Denis Matsuev

Since 2004 he has organized “Stars on Baikal” in Irkutsk, Siberia (in 2009 he was awarded the title of Honorer Citizen of Irkutsk), and since 2005 he has been the artistic director of the music festival “Crescendo” (a series of events held in international cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ekaterinbourg, Tel Aviv, Kaliningrad, Paris and New York). In 2010 he became the artistic director of Annecy Classic Festival in Annecy, France, with the goal to bring Norther Russian and French music cultures. In 2012 Denis Matsuev became the artistic director of the International “Astana Piano Passion” Festival and Competition as well as the artistic director of the International Festival and Competition “Burbank DEBUT” in Kiev in 2013. In 2016 Denis Matsuev was the artistic director of the Competition and chairman of the Organician Commette, starting a new competition for Young pianists in Moscow – Grand Piano Competition. Additionally, Mr. Matsuev is the president of the Russian charity foundation “New Names” that discovers and supports talented children and helps to develop music education in regions of his native Russia. More than 10,000 children received financial scholarship and/or the opportunity to perform at the professional stage. For many years Denis Matsuev has collaborated with the Sergei Rachmaninov Foundation, established by Alexander Rachmaninov, the grandson of the composer. Mr. Matsuev was chosen by the Foundation to perform and record Rachmaninov unknown pieces on the composer’s own piano at the Rachmaninov house “Villa Senar” in Lucerne. Later, he became the artistic director of the Foundation. Denis Matsuev is a laureate of the prestigious “Shostakovich’s Award” in Music as well as the State Award of Russian Federation in Literature and Arts. He also is a “People’s Artist of Russia.” Denis Matsuev was named Honorary Professor of the Moscow State University. He is a member of The Presidential Council for Culture and Arts, Honored Artist of Russia and was the head of The Public Council under The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. In February 2014 Denis Matsuev was awarded the honor of performing at the official Closing Ceremony of the XXII Winter Olympic games in Sochi and at the same year UNESCO designated Denis Matsuev as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. En 2016 Denis Matsuev was announced as 2018 FIFA World Coup Russia ambassade and was awarded with State Ordre of Honour. In 2017 he received a Government of Russia Award in the cultural sphere for his International Music Festival in Irkutsk “Stars on the Baikal” and in 2019 Denis Matsuev was awarded with Lev Nikolaïev gold medal for his signifiant contribution to education and popularization of science and culture.