Stepan Simonian

Born in 1981, Stepan Simonian studied with Pavel Nersessian at Moscow’s P. I. Tchaikovsky Music Conservatory and subsequently studied in Hamburg at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater under Evgeni Koroliov. He won Second Prize at the 2010 Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig and won First Prize at the 2005 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition and in 2008 earned a Third Prize at the José Iturbi International Piano Competition in the United States. In 2009 he was awarded the Berenberg Cultural Prize in Hamburg in recognition of his achievements in chamber music. Stepan Simonian performs as a guest artist at the most important festivals and concert venues throughout Europe, including the Leipzig Bachfest, the Festival International de Piano de la Roque d'Anthéron, the Moseler Musikfestival, ProArte Hamburg, Pro Musica Hannover. He has appeared as a soloist with the Bach Kollegium Stuttgart under Helmuth Rilling, the Hamburger Symphoniker under David Porcelijn, Sinfonia Varsovia, I Pomeriggi Musicali Milan, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the Mendelssohn Kammerorchester Leipzig. His performances have been broadcast live, among others, by NDR, MDR, and Hessischer Rundfunk.