performs “Farewell and Welcome Back” with GSO: March 2018
- December 24, 2017
- December 24, 2017
Maestro Performs “And the Winner Is…” with GSO: March 2018
- December 24, 2017
- December 24, 2017
R
ussian by birth, American by choice
R
ussian by birth,
American by choice
Edvard Tchivzhel, a distinguished conductor, embraced America as his home after a dramatic defection from the Soviet Union in 1991. With his family, he sought freedom in Greenville, South Carolina, amidst political turmoil. Overcoming challenges, Edvard’s talent flourished with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, enhancing its prestige and enriching the community. His journey, marked by resilience and artistic excellence, celebrates his American dream, affirming his choice of liberty and opportunity in his adopted homeland.For more details, you can refer to the pages Defection and 25 Years in America.
Renowned Russian conductor Edvard Tchivzhel’s journey to America is a testament to the pursuit of artistic freedom and personal liberty. In 1991, amidst the collapse of the Soviet Union, Edvard made a life-altering decision to defect during a tour in the United States, seeking a future where he could freely express his art. Settling in Greenville, South Carolina, he quickly became a pivotal figure in the local arts scene. His leadership of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra transformed it into a beacon of cultural excellence. This section of his life story illustrates the profound impact of his choice to become American, weaving his Russian heritage with the ideals and opportunities found in his new homeland.For more insights and a detailed narrative, please take a look at the pages Defection and 25 Years in America.
T
he Last Defector
Tchivzhel has partnered with Studio 15 to develop a film about his amazing personal story, chronicling his defection from the USSR in 1991.
Tchivzhel has partnered with Studio 15 to develop a film about his amazing personal story, chronicling his defection from the USSR in 1991.
SYNOPSIS
The incredible life stories of Edvard Tchivzhel and Lena Forster—a stunning biopic dramatizing Tchivzhel’s daring defection, Forster’s courageous pursuit of freedom for a fellow artist and his family, and the fruitful artistic careers that followed.
TEAM
A
wards
- Winner of the Third National Soviet Conducting Competition, 1971
- Congressional Johnny Appleseed Award (Indiana, USA 2004)
- Honored Artist of the Karelian Republic, 1982
- Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel Day (South Carolina, USA 2011)
- Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, 1986
- Order of the Palmetto (South Carolina, USA 2016)
