Critical Reviews
CD Releases
|
Piano virtuoso and Fulbright Scholar James Jelasic continues the rich musical heritage established
by his maternal grandfather, Jan Nemec, a composer and playwright in Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s.
In the family tradition, Mr. Jelasic began his piano studies at the age of six, and by the age of
eighteen had twice been featured as a concerto soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Jelasic, a native of Dearborn, Michigan, received his early musical training at the Detroit
Institute of Musical Arts, his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance on full scholarship
from Eastern Michigan University, and his Master of Music degree in Accompanying and Chamber Music
from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He has also done advanced studies at the Sorbonne in
Paris and at Warwick University in Coventry, England. Mr. Jelasic's master teachers include such
distinguished artists as Joseph Gurt in Ypsilanti, Michigan; Gordon Green of the Royal Academy of
Music in London, England; Eugene Bossart in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Martin Katz in Boulder, Colorado,
and Akron, Ohio; and Leonard Hokenson in Augsburg, Germany.
Mr. Jelasic resided for a year in Munich, Germany, under the gracious patronage of the Richard Strauss
Family and while there performed extensively as both soloist and accompanist, and conducted advanced
research into the interpretation of the German Lied. He then moved to Paris, having been awarded
the prestigious Fulbright grant to research the interpretation of the French mélodie with the
internationally acclaimed baritone, Gérard Souzay. At that time, in recognition of Mr. Jelasic's
remarkable abilities as a performer and his demonstrated interest in the French culture, the
Government of France sponsored his residency during the international summer music festival at the
Maurice Ravel Academy in St. Jean-de-Luz, France. During his residency in Paris, Mr. Jelasic was
also a guest lecturer at the American College in Paris/WICE and did extensive concert touring
throughout France and the United Kingdom.
Mr. Jelasic has received critical international acclaim for his appearances with numerous symphony
orchestras and as a collaborative performer in concert recitals. Several of his performances have been
broadcast live by the BBC, Radio France, WGMS in Washington, D.C., and PBS Television. Mr. Jelasic
has performed for U. S. presidents, foreign heads of state, ambassadors, and royalty.
While classically grounded, Mr. Jelasic's musical interests extend to traditional American ballroom
dance music, which he often performs with his highly regarded society dance orchestra. Currently
residing in metropolitan Washington, D.C., Mr. Jelasic maintains a full performance schedule as the
leader of his dance orchestra as well as a classical soloist, accompanist/vocal coach, piano tutor
and recording artist. He is an Adjunct Professor of Music at the Alexandria campus of Northern
Virginia Community College and the Minister of Music at The Falls Church - Episcopal, in Falls
Church, Virginia.
Return to top of page
Critical Reviews
"Mr. Jelasic's pianism was a sound to behold!"
-- Charles McCardell, The Washington Post
"The performance of accompanist, James Jelasic, was shimmering throughout."
-- Roy Guenther, The Washington Post
***** (Five-Star) A Masterful Performance
"James Jelasic's stirring performance of Chopin's waltzes is the finest I've heard. His voicing
technique combined with a precise execution of the music makes this one of the most listenable works
I own. Open a bottle of wine, find a comfortable leather chair, and put on this CD. You won't be disappointed."
-- Mega Music Reviews.com
"James Jelasic - excellent musician with a talent admired by all …impressive and securely facile."
-- Music Critic, Journal de Blois, France
"In his brilliant execution, Jelasic captures and transports us with his art to the imaginary musical
world of Chopin, which is difficult to find in other recordings of Chopin's music. With profound
technique on the piano, when Jelasic plays Chopin, he makes us feel the composer's expression, times,
passages of life, and personality."
-- Eddie Galleno - La Nación, Washington, D.C.
"The performance by James Jelasic & His Dance Band at the Detroit Opera House was very entertaining.
Mr. Jelasic projected his love of music, and contributed greatly to the success of the event hosted
by our president, Jac Nasser."
-- Paulette Moreno - Ford Motor Company
Return to top of page
CD Releases
Enter Club Havana |
Chopin Waltzes |
Chopin Nocturnes |
Ich Liebe Dich
Return to top of page
|
