Update!

Hi Everyone,

In June you can catch me at the following locations:

This week I will be playing on Friday (June 11) at Java Joys at 1009 N Washington in Janesville from 7 until 9 pm.

Next week I will be playing at the Janesville Armory on Saturday, June 19 from 6 until 9 pm.

Week after that I will be at the Janesville Armory on Friday, June 25 from 6 until 9 pm.

I am staying quite busy this summer playing for several weddings and private parties but I still have a few dates available. Looking for a great piano sound to make your occasion special? Call or email me!

You can purchase my CDs at my performances as well as at several stores in the area (Java Joys, Bookworld, Fairview Florist, Gathering Place and others).

Discover Janesville is humming along and we have just taped two new episodes which were sponsored by Alliant Energy (thanks!!):

Episode #17 centered on the Future Leaders and includes interviews with Matt Kealy, Dave Marling, Sam Liebert and Britten Grafft. This episode is already available at DiscoverJanesville.com and is being broadcast on JATV.

Episode #18 centered on continuing to discover Janesville's attractions and includes interviews with Christine Rebout talking about the Janesville Mile, Meredith Helgerson and Brad Cantrell talking about the Tallman House business plan, John McCally talking about the Janesville Jets and Mark Dwyer talking about the Rotary Gardens. The episode was taped at the Rotary Gardens. Interviews from this show will begin to be posted online shortly and the program will be seen in its entirety on JATV in a week or two.

Janesville Mile maps version 2.0 are about to get into print and we are currently looking for local businesses who want to help us cover the printing expenses for the map. Also, the second Janesville Mile meeting will take place at the Rotary Gardens this Thursday, June 10 at 2 pm. If you believe that Janesville Mile is a marketing concept that is beneficial to our downtown and to your business, we hope to see you at the Rotary Gardens!

If you are interested in becoming more involved in serving your community, as the incoming president of the Janesville Noon Lions, I would like you to think about joining our great club. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at noon (!!) at the Elk's Lodge on North Washington and guests are always welcome! Hope to see you there.

If you are an artist - visual or performing - and are interested in getting wider exposure for your talents, as the president of the United Arts Alliance, I am inviting you to check out the UAA -www.RockCountyArts.com - and consider joining our organization. At this time we are working on putting together a directory of local artists, and if you are interested in being included, please send me an email.

If you are a writer and want to see your editorials on local issues published, email them to me and I will publish them on my blog designed to highlight local writers. It is called the Bigger Stage and you can find it at www.BiggerStage.blogspot.com.

You may have noticed that my postings on various blogs and websites which I maintain has slowed down lately because I have found Facebook to be an amazingly effective way of communicating with people. Therefore if you are on Facebook - look me up! I have a personal page, a music page, Discover Janesville page and others.

Have a great June and stay in touch!

Thanks!

Yuri

Music for Haiti videos

Last February I worked with Teresa Nguyen, Jim Lyke, Dan Fredricks and Ed Gansen to put together a benefit concert to help the Haiti relief efforts titled "Music for Haiti." Here are the two videos of my performance at the concert. The first video is of my original composition "Here We Are." The second video is an original arrangement of a Beatles medley.

Yuri's Music Update: Music for Haiti and the Janesville Armory

This week there are two opportunities for you to enjoy some relaxing
piano music. However, these will take place at nearly the same time -
here's the deal:

On Friday is the Music for Haiti concert where I will be performing
along with 9 other bands/performers. The concert starts at 6:30 and
goes until 9. It will take place at JPAC and there are no tickets to
purchase - suggested donation is $10. The concert will also feature:

Bop Ritual
Kyle E.
Kind of a Big Deal
The Go Deans
JP and the Jazz Combo
Altar Boy Picnic
Sapphire Strings
Triple Groove
Johnnie Can't Stop

On Friday I will also be playing at the Janesville Armory from 6 until
9. How will I pull this off may be an interesting question yet the
answer lies in the fact that I will be playing at the Music for Haiti
concert for 10 minutes, while I will be at the Armory for 3 hours. :)

Several of the bands featured in the concert will also be performing
at area venues later on Friday night.

On a not-music-related note: the Janesville Mile maps are out and
available in many downtown businesses. Pick up your copy and shoot me
an email with some feedback.

Thanks!

Yuri

"Greensleeves"

Here is the second video featuring music from the "Piano Holidays". This is my rendition of the Christmas classic "Greensleeves", also known as "What Child Is This." It features photography by Teresa Arrowood and Julie Backenkeller as well as some pictures taken by me. All of the photographs were taken after the incredible snowstorm of December 8, 2009 that left Janesville and the entire area covered in lots of heavy snow. Combined with the freezing temperatures that followed, it made for great pictures if not the most comfortable driving conditions.

Enjoy!

Also, I'd like to let you know that the "Piano Holidays" is now available at the Rotary Gardens.

"We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

Here is the first video from the "Piano Holidays" featuring artwork by Judith Detert-Moriarty.

Piano Holidays release and signing party date is set!

My Holiday album is almost out! Come on down to Codos Coffee on Friday, December 4th at 9 pm and get your very own signed copy of "Piano Holidays"! Featuring Christmas favorites and original winter themed compositions, this album is filled with nearly 60 minutes of relaxing piano music to take away that holiday stress!

"Piano Holidays" will be available at the following retailers:

Codos Coffee

Fairview Florist

Gathering Place

Hedberg Public Library

Raven's Wish

Email list

If you want to know where I am performing next, the best thing to do is to be on my email list. It goes out once every couple of weeks and it outlines where I will be playing next. Interested? Send an email to YRashkin@gmail.com

Thanks!