Ariadna Mikeshina (; October 17, 1900 – May 18, 1982), earlier known as Ariadna Roumanova, was a Russian-born pianist and composer.
Early life Ariadna Roumanova was the daughter of an admiral in the Russian navy."Musicale at Home of Mrs. Emrich" Near East Relief (May 20, 1922): 2. She was trained as a musician at the imperial conservatory in St. Petersburg."Russian Concert Program Arranged" Los Angeles Evening Herald (March 20, 1920): B6. via California Digital Newspaper Collection Her brother-in-law Leonid Bolotine was a violinist and later a guitarist."Leonid Bolotine, 87, Violinist and Guitarist" New York Times (November 29, 1988): B12.
Career Roumanova was called "a brilliant pianist and a most interesting composer" when she relocated to the United States in 1918. While in Los Angeles, she gave concerts,"Beckers in Los Angeles" Musical America (April 10, 1920): 36. sometimes featuring her own compositions, and accompanied others in recital."Mrs. Dreyfus on Coast" Musical America (May 14, 1921): 46."Grace Wood Jess Charms in Folk Song Program" Musical Courier (February 19, 1920): 42. She also appeared in the 1922 silent film adaptation of the Rubaiyat,"Art Notables in Rubaiyat" Los Angeles Sunday Times (August 7, 1921): 36. via Newspapers.com and taught piano students in her studio."Russian Composer-Pianist" Los Angeles Times (September 28, 1919): 57. via Newspapers.com
As Ariadna Mikeshina,"Mikeshina's Music Heard" New York Times (May 4, 1949): 38. she performed regularly in Los AngelesIsabel Morse Jones, "Rare Poise in Koshetz Delineation" Los Angeles Times (December 18, 1929): 31. via Newspapers.com New York CityE. D., "Mme. Mikeshina Plays" New York Times (October 17, 1955): 35. Ellsworth R. Groce, "Music Maestro" New York Age (October 29, 1955): 8. via Newspapers.com into her seventies.John Rockwell, "Mikeshina Concert Held at Town Hall" New York Times (October 15, 1973): 53. In 1927 the Los Angeles Times described her as a composer, having "marked talent, but not excessive originality"."Women Composers Accorded Hearing" Los Angeles Times (February 14, 1927): 25. via Newspapers.com She was described in 1975 as "calmly ignor[ing] the last 75 years of musical thought" in a recital at Carnegie Hall.John Rockwell, "Ariadna Mikeshina Presents Her Music" New York Times (October 13, 1975): 31.
Personal life Mikeshina was married at least five times.Alfred Albelli, "Horn Blower Sinks her Alimony Barge" Daily News (January 7, 1958): 5. via Newspapers.com Her first husband was journalist Michel Roumanoff, who served in the Russian Provisional Government. She moved to Tokyo with Roumanoff when he was a diplomat at the Russian mission there; the couple moved to California"Bring to American Music of Russia" The Daily Colonist (June 12, 1918): 9. when the Kerensky government fell. Her mother, brother and sister became refugees in Constantinople by 1921, when she divorced Roumanoff"Russian Beauty" Indianapolis Star (July 6, 1923): 13. via Newspapers.com and went to join them."Russian Woman to Rescue her Family" Los Angeles Evening Herald (September 16, 1921): A14. via California Digital Newspaper Collection She returned to the United States with them in 1923, using the surname "Mikeshina"."Five Liners Arrive with Immigrants" New York Times (July 3, 1923): 2. Her fourth husband was cellist Lev Ter-Oganov and her fifth husband was trombonist Vincent O. Clarke; the Clarkes married in 1952 and divorced in 1958.
After her death in 1982, at age 81, a collection of her musical manuscripts was donated to the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art."Консульство: редкие записи композитора Микешиной будут переданы России" музкарта.рф (04 ноября 2015). Other papers of hers are in the Elena Mogilat Papers at Columbia University,Elena Mogilat Papers, Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book & Manuscript Library. and in the Yeichi Nimura and Lisan Kay Nimura papers at the New York Public Library.Yeichi Nimura and Lisan Kay Nimura papers, The New York Public Library, Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
She is buried at the Russian Orthodox Convent Novo-Diveevo in Nanuet, New York.
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