As part of our fundraiser for the Felix Project, which is supplying food to groups throughout the COVID-19 crisis to groups including the homeless and NHS staff, Xenia Pestova Bennett, pianist, yoga instructor, performance coach and music lecturer at Nottingham University, gave a concert on the toy piano and the piano on Thursday April 27th. Her programme included a selection of under-represented miniatures by Jeffrey Lewis, Federico Mompou, Clio Montrey, Henk van der Vliet and Yfat Soul Zisso. The focus was on ‘music for healing.’
Xenia Pestova Bennett is a Canadian pianist, educator, and composer known for her innovative approach to contemporary and experimental music. She has gained international recognition for her performances of modern and electroacoustic works, collaborating with renowned composers and pushing the boundaries of traditional piano music. Her repertoire includes works for prepared piano, toy piano, and electronic instruments, demonstrating her versatility and willingness to explore new sonic possibilities.
Her musical journey began with studies in Russia and New Zealand, followed by advanced training in the UK, the Netherlands, France, and Canada. She earned a Doctor of Music degree from McGill University in 2009. Pestova Bennett has received numerous accolades, including the unanimous First Prize at the 2004 Xavier Montsalvatge International Piano Competition in Spain and recognition at the Messiaen International Piano Competition in Paris.
In addition to her performing career, Xenia Pestova Bennett is an educator, currently serving as a professor at the University of Nottingham. She has been actively involved in mentoring young musicians and has given masterclasses and lectures around the world. Her research interests extend to areas such as performance anxiety and the intersection of music with technology.
Throughout her career, Xenia Pestova Bennett has championed contemporary compositions, commissioning and premiering works by composers such as Annea Lockwood, Karlheinz Essl, and Gayle Young. Her discography encompasses nine studio albums, featuring recordings of piano duo works by John Cage and Karlheinz Stockhausen for Naxos Records, as well as her solo debut “Shadow Piano” on the Innova label.
If you have enjoyed Xenia’s performance, feel free to express your appreciation by donating to our fundraiser here: https://m.facebook.com/donate/841775816304627/?fundraiser_source=feed 
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