Arnold Popkin Plays More Favourite Chopin. Volume 7 of 8

Описание: Biography - Dr. Arnold Popkin

Arnold Popkin grew up in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of a professional violinist. At age 3, he was found to have perfect pitch, and began piano lessons. He added violin lessons at age 7. Although the piano was always his main instrument, he played the violin well enough to be the concertmaster of both his high school orchestra and the Trenton Youth Symphony. Despite his great love for music, he knew from a young age that it would not be his career, but would still be a very important part of his life.

He attended the University of Pennsylvania for 12 years, becoming a medical doctor and specializing in Ophthalmology. After practicing in the Princeton, New Jersey, area for 14 years, he and his family moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, where he has been an Ophthalmologist since 1980, with a special interest in the fitting of contact lenses.

He has studied with many fine piano teachers, including Eleanor Sokoloff of Philadelphia, who taught at the Curtis Institute for many years; Mathilde McKinney of Princeton, a former student of Josef Lhevinne; and Content Sablinsky of Charlottesville, a former student of Egon Petri and Darius Milhaud. His most recent teacher was the brilliant young pianist, Yuliya Gorenman, of Silver Spring, Maryland.

Dr. Popkin has given over 20 solo recitals at the University of Virginia, and frequently performs for charities, performing arts centers, and retirement communities throughout Virginia and neighboring states. In addition, he greatly enjoys chamber music, and has performed with many fine professional violinists, cellists, and singers.

Selections from his CD's of piano favorites are frequently played on classical music stations in central Virginia. This present CD is his eighth, and he plans to record two new CD's each year. Future CD's will include a second CD of serene music, a second one of Spanish and Latin American music, the music of Liszt, the music of Grieg, and music by Russian composers.

In June, 1999, he was one of 91 pianists from 10 countries who participated in the first Van Cliburn Competition for Outstanding Amateurs held in Fort Worth, Texas. He also participated in the Northeastern Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Ridgewood, New Jersey in both 2000 and 2001. He was a semi-finalist both times, and in 2000, won an award for the best performance of a composition from the 20th century.

He lives in the mountains of Nelson County, 30 miles south of Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife Phyllis, "The Laughter Lady," who presents workshops on humor and stress reduction. They have two grown daughters - Linda, a horse trainer in Florida, and Sheila, a professional bassoonist in the Norwegian Broadcasting Orchestra, and one granddaughter, Claire. The Popkins also have two very special canine friends - their Shih Tzu dogs, Pixie and Rocky, and their three cats, Shadow, Gypsy, and Lucy.

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