Described as “thrilling” and “with great verve” in the German newspapers Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung and Wiesbadener Kurier, Russian pianist Alina Smirnova is rapidly establishing a reputation for herself as one of today’s most versatile young artists.

At the mere age of twelve, Smirnova made her solo recital debut in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and a year later, her orchestral debut at the same hall, performing Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto. Since then, she has become both a laureate of numerous national and international competitions and a recipient of awards from the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition, II Tallinn International Piano Competition, the Heinrich Neuhaus Competition, Muses of the World Competition, the Vladimir Spivakov Fund Scholarship, and the Prefect of the Moscow Central District, among others. Smirnova performs extensively both in Russia and abroad (including Germany, the USA, France, Japan, Estonia, and others) as a solo recitalist, chamber musician, and with an orchestra. Orchestras for these performances have included the Kremlin Orchestra, the Concert Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory, the Kaluga Youth Symphony Orchestra, the “Musica Viva” Chamber Orchestra and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Estonia.

Her immense repertoire and experience have also brought her in great demand as a chamber music partner in both the instrumental and vocal genres. Smirnova has performed and recorded in Moscow’s main concert halls not only the established staples of her repertoire, such as the complete Winterreise, both of Brahms’s cello sonatas, Rachmaninoff’s Moments Musicaux, Études-tableaux, and complete two-piano works, but also is passionate about the exploration of lesser-known and rarely-performed compositions. These include Schumann’s Kerner-Lieder (premiering in Russia with Ms. Smirnova’s performance), along with Smirnova’s own transcription of Bach’s C minor Passacaglia and Fugue, and her own arrangement of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring for two pianos and percussion. Smirnova’s playing has been broadcast on both Russian and Estonian radio (including Radio Orpheus, Radio of Russia, Estonian National Radio). Alina’s solo and chamber recital activities have brought her to some of world’s most renowned concert stages, such as the Bolshoi Theatre, the Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre, the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, École Normale de Musique de Paris, and Schloss Johannisberg in Germany.

A native Muscovite, Alina completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Moscow Conservatory with honours. She is currently active within the staff of the Moscow Conservatory as a collaborative pianist and teacher.

Ms. Smirnova is a piano teacher with Inplay School of Music.