Andrew Russo
Encyclopedia
Andrew C. Russo is an American
pianist
. Russo was born in Syracuse
, New York
, and studied music in New York City and Europe. He started a nonprofit youth educational foundation in New York at the age of 25 and recorded albums in the 2000s. In 2005, Russo became director of music at Le Moyne College
, where works as an artist in residence
. He was an unsuccessful Republican
candidate for the 49th New York State Senate
district in the 2010 state election
.
. He is a native of Syracuse
, New York
, and graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School
in 1993. Russo received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School
in New York City and did post-graduate study in France and Germany. He participated in the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
in 1998, returned to New York at the age of 25, and created Music Journeys Inc., a nonprofit youth educational foundation. Russo played in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
in 2001, and released Voice of the Whale, an album of songs by composer George Crumb
, for the British label Black Box Records in 2002.
Subsequent albums for Black Box, Corigliano: Violin Sonata; Etude Fantasy; Fantasia on an Ostinato; Chiaroscuro (2006), Aaron Jay Kernis: 100 Greatest Dance Hits (2007), Paul Schoenfield: Four Parables; Four Souvenirs; Café Music (2007), and Mix Tape (2008) received positive reviews by Allmusic. Russo's 2007 album Dirty Little Secret for Endeavour Classics was favorably reviewed by Allmusic and The New York Times
.
district as a Republican
in the 2010 state election
. He had become a registered Republican on June 24, 2009 and was previously registered as a Democrat from 1995 to 2006, when he changed his registration to independent. The 49th Senate district is represented since 2005 by Democrat
David Valesky
. Russo named as his goals the implementation of term limits, the reduction of taxes, a spending freeze, and the removal of discretionary spending by individual senators. Russo attacked Valesky over his support for same-sex marriage
and for "broken promises", "painful tax hikes", and "failed leadership". In December 2009, The Post-Standard reported that Russo had rarely voted since registering in 2001. Russo maintained he had voted in 2006 and 2008, and had failed to vote more often because he had lived outside of the country. Michael Long, chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State, stated on March 3, 2010, that Russo would be the Conservative Party candidate over of his Republican contender, East Syracuse
mayor Danny Liedka
. In May 2010, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee endorsed Russo over Liedka for the primary election.
Russo won the primary election on September 14 and became the Republican and Conservative candidate. Russo sought to run on the Taxpayers Party of New York
ballot line but New York State Board of Elections
spokesman John Conklin stated on September 10, 2010, that too many of Russo's collected signatures were determined to be invalid for him to receive the line. Valesky's campaign staff criticized Russo afterwards for having "no clue who is in this senate district".
In the general election, Valesky had a lead in early October in fundraising and opinion polling. Russo's campaign sought to portrait Valesky as a professional politician dependent on his party leadership and Valesky's campaign played up Russo's incomplete voting record and absence from the state. Russo's campaign publicly demanded Valesky return donation from Democratic State Senate leaders, whose names were included in a government report alleging unethical business dealings. Valesky's campaign in turn requested Russo return donations originating in the Seneca Nation of New York
, which is suing New York over taxes on reservations. The candidates and their parties committed about two million dollars combined to the election, because the election could decide what party wins a majority in the New York State Senate. The Post-Standard on November 2, 2010, predicted the election to be close. Russo lost to Valesky.
, New York
, and works as an artist in residence
at Le Moyne College
, where he became director of music in 2005. He is married to Natalia Chepurnova.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
. Russo was born in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and studied music in New York City and Europe. He started a nonprofit youth educational foundation in New York at the age of 25 and recorded albums in the 2000s. In 2005, Russo became director of music at Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College, named after Simon Le Moyne, is a private, Jesuit college enrolling over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1946, Le Moyne is the first Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution...
, where works as an artist in residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
. He was an unsuccessful Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for the 49th New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
district in the 2010 state election
New York state elections, 2010
The 2010 New York state elections took place on November 2, 2010. These included elections for both Senate seats and a gubernatorial election....
.
Early life and career
Russo was born to a father of the same name who played baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He is a native of Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and graduated from Fayetteville-Manlius High School
Fayetteville-Manlius High School
Fayetteville-Manlius High School is a comprehensive New York public high school on East Seneca Turnpike in the Town of Manlius, serving grades 9-12 in the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District. It is the only high school in the district, and is the successor to both Wellwood Middle School...
in 1993. Russo received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City and did post-graduate study in France and Germany. He participated in the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition
The Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition is based in Salt Lake City, Utah and is the second largest piano competition in the United States....
in 1998, returned to New York at the age of 25, and created Music Journeys Inc., a nonprofit youth educational foundation. Russo played in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition was first held in 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas and is hosted by Van Cliburn Foundation. It was created by Fort Worth area teachers in honor of Van Cliburn, who had won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition four years prior with Tchaikovsky's...
in 2001, and released Voice of the Whale, an album of songs by composer George Crumb
George Crumb
George Crumb is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He is noted as an explorer of unusual timbres, alternative forms of notation, and extended instrumental and vocal techniques. Examples include seagull effect for the cello , metallic vibrato for the piano George Crumb (born...
, for the British label Black Box Records in 2002.
Subsequent albums for Black Box, Corigliano: Violin Sonata; Etude Fantasy; Fantasia on an Ostinato; Chiaroscuro (2006), Aaron Jay Kernis: 100 Greatest Dance Hits (2007), Paul Schoenfield: Four Parables; Four Souvenirs; Café Music (2007), and Mix Tape (2008) received positive reviews by Allmusic. Russo's 2007 album Dirty Little Secret for Endeavour Classics was favorably reviewed by Allmusic and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Politics
In November 2009, Russo announced his candidacy for the 49th New York State SenateNew York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
district as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in the 2010 state election
New York state elections, 2010
The 2010 New York state elections took place on November 2, 2010. These included elections for both Senate seats and a gubernatorial election....
. He had become a registered Republican on June 24, 2009 and was previously registered as a Democrat from 1995 to 2006, when he changed his registration to independent. The 49th Senate district is represented since 2005 by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
David Valesky
David Valesky
David J. Valesky is a member of the New York State Senate and the Vice President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.He is a Democrat representing the mostly rural 49th Senate District, which encompasses the city of Rome in Oneida County, all of Madison County, eastern and southern Onondaga County,...
. Russo named as his goals the implementation of term limits, the reduction of taxes, a spending freeze, and the removal of discretionary spending by individual senators. Russo attacked Valesky over his support for same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in New York
Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of New York became legal on July 24, 2011, under the Marriage Equality Act, which was passed on June 24, 2011, by the New York State Legislature and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on the same day...
and for "broken promises", "painful tax hikes", and "failed leadership". In December 2009, The Post-Standard reported that Russo had rarely voted since registering in 2001. Russo maintained he had voted in 2006 and 2008, and had failed to vote more often because he had lived outside of the country. Michael Long, chairman of the Conservative Party of New York State, stated on March 3, 2010, that Russo would be the Conservative Party candidate over of his Republican contender, East Syracuse
East Syracuse, New York
East Syracuse is an incorporated village and a suburb of the City of Syracuse in eastern Onondaga County, New York. United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the village had a population of 3,178....
mayor Danny Liedka
Danny Liedka
Danny J. Liedka is the current mayor of East Syracuse, New York.Liedka was first elected to the Village of East Syracuse Board as a Trustee in 2003, and was reelected in 2005. In 2007, he was elected Mayor after being the first candidate in Village history to secure the endorsement of all three...
. In May 2010, the Senate Republican Campaign Committee endorsed Russo over Liedka for the primary election.
Russo won the primary election on September 14 and became the Republican and Conservative candidate. Russo sought to run on the Taxpayers Party of New York
Taxpayers Party of New York
The Taxpayers Party of New York State was an American political party active in the state of New York. It was not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the U.S. Taxpayers' Party , which predates it by 18 years, or the Tax Revolt Party active in Nassau County...
ballot line but New York State Board of Elections
New York State Board of Elections
The New York State Board of Elections is a bipartisan agency of the state of New York responsible for enforcement and administration of election-related laws of the state.- External links :*...
spokesman John Conklin stated on September 10, 2010, that too many of Russo's collected signatures were determined to be invalid for him to receive the line. Valesky's campaign staff criticized Russo afterwards for having "no clue who is in this senate district".
In the general election, Valesky had a lead in early October in fundraising and opinion polling. Russo's campaign sought to portrait Valesky as a professional politician dependent on his party leadership and Valesky's campaign played up Russo's incomplete voting record and absence from the state. Russo's campaign publicly demanded Valesky return donation from Democratic State Senate leaders, whose names were included in a government report alleging unethical business dealings. Valesky's campaign in turn requested Russo return donations originating in the Seneca Nation of New York
Seneca Nation of New York
The Seneca Nation of New York, also known as the Seneca Nation of Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Seneca people in New York...
, which is suing New York over taxes on reservations. The candidates and their parties committed about two million dollars combined to the election, because the election could decide what party wins a majority in the New York State Senate. The Post-Standard on November 2, 2010, predicted the election to be close. Russo lost to Valesky.
Personal life
Russo lives in FayettevilleFayetteville, New York
Fayetteville is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the village had a population of 4,190. The village is named after Lafayette, a national hero of both France and the United States...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and works as an artist in residence
Artist in residence
Artist-in-residence programs and other residency opportunities allow visiting artists to stay and work so that they may apply singular focus to their art practice....
at Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College
Le Moyne College, named after Simon Le Moyne, is a private, Jesuit college enrolling over 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1946, Le Moyne is the first Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution...
, where he became director of music in 2005. He is married to Natalia Chepurnova.
External links
- Official website
- Andrew Russo for New York State Senate. Campaign website.
- [ Andrew Russo] at Allmusic