David Rukhelman started playing button accordion (bajan) at age nine in Kiev, Ukraine. He took private lessons for two years and then entered the Music School. In 1965 he was accepted into the most prominent music school in the Soviet Union \u2013 Gnessins Music College in Moscow. After receiving his Bachelor Degree from the Gnessins State Music College, he continued his education in the Gnessins Russian Academy of Music (equivalent of the conservatory). In 1973 he graduated from the Gnessins Music Academy with High Honors receiving his Master Degree as a soloist, conductor and music teacher. During the course of study David Rukhelman extensively performed as a soloist and conductor of the Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra and Accordion Orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He continued his musical career in Kiev where he worked in the Music School for 20 years teaching button accordion, key accordion, conducting accordion orchestra and playing as soloist. His diverse repertoire includes music of J.S. Bach, F. Chopin, P. Tschaikovsky, C. Frank, J. Strauss, A. Piazzola, P. Frosini and many other composers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Upon arrival to the United States in 1989, David Rukhelman was teaching music in the Malden Public Schools, played as a soloist and in a duet with a violinist. Currently he resides in Newton, Massachusetts, and since 2010 he has been an active member of the Massachusetts Accordion Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Accordion Orchestra that he organized in 2016 had it\u2019s first successful performance on February 6, 2017 in Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The second public performance of this orchestra took place on January 28, 2018 during the meeting of the Massachusetts Accordion Association in Newton. The program included works by J. Strauss, A. Piazzola, G. Sviridov, H. Mancini, C. Gardel and J. P. Sousa. Both performances of the orchestra were warmly received by the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n