Vitalij Kuprij

Vitalij Kuprij (born 1974) is a Ukrainian pianist and composer, and keyboardist in the neo-classical progressive metal band Artension. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and prizes. He won the prestigious first prize as the youngest person to compete in the All Union Chopin Competition held in the Republic of Kazan, Soviet Union; the gold medal in the Kiev Conservatory Competition and the Poltawa, Ukraine Mykola Lyssenko Competition. In addition, he received first prize in the Geneva Duo Competition for Violin and Piano as well as the gold medal in the Piano 80 and Swiss Youth Competition, the Chicago Piano Competition, the New York Piano Competition and the Cleveland Piano Competition.

His studies

Vitalij began piano studies at Kiev's Mykola Lyssenko Music Academy where he studied with Professor Nina Najditsch. After graduation, he went to Switzerland to study with Vienna's Rudolf Buchbinder at the Basel Conservatory. In 1995, Mr Kuprij was sent to the United States upon recommendation by Sir James Galway to study with Gary Graffman, President and Director of Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. From Curtis, while on full scholarship, he obtained another degree and graduated in 2000. Mr Graffman is quoted as saying, "Vitalij is a powerful, elegant and communicative artist ... an amazing musician."

Career to date

Kuprij has performed around the world.

Vitalij's appearances on Ukrainian radio and television have brought him critical acclaim. Flutist Sir James Galway chose Mr Kuprij as his accompanist for the International Flute Seminar Master Classes held in Switzerland and for work on an international tour. Galway and Vitalij were recently on National Public Radio, in the United States, when Sir James played a world-premier of one of Vitalij's original compositions written for piano and flute. Soon thereafter, Vitalij was featured on WRTI for an hour broadcast from Philadelphia: 'Crossover with Jill Pasternak'.

Mr Kuprij has been much in demand as a soloist, recitalist, pianist and composer throughout the United States and abroad. He played throughout the world including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and of course the Soviet Union.

On March 7 1999, Mr. Kuprij was selected as the soloist to perform the Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 with the New York Youth Symphony at Carnegie Hall followed by performances at the Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. He performs his own compositions that have been recorded on various labels and released in many countries.

Vitalij recently had his solo Carnegie Hall debut where he played two encores to an almost capacity crowd. From this event he was featured in a two page spread in the New York Times by Arts and Entertainment writer, Dan Wakin.

In the summer of 2007, Vitalij appeared at Mexico's "Music Fest" in Mexico City.

Vitalij is in negotiations with the Kiev Philharmonic to record the Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto.

Acclaim

*Aaron Rosand is quoted as saying, "Vitalij Kuprij is one of the outstanding pianists of his generation. His charismatic style, technique, and personality are reminiscent of piano legends of a bygone era. I have not heard Chopin played this well since Rubinstein."
*"He is most gifted and his playing is simply poetic. This young man is an explosion waiting to happen....I have rarely seen an audience react to a pianist in the way the Swiss audience reacted when he played a solo in the middle of my recital." Sir James Galway.

Commitment to music education

One of Vitalij's most important values is the opportunity to help educate youth through his music. He feels that if one is exposed to this art form it will add valuable beauty and joy to one's life. He has given of his time and energy in order to fulfill this valuable mission as he portrays it.

Neo-classical music

Unlike many classically trained musicians Vitalij's cross-over capability into the neo-classical world evidences him as a leading force in the progressive rock genre and musical exploration as we know it today. He has numerous albums out under the Marquee Avalon and Yamaha labels. After moving to "Number Two" on the Japanese charts he has received offers from promoters for a world tour. He has been seen on the college scene to outstanding raves and has been heard giving incredible Master Classes and workshops in institutions and various venues throughout the United States including recent sessions in the Tower Record stores in Japan. Here he has a tremendous following evidenced from the latest polls and charts.

Compositions

When he is not touring, Mr Kuprij works on writing and composing his own piano concerto. Those who have heard the beginnings of this project feel it to be a masterpiece. Mr Kuprij plans to dedicate his Concerto to the memory of his late father and mentor who was a professor of trombone and music theory in a conservatory in the Ukraine.