Conversations with K17concerts Evgeny Tonkha

Today we’d like to introduce you to K17concerts Evgeny Tonkha.

Hi K17concerts , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Our concert series began in 2015, when Nathan Frankel and I organized a performance by the legendary cellist David Geringas. The concert was such a success, and the audience enjoyed it so much, that people immediately started asking us when the next one would be.

To be perfectly honest, we had absolutely no plans for a concert series at that point! But the enthusiasm of the audience inspired us to organize another concert, and then another, and another. That’s how K17 was born.

I spent many years living in Europe, where I developed friendships with some truly extraordinary musicians. For many of them, coming to Los Angeles from often cold and rainy Europe, enjoying our beautiful weather, and performing in a warm, friendly atmosphere is a wonderful experience.

At the same time, it’s a unique opportunity for Los Angeles audiences to experience world-class artists up close, in an intimate setting. These are musicians you might otherwise only have the chance to hear on the stage of the LA Philharmonic.

Over the years, we’ve made it part of our mission to find unusual and inspiring spaces for our concerts. We love the idea that attending a concert can be more than just listening to music. It can feel like visiting someone’s home, meeting old friends, or discovering a fascinating place you’ve never been before.

That’s why we organize performances in private homes, as well as iconic recording spaces such as The Village Studios.

For me, K17 has always been about more than music. It’s about bringing extraordinary musicians and audiences together and creating a genuine human connection through music.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We’ve actually been very fortunate to have wonderful people around us who are alwaysHas it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? willing to help in so many different ways.

Of course, there are challenges all the time, but I find them surprisingly enjoyable to overcome, because I know that the end result will bring real joy to people.

A lot of the challenges are logistical. For example, bringing a world-class musician from Japan to Los Angeles involves coordinating schedules, working with management, arranging travel, and organizing performances. Ideally, we try to make the trip worthwhile by arranging not just one concert, but several — perhaps in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other cities. That means finding venues, coordinating with local organizers, and making sure everything comes together.

Yes, it’s a lot of work, and sometimes it gets complicated. But I know that once we overcome these obstacles, the reward is something very special — for the musicians, for the audience, and, of course, for us as organizers.

I truly believe that what we’re doing is meaningful and important. Bringing people together through music, creating unforgettable experiences, and seeing the happiness it brings makes every challenge worthwhile.

So, no, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. But I wouldn’t say it’s been a difficult one either. When you genuinely love what you do, even the challenges become part of the pleasure.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Perhaps this is a good moment to introduce myself. My name is Evgeny Tonkha, I’m a cellist and the Artistic Director of K17.

For the past ten years, we’ve been organizing concerts that bring audiences some of the most unexpected musical experiences. Imagine a famous Hollywood film composer writing music inspired by Bach for an intimate concert, or attending a performance at Marilyn Monroe’s former home, at a winery, or even in the middle of a forest.

You ask what sets us apart from others. Interestingly, we tend to ask the opposite question: what brings together things that, at first glance, seem to have nothing in common?

Throughout my career, I’ve performed in some of the world’s great concert halls with symphony orchestras, recorded music for John Williams, performed with Tony Bennett, and played at the Berlin Philharmonie. But I’ve also performed in forests, at skate parks, at the Olympic Games, at electronic music parties alongside DJs, and in countless other unexpected places.

Perhaps that’s what makes my journey a little different from that of some of my colleagues. But I don’t really think about it in those terms.

To me, all these experiences come together as one enormous source of energy — an energy that comes from a love of life and a desire to share that love with others.

And music, I believe, is one of the most beautiful expressions of life itself.

If there’s one thing I’m truly proud of, it’s being able to share that feeling with people through what we do at K17

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m a classically trained musician, but I absolutely love riding motorcycles, boxing, and shooting at the range.

For some reason, this always surprises people — even those who’ve known me for years!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.k17music.com/upcoming-events
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k17concerts?srtk=d3c3Z2sxeW44dXg1
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