Cyprien Katsaris is a French-Cypriot pianist, composer, improviser, and educator whose career spans from the second half of the 20th century to the present.

He is recognized as one of the greatest and most charismatic musicians of his time. At the age of fifteen, he impressed Olivier Messiaen with his interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto. Messiaen remarked that Katsaris talent was undeniable, predicting a brilliant future for him. Katsaris performs in the most prestigious concert halls around the world and collaborates with leading orchestras and conductors such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, Leonard Bernstein, and Sir Simon Rattle. He records for renowned labels such as Sony Classical, EMI, and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1992, NHK television dedicated a series of thirteen programs to him playing Chopin. Katsaris is known for illuminating works through hidden melodies, offering audiences new perspectives.

Critics praise his approach for allowing the music’s poetry and drama to shine without subjective influence, achieved through his exceptional technical skill and passionate approach to the piano.

He himself says, “Every day of the year I am at the piano... If I don’t play, I go crazy.” Katsaris is also dedicated to preserving neglected 19th-century piano repertoire, which led him to found his own recording company, Piano 21. All proceeds from his concerts are invested in recording unknown works, which he sees as a gift to humanity. He was the Artistic Director of the Echternach International Music Festival from 1977 to 2007 and has received numerous international awards, including the French distinction of the Order of Arts and Letters and the Cypriot Nemitsas Award. He is a member of ADAP and an honorary member of Lisztomanias International. His skill in improvisation further confirms his status as a key figure in the history of the piano.

Gülsin Onay, a prodigy pianist and influential figure in classical music, began her piano studies at the age of three and gave her first recital at six.

Onay graduated from the Paris Conservatoire at 16 with the “Premier Prix du Piano” and won major international competitions, including Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud and Ferruccio Busoni. Her global career spans 80 countries and major venues, such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw and London Wigmore Hall. She has performed with leading orchestras, including the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Tokyo Symphony, under notable conductors like Vladimir Ashkenazy and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Onay is renowned for her interpretations of Ahmed Adnan Saygun’s works, including his 2nd Piano Concerto, and has premiered works by contemporary composers dedicated to her. Her discography includes acclaimed recordings of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Saygun, among others.

Onay holds the title of State Artist in Turkey, is an Artist in Residence at Bilkent University, and has received honorary doctorates from Bosphorus University and Hacettepe University.

She has been honored with numerous awards, including a State Medal from Poland and the “Pianist of the Year” award in 2011. Her charitable work includes serving as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and promoting classical music through teaching, organizing events, and broadcasting. Since 2017, she has hosted “In the Studio with Gülsin Onay” on Turkish national radio.

Galician pianist Pablo Galdo, praised by Martha Argerich as “a brilliant pianist,” is a highly sought-after concert pianist of his generation.

Winner of the 2020 Galician of the Year award, he has a diverse and versatile career. He founded the Vigo International Piano Competition and the Galician Classical Music Association. Galdo has performed in over 30 countries, including France, Greece, the UK, China, South Korea, Russia, Australia, and the USA. Besides performing, Galdo teaches master classes globally at prestigious institutions like the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and the Frederic Chopin University in Warsaw. He is a guest professor at several international music academies and festivals and serves as a jury member for various international piano competitions. Galdo has performed with renowned musicians such as Martha Argerich and Zoltán Kocsis. His recordings feature works by Albéniz, Liszt, and Rachmaninoff, and he has appeared on Spanish Television and Hungarian Radio.

He holds teaching position at the Superior Conservatory of Navarra, where his students frequently win piano competition prizes.

Among his accolades, Galdo has received the Gregorio Baudot Prize, the Gold Badge of Ferrol, and a silver medal at the Global Music Awards. Born in Ferrol, La Coruña, he studied at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Vigo, University de Alcalá de Henares, Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest, and Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, with distinguished teachers like Nicasio Gradaille, Ferenc Rados, and Alicia de Larrocha.