Chopin’s ‘F Minor Concerto’, with the the New York Philharmonic.
HS Student Wins Award With Documentary “The Life of Stephen Dominko”
On Sunday December 10th Stephen Dominko passed away.
Stephen Dominko’s life of music began when he was just four years old. While listening to a recording of Leroy Anderson’s ‘A Christmas Festival’ he ran from the room crying. When his parents asked him what was wrong, he told them, “The music is too beautiful to listen to.”
He began taking accordion lessons with Rudolf Molinaro. When Stephen was 10, he was a guest on the Sam Levenson TV show, which led to his concert career. By the age of 13, Stephen Dominko was the youngest US Open Champion in history.
Stephen played his first of Two Concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall at age 14, his second at age 18. During this same period, he was competing at international level representing the USA, becoming the youngest-ever World Champion in 1964, winning the CIACoupe Mondiale in Toronto, Canada, at 17.
In 1966, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic staged international auditions to find six of the world’s most talented young musicians. After a series of auditions, Stephen and five others were chosen. They performed on The Bell Telephone Hour from Lincoln Center. Stephen who performed Chopin’s ‘F Minor Concerto’, was the only accordionist ever to play with The New York Philharmonic.
Recording, concerts, TV and radio performances followed, including performing on the Lawrence Welk Show. The young Dominko delighted his audiences with his fiery and expressive style.
In 1985 Stephen Dominko began composing. He also studied yoga and meditation. His experience as a VNA Hospice volunteer, combined with his spiritual practices, largely inspired his compositions.
He lived in the town of Washington, New Hampshire, where he taught piano, accordion and composition to a select number of advanced pupils. He is survived by his wife Beverly.
Recent article: HS Student Wins Award With Documentary “The Life of Stephen Dominko”
http://www.accordionusa.com/?d=01-Jun-2017&lang=en#art2994
