Yaroslav Senyshyn


Yaroslav Senyshyn, also known as Slava, is a Canadian pianist, author, and professor of philosophy of music aesthetics, philosophy and moral education at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Education. He has been described as a "pianist of enormous power and sophisticated finger work".

Education

Senyshyn was one of two pupils of Antonina Yaroshevich, from the Kiev Conservatory, and of Canadian pianist and composer, Larysa Kuzmenko. He has also studied with Damjana Bratuz, Howard Munn, Clifford von Kuster, Katherine Wolpe and Pierre Souverain.
YearDegreeUniversity
1992Ed.D., Philosophy of EducationOntario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
1976B.Ed., EducationUniversity of Toronto
1975M.Mus., Music PerformanceUniversity of Toronto
1973B.Mus., Music PerformanceUniversity of Western Ontario

Contributions

Senyshyn is the former President of the SFUFA and sat as a member-at-large on the CAUT Executive for three years. Within these roles he explored the ethical dimensions under the auspices of moral and aesthetic concerns into national and international problems of governmental authoritarianism in higher education.
Senyshyn is a Professor of Music and Philosophy of Aesthetics and Moral Education at Simon Fraser University's Faculty of Education. He has published extensively in journals such as Philosophy of Music Education Review, the Journal of Educational Thought, Educational Leadership, and the Canadian Journal of Education. In the field of music education, Senyshyn has contributed to teacher education and the professional development of music educators nationally and internationally through his lecture-recitals and publications that focus on the teacher-as-artist and the unique contribution that music makes to arts education.
Senyshyn is noted for his prodigious technique and beauty of sound. He has a huge dynamic range coupled with highly variegated nuances of pianistic tone colour, especially evident, in the pianissimo range. But his highly developed intellect never loses sight of the music's form and innate structure. His repertoire is vast. He is especially known for his Liszt performances that are highly charged and infused with subtle pianistic colors and a blazing virtuosity. He performs and records the standard repertoire along with contemporary works by Larysa Kuzmenko, Donald Cochrane, Reeves Miller, and others.

Research

Senyshyn's research interests have been consistently related to interdisciplinary research in arts and moral education. His method of philosophical analysis draws mainly, but not exclusively, on an existential-phenomenological approach. More recently, his work included a discursive analysis of students' discourse related to performance anxiety that combined a theoretical exploration of social constructionism based on Wittgenstein's philosophy. Within these broad parameters he has focused on various specific topics related to creative performance, teaching and music aesthetics vis-à-vis co-authorship of musical texts, subjectivity, objectivity, and anxiety in the moral-aesthetic fabric of society. Musical concerns have acted as analogies for interdisciplinary and curricular-theoretical educational issues.
Senyshyn is also one of the co-investigators on the Research For Youth, Music and Education and MODAL Research Project, which focuses on researching youth participation and engagement in musical activities, as well as artistic learning research.

DiscographyPlaton Promotions: Yaroslav Senyshyn Discography http://platonpromotions.com/Yaroslav_Senyshyn.html

Performances

Senyshyn's appearances have won him acclaim in many major concert halls throughout the world including New York's Carnegie Hall, Washington's John F. Kennedy Centre, Toronto's St. Lawrence Centre and Massey Hall, and the Bolshoi Hall at the Moscow Conservatory. Georgetown University Radio featured Senyshyn in a program about Canadian pianists, including Glenn Gould, Louis Lortie, Angela Hewitt, and Anton Kuerti. Senyshyn is an official Steinway Artist, as well as signed on with Albany Records.
Senyshyn was one of two pianists chosen to represent Canada at the International Tschaikovsky Competition, 1974 in Moscow. More recently he has been a guest performer at various venues and institutions, including the University of Western Ontario. He regularly performs benefit concerts to raise awareness of social justice issues, including annual benefit concerts in Ottawa with his wife in support of Discovery University's courses for the homeless. The benefit concerts contribute to Discovery University and its program of university courses for low-income and homeless people in Ottawa, Ontario.
Senyshyn is also a well-established musical collaborator. He has collaborated with sitar player Sanjoy Bandopadhyay.
Senyshyn will be releasing two of William David Smith's compositions, Images on the Albany Records label in the near future in a 'live' album along with his wife, Susan O'Neill-Senyshyn. Together they will feature the works of Franck and Ibert for piano and flute. Senyshyn will also perform, live on this album, solo works of Liszt and Canadian composers: Larysa Kuzmenko, Reeves Miller and William D. Smith.

Selected publicationsSimon Fraser University: Faculty of Education Faculty Research Profiles http://www.educ.sfu.ca/profiles/?page_id=257

Essay reviews