Yuri Lotakov returns to LW on Friday, Jan. 20
Those who missed the outstanding performance of Yuri Lotakov on Oct. 29 have another chance to see him and Richie Freedman play on Friday, Jan. 20, in Clubhouse 4 at 4 p.m At his previous performance, the standing-room-only audience didn’t want him to leave the stage.
Lotakov got his start through his mother, a piano teacher who encouraged him to go into music. He achieved early success in Ukraine, beginning his training in piano at 5 years old and playing his first public performance at 9. Lotakov graduated from the prestigious Kiev Conservatory with a Ph.D. in 1971. He has played extensively with major orchestras in the in Ukraine, Russia, Europe and South Africa.
In 1976, Lotakov tried to get out of the Soviet Union, but it wasn’t easy. When he applied for permission to leave, he was punished by losing his teaching position plus having all his music appearances cancelled. This went on for two years. Lotakov persisted and succeeded in coming to the U.S. and eventually moved to Leisure World.
Luba, Lotakov’s wife, said that her husband is not only a brilliant musical artist and sportsman, but he’s also a very successful computer programmer who’s run his own business for many years.
Four months ago, Lotakov met Freedman, who was also a talented musician from a young age, at a LW Bicycle Club meet up. Realizing they both had a love of music, Freedman asked Lotakov to play Hummel’s trumpet concerto together and they decided to prepare for a full concert.
Freedman started his music studies at 8 years old and was performing in New York at age 12. By the time he was in UCLA, he was already performing with Della Reese, The Impressions and Ike and Tina Turner. After attending undergraduate and graduate schools he went in a completely different direction: law enforcement for 35 years. After retiring he went back to music as a jazz trumpeter for several big bands plus performing with several major-name artists. To learn more about Freedman visit richiestrumpets. com. —Jan Friedland
