Yakov Kasman’s debut in America in 1997 as Silver Medalist in the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth was the culmination of several competition triumphs and tours.

Since his American debut, he has enjoyed a global career. He has appeared as soloist with more than seventy orchestras and published fifteen studio CD recordings. His two CD set of the recordings of the complete sonatas of Prokofiev was awarded the “Grand Prix de la Nouvelle Academie du Disque” in France in 1996. The International Piano Quarterly magazine recommended his CD of Moussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” as one of 14 equally ranked best in a survey of recordings over the past 75 years. His recording of Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1, and Schnittke’s Concerto for Piano and Strings, received the “Choc du monde de la musique” award in France, being rated highest for artistry and sound quality by ClassicsToday.com, and referred to as “superlative” in the American Record Guide.

Mr. Kasman is active as a teacher and adjudicator. He was a jury member of the Busoni International Piano Competition (Bolzano), and many others. He has been guest artist and faculty at the Piano Texas International Academy and Festival (Fort Worth), and the International Summer Music Academy in Kiev.

Born in the city of Orel, near Moscow, Mr. Kasman began his piano studies at the age of five. A graduate and postgraduate of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory and previously a professor of piano at the Music College of the Conservatory, he is now the Distinguished Professor of Piano and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. His students are winners of regional, national and international competitions.