About Prof. Grigory Gruzman
Grigory Gruzman was born in Sankt Petersburg (former Leningrad), Russia. He began his piano lessons at the age of five. Due to his exceptional talent, he was admitted to the Music School for the specially gifted children at the Leningrad Conservatory. During his school-time, he performed more than 300 times in Leningrad and in other russian cities.
In 1974 Gruzman began his studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music under prof. Yali Wagman and prof. Gregory Haimovsky.
Later he was continued his studies at University of Music in Freiburg, Germany, where he studied under prof. Vitaly Margulis. He completed his studies there with distinction;
In the same year he achieved an award with distinction at the international piano competition in Monza; and shortly after this he was a finalist in the international piano competition in Vercelli (both in Italy).
„On such an interpretation of Rigoletto-Paraphrase, I’ve been waiting all my life“, once said Herbert von Karajan and has invited Gruzman to Salzburg.
In 1986 his concert career, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician achieved a break-trough as he formed the „Shostakovich Trio“. The ensemble performed over 10 years on world-renowned podiums; Critics from all over the world have been continuously proclaming this trio to be one of the best ensembles of present day.
His numerous performances (more than 1000 times after his emigration from Russia) and also his hundreds of times as a lecturer on international master courses in 6 languages (Russian, German, Spanish, Hebrew, English and French) has brought him onto stages in many countries in Europe, the Far East, Australia, Latin-America and the US.
About 100 of his best performances have already been broadcast by TV and radio stations all over the world.
In musician circles he is also well known for many of his arrangements for piano-trio. Gruzman has been giving performances of the complete cycle of Chopin’s 24 Etudes. Gruzman has also recorded the complete Suite „Play Piano Play“ by Friedrich Gulda
In 1998 Grigory Gruzman was named as professor for piano at the University of Music in Hamburg. Since many years he has been member of juries of international competitions.
In 2006 Gruzman was appointed as professor to the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar. His students won over 50 awards in national and important international competitions. He is artistic director and jury chairman at international Liszt piano competition for young pianists in Weimar.