Vitalij Kuprij, a member of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and a extremely regarded Ukrainian-American pianist and keyboardist, died on Tuesday (Feb. 20) at 49, in keeping with his good friend and musical colleague Lars Eric Mattsson, a Finnish guitarist and producer.
Kuprij carried out with Trans-Siberian Orchestra on their newest seasonal tour all through November and December 2023. And earlier than rejoining the symphonic heavy metallic band in 2021, he was additionally included of their lineup from 2009 to 2019.
Certainly, the keyboardist was a part of the group for 17 winter excursions in complete, the place Trans-Siberian Orchestra are identified for his or her holiday-driven stage present primarily based on their a number of Christmas albums.
READ MORE: See the Dates From Vitalij Kuprij’s Final Tour With Trans-Siberian Orchestra
“Woke as much as actually unhappy information this morning as my pricey good friend and keyboard maestro Vitalij Kuprij has handed away final night time,” Mattsson mentioned. “The Ukranian born virtuoso was dwelling in Philadelphia and not too long ago got here off one other vastly profitable tour with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.”
Keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij performs onstage with Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2014.
He continued, “I’ve identified and labored with Vitalij for over 20 years and he all the time talked about seeing me right here in Finland to go fishing, which was his second love after music.”
Mattsson added, “We’ve recorded collectively a number of occasions, fist time was for the debut album of Ebook of Reflections 20 years in the past after which later for my MATTSSON idea album Conflict. My file label Lion Music File Label has launched plenty of his music together with three solo albums, his band Artension and extra.
He concluded, “You may be deeply missed my good friend!” Mattsson didn’t handle Kuprij’s reason behind dying.
R.I.P. Vitalij Kuprij
Kuprij was born on April 6, 1974. As a musician, he gained recognition for his virtuosity on the piano and his versatility in varied genres, primarily the classical and progressive genres, in the end dovetailing with the symphonic metallic sound of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Over the course of his profession, Kuprij grew to become related to different distinguished bands and musical initiatives. Notably, he joined the neoclassical metallic band Artension within the late Nineties, the place his keyboard abilities added depth and complexity to the group’s sound, showcasing his capacity to mix classical influences with the power of metallic.
Past Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Artension, Kuprij additionally labored with the Mark Boals-fronted Ring of Hearth in addition to the Vivaldi Metallic Venture.
Loudwire sends it deepest condolences out to Kuprij’s household, mates and bandmates, and all the TSO household.
Lars Eric Mattsson Remembers Trans-Siberian Orchestra Keyboard Participant Vitalij Kuprij
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