Friday, July 18, 2025
Vladimir Tate has been a mainstay at the Cure of Ars Church in Merrick for the past eight years, entertaining and enlightening the parishioners with his inspirational piano and organ playing. He performs at the Sunday masses, as well as weddings and funerals, and even rented space in the Parish Center to start his own music school.
But what the congregants may not know is that Tate, just 35, is also an internationally-renowned musician who has performed all over the world -- collecting numerous awards and honors along the way -- and has released four albums that covered classical pieces by Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Chopin and Tchaikovsky among others.
Born Vladimir Tiagunov in Temirtau, Kazakhstan, in 1989, Tate and his family moved to Nizhny, Russia when he was three and he began playing the piano under the tutelage of his father, Boris, three years later. Tate was eventually accepted into the Children’s Music School, where he performed his first recital at age nine.
That night turned into a premonition.
“It was a big event because it’s very rare for someone who is that young can play a solo concert,” he recalled. “I played everything by memory, the whole program. It was about 30-40 minutes, and after that, because it was successful as well, I saw the reaction of the people and they liked it and everything. I felt good and, at that time, I decided that that’s what I wanted to do.”
Tate would go on to practice about 4-5 hours a day and his hard work would later earn him a master’s degree at the Chelyabinsk State Academy of the Culture and Arts, where he studied under the person that would prove to be his mentor, Professor Evgeny Levitan.
“He had a huge influence on me when I was his student,” he said. “I was always listening to his advice, and I would ask him questions and whatever was happening in my life as well and I would trust him. I would ask him what to do for advice. I believe he’s one of the best teachers ever.”
Tate’s musical talents took him all over the world to places like Ukraine, where he earned first-place in the International Music Competition "21st Century Art" competition in 2010, Spain, Germany, and Poland. But soon he faced a crossroads as to how to develop his musical career. With opportunities scarce for classical music performers in Russia, his dad suggested moving to another country.
He considered places in Europe but ultimately chose the United States in late 2013. Tate went through the usual struggles of an immigrant with learning a new language, figuring out living arrangements, and how to support himself. But he eventually settled into Fresh Meadows, Queens, with a teaching job, and later West Hempstead before moving into his new digs in East Meadow about three months ago.
“Everything felt new at that time when I came here and I had to figure out a lot of things on my own regarding how to get different documents here, for example, and getting my driver’s license,” he said. “But at the same time, it was very interesting and fascinating, and I loved it. I love this country.”
A year after winning the prize for best piano technique at the Forte International Competition in Carnegie Hall, Tate joined the Church of Ars in 2017 and is the musical co-director along with Patricia Ryan. A pastor at the church heard about a Russian who was teaching at the Long Island Conservatory in Albertson, Queens, and invited Tate to audition. Ryan immediately knew that he was the person they were looking for.
“I heard him play and I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ she said. “I quickly hired him and started working with him. He was very intelligent. He’s a very ambitious, talented, man.”
Ryan said the parishioners were unaware of Tate’s story when he first arrived at the Cure of Ars, but they soon learned quickly that they had a prodigy in their midst. Tate even expanded his repertoire to include some jazz music, and he began to adapt with the other performers and Ryan‘s style during rehearsals.
“He has a lot of energy,” Ryan said. “And I have a lot of energy, so I say to the choir, ‘You guys have to keep up with us.’ I’ll be conducting like a wild person and he’s keeping up with me. He’s never worked with a choir or professional singers when he came over, so he gets it very quickly and his musical instincts are fantastic.”
Even the choir members are impressed.
“We feel extremely lucky to have this young man help us grow musically in the church,” said two-year member Alicia McManus.
At the same time, Tate released four piano classical music albums – all in 2020 -- and started the Merrick School of Music in the Parish Center two years later, where students, some of which have already won competitions, can learn a wide range instruments as well as dance. He also founded the Long Island Music Magazine, which focuses on local artists.
Tate has not returned to Russia since emigrating, with Covid and the current conflict between his homeland and Ukraine making it nearly impossible. His older brother, niece, and nephew still reside there as does his mother, Olga, who visits occasionally despite having to travel to Turkey to obtain her visa to come to the U.S.
“My mom, thank God, is able to come here, even though it’s so difficult that way,” he said. “But she is very happy when she comes here, and she can spend some time with me.”
Despite having a “KEYMASTR” licenses plate on his car, Tate said he hasn’t really reflected on his quick and abundant success and just wants to continue teaching and inspiring with music. He will also embark on a new chapter in his life with his recent engagement to fiancée Franceska.
“I just try to [focus on] those ideas I have regarding music,” he said. “I just try to make them come alive.”
