Stephen Prutsman, piano

Stephen Prutsman has been described as one of the most innovative musicians of his time. Moving easily from classical to jazz to world music styles as a pianist, composer and conductor, Prutsman continues to explore and seek common ground and relationships in the music of all cultures and languages.

In the early 90’s Prutsman was a medal winner at the Tchaikovsky and Queen Elisabeth Piano Competitions and received the Avery Fisher Career Grant. From 2004-2007 he was artistic partner with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and from 2009–2012 he was the artistic director of the Cartagena International Festival of Music, South America’s largest festival of its kind.

Born in Los Angeles, Stephen Prutsman first began playing the piano by ear at age 3, before moving on to more formal music studies. In his teens and early 20s he was the keyboard player for several art rock groups including Cerberus and Vysion.  He was also during those years a solo jazz pianist. A former student of Aube Tzerko, Leon Fleisher, and Jack Wilson, Stephen Prutsman studied at the University of California at Los Angeles and the Peabody Conservatory of Music.

Passionate about the value of music for all, Stephen Prutsman is actively promoting music and arts education wherever he visits. He is involved in several projects whose missions are to create enjoyable artistic or recreational environments for children on the autistic spectrum and their families.