Video 1: East West International Project Promo

The East-West International Project won the GOLD at the July 2017 International Accordion Competition in Victoria, Canada. Founded in 2016 by artistic director and accordion virtuoso Sergei Teleshev, the East-West International Project brings together musicians with different musical backgrounds and traditions for a unique sound. The group features Sergei Teleshev on accordion, Sean Peterson on bass and vocalists Galina Kaluzhina and Viktoriya Hewitt.

From different parts of the world, each member’s instrumental and vocal contribution derives from unique traditions, musical backgrounds, and talents. Exemplified throughout a variety of styles, such as classical/ jazz/ tango/ folk/ pop, these nuances are emoted beautifully and with finesse.

Galina Light and Viktoria Hewitt, are part of the Juliana & PAVA, a vocal ensemble performing ancient Russian folk songs. Galina is from Kyrgyzstan, a country that borders Kazakhstan and China, and Viktoria is from Riazan, Russia. They both presently live in Seattle, Washington.

Sean Peterson is a bassist and composer based in Eugene, Oregon. He performs in genres including Jazz, Baroque, Funk, Gypsy-grass, and Salsa. He composed, recorded and mixed his debut CD for jazz sextet, “Let It Show,” which was released in June of 2015. He performs regularly with Halie Loren, Laura Kemp, Tony Glausi, Torrey Newhart, Oregon Bach Collegium, Carl Woideck, and Michael Radliff, among others. Previously he has performed with Eleven Eyes, Taarka, Beta Collide, The Oregon Composers’ Big Band, and The Harry James Orchestra, among others. Sean does it for the love.

Classically trained at the Academy of Music in Voronezh, Russia, Sergei Teleshev has won many regional and international accordion competitions. As the accordion player of Trio Voronezh and Valinor Quartet, he collaborates with many internationally recognized artists, ensembles, and orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Doc Severinsen, Halie Loren, and many others. In 2013 he won the National V-Accordion Competition. As the U.S. champion, Sergei represented the United States at the 7th Roland International V-Accordion Festival, in Rome, Italy, where he received a special prize for most online votes on the festival’s webcast.

In July, Sergei Teleshev won in two categories in Victoria, Open Solo and Ensemble with East-West International Project.

For further information: steleshev@yahoo.com