About the Nina Soyfer as Composer
Dr. Nina Soyfer (PhD) is a classically trained composer, symphony orchestra conductor, classical pianist, musicologist, music theory specialist, educator, and vocalist, originally from Ukraine and now a Canadian citizen. She is associate composer at the Canadian Music Centre, which publishes her scores, symphonies, chamber music, and solo instruments and songs. @music
She studied composition with Professor Michael Coghlan and Arthur Levine, pianism and performance editing with Professor Christina-Petrowska Quilico, and is currently completing her doctoral studies in music at York University in Toronto. Nina Soyfer’s career as composer began in 2003 with her prize-winning piano miniature Frolicsome Polka, which was published in Suzir’ya Muz magazine and premiered in Ukraine. She has since completed over 100 compositions mainly for piano, voice, percussion, guitar, Ukrainian lute (Bandura), as well as string quartet and
orchestra. She has also completed West African percussion-inspired arrangements of intercultural folk tunes, and
collaborative works with composers/writers from Tanzania, America, Russia, and Ukraine.
Nina Soyfer’s works have been performed in Humanity in Harmony Festival (2010-2011), Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts (2015),
and other concerts in Toronto and Ottawa. She collaborated with singer/songwriter William Izungo, world-renowned writer and talented
poet Drunvalo Melchizedek, and one of the most loved composers of Russian Musicals, Genadiy Gladkov. Her works have
been performed by Owen Lawrence, Isaac Akrong, Leonhard Williams, Paul Therrien, Jane Loewen, and Carol Gibson.
Nina Soyfer also proposed a compositional style in her PhD dissertation for enhanced teaching and ensemble
work, where the composer collaborates with teachers/conductors and students/performers. She gathered and
presented scientific research supporting educational and emotional benefits of this compositional style.
Being a prize-winning specialist painter (Israel in Dance and Colour 2003) with over 200 works, dancer
(hundreds of performances), poet (about 50 works), prize-winning pianist (Thomas W. Doherty Prize in Piano
2008), and music performer (vocalist, guitarist, Ukrainian folk instrumentalist, etc.), her compositions have
unique influence from her synesthetic-like associations.
Compositional Experience:
| Completed and edited over 100 scores/pieces for Piano, Voice, Percussion, Bandura, Guitar, Symphony Orchestra, Choir as a printed collection; as well as percussion and piano arrangements of intercultural folk songs | 2002 – present |
| Numerous Performances, Recitals, Presentations, Premieres of my compositions solo and with supporting musicians in Ottawa, Toronto, Uxbridge, and Ukraine. | 2001 – present |
| Taught unique composition styles, such as music combined with dance and art, and my students notate and perform their compositions publically with success (e.g., Harper Beasley in 2015, Natalie Lang in 2014-15, and Clive Scott in 2012) | 2009-present |
| Completed two volumes (about 300 pages) of educational collection of compositions/arrangements titled “Intercultural Pedagogical Collection of Compositions and Arrangements” with accompanying audio disc, parts, and completed cover designs | 2010 – 2011 |
| Publication of my original award winning literary work Ode to Dance, original Music Composition Frolicsome Polka, and of a number of paintings in a monthly magazine “Suzir’ia Muz” (“Constellation of Muses”) published by M.D. Leontovich Music College of Culture & Arts, Vinnytsya, Ukraine | Sept. 2003 – May 2004 |
Public Performances of Nina Soyfer’s Compositions:
| Your Smile (piano and voice), performed by Jane Loewen and Carol Gibson, premiered at Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 2015, in Uxbridge Music Hall. | Sept. 26, 2015 |
| I Love You My Ninetta (piano solo) premiered by Owen Lawrence in Ottawa, Bromley Church Concert (I was featured as the Visiting Composer and Presenter) | June 2014 |
| Sing Along (piano and voice), Look Into Your Heart (piano and voice) by Nina Soyfer, at Rexdale Women’s Community Centre Intercultural Concert | July 2014 |
| Look Into Your Heart, Your World is Filled with Harmony (voice and piano), Frolicsome Polka (piano solo) at York University’s Tribute Communities Recital Hall | May 2011 |
| Look Into Your Heart (percussion by Paul Therrien), Your World is Filled with Harmony at York University’s Martin Family Lounge, ACE | November 2011 |
| Look Into Your Heart (with percussion ADE ensemble) at York University’s Martin Family Lounge, ACE | October 2010 |
| Aya li Tov (voice and piano), Frolicsome Polka, Impromptu for Maxim (piano solo) at Vinnytsya Music College’s Small Performance Hall | October 2003 |
Examples of Collaborative Works
Aya Li Tov (Hebrew for: I felt good) 2003-2010
Music and arr. (piano, voice, hand drum, bass drum, bell, shaker) by Nina Soyfer
Lyrics by Nina Mostovoy and Nina Soyfer (Hebrew)
Duration: 2:00 minutes
Friendship Song (Russian Transliterated Title: Pesnia Druzei) 2007-2010
Original Piano and Vocal part by Genadiy Gladkov
Percussion Arrangement and Editing by Nina Soyfer
English translation by Polina Kukar and Nina Soyfer
Look Into Your Heart 2010
Lyrics based on Drunvalo Melchizedek’s poem “When we created the world”
Music and some lyrics by Nina Soyfer (see the list of compositions for further details)
Nina Furaha Moyoni Mwangu (Swahili for: I am happy in my heart) 2010
Vocal parts, Tenor and Alto, by Nina Soyfer and William Izungo (Swahili and English lyrics),
Guitar by Alex Soyfer,
Bass Guitar by Nina Soyfer,
Piano By Nina Soyfer,
Percussion Ensemble by Nina Soyfer
Duration 2:30 min.
Shabbos-Koydesh (Yidish Traditional) 2005-2009
Piano, percussion ensemble, and arrangement by Nina Soyfer
Original Transcription and Harmonic Structure by Jeff Warschauer
Your World is Filled With Harmony (Russian Lyrics) 2010
Lyrics and Poetry by Eugene Llykhovoy
Music and Arrangement by Nina Soyfer
List of Compositions by Nina Soyfer
Please click on the name of a piece to see sample sheet music and hear an audio sample.
Piano Solo
Frolicsome Polka, piano solo, 2003.
I Love You My Ninetta, piano solo, February 2012.
Mixed Feelings, piano solo, April 2013.
Nature Musings, piano solo, September 2014.
Sun Behind the Afternoon Clouds, piano solo, February 2013.
https://ninasoyfer.com/va/about-the-artist/music/sun-behind-the-afternoon-clouds
Choral Music
Invisible Connection, for a cappella SATB choir, June 2012 – Sept. 2015.
Voice and Piano
Your Smile, voice and piano, December 2011.
Contact Nina Soyfer Lessons and Services
Please contact Nina Soyfer directly if you are interested in getting an art work, music score, or a lesson online or in person. You can email at ninamusicstudies@gmail.com to get link to payments, and schedule the lesson. You can text or whatsapp her at 416 795 2601. Or send a message on Instagram @ninasoyfer. Alternatively, we have a page for accepting payments based on length of lesson and/or service here click here. And a page where you can purchase artworks (shipping not included) click here.