ABOUT
Nikolai Kuznetsov is a classical pianist, the winner of International Piano Competitions, including the world famous competition «Monte Carlo Piano Masters» in Monaco, (Grand Prix, 2021), which is held under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
He was born in Moscow in a large family of musicians. When Nikolai was nine, he entered the prestigious Gnessin Moscow Special School of Music for gifted children (class T.Shklovskaya) and then attended the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory (class of prof. Sergei Dorensky), which he graduated with honors in 2021 under professors Nikolay Lugansky and Andrei Pisarev.
During his studies, Nikolai Kuznetsov became a scholarship holder and participant in concert programs of the International Charitable Foundation of Vladimir Spivakov, Yuri Rozum, the Cultural Development Fund «Return», the Moscow Public Cultural Foundation, as well as a scholarship holder of the Elena Roerich Charitable Foundation under the program «Support for Young Talents in the field of science and art» and an active participant in cultural programs of the International Center Roerichs. The pianist was awarded the «Future of Russia», also he won a Grant from the PricewaterhouseCoopers.
From a young age, Nikolai has won many competitions among them
7th Panama International Piano Competition in Panama-City, Golden Ring of Chopin in Slovenia, Rachmaninov Piano Competition in Frankfurt am Main, Astana Piano Passion in Kazakhstan, Euregio Piano Award in Germany,
Balakirev Piano Competition in Krasnodar, Canada International Artists Piano Competition, International Music Competition «e Muse» in Greece, Viseu International Piano Competition in Portugal, Yamaha Music Award in Moscow, etc.
In June 2018 Nikolai Kuznetsov became the absolute winner of the XXIII Ricardo Vines International Piano Competition, the pianist received the First Prize and all the special prizes of the competition.
In September 2019, he was awarded the First Prize at the International Piano Competition «Wandering Music Stars» in Tel Aviv. The jury of the competition was headed by Israeli pianist A.Vardi, also included other famous musical figures, professors of the world’s leading conservatories: Dmitry Alekseev, Emanuel Krasovsky, Farhad Badalbeyli, Tomer Lev and others.
In June 2021, Nikolai received the Grand Prix at the prestigious international piano competition in Monaco. The jury of the competition was headed by pianist Barry Douglas. The award ceremony took place at the Monte Carlo Opera House, where the pianist was awarded the Prize of Prince Rainier III, from the hands of His Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco. The Monte Carlo Piano Masters competition is held among the winners of other international competitions and determines the best of the best pianists in the world.
He has collaborated with such orchestras as Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia named after E. F. Svetlanov, the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra, the State Hermitage Orchestra, the State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra,
the Symphony Orchestra of the Primorsky Opera and Ballet Theater, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Kharkiv Philharmonic, the Ural State Academic Philharmonic Orchestra, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Samara State Philharmonic, etc.
Nikolai has also performed at many international festivals including
«Outstanding Pianists of the XXI century» in Bogota (Colombia),
International Music Festival in Kyoto (Japan),
International Beethoven Music Festival (Germany),
International Piano Festival «Pianissimo» in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg (Russia), International Music Festival in Deia (Spain, Majorca),
International Piano Festival in Bucaramanga (Colombia),
«Music — our Common Home» in Kharkiv (Ukraine),
«European Concerts in St. Petersburg» (Russia),
«Primorsky Key» in Vladivostok (Russia).
He took part at the jubilee music marathon dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Franz Liszt and musical festival dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the birth of L.v.Beethoven in Moscow (Great Hall of Conservatory), also he has repeatedly participated in the musical project «GIOVANI TALENTI RUSSI» in Italy.
He has toured with recitals in cities of Russia, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Ukraine, Germany, France, Slovenia, Japan, Oman and South American countries.
Currently, Nikolai is actively touring, performing charity concerts and gaining popularity as an arranger of popular classical and modern music for piano. His arrangements for Piazzolla’s music have already gained more than 9 million views on YouTube.