Featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Vladimir Feltsman, this masterclass provides music lovers with a rare opportunity to witness the interaction between gifted Mannes students and a great artist as they examine and explore the craft of performance at the highest level.

Vladimir Feltsman was born in Moscow in 1952. He received his training at Moscow Special Music School and at Moscow Conservatory where he studied piano under the guidance of Jacob Flier. He also studied conducting in St. Petersburg (then Leningrad) Conservatory with Ilya Musin. In 1971 he received a Grand Prix at the Margaret Long Piano Competition in Paris, and following that, toured extensively through the former Soviet Union, Europe and Japan. In 1979, because of his growing discontent with the rigid ideological control and restrictions on artistic freedom, he applied for an exit visa from Soviet Union. In response, he was effectively banned from performing in public until he was finally granted the permission to emigrate from USSR in 1987. His debut recital at Carnegie Hall in 1987 immediately established him as a major pianist on the American and international scene. Since then, he performed with all major American orchestras and appeared on the most prestigious recital series and music festivals in the US and abroad. Pianist, conductor and teacher, Mr. Feltsman is recognized as one of the most probing and constantly interesting musicians of his generation. His extensive repertoire encompasses the music from Baroque to the XXI century composers and his discography includes more than 70 recordings. He is a founder and artistic Director of PianoSummer at New Paltz, and a faculty member at SUNY New Paltz and Mannes College The New School for Music.