Local Church Musician Performs In Carnegie Hall

Alina Kiryayeva, an Astoria resident and pianist at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Astoria, will accompany clarinetist Maksim Shtrykov in his New York recital debut in Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall on April 1. The concert is part of the Special Presentation Winners' Series.

A native of Ukraine, Kiryayeva has led Good Shepherd in worship through music since September. She rehearses the choir and performs prelude, postlude, offertory and any incidental music required, as well as accompanying the hymns and, with the choir, the anthem.

Kiryayeva performed her first solo recital at age eight and made her solo debut with orchestral accompaniment three years later, at age 11. She won first prize at the Sonigallia International Competition in Italy and the Grace Welsh and the California Young Artist International Competitions, among others, in the United States. She has been awarded the Fannie Gottlieb-Harkavi and Susan Rose Piano Scholarships. She has traveled extensively throughout the world on recital tours and performed with the Kharkov State Philharmonic and State Opera Theatre Orchestras.

Maksim Shtrykov made his orchestral debut at age 14 and has performed with the Belarussian State Symphonic Orchestra and the Belarussian State Chamber Orchestra in his native Belarus. He is a first prize winner of the Belarus National Woodwind Competition and the D. Bida International Woodwind Competition in Ukraine. He has performed at Columbia University's Miller Theater and at Paul and Morse Recital Halls at the Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan. He is a founding member of the "Reflection" Chamber Trio.

Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. concert are $25 and available at 646-872-2335, 212-247-7800 or www.carnegiehall.com or one hour before the performance at the Weill Recital Hall box office, 151 West 57th St., Manhattan.