Genadi Zagor

Education

Krasnodar Music College, Russia (BM)
Moscow State Conservatory, Russia (MM)
Jerusalem Academy of Music, Israel (MM)
Michigan State University (MM)
Michigan State University (DM)

About teacher

Praised by The New York Times and The Washington Post for his “lively and imaginative playing,” “steely intensity,” “delicate pianism,” “sharp attacks,” and “sensational, nimble-fingered electrifying performances,” Genadi Zagor commands a remarkable range of styles. He combines a flair for jazz with the instrument’s sonic resources, digital finesse, and a romantic palette of color, nuance, and sonority. A native of Krasnodar, Russia, Genadi began his musical studies at age four under the guidance of his father, a prominent guitarist and composer. He continued at the Moscow Central Music School for gifted children with Tatiana Manuilskaya and studied with Nelly Mezhlumova, one of the most esteemed teachers in the Caucasus. After graduating with distinction from Krasnodar's Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music, he studied at the Moscow State Conservatory with Mikhail Mezhlumov. In 1991, Genadi immigrated to Israel, where he served as an assistant to the renowned Piano Duo Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Dance. He received the America-Israel Cultural Foundation Scholarship for outstanding artists in 1995, performing a special recital at the Presidential Palace for the seventh President of Israel, Ezer Weizman. In 1997, as a cultural mission leader for the Jerusalem municipality, he performed across Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and the Czech Republic. In 2000, Genadi moved to the United States to join Maestro Alexander Toradze's Piano Studio at Indiana University (South Bend). After completing his Artist Diploma at Indiana University, he served as a Visiting Artist in the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa for six years. Genadi holds a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from Michigan State University, where he served as a Piano Instructor in the College of Music since 2016. Genadi has received awards from prestigious international piano competitions, including the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition (USA), Arthur Rubinstein Master Piano Competition (Israel), Leeds International Pianoforte Competition (UK), and Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Japan). He has also won top prizes at the North Caucasian Piano Competition (Rostov, Russia), Francois Shapira Piano Competition (Tel-Aviv, Israel), “Voice of Music” Young Artist Piano Competition, Chopin Piano Competition (Jerusalem, Israel), World Piano Competition (Cincinnati), San Antonio International Piano Competition (Texas), and the Grand Prix at the D’Angelo Young Artists Competition (Erie, Pennsylvania). Throughout his career, Genadi has performed with esteemed orchestras, including the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Gotham City Orchestra, Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, Post-Classical Ensemble, and Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra. He has graced stages and festivals worldwide, appearing on radio and television programs in the USA, Germany, Israel, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, and France. Genadi has conducted masterclasses and played solo recitals at top music schools in Taiwan and Singapore, including the University of Taipei, Tunghai University, Shih-Chien University, Taichung Municipal Cingshuei Senior High School, and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of the National University of Singapore. He has also performed in the Taipei Steinway Showroom Gallery and on Taipei Central TV station. Recently, Genadi released a solo piano album, “Schumann in Love,” featuring Symphonic Etudes, Kreisleriana, Arabesque, and his own improvisations, which received critical acclaim. He also collaborated with flutist Richard Sherman on the CD “Music of the British Isles” under the Blue Griffin Recording Label. Recent engagements include concerts in California, Washington, D.C., Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Israel, Taiwan, and Singapore.