Pure Joy Opening Night: Magical Tchaikovsky

With a vivid onstage presence, dazzling technique, and passionate musicality, pianist Olga Kern is widely recognized as one of the great artists of her generation, captivating audiences and critics alike. 

In 2001, Olga launched her U.S. career at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, winning a Gold Medal— the only woman in the last fifty years to do so. She has since performed extensively with top-tier ensembles, among them the St. Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Detroit Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, D.C.), Czech Philharmonic, and Filarmonica della Scala. She has also scored success with Tokyo’s NHK Symphony, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, StuttgartPhilharmonic, and Pittsburgh Symphony. She was a soloist on widely acclaimed U.S. tours with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine; and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra in 2018, 2019, and 2022. Olga performs riveting recitals throughout the world, playing in places such as New York, Fort Worth, Minneapolis, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, and Italy as well as with renowned organizations including The Gilmore PianoFestival, Chamber Music San Francisco, Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia Festival, the Minnesota Beethoven Festival, Bad Kissingen (Germany), Radio France FestivalMontpellier, and others. 

In the 2022–2023 season, Olga appeared with the Dallas Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Filarmónicade Gran Canaria, Ireland’s National Symphony Orchestra, and Colorado Symphony. She performed recitals at the American Pianists Association Conference in Indianapolis and the International Piano Festival of Oeiras in Portugal as well as in Milan, Italy; Virginia Beach; Chicago; and San Francisco. Engagements in the 2023–2024 season include performances of Rachmaninoff’s monumental fourconcertos and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with the Austin Symphonyand Virginia Symphony Orchestra and a nationally broadcast New Year’s concertwith the Czech Philharmonic. Other 2023–2024 engagements include Santa RosaSymphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Toledo Symphony, Pacific Symphony, AshevilleSymphony, a tour of South Africa, and performances with Prague Symphony, TaipeiSymphony; and Tokyo Symphony. 

Olga has served as a jury chairman of several high-profile competitions, including her own, the Olga KernInternational Piano Competition, of which she is Artistic Director. A dedicated educator, she has been on the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Musics since 2017, and in 2019, she was appointed the Connie and Marc Jacobson Director of Chamber Music at the Virginia Arts Festival. She also established“Aspiration,” a foundation that provides financial assistance to musicians around the world. Olga is a Steinway Artist. 

Her well-regarded discography includes works of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Brahms, and Shostakovich. 

Olga’s iconic dresses are designed by Alex Teih (New York), and her jewelry is designed by Alex Soldier (New York).