We were lucky to catch up with Egor Antonenko recently and have shared our conversation below.
Egor, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a story about the kindest thing someone has done for you and why it mattered so much or was so meaningful to you?
I would like to share my personal life story, that has touched and changed me profoundly. It happened to me several years ago when I was in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for a concert. After many hours rehearsing, I decided to walk around the city where I noticed a local street artist- with a sign that said ”I don’t beg for money, but I can paint or play music for you”. These words struck me, as I had never seen someone doing something and not directly asking for money. He was an older man with grey hair and colorless complexion that contrasted greatly with his exotically colorful paintings. I struck up a conversation with him- asking him if his artwork was for sale. He said yes, but that he could also paint people or animals per request. He shared that he particularly enjoyed painting dogs because they were noble creatures that he could trust to be dependably positive and didn’t lie to him. I asked him if he could paint “Buddy”, my teacher’s dog. Her birthday was coming up and I wanted to give her something meaningful. He agreed and asked for me to send him the picture of the dog to an email so that he could get to work overnight and I could come get it in the morning. The next day to my surprise, he welcomed me with a sad face saying that he waited all night for Buddy’s picture but it never arrived. I soon realized I had the wrong email address and told him not to worry. But he insisted he could paint it for me now if I could wait a bit. I trusted him and gave him my cell phone while he got to work. I felt it was too imposing to stay there while he worked so I walked around for about 2 hours and then came back for the painting. We had formalized the price of the artwork the previous day at only $10.
I was absolutely shocked when I offered him more money when he responded that he was not going to accept any money for it as he thought that it didn’t meet his standards. That’s when I stopped in my tracks. I could not believe the amount of pride he felt for his work. Even though he had nothing for himself, he refused to charge me. This story holds great meaning to me and has taught me a profound lesson, which continues to influence and guide me.
Even though someone may have very little in their pocket, everyone has something to give- And when you do that, you are doing it for the art itself and the beauty you create no matter where you are and how difficult it is. My hope is to give what I have: music, and to always keep the pride and integrity in my work like the artist I met in New Hampshire.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I’m a cellist, and for the last 25 years, I’ve been lucky to share music with people all over the world. Like many musicians, I started playing music instrument at an early age, when I was four. Ever since then, the cello has led me to traveling to over 50 countries and living in many different places: from my very own hometown in the region of Kaliningrad by the Baltic Sea, to Moscow, to the East coast of the United States, upstate New York, and now in the south in Atlanta, GA. Throughout my musical life, I’m driven by the idea of constantly seeking new ways and opportunities to provide the most complete music performance experience to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It’s an amazing feeling to know that
I am spending my life on something that affects people in so many different ways. One of the amazing things about music is that it is a universal language that we can all understand and feel, and I’m lucky to say that it’s my duty and a joy to always improve and aim for the highest levels of the music making. One thing musicians won’t tell you often about music and performers is how much the instruments we play on matter. Instruments are beautiful, rare and usually very expensive, but the differences a good instrument can make are crucial. They are as fragile as the fine art you’d see at museums, except it can’t stay under the glass and must be played on to consistently sound their best. That is my dream, to one day have the opportunity to create music on a cello of such a caliber.
In the last 6 months of living in Georgia, I was also fortunate to join Edgewood String Quartet based in Atlanta. Together, we have one collective goal of providing the most authentic and life-changing experiences we can through exploring and combining different music genres and artforms into one immersive experience.
I’m proud and honored to have been able to influence hundreds of people with the power of music.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I’d say one of the simplest things that comes to mind first as a performing artist is – go to the concert! Every time there’s a debate of “to go” or “not to go”, do go! And not to only music but any art form. Artist can’t exist for very long without an audience, and I think that society in general can’t get very far without art.
I think for many people art, and in particular music, can seem complicated, but don’t be turned off by it! As complex as it might seem, it is an unforgettable, never-ending journey. Nowadays there are many ways for people to find an entry level they’d feel comfortable with to start that life long journey into the world of art, creativity and I imagination.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
A couple years ago I played a service with a short but gorgeous piece by Max Bruch called “Kol Nidrei”. As it wasn’t a traditional concert, there was no obvious beginning of the event. People were allowed to talk and wander as the music was played. I got to experience an audience of approximately 800 people gradually one by one silencing because of the sound of the music I was performing. Perhaps that might sound a bit selfish to be the most rewarding aspect of being a performer, but moments like these are truly priceless and in my opinion worthy of years of practicing for it.
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Image Credits
Alice H Photography Shot By Kynder Alisa Reihtman