On Monday, November 10 from 5-7 p.m., the Savannah Children’s Choir will present their 2014 Artists in Residence at an open rehearsal at the Savannah Arts Academy Performance Hall, 500 Washington Avenue.

Made possible by the Savannah Friends of Music and Gulfstream, this year’s artists, jazz singer Kate Baker and pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski, will help develop the SCC’s 2014/2015 season theme of “improvisation”.

While here, the artists will visit 2,000 students in fifteen public and private elementary, middle, high school and colleges, and present services ranging from recitals to master classes.                                                                                                                                                                   

The residency culminates in a gala performance of La Boheme on Saturday, November 15 at the SCAD Museum of Art.  Titled “Night in Bohemia”, the event includes a staged production of La Boheme, a pre-concert artists’ talk and a cocktail reception.  Member of the Savannah Children’s Choir’s Premier Choir will also perform on stage with Soukhovetski and opera star Keith Miller and friends.  Tickets are available on the SCC’s website, SavannahChoir.org.

“Rock Star Pianist” Konstantin Soukhovetski premiered his transcription of R. Strauss’ Four Last Songs. Unveiled at L’Esprit du Piano Festival in Bordeaux, (France) Four Last Songs premiered in NYC’s Symphony Space at New York Chamber Music Festival.

This season Konstantin appears with Johannesburg Philharmonic and Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra as part of his South African tour as well as Miami Symphony Orchestra and Auburn Symphony Orchestra. Konstantin is named Artist in Residence at Music In The Mountains Festival in California. His debuts this season include Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Series in New York City.

Recital highlights include the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, Chopin Society of Switzerland in Bern and London’s Wigmore Hall.   Following his 2006 William Petschek Debut Recital Award performance at Alice Tully Hall, in New York’s Lincoln Center, The New York Times headlined its review: “Romanticism so intense it warms up Philip Glass.”

In 2013 Konstantin made his directorial debut as Assistant Music Director of the new opera “Magic Mirror” in Boston. Konstantin’s other theater appearances: narrator with Miami Symphony’s Musimelange performance Stravinsky’s “Soldier’s Tale”, “Forbidden Juilliard” as multiple characters at Juilliard School and Club Makkor in NYC and “Victor or Children in Power” as Young Victor at Moscow State Satire Theatre, Moscow.

Konstantin stars as Pavel Sidorov in feature film “Dishonorable Vendetta”, directed by Andre Josef. His other film credits are “Decent Men” as Reinhard Heydrich, “Carbon Based” as Leibniz, “Hansel and Gretel” as Emil Von Kuhner and Photographer in “Pictures”.

Konstantin is a producer and host of “Real pianists of The Hamptons” – the first ever classical music reality show made at Pianofest in The Hamptons where Konstantin is Artist in Residence since 2011. He appeared on many television and radio interviews including NPR’s “Performance Today” with Fred Child.

Konstantin is an alumnus of The Juilliard School where he has earned his BM, MM, and AD degrees. Born in Moscow to a family of artists he studied at the Moscow Central Special Music School, under the auspices of the Moscow State Conservatory, with Anatoly Ryabov.

Konstantin is a recipient of over 15 awards, including: Second Prize, 2011 Iowa International Piano Competition; Third Prize, 2011 Bosendorfer International Piano Competition; Second Prize and Audience Prize, 2010 Ima Hogg International Competition; First Prize and Audience Prize, 2007 New Orleans International Piano Competition; William Petschek Debut Recital Award; Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans; Second Prize, 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in Pretoria, South Africa; Third Prize, 2003 Cleveland International Piano Competition; The Juilliard School’s Arthur Rubinstein Award; The Juilliard School’s 2003 Gina Bachauer Competition; First Prize, 2002 Hilton Head International Piano Competition; Second Prize, 2002 Walter W. Naumburg International Piano Competition.

Kate Baker’s love of music is the basis for two remarkable talents, as a singer and an educator.

She has a distinctive vocal style and lyrical expression and she has evolved into one of today’s most sought after singers, performing as a guest artist with Big Bands. Kate's debut CD shines with Vic Juris, Richie Cole and the Alto Madness Orchestra.

Ms. Baker’s distinct and authentic sound has excited audiences worldwide. In Europe, she has been a featured vocalist at numerous Jazz events, including the Euro-Meet Jazz Festival, The Carini Jazz Festival and The Pergine Spettacolo Jazz Festival. In the U.S., her festival and concert credits include Berkshire Jazz Festival, The Texaco Jazz Series in NY City, William Paterson Jazz Room Concert Series, Liberty State Park Jazz Concert Festival, The Tarrytown Jazz Festival, The JVC Jazz Festival, The OSPAC Jazz Festival and many more. She has filled the rooms at major NYC area clubs such as: The Blue Note, Birdland, Trumpets and Visiones. 

Kate’s second talent lies in her unique abilities as a voice teacher. Using highly developed vocal instruction methods, Kate specializes in the development and restoration of the voice, especially the abused voice. Having personally overcome a damaged voice, she has dedicated herself to the study of vocal therapy and technique for the past 15 years. As one of the most sought after teachers in the business, Kate has a large student base of professional vocalists. In her studio in New York, she currently coaches several singers under major record labels. Kate also teaches privately at The City College of New York and The New School University of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Kate has been invited to present her vocal workshop in an affiliated program with the New School in Italy. Her position as a vocal clinician has led to invitations to conduct master classes at major institutions throughout the United States and Europe. 

Ms. Baker studied under arranger, composer, pianist and master accompanist Norman Simmons, and is currently performing and recording with Richie Cole and the Alto Madness Orchestra.

For more information, visit www.savannahchoir.org.