posted by
Helen Kelley on September 30, 2011 12:38
Jamesville resident Andrew Russo is known for his diversity of interests and experiences, whether it be music, business or politics.
At the age of five he began taking piano lessons and at 13, he appeared as a soloist with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Juilliard School in New York City, and then moved overseas to pursue post-graduate studies in Germany and France.
Under the tutelage of his mentor, Frederic Chiu, he toured all over the world and began his career as a representative of American composers and American music.
In 2001, Russo’s non-traditional approach during an appearance as a finalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition launched his career in recording, performance, and as an event curator.
In 2003, he formed a trio called “Real Quiet” with cellist Felix Fan and percussionist David Cossin. The highlight of his recording career was a 2007 Grammy nomination for his Black Box Records release of music by John Corigliano.
While traveling internationally, he stayed true to his Central New York roots, and he created Music Journeys Inc., a nonprofit youth educational foundation serving students in the Syracuse City School District.
Russo’s work with the organization earned him a Post Award and led to a relationship with Le Moyne College, where he spent five years as artist-in-residence and helped found and develop the school’s music program.
His generosity and extraordinary talent will be highlighted at VOICES, a fundraising event for the Hiscock Legal Aid Society and Everson Museum of Art that celebrates the act of finding one’s voice, whether through art or legal advocacy.
Russo helped coordinate the entertainment lineup for VOICES and he will be opening and closing the program with selections from his vast and diverse repertoire.
” I am honored to be a part of this event. Hiscock Legal Aid Society has touched the lives of so many people in Central New York,” Russo said. “The Everson Museum has touched the hearts and minds of art and music lovers for many years. What a wonderful idea to bring these two institutions together in a celebration of our most expressive human feature - the voice."
Russo was nominated by the Republican and Conservative Parties to run for New York State Senate in 2010. His spirited campaign resulted in a narrow defeat, but led to his exploration of a lifelong interest in finance. Russo is currently the president of Lifevest Financial, his own independent financial planning company.
In addition to his support of the Hiscock Legal Aid and Everson Museum of Art’s collaborative VOICES event, Russo is actively involved with several community organizations.
He serves as the chairman of Onondaga County’s Cultural Resources Trust; as a Board and committee member of non-profit agencies that serve developmentally disabled children and adults; and as a founding board member of the Syracuse Philharmonic Society.
He lives in Jamesville with his wife Natalia and two children - Andrei and Mila.
VOICES offers an opportunity for guests to support two organizations that encourage and promote expression. Admission is $125 per person. Reservations are required. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.everson.org.