Mikhail Kazakevich

Entrances and Exits (March 2007) , The Mozart Effect (June 2006)

Born in Gorky (Russia), Mikhail Kazakevich  studied there at the State Conservatoire, opened as a division of Moscow Conservatoire, from 1980-86, with the well-known pianist and teacher Isaak Katz, who was a pupil of the legendary professor Alexander Goldenweiser. After graduating with highest honours, he taught as a Professor at the conservatoire until 1992.

His burgeoning performing career led him to a sensational western debut at the International Schubert Competition in Dortmund, Germany, in 1991. As a result of his success there, he was engaged to play with the Dortmund Philharmonic Orchestra and also gave numerous solo recitals in Germany and France, where he was awarded a Special Prize of SACEM (France) for performing of 20th century music. In 1992, he received a Special Award from the Schubert Society (Germany) and came to London, where he made his debut at the Wigmore Hall. Soon afterwards, Kazakevich was signed exclusively by the BMG/Conifer recording label, for which he has made numerous recordings.

He has played solo and with orchestras at prestigious venues and festivals in Austria, Germany, France, Russia, Switzerland, Denmark, South Korea and the Middle East. In the United Kingdom, he has given numerous recitals at Londons Wigmore Hall, St John?s Smith Square, the South Bank Centre, and has made many live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 (most recently in May 2004). He regularly performs at the Brighton Festival and the Newbury Spring Festival - most recently, with the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, playing Rachmaninov. Among his latest projects was a performance and recording of Bachs 48 Preludes and Fugues (Well Tempered Klavier) at St Georges, Bristol.

Last season, he played with the European Chamber Orchestra and made his return concert tours to Denmark and Russia, where he performed Mozart concertos No 20 and No25 with the Philharmonic Orchestras. His coming dates include appearances at the Newbury Spring Festival, Londons St Johns Smith Square with the European Chamber orchestra and in a special recital for UNESCO, playing Mozart.

Mikhail has combined his intensive concert activity with teaching, which he enjoyed doing since after his graduation when he was appointed Professor at the Gorky State Conservatoire. In the UK, he taught at the Welsh College of Music and Drama (Cardiff) from 1994-96. Currently, he is a Professor of Piano at the Trinity College of Music (London). He frequently gives Master Classes and adjudicates at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal College of Music and the Atlantic College of Wales. His Master Classes at St George?s Brandon Hill (Bristol) is an annual event. He also, gave Master Classes in Jordan National Conservatoire, University of Aberdeen, Art Centre in Newport, where he was a member of a jury panel at the Newport International Piano Competition. In July 2005, Mikhail will be teaching at the famous Dartington International Summer School.

" One of Russia's best-kept secrets is how they like to promote him and for once it's true. Of the floods of musicians from the CIS now filling the concert halls and recording studios of the West Mikhail Kazakevich is one of the most worthy of listening time."

The Times (Hilary Finch)