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Natalia Strelchenko: Famed Pianist Murdered, Partner John Martin Charged

By Aaron Homer
Published on: 02:28 PST, Sep 3, 2015

Natalia Strelchenko, a world-renowned concert pianist, has been found murdered at her home in England, and her partner, John Martin, has been charged in the murder, MSN is reporting.

Police were called to Strelchenko’s home, which she shared with Martin in Manchester, England, at about 12:45 a.m. Sunday, where they found the 38-year-old Strelchenko unresponsive. She was taken to a hospital, where she died a short time later. An autopsy found that she died of multiple head and neck injuries.

Police arrested Natalia’s partner, 48-year-old John Martin — also a world-class classical musician — and charged him with her murder, according to the Daily Mail. He was also charged with attempted murder of a 17-year-old boy. As of this post, the identity of the teen, or his relationship to either Strelchenko or Martin, has not been made public (because he’s a youth, he cannot be identified, according to BBC News).

Natalia Strelchenko, who also preformed as Natalia Strelle, was born in Russia but emigrated to Norway before ultimately settling down in Manchester — although she and her partner would be gone for weeks or months at a time, according to neighbors, while the pair were on concert tours. From a young age, she was considered a piano prodigy — she appeared with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra at age 12 — and as an adult, she earned rave reviews from audiences and critics alike.

In a statement, Roger Dowling, chairman of the Alderley Edge Orchestra, described Strelchenko’s playing style.

“Natalia had a tremendous effect on the audience. She played in a very flamboyant way and she was totally approachable. She was very highly regarded by orchestras around the world… She was a charming, vivacious woman. It is very sad that we will never get to play with her again.”

Local Manchester clergyman Rev. Cody Coyne, of Cross Street Chapel in Manchester, where Natalia performed from time to time, spoke of Natalia’s contributions to the people of Manchester.

“Her music brought great joy and profound beauty to many over her years in Manchester. We have seen few people with such passion, laughter and joy in life and performing as her. We have felt blessed to have known her, and heard her play, and now we mourn the world’s loss of so skilled a musician.”

As of this post, police have not released a possible motive in Natalia Strelchenko’s murder.

[Image courtesy of YouTube]

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