Yerko Difonis performing at the BMF International Music Festival in Paris
Sergei Lyapunov, the Russian pianist and composer whose work anchors Yerko Difonis’s project
The Chilean pianist will present a lecture recital featuring Lyapunov’s seldom-heard 12 Transcendental Études, Op. 11 at Mason Gross School of the Arts
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I view this as a remarkable chance to delve into and present Lyapunov’s compositions, which deserve far more recognition than they currently receive.”— Yerko DifonisNEW BRUNSWICK, NJ, UNITED STATES, October 5, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Concert pianist and Doctor of Musical Arts candidate Yerko A. Difonis is gearing up for a lecture recital centered on Sergei Lyapunov’s 12 Études d’exécution transcendante, Op. 11, serving as the culminating project for his DMA in Piano Performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Scheduled for Spring 2027 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this public event will merge performance with scholarly exploration of a demanding collection of Russian Romantic piano works that Difonis feels merits greater recognition from both musicians and listeners.
Composed by Russian musician Sergei Lyapunov (1859–1924), the twelve études were designed as a response to Franz Liszt’s well-known Transcendental Études. Difonis regards Lyapunov’s set as a significant extension of that legacy and a chance to shine a light on repertoire that remains largely overlooked in Western concert programs.
This undertaking serves as both an academic finale and the culmination of a musical fascination Difonis has nurtured for nearly ten years.
Difonis came across Lyapunov’s music while hunting for Romantic pieces outside the standard repertoire. The fifth étude, Nuit d’Été (Summer Night), immediately drew his attention with its lyrical expressiveness and emotional resonance, prompting him to investigate further works by the composer. He went on to master the fifth and tenth études, presented a Lyapunov nocturne, and studied and performed the composer’s Second Piano Concerto.
When Difonis tried out for Rutgers’ DMA program in 2022, Lyapunov was already on his shortlist of composers for the eventual lecture recital. His original concept revolved around Lyapunov’s Piano Sonata in F minor, but his research ultimately steered him toward the full cycle of Transcendental Études.
For Difonis, his artistic growth is deeply intertwined with his Christian beliefs. He views music not merely as a career but as a vocation and a calling that has guided his creative journey from an early age.
“Earning my DMA is another milestone in fulfilling the purpose God has placed on my life as a performing artist,” Difonis stated. “I see this as a wonderful opportunity to introduce and highlight Lyapunov’s music, which deserves much broader recognition. My hope is to add to the performance tradition of great Romantic repertoire.”
Difonis is developing this project alongside Dr. George Stauffer, his lecture recital advisor, and Dr. Karina Bruk, his primary piano instructor and partner in shaping the program. The lecture recital will be accessible to the public, with the precise Spring 2027 date and venue to be revealed later.
This endeavor also represents one of the concluding milestones in a musical and scholarly journey that has carried Difonis from Chile to the United States and onto international stages.
A native of Valparaíso, Chile, Difonis started formal music and piano training at age 11 at the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School in New York. He subsequently studied piano at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, then returned to Chile to finish conservatory studies at the Sergei Prokofiev Music Conservatory under pianist Mario Cervantes. He also obtained a bachelor’s degree in education with a focus on English pedagogy.
Difonis came back to the United States for graduate work at Mason Gross School of the Arts, starting at Rutgers in 2020 with Bruk. He is currently in the closing phase of the Doctor of Musical Arts program in Piano Performance.
His recent performing credits include appearances with the Bella Music Foundation Symphony Orchestra in 2024 and the Bella Music Foundation International Symphony Orchestra in Paris in September 2025 during the BMF International Festival for the Blind. He also joined the Rutgers Sinfonia in November 2024 and gave solo performances for community outreach events while in Paris. Difonis earned second place in the 2024 Bella Music Foundation International Concerto Competition for the Blind and received an honorable mention in the 2024 Rutgers Concerto Competition.
Difonis, who has managed significant visual and hearing challenges since childhood, sees his upcoming doctorate not as a finish line but as a launching pad for the next chapter of his professional life. After completing the DMA, he intends to continue piano studies, pursue roles as a performer, educator, or arts administrator, and build his career further in the United States.
Looking ahead to that next phase, Difonis is also looking for patronage and sponsorship to sustain his ongoing university education and artistic growth. He hopes the lecture recital will attract not just pianists and classical music fans eager to uncover Lyapunov’s works, but also concert organizers, arts professionals, and groups interested in backing emerging talent.
For Difonis, though, the immediate priority stays on the music: presenting a substantial yet rarely performed Romantic piano cycle to fresh ears while completing a pivotal academic achievement.
The lecture recital is set for Spring 2027 at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The finalized date, location, and admission details will be shared once confirmed.
About Yerko A. Difonis
Yerko A. Difonis is a Chilean concert pianist and Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Piano Performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. His performance history includes solo, ensemble, and orchestral engagements across the United States, Chile, and Europe. His present artistic and scholarly focus involves examining Sergei Lyapunov’s 12 Études d’exécution transcendante, Op. 11 as part of the final phase of his doctoral work.
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