Larysa Kuzmenko is a Toronto-based composer and pianist.  Her music has been performed and broadcast throughout the world.  Her choral works have been published by Boosey and Hawkes.

In March of 1992, Ms. Kuzmenko appeared as pianist in the premiere at Jane Mallet Theatre of her Sonata for Cello and Piano.  This work was repeated on a Continuum concert in June of 1992, and was broadcast on Two New Hours in August of 1991.  It was subsequently released on CD.

In 1992, the Royal Canadian College of Organists commissioned a new work for solo organ, “Atlantis”, which has been published by Jaymar Publishing Company.  “Atlantis” was premiered by Michael Bloss on July 15, 1993, in Montreal.  On February 19, 1993, “A Prayer for String Orchestra” was premiered by the Mississauga Sinfonia Chamber Orchestra.  In March of 1993, Tekahionwake for narrator, voice, and piano, based on the life and poetry of Pauline Johnson, was premiered at the George Ignatieff Theatre.  It was commissioned for Classical Cabaret by the Laidlaw Foundation.  On July 24, 1993, The Composers' Orchestra premiered Kuzmenko's Accordion Concerto, with soloist Joseph Macerollo, conducted by Gary Kulesha.  This was broadcast on Two New Hours in the fall of 1993.

Ms. Kuzmenko's Piano Concerto, commissioned by the CBC, was premiered on January 23, 1996 by the Winnipeg Symphony under the direction of Bramwell Tovey, with soloist Christina Petrowska.  In October of 1996, it was performed by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jukka Pekka Saraste.  On July 6, 1998, her song cycle “In search of Eldorado” was premiered by mezzo soprano Catherine Robin.  This work was commissioned by the Laidlaw Foundation, as was her “Suite of Dances” for flute, cello and piano, which was premiered at the Glenn Gould Studio, and released on CD by Musica Viva.

Her solo piano piece “In memoriam:  to the Victims of Chornobyl” (1997), was released on CD by Christina Petrowska.  In November of 1998, Ms. Petrowska toured this work in New York City, China, and Taiwan. In January of 2002, Naida Cole performed this work at the Jane Mallet Theater. This work was subsequently performed throughout the world by several pianists.

In September of 2000, Ms. Kuzmenko was commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council to compose “Lilith”, for English Horn and string quartet, and a concerto for piano, percussion and string orchestra.  “Lilith” was premiered at Jane Mallet Theatre by Mooredale Concerts, and the Concerto was premiered by Beverly Johnston, Mary Kenedi, and the Windsor Symphony, conducted by Susan Haig on January 12, 2001.   Ms. Kuzmenko was commissioned by the Laidlaw Foundation to compose “Capriccio” for string quartet, percussion, and four flutes.  This work was premiered on March 23, 2003, by Mooredale Concerts, with soloists Beverly Johnston and Vicky Blechta.  She was commissioned by the Hannaford Street Silver Band to write a piano concerto that was premiered in November of 2002 with pianist Andrew Burashko and conducted by Gary Kulesha.

In June of 2003, her Impromptu and Toccata for Brass Quintet was premiered in Illinois by the Illinois State University Faculty Brass Quintet. This work was commissioned by the International Women's Brass Conference. “Entre Amis”, for solo cello and piano, was premiered at the Parry Sound Festival on July 20, 2003.  This work was performed by Kristine Bogyo and Anton Kuerti.  On November 15, 2003, “Voice of Hope” for soprano and string orchestra, commissioned by the Vesnivka Choir, was premiered in Toronto with soprano Katerina Tchoubar and the Composer's Orchestra conducted by Gary Kulesha.  This work commemorated the 1932-1933 Famine-Genocide in Ukraine. “Dreams” for SATB Choir and Piano Trio was premiered on July 11, 2004, by the Elora Festival Singers and the Gryphon Trio, conducted by Noel Edison.  This work was commissioned by the Festival and the Trio with the financial assistance of the Laidlaw Foundation, and was subsequently performed again by the Elora Singers with the Gryphon Trio at Jane Mallett Theatre, and then twice by the Iseler Singers with the Gryphon Trio, conducted by Doreen Rao.  Ms. Kuzmenko's cello concerto was premiered on November 25 of 2004 by soloist Shauna Rolston with the Thunder Bay Orchestra, conducted by Geoffrey Moull, a performance that was broadcast by CBC Radio.  This work was commissioned by Shauna Rolston through the Ontario Arts Council.

On March 2008 her choral piece “Gaude Virgo Gloriosa” was premiered at Victoria Chapel by the University of Women's Chorus.  “Gaude Virgo Gloriosa” and “Dreams” have been chosen for publication with Boosey and Hawkes.

Kaori Yamagami premiered Ms. Kuzmenko's “Fantasy” for solo cello on November 20, 2008 in Toronto.  This work was commissioned by the Toronto Women's Music Club. She has been recently commissioned to write a work for the Cantabile Choir in Kingston.  In addition, Ms. Kuzmenko has been commissioned through the Ontario Arts Council to write an orchestral work using aboriginal themes for Orchestra London.  Ms. Kuzmenko was chosen to be a composer in residence in January 2009 for the New Music Festival at the Memorial University in Newfoundland.

In 2010, Larysa Kuzmenko was chosen by the North York Music Festival to be their Senior Festival Composer.  On February 5, 2010, the NYCO presented a concert of her music in Walter Hall at the University of Toronto.  “Polynia” for basset horn, violin, and piano, commissioned by the Riverdale Ensemble through the Ontario Arts Council and her new work “Silver Birds” for solo piano, were both premiered during this event.  Some of the featured artists were, Christina Petrowska-Quilico, Simon Fryer, Lorna MacDonald and the Riverdale Ensemble.

Ms. Kuzmenko is currently on staff at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where she teaches piano, harmony, and composition.

April 1 ~ May 7, 2010

Kuzmenko's Piano Concerto,
Pianist "Christina Petrowska Quilico" on Compact Disc.