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Natasha Paremski's story is one of hard work, resilience, and passion

Melony Dodson talks with Maestro Aram Demirjian and pianist, Natasha Paremski, about the first masterworks concert of the 2024-2025 season.

Pianist, Natasha Paremski, moved to the US at the age of eight with her family, who left Russia due to an unstable and dangerous political and social climate. Piano lessons had been free in Russia and Paremski's family, who came to the US with practically nothing, couldn't afford piano lessons after the move. Natasha said she didn't miss the piano at first, but when she and her mother attended a recital given by pianist, Evgeny Kissin, she was reminded of how much she loved playing the piano. Overcome with emotion, she begged her mother for piano lessons, promising to work hard to become a soloist. Six years later, she made her debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performing the Brahms Piano Concerto at the age of fourteen. Paremski said she practiced 9 to 10 hours a day, determined to "make it" as a soloist.

The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2024-2025 season on Thursday and Friday, September 19th and 20th. On the program is Beethoven's Symphony No.5, Kauyumari by Gabriela Ortiz, and George Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, featuring Natasha Paremski. As usual, performances are at 7:30pm and will be given in the magnificent Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville. Tickets and additional information at https://knoxvillesymphony.com/concert/beethoven-and-gershwin/

Melony calls the beautiful mountains of Boone, N.C., home, although she was born near Greensboro, N.C. There’s just something about those Blue Ridge Mountains that got in her blood and never left after she moved there to attend Appalachian State University (ASU). While at ASU, she majored in piano performance and music therapy and began to cultivate a love for accompanying and for collaborating with other musicians. This soon led her to earn a master’s degree in collaborative piano at the University of Tennessee, which she attended from 2006-2008.