Meet Our Musicians: Yuri Tomenko, Principal Viola
COME AND SEE Yuri AND THE REST OF YOUR MSO STRING QUINTET PERFORM IN FEBRUARY AS PART OF OUR ENSEMBLE SERIES!
The concerts will be held on February 10th at Epworth United Methodist Church in Rehoboth, DE and on February 11th at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD.
Violist Yuri Tomenko was born in Stavropol, Russia. He received his first musical training when he was six years old at the Youth Music School #1 in Stavropol, where he studied violin with Victoria Tolkacheva. He then continued his violin studies with Igor Pisarev at the Stavropol State School of Arts. As per Mr. Pisarev’s encouragement, Mr. Tomenko also began studying viola, which eventually became his sole instrument of choice. After three years of study under Igor Pisarev, he moved to the USA on scholarship to Washington Adventist University, where his viola teacher was Victor Yuzefovich. Mr. Tomenko further continued his studies with Stephen Wyrczynski at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where he received a Master’s degree in viola performance.
Mr. Tomenko’s appearances on mass media include CBS’ nationally-broadcasted celebration of Leon Fleisher’s Kennedy Center Award performing with Jonathan Biss under the baton of Jaime Laredo. He also performed in orchestral and chamber settings as well as a soloist on the Hope Channel TV network with more than one billion viewers reach, and on Jamaican National television as a member of CUC String Quartet. Currently, Mr. Tomenko is the principal violist of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Past principal positions held were with Apollo Orchestra and the New England Symphonic Ensemble.
Notable musicians with whom Mr. Tomenko has performed include Marin Alsop, Jorge Mester, Andrew Litton, Jaime Laredo, Stefan Jackiw, Meng Su, Jonathan Biss, Manuel Barrueco, Arnaud Sussmann, Gilles Apap, John Rutter and Elmar Oliveira.