Alexander Sevastian has spent his life perfecting the accordion, winning awards and exploring the full range of sounds the instrument can produce. Originally from Russia, Sevastian has been playing the accordion since he was eight years old. He will be in Yorkton on February 15 with his solo acoustic show.
While most people associate the accordion with polka, that's not what Sevastian plays, instead focusing on a wide variety of classical music for the instrument. One of his goals with the accordion has been to expand the repertoire available for the instrument, he explains.
"I had this enormous interest in the instrument and the basic problem was the repertoire. I was trying to develop this side of the accordion as much as I could, so I started looking for new pieces, some new arrangements of classical music, some pieces were composed for me," he says.
Sevastian has won many awards through his playing, and he says he did these competitions to get as many people to hear his music as possible.
"I kept motivation because I wanted to become famous, so the first step was doing competitions, so more people would hear me."
While getting his start in competition, he admits that playing for the general public is a very different experience, and not every performer can make the transition to a concert career. He says that he has been able to do it because he focuses on putting together a show that everyone can enjoy.
"I carefully develop my audience and carefully learn a repertoire that would be interesting to many people. Sometimes they're hard pieces, but at the end of the day it's really rewarding to see people's eyes in the audience and hear people at the end of the show say that it was one of the greatest things they've ever attended. That's a huge accomplishment, and the reward for me," he adds.
In selecting his pieces, Sevastian says that finding a piece that speaks to him is the best way to find one that can connect with a larger audience overall.
"In a piece, I look for emotion. If it's a piece of good music, I can feel what it represents. Joy, sad feelings, nostalgia, love or whatever. I can try to deliver that character in that piece so that people can feel the music the same way I feel."
Playing for audiences is what drives Sevastian, and he compares the experience to eating a favorite food or anything else that gives someone the extra kick of adrenaline in their life. Combined with that, the fact that people have chosen to see him perform makes him feel as though he needs to give them something they'll enjoy and remember for a long time.
"I realize that people have an option of how to spend their evening, and the fact that they came to the accordion concert rather than going to somewhere else, makes me feel very responsible, and gives me an extra kick to deliver my best," he says.
Prairie Debut presents Alexander Sevastian with Stars for Saskatchewan on February 15 at the Anne Portnuff Theatre. Tickets are $30 and available at the Arts Council office or at Welcome Home Floral and Gift Shop on Smith Street East.
