Alexander Peskanov
 
Studio of Linda Kennedy
Maumelle, Arkansas

"This brilliant pianist can create incredible excitement and knows how to please a crowd," reported The Washington Post when reviewing Alexander Peskanov’s Kennedy Center performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third Concerto. Mr. Peskanov’s American debut as orchestral soloist came with the National Symphony under Rostropovich, and he has since appeared internationally with orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, as well as in the United States with the Baltimore, St. Louis, Houston, Utah, Richmond and Pacific Symphonies. He was also the featured soloist during the six-week tour of the Polish Chamber Orchestra which included appearances at The Kennedy Center and Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Recently, Alexander Peskanov was featured in solo recital at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, as part of the series, “Russian Splendor.”

Mr. Peskanov has performed at the Wolf Trap, Aspen, Grant Park, Newport and Flagstaff festivals, and in coast-to-coast recitals including the prestigious Van Cliburn Foundation Series in Ft. Worth, Texas, and the Gina Bachauer Piano Festival in Salt Lake City, Utah. Among the illustrious musicians with whom he has collaborated are Maurice Andre, Jean-Pierre Rampal and Yo-Yo Ma.

Alexander Peskanov is also a successful composer of classical works. He has written three concertos for young pianists, the 1 st being selected for the National Federation of Music Clubs’ 2007 –2009. His "Concerto for Piano Quartet and Orchestra," commissioned by The American Piano Quartet, premiered in 1996 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary. Mr. Peskanov is the recipient of three special ASCAP awards.

His recordings include a CD of his own piano compositions entitled "Spirits of the Wind – Peskanov Plays Peskanov" which has been featured in a satellite broadcast on National Public Radio stations. Other recordings include 14 Rags by Scott Joplin on Naxos Record’s American Classics series, Brahms Violin and Piano Sonatas (Recipient of Golden Ear Award), Mozart’s Concerto in Eb Major, Liszt’s Malediction, Beethoven’s Concerto in G Major No. 4 and Morton Gould’s Concerto Concertante.

Mr. Peskanov graduated from the Stoliarsky School of Music in Odessa, Ukraine, and received his Masters and Bachelor degrees at The Juilliard School in New York. He is also the author of the series of six books entitled: "The Russian Technical Regimen for the Piano," published by the Willis Music.