Russian Defectors Find American Dream in South Carolina

GREENVILLE, SC — – Independence Day concerts are especially sweet for the conductor of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra.

“This 4th of July, I will perform a concert as usual with my orchestra and I will celebrate 20 years of my independence from the ‘beauty of socialism,’ so to say,” Edvard Tchivzhel said with a laugh.

Tchivzhel first came to this South Carolina town in 1991, during the turbulent final days of the Soviet Union. It was his first stop on a month-long U.S. tour with the U.S.S.R. State Symphony Orchestra, in which he served as associate conductor.

It was also the first scheduled orchestra performance for Greenville’s newly built Peace Center for the Performing Arts.

I met Tchivzhel as a local reporter covering the event. In need of a translator, I invited Lena Forster (formerly Jankowsky), then the executive director of the Greenville Ballet, who spoke fluent Russian.

In a rare move, the Soviet government had allowed Tchivzhel to bring his wife Luba and 4-year-old son Arvid on the tour.

“They used to keep relatives as hostages to make sure that artists came back,” the conductor explained.

Forster, who had three young children of her own, invited the Tchivzhel family to the local Chuck E. Cheese’s. It was there that the conductor announced his desire to stay in the U.S.

“I said, ‘Well, that’s fine with me, but I’m not 007,'” Forster recalled. “‘I would love to help you out, but I definitely need to contact an attorney or somebody.'”

Forster called her friend Larry Estridge, a Greenville lawyer specializing in corporate real estate. After hearing the Tchivzhels’ story, Estridge said he and one of his law firm partners immediately began research.

“We mastered this one particular part of the immigration laws having to do with defection,” Estridge said. “If we had waited around to search for others to assist us, we probably would have run out of time.”

Despite his distaste for the Soviet regime, Edvard Tchivzhel remained loyal to his orchestra and insisted on completing the U.S. tour. That made planning his defection all the more delicate.

“He also understood that the KGB would be in the orchestra,” Estridge said. “He wasn’t sure who they would be. But there would be someone in the orchestra watching him and his family to make sure they did not attempt defection throughout the entire tour.”

To avoid potentially bugged hotel rooms during the orchestra tour, Tchivzhel stopped at pay phones during his routine jogs.

In three-way calls with Estridge, using Forster as a translator, Tchivzhel was able to prepare the documents he would need to submit to U.S. immigration officials to initiate his family’s defection during the orchestra’s last stop in Washington, DC.

FBI agents had planned to escort the Tchivzhels from the airport to the Washington office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now known as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). But they were rerouted to an INS office in Baltimore on suspicions that a car was following them.

“They made sure we stayed in the vehicle because there was still somebody following us,” Forster said. “They happened to have been Russians and they said, ‘We weren’t following you. We were just driving the same direction.’ But they did take off eventually because (the FBI agents) made them.”

After obtaining political asylum, the Tchivzhels returned to their Greenville lawyer’s office, where they held a news conference to announce their defection to the U.S..

“I was feeling the most strong I ever felt in my life, that I don’t have to go back to a socialistic prison,” Edvard Tchivzhel said.

Following the news conference, the conductor and his wife stepped outside the downtown law office, where they said they experienced a magical feeling.

“Greenville is just beautiful! We love it!” Luba Tchivzhel said. “We just came out to Main Street and I just felt like fresh air was coming into my body.”

Forster opened her home to the Tchivzhels for a few months, while they adjusted to their new lives in the U.S. Donations from residents and businesses helped them get on their feet.

Luba Tchivzhel started earning income as a violinist. And her husband was soon making guest conducting appearances with the orchestra in Greenville, as well as orchestras around the U.S. and the world.

In 2003, he visited Russia to conduct in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad), where he was born and raised. Although the conductor was warmly received by audiences there and enjoyed happy reunions with old friends, Tchivzhel said he felt like a foreigner in his native country.

“I just felt that, at that time at least, Russia was a much better country for tourists than for local citizens, unfortunately,” Tchivzhel said.

Edvard and Luba Tchivzhel said their favorite city remains Greenville, which they refer to as their “American cradle.”

They received U.S. citizenship status along with their son in 1999. That same year, Edvard Tchivzhel became the music director and conductor of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. He is credited with improving the GSO’s quality and prestige, inspiring musicians and audiences alike with his energetic conducting and charismatic personality.

“I kid him about it. He’s a rock star,” said Ken Johnson, who recently retired as executive director of the GSO. “In addition to his incredible musicianship, just the human drama of his story has been extraordinary with people in this community.”

On this 4th of July, Edvard and Luba Tchivzhel celebrate the birth of a nation that made the American dream possible — not only for themselves, but for their son.

“Even after 20 years, I think we still have the same enthusiasm of being here,” said Arvid Tchivzhel, now a Furman University graduate working as an economic analyst for an Atlanta consulting firm. “I am fairly confident my quality of life would have been much different in Russia. The respect for human rights and the opportunities given in this country far surpass any other place, including today’s Russia.”

Although the conductor’s son has little memory of his arrival in the U.S. at the age of 4, he appreciates the risks taken by his parents, and those who helped them, 20 years ago.

“It was such a bold decision to tell the Soviets, ‘I am not coming back and you do not control my life anymore,'” Arvid Tchivzhel said. “Without the help of our friends in Greenville, it is difficult to say how things would have turned out.”

The Tchivzhels remain close friends with lawyer Estridge, who still specializes in corporate real estate in Greenville, and Forster, who now directs the International Ballet, a dance company and academy based in the neighboring town of Greer, SC. Throughout the years, Forster and Tchivzhel have held joint performances with their respective organizations.

The conductor said the community’s enthusiasm and support for the arts, as well as the excellent acoustics of the Peace Center, now in its 20th year, provide an ideal environment for his work.

As Upstate South Carolina residents gather in an outdoor amphitheater for an evening Independence Day concert, many will likely reflect on what America means to them. The conductor’s wife offers some advice.

“Just appreciate your country,” Luba Tchivzhel said. “This is the best country in all the earth, I think. This is the best country.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

universo-virtual.com

buytrendz.net

thisforall.net

benchpressgains.com

qthzb.com

mindhunter9.com

dwjqp1.com

secure-signup.net

ahaayy.com

soxtry.com

tressesindia.com

puresybian.com

krpano-chs.com

cre8workshop.com

hdkino.org

peixun021.com

qz786.com

utahperformingartscenter.org

maw-pr.com

zaaksen.com

ypxsptbfd7.com

worldqrmconference.com

shangyuwh.com

eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com

playminecraftfreeonline.com

trekvietnamtour.com

your-business-articles.com

essaywritingservice10.com

hindusamaaj.com

joggingvideo.com

wandercoups.com

onlinenewsofindia.com

worldgraphic-team.com

bnsrz.com

wormblaster.net

tongchengchuyange0004.com

internetknowing.com

breachurch.com

peachesnginburlesque.com

dataarchitectoo.com

clientfunnelformula.com

30pps.com

cherylroll.com

ks2252.com

webmanicura.com

osostore.com

softsmob.com

sofietsshotel.com

facetorch.com

nylawyerreview.com

apapromotions.com

shareparelli.com

goeaglepointe.com

thegreenmanpubphuket.com

karotorossian.com

publicsensor.com

taiwandefence.com

epcsur.com

odskc.com

inzziln.info

leaiiln.info

cq-oa.com

dqtianshun.com

southstills.com

tvtv98.com

thewellington-hotel.com

bccaipiao.com

colectoresindustrialesgs.com

shenanddcg.com

capriartfilmfestival.com

replicabreitlingsale.com

thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com

gkmcww.com

mbnkbj.com

andrewbrennandesign.com

cod54.com

luobinzhang.com

bartoysdirect.com

taquerialoscompadresdc.com

aaoodln.info

amcckln.info

drvrnln.info

dwabmln.info

fcsjoln.info

hlonxln.info

kcmeiln.info

kplrrln.info

fatcatoons.com

91guoys.com

signupforfreehosting.com

faithfirst.net

zjyc28.com

tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com

nhuan6.com

oldgardensflowers.com

lightupthefloor.com

bahamamamas-stjohns.com

ly2818.com

905onthebay.com

fonemenu.com

notanothermovie.com

ukrainehighclassescort.com

meincmagazine.com

av-5858.com

yallerdawg.com

donkeythemovie.com

corporatehospitalitygroup.com

boboyy88.com

miteinander-lernen.com

dannayconsulting.com

officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com

forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net

generictadalafil-canada.net

guitarlessonseastlondon.com

lesliesrestaurants.com

mattyno9.com

nri-homeloans.com

rtgvisas-qatar.com

salbutamolventolinonline.net

sportsinjuries.info

topsedu.xyz

xmxm7.com

x332.xyz

sportstrainingblog.com

autopartspares.com

readguy.net

soniasegreto.com

bobbygdavis.com

wedsna.com

rgkntk.com

bkkmarketplace.com

zxqcwx.com

breakupprogram.com

boxcardc.com

unblockyoutubeindonesia.com

fabulousbookmark.com

beat-the.com

guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com

magie-marketing.com

kingstonliteracy.com

guitaraffinity.com

eurelookinggoodapparel.com

howtolosecheekfat.net

marioncma.org

oliviadavismusic.com

shantelcampbellrealestate.com

shopleborn13.com

topindiafree.com

v-visitors.net

qazwsxedcokmijn.com

parabis.net

terriesandelin.com

luxuryhomme.com

studyexpanse.com

ronoom.com

djjky.com

053hh.com

originbluei.com

baucishotel.com

33kkn.com

intrinsiqresearch.com

mariaescort-kiev.com

mymaguk.com

sponsored4u.com

crimsonclass.com

bataillenavale.com

searchtile.com

ze-stribrnych-struh.com

zenithalhype.com

modalpkv.com

bouisset-lafforgue.com

useupload.com

37r.net

autoankauf-muenster.com

bantinbongda.net

bilgius.com

brabustermagazine.com

indigrow.org

miicrosofts.net

mysmiletravel.com

selinasims.com

spellcubesapp.com

usa-faction.com

snn01.com

hope-kelley.com

bancodeprofissionais.com

zjccp99.com

liturgycreator.com

weedsmj.com

majorelenco.com

colcollect.com

androidnews-jp.com

hypoallergenicdogsnames.com

dailyupdatez.com

foodphotographyreviews.com

cricutcom-setup.com

chprowebdesign.com

katyrealty-kanepa.com

tasramar.com

bilgipinari.org

four-am.com

indiarepublicday.com

inquick-enbooks.com

iracmpi.com

kakaschoenen.com

lsm99flash.com

nana1255.com

ngen-niagara.com

technwzs.com

virtualonlinecasino1345.com

wallpapertop.net

nova-click.com

abeautifulcrazylife.com

diggmobile.com

denochemexicana.com

eventhalfkg.com

medcon-taiwan.com

life-himawari.com

myriamshomes.com

nightmarevue.com

allstarsru.com

bestofthebuckeyestate.com

bestofthefirststate.com

bestwireless7.com

declarationintermittent.com

findhereall.com

jingyou888.com

lsm99deal.com

lsm99galaxy.com

moozatech.com

nuagh.com

patliyo.com

philomenamagikz.net

rckouba.net

saturnunipessoallda.com

tallahasseefrolics.com

thematurehardcore.net

totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com

velislavakaymakanova.com

vermontenergetic.com

sizam-design.com

kakakpintar.com

begorgeouslady.com

1800birks4u.com

2wheelstogo.com

6strip4you.com

bigdata-world.net

emailandco.net

gacapal.com

jharpost.com

krishnaastro.com

lsm99credit.com

mascalzonicampani.com

sitemapxml.org

thecityslums.net

topagh.com

flairnetwebdesign.com

bangkaeair.com

beneventocoupon.com

noternet.org

oqtive.com

smilebrightrx.com

decollage-etiquette.com

1millionbestdownloads.com

7658.info

bidbass.com

devlopworldtech.com

digitalmarketingrajkot.com

fluginfo.net

naqlafshk.com

passion-decouverte.com

playsirius.com

spacceleratorintl.com

stikyballs.com

top10way.com

yokidsyogurt.com

zszyhl.com

16firthcrescent.com

abogadolaboralistamd.com

apk2wap.com

aromacremeria.com

banparacard.com

bosmanraws.com

businessproviderblog.com

caltonosa.com

calvaryrevivalchurch.org

chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com

cheminotsgardcevennes.com

cooksspot.com

cqxzpt.com

deesywig.com

deltacartoonmaps.com

despixelsetdeshommes.com

duocoracaobrasileiro.com

fareshopbd.com

goodpainspills.com

kobisitecdn.com

makaigoods.com

mgs1454.com

piccadillyresidences.com

radiolaondafresca.com

rubendorf.com

searchengineimprov.com

sellmyhrvahome.com

shugahouseessentials.com

sonihullquad.com

subtractkilos.com

valeriekelmansky.com

vipasdigitalmarketing.com

voolivrerj.com

zeelonggroup.com

1015southrockhill.com

10x10b.com

111-online-casinos.com

191cb.com

3665arpentunitd.com

aitesonics.com

bag-shokunin.com

brightotech.com

communication-digitale-services.com

covoakland.org

dariaprimapack.com

freefortniteaccountss.com

gatebizglobal.com

global1entertainmentnews.com

greatytene.com

hiroshiwakita.com

iktodaypk.com

jahatsakong.com

meadowbrookgolfgroup.com

newsbharati.net

platinumstudiosdesign.com

slotxogamesplay.com

strikestaruk.com

trucosdefortnite.com

ufabetrune.com

weddedtowhitmore.com

12940brycecanyonunitb.com

1311dietrichoaks.com

2monarchtraceunit303.com

601legendhill.com

850elaine.com

adieusolasomade.com

andora-ke.com

bestslotxogames.com

cannagomcallen.com

endlesslyhot.com

iestpjva.com

ouqprint.com

pwmaplefest.com

qtylmr.com

rb88betting.com

buscadogues.com

1007macfm.com

born-wild.com

growthinvests.com

promocode-casino.com

proyectogalgoargentina.com

wbthompson-art.com

whitemountainwheels.com

7thavehvl.com

developmethis.com

funkydogbowties.com

travelodgegrandjunction.com

gao-town.com

globalmarketsuite.com

blogshippo.com

hdbka.com

proboards67.com

outletonline-michaelkors.com

kalkis-research.com

thuthuatit.net

buckcash.com

hollistercanada.com

docterror.com

asadart.com

vmayke.org

erwincomputers.com

dirimart.org

okkii.com

loteriasdecehegin.com

mountanalog.com

healingtaobritain.com

ttxmonitor.com

bamthemes.com

nwordpress.com

11bolabonanza.com

avgo.top