Nikolai Kuznetsov was born in
Moscow on 26 December 1994 in a large family of musicians. When Nikolai was nine, he entered the
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
Nikolai Lugansky and
Andrey Pisarev. During his studies, Nikolai Kuznetsov became a scholarship holder and participant in concert programs of the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation,
Yuri Rozum charitable foundation, the Cultural Development Fund “Return”, the Moscow Public Cultural Foundation, as well as a scholarship holder of the
Helena 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 was among the winners of such competitions as
Panama International Piano Competition in
Panama City, Golden Ring of Chopin in
Slovenia, Rachmaninov Piano Competition in
Frankfurt, "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. In June 2018 Nikolai Kuznetsov became the winner of the
XXIII Ricardo Vines International Piano Competition in
Spain, 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
Arie Vardi, also included other famous musical figures, professors of the world's leading conservatories:
Dmitri Alexeev,
Farhad Badalbeyli, Emanuel Krasovsky, Tomer Lev and others. In June 2021, Nikolai received the Grand Prix at the International Piano Competition in Monaco. The jury of the competition was headed by pianist
Barry Douglas. The award ceremony took place at the
Opéra de Monte-Carlo, where the pianist was awarded the Prize of Prince
Rainier III, from the hands of His Highness
Albert II, Prince of Monaco. He has collaborated with such orchestras as
Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra,
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra,
Dallas Symphony Orchestra,
State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation,
Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra,
Moscow State Symphony Orchestra,
State Symphony Capella of Russia, Oman Symphony Orchestra, l'Orchestre Symphonique du CRR de Paris,
Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Kharkiv Philharmonic,
Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, State Hermitage Orchestra, State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia, Symphony Orchestra of the Primorsky Opera and Ballet Theater, Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Samara State Philharmonic. Nikolai has also performed at international music festivals including "Outstanding Pianists of the XXI century" in
Bogotá (
Colombia), International Music Festival in
Kyoto (
Japan), International
Beethoven Music Festival (
Germany), International Piano Festival "Pianissimo" in the
Hermitage Museum,
Saint Petersburg, (
Russia), International Music Festival in
Deia (
Spain,
Mallorca), International Piano Festival in
Bucaramanga (
Colombia), "Music — our Common Home" in
Kharkiv (
Ukraine), "European Concerts in Saint 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
Ludwig van 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,
Monaco,
Slovenia,
Japan,
Oman and
South American countries. == References ==