Lilia Valitova earned her Ph.D. at the Piotr Tchaikovski Conservatory in Moscow, from which she also earned graduate and undergraduate degrees. Her dissertation was on music theory. Ms. Valitova studied composition with Professor Albert Leman, harmony with Professor Stepan Grigoriev, and polyphony with Professor Vladimir Protopopov. After she received her doctorate, Ms. Valitova taught music theory at the Academy of Arts in Ufa, Russia.
At the age of thirteen, Ms. Valitova won first place in a regional music competition for youth. This accomplishment enabled her to be accepted at a Special Musical High School for gifted children. In order to enable the young Lilia to attend that school, her family had to move from Salavat to Ufa. Her father gave up his position as Director of Scientific Research to make possible for her to continue studying at a higher level.
Her compositions have been performed in the United States, Russia, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Estonia. Currently Ms. Valitova lives in Northern California where she continues to compose and perform her music.
TESTIMONIALS
"The concert was a lovely gift that at times transported me to another world, peaceful and vibrant. Thank you, Lilia."
Kori Kody, Berkeley, CA.
“A hidden treasure of our community was revealed to us in all her glory. Her musical gifts, technical skill, and mastery of complex and rich material were glorious. Her personal story sounded like a fairy tale! Bravo Lilia.”
Dr. Orna Ariel Lenchner (PhD), Oakland, CA
“I was so happy to be at this concert. I was amazed to learn that Lilia is a composer and that all of the music is her own compositions. I was impressed that she had the entire performance in her head and hands and did not refer to any sheet music. The music itself was beautiful, taking me to another dimension while listening. I have a copy of her CD and when I got home I read her statement about the origin of the photograph on the cover, her philosophy, and her dedication, "to all people who are persecuted because of who they are." Everything about the performance, the CD, the ideas expressed on the inside of the cover, was so special and thoughtfully done. I think Lilia herself is a treasure. I hope in the future more people will come to hear her play the piano and experience her magic quality.”
Gayle Jacobson, Registered Nurse, El Cerrito, CA
“During Lilia's concert at her CD release party, I was transported by her rendition of her remarkable piano compositions. The first half of the program, soulful pieces based on Jewish folk melodies, took me deep into the Jewish villages of earlier times. In the second half, listening to her most recent compositions, I felt as though I were transported to a lovely sunny flower-filled garden, or floating on a skiff in one of Monet's water lily paintings. I often enjoy listening to the Yearning CD, and am eagerly awaiting the release of her next album.”
Shoshana Dembitz, Berkeley, CA
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