Valeria Polunina, piano

Born into an artistic family in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Russian pianist Valeria Polunina began concertizing internationally before she was a teenager. Since making her orchestral debut at the age of 15 with Russia’s renowned BACH Chamber Orchestra, she has gracefully transitioned into a mature artist of technical prowess and elegant artistry. Active as a vocal accompanist, Ms. Polunina collaborated with some of the world’s leading organizations, including the Mariinsky Foundation of America, The Metropolitan Opera, and The Bolshoi Theatre. Raised in Moscow, Ms. Polunina won numerous competitions, both national and international. Her performances have taken her to the most prestigious festivals and halls in the USA and Europe. She has on numerous occasions made appearances in Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and The Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory. She has recently appeared in recital at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition First Prize Winners’ Recital at Carnegie Hall hosted by Valeriy Gergiev, and on well-known TV show Good Morning America accompanying the Metropolitan Opera star Pretty Yende. Ms. Polunina currently performs as an accompanist with various artists throughout the United States and Europe.

In 2018, Ms. Polunina accepted position as a Head of Music staff at the Luzerner Theatre, Switzerland. She has collaborated with many of the world’s leading solo and collaborative artists including Gerald Finley, Pretty Yende, Angel Blue, and Sofia Fomina. Ms. Polunina received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Gnessin’s Academy of Music in Moscow under Marina Drozdova and her Master of Music in collaborative piano at The Juilliard School studying with Margo Garrett, Diane Richardson, and Jonathan Feldman. Ms. Polunina is a graduate Metropolitan Opera's Young Artists Development Program.