We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Elena Kholodova and have shared our conversation below.
Elena , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I was afraid to trust my organizational instincts in order to work on my own music projects. As a successful classically trained concert pianist, opera coach, and accompanist, I was not aware of how important it is for me to be my own project creator and manager. Starting this year, I am entering a new chapter in my professional career by creating various musical projects full of fun and entertainment. My main goal is to show the art of music as a strong force to connect and inspire people. I would like to take more risks, educate more people about classical music, and create my own audience in Atlanta who will support me as an artist.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a Russian-American musician, opera coach, recitalist, educator, and collaborative pianist. I just recently became an American citizen and I am incredibly grateful to all of my colleagues and friends, especially “THE FLEISCHER LAW FIRM LLC,” who supported me on my path to citizenship. Part of my music education I received in Russia: I studied music at The State Music College for a performing arts in Voronezh and after it I’ve earned my Master and Doctorate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Voronezh Institute of Arts. In 2012 I received Artist Diploma in Opera Coaching from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. During years my education and professional music career I won the International Piano Competition of Vladimir Krainev in Kharkov, Ukraine and became the holder of the title “Best Accompanist” from The International Rimsky-Korsakov Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia. I’ve served as a coach/pianist at Mariinsky Theater, at the Cincinnati Opera Summer Festival, Sarasota Opera, Tyrol Music Festival, and The Atlanta Opera. I am a guest keyboard musician at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and The Atlanta Opera Orchestras. I am working on a new event titled “MA NO OTO” where the audience will have an exclusive immersive experience in various arts. I will keep you all updated on my Instagram and Facebook page as I am very excited to work on it and can’t wait to share it with you all. Alongside MA NA OTO, I am planning a recital series called “GREATEST HITS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.” The first performance in the series is going to be held at the Steinway Galleries in Alpharetta on the 5th of October at 3 p.m.. The program is going to present some of the most famous pieces of classical music such as L. Beethoven “Moonlight Sonata,” C. Debussy “Claire du Lune,” F. Liszt- Paganini “La Campanella” and “Second Hungarian Rhapsody,” and many others.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memories of being powerful goes back to when I was performing the 23rd Concerto by Mozart with the Voronezh Symphony Orchestra at 10 years old. Performing on stage with a conductor, orchestra, and a full house made me realize that if you could find your spark and work hard, everything is possible. Receiving prizes by performing difficult repertoire at competitions and concert tours at large venues made me feel powerful. It truly shaped my character and gave me stamina to build my career in opera, master foreign languages, and emigrate to the USA. Raising 3 kids with my husband as first generation immigrants is challenging. I’m required to have multiple jobs and projects with beautiful but challenging repertoire. This feeling of power has taught me time management and the ability to try new things without a fear. We all have our super powers, so find and develop yours, don’t let your doubts overcome it.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I am incredibly lucky to be serving at multiple cultural institutions like The Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Music Project, Denyse Graves Foundations, Morehouse College, Atlanta Women’s Club, and many others. However, I’ve recently changed my mind about the value of my personal time. As a freelancing musician, who tries to keep money flowing, I came to the realization that balance between time with my family and work is very important. My work includes, creating immersive art events, running my music studio, working on my own music projects, and doing opera gigs. But I realized that I need to spend more time with my family; 3 kids, husband, and prioritize it as life goes by fast. My oldest son, Alex, recently started his first semester at Georgia State University. This was definitely a wake up call for me; realizing that soon all of my kids, which are 8 and 13 years old, will be fully grown adults.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I am eager to stand up for cultural value of music education. For many years I was the part of the project “NOT SO CLASSICAL.” The main idea of this project was to educate the younger generation about classical music. I travelled to perform recitals and give masterclasses to support school programs and educate kids about opera, classical music, and importance of being a well-rounded person in order to achieve your goals in life. It has been well-documented that the value of learning musical instruments is very beneficial for kids. Along with that. it builds confidence, sets up time management skills, and teaches accountability. If you are part of an ensemble, it helps with teamwork skills. Encourage yourself and your kids to learn music, sing in a choir, join band or orchestra, go to concerts, and talk with other musicians. Alongside being a great skill, it is also a lot of fun to understand musicality as you go through everyday life.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I study music and go hiking on various nature trails. To me, both of these share the same beauty. Musical harmony is coded in the sounds, resonance, and emotions and nature is just so perfect in its eternal beauty. With that, I am so fortunate to teach at the Sewanee OperaFest. Here I can truly immerse myself in music with such fantastic colleagues and students of the Sewanee Music Festival and discover new nature trails in the mountains of Tennessee in my spare time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elenakholodova.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaoperacoach/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trk=guest_homepage-basic_nav-header-signin
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063558041986
- Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/piano-recital-greatest-hits-of-classical-music-tickets-1511142882039?aff=oddtdtcreator
Image Credits
#5 the courtesy of Sewanee Music Festival
#7 the courtesy of Sewanee Music Festival
#8 the courtesy of The Atlanta Opera
