By Shana LiVIGNI

It was the sound of music at the First Baptist Church of Glendale on Saturday night, Feb. 6 when “Ruslan Biryukov & Friends – Cello Ensembles” performed for a crowd of about 350. The chamber concert celebrated some of the finest music written for cellists. The two and a half hour concert included world premiere compositions written by composers Carol Worthey and Deon Nielson Price, and performed by critically acclaimed cello players Ruslan Biryukov, Maksim Velichkin, Hope Easton, Garik Terzian, August Lee and Patricia Ryan accompanied by pianist Mary Au. Composer Worthey’s “Russian Scenes” depicted eight mini-stories set in Russia and Nielson Price presented his original work, “If Life Were to Sing.”
The artists seemed to have had as much fun as the audience.
“I particularly enjoyed really playing the David Popper ‘Suite for Two Cellos, Op. 16.’ It was a warm and encouraging atmosphere on the stage playing with my colleagues,” said producer and artistic director of the “Positive Motions” concert Ruslan Biryukov. “More people are becoming involved with our organization, which is great. The world premiere performances of the new works by composers Carol Worthey and Deon Nielson Price went quite well.”
In this concert, Biryukov stated that compositions written by some of the greatest composers and cellists for cello ensembles were performed, demonstrating the development of the art of cello performance over the last three centuries.
According to organizers, the venue was chosen because the acoustics in the church are “absolutely incredible, just as good, if not better than any concert hall in town.”
Alto Polis Management & Positive Motions Foundation, in association with the Glendale Philharmonic Association and “Positive Motions” Concert Series, presented the Feb. 6 event. The next concert will be “Limor Toren-Immerman & Friends.” The performance will be held on Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Glendale. The church is located at 209 N. Louise St. in Glendale. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the church.
For more information visit www.PositiveMotions.org or www.CelloArt.com.

  Positive Motions, Ruslan Biryukov