Curtis Mourns Ghenady Meirson

Curtis is saddened to share the news that our longtime Russian vocal repertoire coach, Ghenady Meirson (Accompanying ’81, ’84), passed away on Saturday, May 8 at age 63 after a difficult battle with cancer.

Mr. Meirson, known as “Ghena,” was born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1957, graduated from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, and came to the Curtis Institute of Music in 1977, where he studied piano with Seymour Lipkin (Piano ’47) and Mieczyslaw Horszowski and accompanying with Vladimir Sokoloff (Accompanying ’38). He joined the Curtis faculty in 1990, and was also a member of the faculty at Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts.

In 1982 he began specializing in Russian vocal repertoire and wrote a singer’s handbook entitled Do Sing in Russian. He coached countless artists for operas, oratorios, recitals, and recordings; and worked as a Russian language coach for such organizations as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Singers, and the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia.

A dedicated teacher throughout his career, in 1996 Mr. Meirson founded PrivateLessons.com, a membership-based network that connects the public with independent music teachers. In 2011, he founded Russian Opera Workshop, an independent summer immersion training program in Philadelphia for aspiring and professional opera singers.

Mr. Meirson loved coaching vocalists in Russian repertoire, helping students embrace the music with joy and confidence. “Learning to sing in Russian can be intimidating and I don’t like to see anyone be stressed about it. My teaching style is easygoing and yes, I am more of a kid than my students,” he once said.

Director of Vocal Studies Eric Owens (Opera ’95) said: “Ghena was a consummate musician, with a striking ability to connect with his students and fellow musicians—always with the goal of excellence. And on that journey towards excellence, you had the best traveling partner: one who had the brightest soul and a heart of gold. All of this was apparent in his larger-than-life smile that never failed to lighten your spirit. He will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.”

Curtis is grateful to have had Mr. Meirson as part of its family for so many years. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife, Laura Meirson (Voice ’83), and his children Rachel and Leonard, as well as to all his friends, family, and colleagues. He will be greatly missed.