The accordion world was shocked to learn of the sudden and untimely death on Friday February 16th of Alexander Sevastian, at the age of 41, who suffered a fatal heart attack in Ajijic, Mexico, a few hours before he was due to give a concert with the Quartetto Gelato.

Alexander Sevastian was born on October 2nd 1976 in Minsk, Belarus. He started playing the accordion at the age of seven. He studied at the Glinka Musical College in Minsk, the Gnessin Institute in Moscow in the class of Professor Friedrich Lips. In May 2002 he completed his post-graduate course in Moscow with Friedrich Lips, and also completed an Advanced Certificate in Performance program from the University of Toronto (class of Professor Joseph Macerollo).

In 1996 – 2001 he was a member of the Russian TV and Radio Orchestra, recording many TV and radio performances. He won various competitions, most notably the CIA Coupe Mondiale in Washington DC in 2007.

From April 2001, Alexander lived in Toronto, Canada. He joined the Toronto Woodwinds, an ensemble that was awarded the first prize at ‘The Golden Accordion International Competition’ in New York in December 2001. In September 2002 Alexander formed ‘Quartetto Gelato’, with whom he toured Canada and the USA.

He performed solo concerts in 30 Russian cities as well as concerts in Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Serbia, Portugal, Italy and Japan. He has given several premiere performances, including the works of Berinsky, Bronner, Korolchuk, Zelenski and Khondo. He also performed as solpist with orchestras such as the Hamilton Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, as well with orchestras in Victoria, Quebec City, Kelowna, Kamloops, Windsor, Edmonton, Charleston, Mississauga, Sioux City, and Nanaimo.

Alexander Sevastian was a much loved musician, a great ambassador for the accordion, and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife Anna, a 14 year old son Vladimir and 4 year old daughter Maria.