Leonid Karev

Organ

Leonid Karev is a graduate of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire and prize-winner at international organ and composition competitions, among them U.F.A.M. (Paris, 1996), the Marcel Dupré Competition (Chartres, 1998), the Gino Contilli Competition (Messina, 2001) and the Guido of Arezzo Competition (Arezzo, 2002).
He was taught by Professor K.K. Batashov (composition class), Yu.M. Butsko (orchestration class) and N.N. Gureyeva (organ class).
From 1992, Leonid Karev continued his studies in France under Professors Alain Banquart and Michel Merlet for composition and Michel Chapuis, André Isoir and Jean Guillou for organ at the Paris and Boulogne Conservatoires as well as at the École Normale de Musique.
Currently Leonid Karev is the organist of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in Paris and Professor at the Hierres and Auxerre Conservatoires. He performs concerts at festivals in Europe, Russia and the USA.
Leonid Karev's compositions include Dulce memoriae for symphony orchestra, Mots interrompus for organ and symphony orchestra, Chanson des pierres for reciter and orchestra, sonatas for organ, two pianos, violin and piano and numerous other pieces for various instruments.
According to the reviewer of the Moscow Music Herald, "the compositional integrity, the musical language, technically complex though accessible, the stylistic cohesion and the careful respect for materials quoted and for the sound possibilities of an instrumental ensemble – these are the main features of this composer's art." (Moscow Music Herald)