Pyotr Akulov

Classical piano

Born in Moscow, pianist Pyotr Akulov began playing the piano at the age of four. Although he did not initially imagine pursuing a life in music, an increasingly deep fascination with the instrument, together with a naturally competitive spirit, gradually shaped his path towards a professional career.

He entered the prestigious Central Music School in Moscow before continuing his studies at the Gnessin Moscow Special School of Music, where he worked with Professor Maxim Zheleznov.
A significant turning point came in 2023, when Pyotr won First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition. The experience opened an important new chapter in his artistic development and led him to the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he joined the studio of the distinguished pianist and teacher Stanislav Ioudenitch.

Throughout his musical education, Pyotr has also had the opportunity to work in masterclasses and lessons with many internationally renowned musicians, including Dmitry Bashkirov, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, William Grant Naboré, Rena Shereshevskaya, Boris Petrushansky and Emanuel Ax. He has been a scholarship recipient of both the Mstislav Rostropovich Foundation and the New Names Foundation.

Pyotr has appeared extensively as both recitalist and concerto soloist in Russia, Europe, Asia and the United States. His festival appearances include the Mstislav Rostropovich Festival, White Nights in St Petersburg, Crescendo Festival, Stars on the Baikal, Rachmaninoff White Lilac Festival in Kazan, Mikkeli Music Festival, St Petersburg Arts Square Festival, PIANISSIMO and ViveArte Festival.

As a concerto soloist, he has performed with orchestras including the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra, Volgograd Symphony Orchestra, Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra and Macao Orchestra. Chamber music is also an important part of his musical life, and he particularly values the dialogue and spontaneity of making music with other artists.

During the 2021/22 season, Pyotr made recital debuts at the Moscow Philharmonic and St Petersburg Philharmonic. Since 2023, he has also been featured by the Moscow Philharmonic in a subscription series devoted to performances of major piano concertos with orchestra.

His international competition successes include First Prize at the 2017 Zhuhai Mozart Competition for Young Musicians, the Grand Prix at the 2019 Astana Piano Passion Competition, Second Prize at the 2020 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, the Grand Prix at the 2021 Grand Piano Competition, the Silver Medal at the 2021 Gina Bachauer International Junior & Young Artists Competition, and First Prize and the Audience Prize at the 2023 Thomas and Evon Cooper International Competition. Most recently, he was awarded Second Prize at the 2025 Ke'Alohi International Piano Competition.

Now developing an increasingly international career, Pyotr combines the formidable technical foundations of the Russian piano tradition with an open, inquisitive musical personality. For him, virtuosity is never an end in itself: his focus is on communication, colour and finding an individual voice within every work he performs.