Anatoliy Torchinskiy's Biography
Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Mr. Torchinskiy began his piano studies nearly forty years ago. As a small child, he won numerous competitions and eventually studied at the Central Ukrainian Music High School for Gifted Children. He studied with Olga Liforenko, Violetta Chernyshova, and Boris Archimovich. He performed as a concert pianist with both the Ukrainian Chamber Orchestra and the Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra on Soviet television.
After immigrating to the United States in 1992, Mr. Torchinskiy continued his studies at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University under Pawel Checinski, earning both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Piano Performance. He began accompanying professionally in 1996 and has been heard in Italy, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the Chicago area, with companies such as da Corneto Opera, Chamber Opera Company Chicago, Genesis Opera, Bellissima Opera, as well as playing live on WFMT radio.
Although known primarily as an accompanist, Mr. Torchinskiy has also developed a reputation as a versatile pianist who coaches instrumentalists and singers alike. Since 2003, he has enjoyed being a part of the opera company at the Acorn Theater as an accompanist. He has also played two solo concerts at the Acorn. Additionally, in the summer of 2008, he played under the baton of Maestro James Conlon as a rehearsal accompanist for Ravinia's production of Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio.
Mr. Torchinskiy has also been active as the principal pianist for Chamber Opera Chicago. He has been both rehearsal and performance pianist for Vanessa by Barber, Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Maria La O by Ernesto Lecuona.
In July of 2010, Mr. Torchinskiy was the rehearsal accompanist for da Corneto Opera's production of Gounod's Faust, and in August, he played a production of Carmen for mezzo-soprano Isola Jones with Opera at the Acorn. In September, he performed as the rehearsal accompanist for the world premiere of the musical reading of Lily and from September through November, he presented two solo recitals at Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake.
In 2011, Mr. Torchinskiy, acting as principal pianist, and Chamber Opera Chicago performed the Chicago premiere of Jane Austen's Persuasion. In July of 2013, they premiered Persuasion in Great Britain, performing in Westminster and Shanklin. They also performed in Chicago and New York that year. In 2014, they returned to Great Britain, performing in Windsor, Bury St. Edmunds, Bath, Margate, and Brighton. In 2015, they toured in Scotland, performing in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. In Edinburgh, they performed at the Fringe Festival, where one reviewer wrote, "The dexterity of Anatoliy Torchinskiy is particularly apparent during his rendition of Haydn's Piano Sonata in D Major." In 2016, the company toured Aberdeen, Sterling, York, London, Stratford Upon Avon, and Lyme Regis.
In 2017, Mr. Torchinskiy has been more active as an accompanist to soloists and small ensembles, both instrumental and vocal. At Northern Illinois University, he accompanied Ya-Chen Jessy Lee and Kayla Steger, both cellists, and performed with a Mendelssohn sextet. At Roosevelt University, he performed with a vocal quartet at a Composers' Concert, performing a work by Patricia Morehead. He also played two solo recitals that year.
In 2018, Mr. Torchinskiy spent time both as a solo performer and with other musicians. He held solo performances in Oakbrook and Rosemont, as well as performing in Forbidden Opera with Chicago Folks Operetta. In November, he appeared with Chicago Fringe Opera in The Long Christmas Dinner by Hindemith. In 2019, in addition to a number of solo performances, he performed with Folks Operetta in Paul Abraham's jazz operetta, The Flower of Hawaii, playing piano and celeste, as well as acting as rehearsal pianist. He also released a CD recoding of his January performance at Skokie Central United Methodist Church, entitled A Winter Evening of Classical Music.
Mr. Torchinskiy is currently dividing his time between teaching, accompanying, and performance.
