Musical notes tumble and slide into the afternoon air as the door opens to offices that house some of Santa Rosa Junior College’s musical heavy hitters. In residence for a year now is concert pianist extraordinaire Rudolf Budginas, audio visual coordinator and teacher of music, whose lessons extend beyond mere notes to reveal a passion for music.

Budginas took time out of his 17-hour work day to share his past and thoughts on teaching with Oak Leaf. The slim, energetic educator garbed in a shimmery button-down shirt of a purple hue and skinny jeans fielded questions with poise and genuine interest. He speaks with a confidence that alludes to his intense appetite for life.

Budginas will be the featured performer in the fast-approaching “Piano on the Edge” benefit concert with guest guitarist Kenny Lee Lewis of The Steve Miller Band and drummer John Whitney of Kingsborough. The Oct. 19 performance will showcase the talents of the SRJC Concert Choir and the SRJC Orchestra. “Piano on the Edge” will present an electronic fusion of jazz, dubstep and classical selections performed in ways never imagined by their composers.

“With this one I’m taking it to a different level, which I would say is 21st century,” Budginas said.

Budginas has had a talent for tickling the ivories since he was 4 years old. He is a product of the Soviet Union via communist-controlled Lithuania. “I was sent to a boarding school for gifted children where I stayed until 19 years old, that was the most beautiful time of my life.” Budginas practiced piano from four to six hours a day.

That hard work paid of in acclaim as he’s won several prestigious awards from the international music community, including the Los Angeles Liszt Piano Competition, the Vitols International Piano Competition, and the Yamaha of Europe award.

With the end of the communist reign over Lithuania, Budginas immigrated in 1994 to the United States, where he earned a PhD in music from the University of Southern California. He has taught at the junior college in San Luis Obispo as a professor of music.

As an accomplished piano soloist Budginas has performed in Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Tokyo, Moscow, and Seattle to name a few. He performed a solo tour of 92-cities in 32-states bringing his unique style to fans of classical music. “He is extremely talented and highly unexpected,” said Nancy Persons, acting dean of instruction for the Petaluma campus.

During his performances it occurred to Budginas that perhaps there was another way to show the qualities of beauty and passion found in classical music. He had the courage to break with formal tradition with the use of instruments like the harmonica or cymbal combined with anecdotal observations about the composers and the feelings about their music. “When I was purely classical, I didn’t know that I was like this, but when I unleashed, I realized that it’s quite easy for me and it’s really fun for the audience. Why not develop this and take it to the different level,” he said.

“What’s different about him is he’s bringing this whole new level of technology to classical music and responding to the age he’s living in,” Persons said.

Budginas, now known for his unconventional take on formal classical recitals, is not without reverence for classical music. “I see the value in it as a foundation, a skill for every musician. Classical music gives you discipline and incredible skill and, of course, taste,” he said.

During the fall of 2012 Budginas brought his rapier wit and showman’s charm to SRJC’s music department. The position he applied for was a great fit for him as it required a professional classic pianist and the skills of an audio video engineer. Budginas has had extensive experience in AV engineering as a hobby and even works on professional projects. “I was lucky to get it, so this is the perfect position for me,” Budginas said.

“Unforgettable, dynamic, (he’s) one of those rare individuals that you don’t meet often in your life time. He’s an incredibly talented musician and instructor we are so lucky to have him at the JC,” said Ty Benoit, former dean of the arts, communication, social and behavior sciences.

To Budginas, teaching is always an interesting process. He said being a catalyst for getting a student from one plateau to the next is very rewarding to him.

Teaching music appreciation, audio recording and three levels of piano class, Budginas’ instruction emphasizes professionalism in how to take music seriously, according to former student Melissa Braly, who cites his background as being the major difference between Budginas and other instructors. “He was a fun teacher and very passionate about what he does,” she said.

On the first day of class he asked students to play something they knew. “When something reminded him of a song he went to the piano and started simple then went over the top, beautiful,” Braly recalled.

“Nobody can please me,” Budginas said, grinning, of his teaching style. He explained the bar for excellence is constantly rising higher. “That’s how I was taught. You have to shoot for the stars to get to the moon.”

The famed pianist revealed he has mastered only the piano. He confirmed that he did learn harmonica during his daily commute as an icebreaker for one of his shows, however, “I can only play the one piece like super well.”

His influences, he said “I seek inspiration from every corner of my life so I do not limit myself on anything. Where to be or what not to do, I do everything and I am everywhere.”

When it comes to accomplishments Budginas does not believe in limitations. “I don’t think that there is anything impossible for humans. If you really want it, you just need to really want it,” he said.

For Budginas there is no need for a bucket list. “I am a very spontaneous person. I live as if I’m going to die tomorrow. I live that way because I try and accomplish as much as I can every day.”

If his playing was to say something, he said, “I’m probably saying, in order to live your life to be fulfilled I think you have to be honest with what you are, you have to be passionate, and you have always to show that in order to exist.”

The award-winning pianist does not compose music, he said. “I think there is so much music already written they don’t need another composer.”

However, for his Oct. 19 concert, Budginas needed a piece of music that related to video games, Mozart, Dubstep and Bach with parts for orchestra, piano and all the other instruments. Unable to find music that satisfied all his requirements, Budginas said, “I wrote a piece. It will be interesting to hear me, I’ve never heard me.”

Ticket prices for and information for the “Piano on the Edge” concert Oct. 19:

Students:

• $10 per ticket for general admission seating
• Two student tickets purchased together for $15 general admission seating ($5 discount for purchasing 2 at a time)
• Students with SRJC ASP cards $5 per ticket general admission seating
• No student discount for Reception (see pricing below)
• Tickets at student prices only available at Associated Student offices at either campus

All Others:

• $20 per ticket for general admission seating at concert
• $50 per ticket for reserved seating at concert and reception afterward (these tickets will go fast)
• These tickets can be purchased online at the Foundation website http://www.santarosa.edu/foundation or by calling the Arts and Humanities office at 707-524-1538
• All tickets purchased online or via phone call from 9:00 a.m. today forward will be available for Will Call pick up beginning at 7:00 the evening of the show
• Tickets will also be available for purchase the evening of the show, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Burbank Auditorium box office by credit card, cash, or check