Original Impressions
Duo
Viktor Kotov & Raisa Orshansky
We will bring you elegant, candlelight music performed on unique instruments, for all discriminating tastes and all generations.
And now a little about us:
Viktor Kotov is a professionally and classically trained pianist, also playing duduk, melodica, shakuhachi, Irish flute, and guitar.
Viktor was born and educated in Ukraine, in 1998 Viktor immigrated to Israel. For four years he has been working as a pianist for Modern Dances Studio and also performed with a Municipal Folk Band, playing guitar and piano.
In 2003 he moved to Canada. He currently works as a pianist for several ballet schools in Toronto, including Canada’s National Ballet School. He also performs in Toronto playing duduk, piano, and melodica. He plays a wide variety of music styles as well as own compositions.
In 2004, in Toronto Viktor started to play duduk: folk tunes and compositions of his own. People are amazed not only by the beautiful sound of the instrument but even more by Viktor’s creative and talented performance: Maestro’s left hand plays duduk and his right hand is accompanying himself over the piano!!!
In May, 2007 Columbia College of Chicago invited Viktor to perform on duduk in their Elemental Project (Global Folk Traditions course, Music Composition for the Screen program). Viktor played duduk with ensemble “ICE” on the stage of Columbia College, and conducted “Armenian Music Traditions” presentation for the students of the course with Raisa.
Viktor Kotov is a born musician, constantly progressing, always in search of new decisions. Influenced by his favorite rock guitarists Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Dimebag Darrell Viktor had mastered modern performance techniques on the duduk.
Maestro is now at his best “Golden Stage”.
Raisa Orshansky was born and educated in Belarus. In 1994 Raisa immigrated to Israel.
Working as a musician in Ashdod’s Andalusian Orchestra, she toured and recorded songs. Raisa played with Klezmer Ensemble “Korobeiniki” for Municipality of Ashkelon and was granted a Letter of Appreciation.
In 1998 Raisa immigrated to Canada.
In 2002 she joined the Governor General’s Horse Guards Band as an associated member. Within the band, Raisa played the bells and some percussion instruments.
Presently Raisa conducts original Music Therapy Program for seniors, performs in Toronto with various concert programs, and teaches young kids music. Together with Viktor they developed two new musical programs: “Music for Unborn Child” and “Music for Health”.
Raisa recorded and released in Canada two new albums: “Unforgettable trip” and “Original Impression”.
We have become well known in the musical world of Toronto and North America, and certainly we have a lot of great musician friends and colleges. We were invited by Armenian community to play duduk and tsimbaly, and by different Judaic and Catholic organizations. Also, we traveled to the USA, for example to Chicago where we performed for Columbia College students. These are just a few things that we would like you to know about us as musicians and people who are ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU in order to make your special and happy moments UNFORGETTABLE.
