Draft:Anatoli Taran

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Belarusian accordionist and composer Anatoli Taran

Anatoli Taran (also Anatoliy Taran, Anatoly Taran, Anatol Taran; born August 13, 1986, Slutsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Belarusian accordionist and composer based in Warsaw, Poland. He is known for his technically refined playing and innovative approach to the button accordion, bridging jazz, tango, and Contemporary music. He is a two-time winner of the Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon (2016, 2017) and a jury member at the PIF International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy.[1]

Early life and education

Anatoli Taran was born on August 13, 1986, in Slutsk, Belarus. He had no professional musicians in his family; his mother enrolled him in a music school after recognizing his natural ability. He began formal studies at age 8 under teachers Yu. L. Kantorovich and V. N. Trofimovich.

From 2001 to 2005, Taran studied at the Minsk State Musical College named after M. I. Glinka (class of V. I. Bashura), where he was admitted at a competitive ratio of three applicants per place. He then enrolled at the Belarusian State Academy of Music (class of A. A. Shuvalov), completing his master's degree in 2011.

Career

Early career and Belarusian Philharmonic (2009–2021)

In 2009, Taran began working at the Belarusian State Philharmonic, where he remained until 2021.[1] During this period he performed extensively across Belarus and internationally, and participated in the ensemble Morfe, which performed original music, and developed the Accordion Show concert programme.[2]

In 2013, he recorded and released his debut solo album Jazz Piece, featuring original accordion compositions with clarinetist Andrei Minkov.

International competition success (2015–2017)

Taran achieved significant international recognition through a series of first-place finishes at major accordion competitions:

  • 2015 – 1st place, PIF Castelfidardo, Italy (Variety, solo)[3]
  • 2015 – 1st place, International Bayan and Accordion Festival, Moscow, Russia (Light Music category)
  • October 2016 – 1st prize, 66th Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon, Portimão, Portugal (Senior Variety). Belarusian media described Taran as "World Accordion Champion."[4]
  • 2017 – Grand Prix, Trophée Accordéopale, Berck-sur-Mer, France
  • 2017 – 1st prize, 67th Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon, France (Taran Trio, Jazz category)

In 2015, Taran was also awarded the Gaude Polonia scholarship by the Polish Ministry of Culture, which funded studies in the jazz faculty of the Academy of Music in Gdańsk, at the Yves Moulin Academy in Orsières, Switzerland, and at the Royal Academy of Music in Mons, Belgium.[5]

Taran Trio (2016–2021)

In 2016, Taran founded the Taran Trio, comprising Anatoli Taran (accordion), Hovhannes Avanesyan (percussion), and Sasha Yefimov (bass). The trio toured extensively through Belarus and performed at festivals in Lithuania, Belgium, and France.[5]

In 2018, the Taran Trio released an EP comprising three compositions. The same year, Taran released his solo album Solo, featuring his interpretations of works by renowned composers including Richard Galliano, Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, and Biréli Lagrène.

In January 2020, the Taran Trio performed alongside French accordionist Vincent Peirani at the Winter Jazz Minsk Festival in Minsk.

Move to Warsaw and current projects (2022–present)

In 2022, Taran relocated to Warsaw, Poland. He currently leads two ensemble projects:

  • Taran Quartet – a jazz quartet performing contemporary jazz and avant-garde music with original compositions, touring across Europe. In 2024, the quartet released an EP of four compositions, two of which are original works by Taran.
  • Tango d'Amore Project – a tango ensemble exploring styles from classical Buenos Aires tango to nuevo tango, performing at leading venues in Warsaw and throughout Poland.

Collaborations

Taran has collaborated with several notable accordionists:

  • Daniel Mille (France) – joint performance at the Carrefour Mondial de l'Accordéon, Montmagny, Canada (2016)
  • Yves Moulin (Switzerland) – duo tour through Belarus, Estonia, and Lithuania under the project 100% Accordion (2018)
  • Vincent Peirani (France) – joint concert at Winter Jazz Minsk Festival, Minsk (2020)

Discography

  • 2013 – Jazz Piece (debut solo album; with clarinetist Andrei Minkov)
  • 2018 – Solo – a solo accordion album featuring interpretations of works by Richard Galliano, Chick Corea, Michel Camilo, and Biréli Lagrène
  • 2018 – Taran Trio EP (3 compositions)
  • 2024 – Taran Quartet EP (4 compositions, including 2 original works)
  • 2024 – Silent Water (single)

Awards and honours

  • 2016 – 1st Prize, 66th Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon, Portimão, Portugal[4]
  • 2017 – 1st Prize, 67th Trophée Mondial de l'Accordéon, France (Taran Trio)
  • 2017 – Grand Prix, Trophée Accordéopale, Berck-sur-Mer, France
  • 2019 – Francysk Skaryna Medal, Republic of Belarus[5]
  • Three-time recipient of the Grand Prize of the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus for Support of Talented Youth

Other activities

Since 2016, Taran has been a jury member at the PIF International Accordion Competition in Castelfidardo, Italy,[3][6] and an officially endorsed artist of Victoria Accordions (Italy).[7]

Tour geography

Taran has performed in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Turkey, Armenia, France, Tajikistan, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Germany, and Portugal.

References

  1. "Taran Anatoli (accordion)" (in Russian). State Philharmonic of the Republic of Belarus. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  2. "Accordion Show — Anatoli Taran" (in Russian). vRB.by. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  3. "PIF Castelfidardo 2018 — Daily Report". Accordions Worldwide. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  4. "Баянист Анатолий Таран победил на международном конкурсе в португальском Портимау". Sovetskaya Byelorussia (in Russian). 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  5. "Баянист Анатолий Таран: жить прошлыми победами нельзя". Sovetskaya Byelorussia (in Russian). 2019-04-18. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  6. "AccoPremium — Jury". AccoPremium. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  7. "Anatoly Taran" (in Italian). Victoria Accordions. Retrieved 2024-01-01.

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Belarusian accordionists Category:Belarusian composers Category:People from Slutsk Category:Musicians from Warsaw Category:Accordion