Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Alexander Mitenev began playing music on accordion at the age of nine upon an agreement with his father to buy a dog (Elisa The Dog passed away in 2002). His first lessons took place in a club belonged to “Machine Works” factory.
Before Alexander turned his 16 he made a number of appearances as an accordionist on local scene and obtained Dmitry Lihachev Scholarship.
In 1997 he was accepted to St. Petersburg Academy of Art as a student of prof. Nikolay Kravtsov, prominent musician and inventor of a unique accordion keyboard that wiped off the key and button distinction. During following seven years of studies Alexander mastered his own way of playing chamber music and popularizing Kravtsov accordion. At the same time he attends master classes for accordion of J. Mornet, F. Lips, V. Semenov. Also during those years Alexander completes a course of studies as a conductor with prof. Yury Bogdanov and Victor Savin.
Playing chamber music Alexander cooperated with a number of famous composers like E. Doga, I. Schwartz, V. Bibegran and orchestras, among other with Pawel Smirnov Orchestra and Seattle Chamber Players. He travels Germany, Norway, Bulgaria, Finland, Sweden, Italy. Regularly plays in Academic Cappella in St. Petersburg.
In 2004 Alexander graduates from Academy of Art and forms two bands: “Quinta Armonica” and “ClubTango” Tango Quartet – to satisfy his great desire to play both chamber and tango music. Later in 2005 “ClubTango” wins Gran-Prix of European Music Festival for youngsters (Belgium).
Meanwhile another Alexander’s collaboration as a soloist and arranger of “Harmonica” Youth Orchestra brings him to “Citta di Castelfidardo” Award (Italy) to win its First Prize.
Since 2005 he started working closely together with tango communities in St. Petersburg and Stockholm playing on numerous milongas and festivals. Among others: “Tango of White Nights” (Russia), “Sata-Hame Soi” (Finland), “Tango Fest” (Sweden), “Ransater Folk Festival” (Sweden).
The same 2005 year Alexander buys accidentally his first “Alfred Arnold” bandoneon and tries to cope with it by himself, including it step by step into his performances. Sometimes as a furniture behind him.
In 2006 Alexander appears as a soloist in scenic premiere of the operita “Maria de Buenos Aires” in Moscow together with Pablo Zinger, Leonardo Granados, Juan Villareal and other great musicians.
In 2007 Alexander Mitenev began studies in Rotterdam Conservatory with maestros Leo Vervelde, Victor Hugo Villena and Gustavo Beytelmann, and plays Hartenhauer "Mayor Ebony Pearl" bandoneon.
- 34’th. “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2009) – I Prize and Diploma;
- 3’th. “Libertango” International Award for Astor Piazzolla's music (Lanciano, Italy, 2009) – I Prize and Diploma;
- “46’th. Internationale Akkordeonwettbewerb” (Klingenthal, Germany, 2009) – I Prize and Diploma;
- 53’th European Music Festival for Young People (Neerpelt, Belgium, 2005) – Gran Prix;
- 29’th. “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2004) – Gran Prix;
- “Pavel Smirnov” International Festival and Competition “Folk Music Against Drugs” (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2002) – I Prize and Diploma;
- “Hopes, Talents, Masters” Intern. Festival (Dobrich, Bulgaria, 2002) – I Prize and Diploma;
- 47’th European Youth Music Festival (Neerpelt, Belgium, 1999) – I Prize and Diploma;
- “Excellence” Diploma from Russian Ministry of Culture (2001);
- “Star of Prometheus” scholarship established by academic Dmitry Likhachev (1997);
- “Baltica-Harmonica” International Prize (St. Petersburg, Russia, 1996) – I Prize and Diploma;
2008 - 2010
- 1’st. “AstorFest” International Tango Music Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2010);
- 34’th. “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2009);
- 3’th. “Libertango” International Award for Astor Piazzolla's music (Lanciano, Italy, 2009);
- “AstorFest” International Astor Piazzolla Music Festival (Kiev, Ukraine, 2009);
- “Tango of White Nights” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2009);
- 1'st "Odessa Guitar Land" International Competition (Odessa, Ukraine, 2009);
- 5’th. “Doble Ocho” Tango Festival (Nijmegen, Netherlands);
- “46’th. Internationale Akkordeonwettbewerb” (Klingenthal, Germany, 2009);
- 6’th. “Vivat Accordion” International Festival (Klaipeda, Lithuania);
- Gala concerts and lectures in Russian-German House (Kaliningrad, Russia);
- Monthly concerts, appearances and venues together with OTRA Orchestra and “Cuartito Azul” Tango Club in Rotterdam;
2005 – 2007
- 53’th. European Music Festival for Young People (Neerpelt, Belgium, 2005);
- VDF Folk Music Festival (Ransater, Sweden, 2004-2005);
- “Tango of White Nights” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, 2004);
- “Nevskaya Milonga” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, 2005);
- Release of CD album “Obsessed by the Sun” together with “ClubTango” Quartet (2005);
- Scenic premiere of “Maria de Buenos Aires” tango operetta by Astor Piazzolla together with Seattle Chamber Players (Moscow, 2006);
- “Tango Argentino” Intern. Festival (Wuppertal, Germany, 2007) together with OTRA Orchestra;
2003 – 2004
- “Sata-Hame Soi”, International Festival (Ikaalinen, Finland, 2004-2005);
- 29’th. “Citta' di Castelfidardo” International Award for accordion soloists and bands (Castelfidardo, Italy, 2004);
- “Tango of White Nights” Tango Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2004);
- Release of CD album “Harmonica Forever” together with “Harmonica” Orchestra (2004);
- Membership and activities within Gatchina Philharmonic Society;
2000 – 2002
- “Hopes, Talents, Masters” Intern. Festival (Dobrich, Bulgaria, 2002);
- Concert tours to Finland (2000, 2002) and Estonia (2000, 2001);
- Collaborating with composers, among them Eugene Doga, Isaac Schwartz, Vadim Bibegran and Alexander Smelkov;
- Concerts together with Pavel Smirnov Orchestra;
- Teaching accordion at “Ippolitov-Ivanov” Music School (Gatchina);
- “Pavel Smirnov” International Festival and Competition “Folk Music Against Drugs” (St. Petersburg, Russia, 2002);
1997 – 1999
- 47’th. European Music Festival for Young People (Neerpelt, Belgium, 1999);
- “Nordland Musikkfestuke”, International Festival (Bodo, Norway, 1999);
1994 – 1996
- “Baltica-Harmonica” International Prize (St. Petersburg, Russia, 1996);
- “Stars of accordions” International Festival (St. Petersburg, Russia, 1996);
- Concert tours to Germany (1995), Finland (1995) and Norway (2006);
