Génia (stylized as GéNIA; born in Ukrainian SSR) is a London-based virtuoso concert pianist and composer.[1] Génia was born in Ukraine into the Horowitz family of musicians and scientists.[2] Her repertoire ranges from classical music to contemporary works and her own compositions.
Génia started her studies at the age of four with her great-grandmother, the pianist and pedagogue Regina Horowitz[3] (sister of pianist Vladimir Horowitz and wife of the Soviet economist Evsei Liberman). Génia continued her studies with pianist and teacher Sergei Yushkevitch at the Kharkov Institute of Arts.
In 1999, Génia graduated from Guildhall School of Music earning the Premier Prix. She went on to graduate from Trinity College of Music in 2000, studying with Professor Joan Havill and Douglas Finch where she was runner-up in the TCM Associate Soloist Competition and awarded the Founders Prize for Excellence. In the same year she was awarded the Silver Medal Award from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and the Dame Myra Hess Award.
Her first significant break was being selected as an artist for the Park Lane Young Artist Series, making her London debut in 1998 where she was described by The Times as "an outstanding musician".[4] She later went on to tour the UK, Europe, and the United States performing with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine and Cyprus State Orchestra and playing at the Windsor Festival.
Génia has extensively toured the UK, Europe, and the United States. Her London appearances include Wigmore Hall, Barbican Centre, South Bank Centre, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Olympia London and Cargo. She appeared as a soloist on the soundtracks for the award-winning films "Bookcruncher"[5] and "Paradise Grove".[6] Her recordings and interviews have also featured in various broadcasts on BBC Radio 1, 3, 4, 5 and BBC 4 Proms. She has received critical acclaim for her live performances and contemporary classical releases for Black Box[7] [8] [9] and Nonclassical.[10]
Génia also undertakes educational work and regularly holds workshops and master-classes, lectures and individual tuition. She has taught at Trinity College of Music, Dartington International Summer School and COMA Summer Schools, De Montfort University and Lewis University and CAPMT (USA).
In 2007, Génia created Piano-Yoga, a multi-dimensional method of piano playing, performing and teaching which provides a holistic approach towards playing the piano. Her book on Piano-Yoga was published in 2009.[11] She also her own Piano-Yoga studio from central London as well as giving lessons and hosting courses and retreats worldwide. In 2012, Génia had a series of 6 Piano-Yoga lessons broadcast live on BBC Radio London 94.9 on Jo Good's show. Since then she has been a regular guest on Jo Good's show. In 2013 she hosted a series of Piano-Yoga certificate courses at King's Place in London.
In 2014, Génia released two volumes of her own piano compositions: 'Dreams of Today, Thoughts of Tomorrow' which has been played on BBC Radio and at venues such at The Hurlingham Club London, Theatre de la Photographie et L'Image Nice and Kings Place London. Génia's compositions are regularly played on Classic FM.
GeNIA has a long term relationship with Caffè Nero, since being nominated as a featured classical artist and her music plays regularly in all their branches worldwide, reaching 20,000 people a day. She was also the first classical pianist to perform at Heathrow Terminal 2 in conjunction with Caffè Nero In December 2014.[12]
In 2017, Génia made her debut as a voice over artists as well as appearing as a pianist in the short film '22:22' directed by Charlotte Ginsburg.
In 2019 GéNIA released 2 albums. One on her own label, GéNIA MUSIC, titled ‘Babylon’ followed by 'Memory Waves', released under Chapel Music and recorded for Universal Production Music UK. GéNIA’s music has appeared in the highly acclaimed BBC America TV Show Killing Eve, well-known British ITV series Cold Feet and recently in ITV series Sticks and Stones.
Since 2021 GéNIA started recording and producing her music, learning recording and production skills, based on her personal experience as a recording artist. During this period she recorded and produced 2 singles, Mon Amour (Home Version) and Vicious Circle, followed by the release of her album 'Voyages français' in 2022, which debuted GéNIA as a producer.
During this period she also created the video course 'Transform Your Practice: A Complete 11 Stage Guide'. The course was designed to help intermediate to advanced pianists maximise their home practice. The course covers practical piano and musical advice, physical exercises, meditations, and breathing exercises designed for pianists to help them be more productive and efficient in their day-to-day practice sessions. The video lasts 4 hours 28 minutes, and is structured as 11 separate stages, with accompanying PDFs and exercises.
In 2022 GéNIA founded the charity 'Support Kharkiv Foundation'. The charity was set up to support the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, its surrounding regions and its citizens, as the city has undergone destruction on a huge scale during the Russian invasion. In September 2022 GéNIA organised a fundraising gala concert in London at The Other Palace, where Ukrainian musicians were joined by the legendary British actors Bill Nighy and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The proceeds from the concert were sent to 'Support Kharkiv Foundation' to help children from Kharkiv and its surrounding regions.
In September 2010, Génia featured on "Piano Book No.1" - [13] a suite of piano pieces composed by Gabriel Prokofiev released by Nonclassical and distributed by Naxos in America.
'Suite For Piano And Electronics', Génia/John Richards, was released in 2007 on the Nonclassical label.[14] It featured re-mixes by dance producers The EarlyMan, Max de Wardener, kREEPA, Gabriel Prokofiev, Derailer, Trevor Goodchilde, Germ and Vex'd.
In 1999 she released 'Transformations' with the Russian violinist Roman Mints.
In 2000 she released 'GéNIA: Unveiled'[15] interpreting the works of 4 Russian women composers spanning 4 generations: Sofia Gubaidulina, Galina Ustvolskaya, Elena Firsova, and Lena Langer.
In 2014 she released two volumes of her own compositions named 'Dreams of Today, Thoughts of Tomorrow'.
In 2019 she released 'Babylon', an album of her own compositions.
In 2019 she released 'Memory Waves' an album of solo piano music released under Chapel Music and recorded for Universal Production Music UK.
In 2022 she released 'Voyages français' an album of her own compositions inspired by her frequent journeys to France.
GéNIA’s compositions have appeared in the BBC America TV series 'Killing Eve', the popular British series 'Cold Feet', as well as the ITV series 'Sticks and Stones' and 'Close to Me'. Her music can also regularly be heard at Caffè Nero during morning hours.
Génia commissions works particularly developing the repertoire for piano and electronics, and collaborated with an eclectic range of artists and composers including Patrick Nunn, Nik Bärtsch, John Richards (musician), Gabriel Prokofiev, Karen Tanaka.
In 2003, Génia was involved in Contemporary Infrasonic at the Southbank Centre,[16] an experimental project into the effect of infrasound (ultra-low-frequency at or below the bottom of the frequency range audible to the human ear) using a grand piano.
In 2018 GéNIA collaborated with the group VOID, who recorded an electronic version of her piece Aphrodite, which was released on her label.
In 2022 GéNIA collaborated with the Italian composer, Paolo Cognetti by releasing his piano solo arrangement of the famous Italian folk song 'Bella Ciao'. All the proceeds from this song, the artists are sending to 'Support Kharkiv Foundation' to help the children of Kharkiv and its regions.
In 2022 GéNIA collaborated with electronic musician Bradley Russeau premiering at The Other Palace in London, their joint composition dedicated to Kharkiv and its citizens.
In 2022 GéNIA collaborated with the legendary British actors Bill Nighy and Chiwetel Ejiofor by inviting them to participate in the fundraising concert, which she organised in order to raise funds for the children of Kharkiv and its surrounding regions.